The North Carolina Mason

March/April 2015 The North Carolina Mason Page 5 Masons respond to tragedy KINSTON — Last spring, 15-month-old Noah Stroud lost his bat- tle with cancer. St. John's 4, Pleasant Hill 304, Richard Caswell 705, Radi- ance 132, and Jerusalem 95 stepped up to help the distraught parents buy a marker for the tot's grave. With the help of fellow Mason Ward Sutton in Rocky Mount, they accomplished their mission. — Lynn Hill eNCompassiNg the world By Ric Carter Notes MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — e Big Tent Event here on November 15 was to raise a large number of Master Masons as a class. In celebration of 130 years of Shrine Masonry, Big Tent also allowed the newly raised Masons to become a Shriner the same day. — e Minnesota Mason POLSON, MONTANA — e Grand Lodge of Montana raised their per capita to $38.75 last year. (Ours is $20.) Montana lodges are required to hold a Holy Saints John Day observance each January. It must include a tyled table lodge and a luncheon or dinner. — Montana Freemason DOUSMAN, WISCONSIN — is year, the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin will be consid- ering aligning their grand lodge year with their blue lodge year. eir plan would have their lodge officers taking office in June to match the grand lodge installation schedule. North Carolina took the opposite approach a few years back when Grand Lodge installation was moved from April to November/December. e colder winter climate in Wisconsin is an argument for choosing the June date. — e Wisconsin Masonic Journal SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA — You gray-headed NASCAR fans will re- member David Pearson. His 105 wins is second most ever. He won Grand National champi- onships in 1966, 1968, and 1969. Pearson just received a Forty-Year Life Membership Award from Whitney 264 here. — Masonic Light WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND — New Zealand Grand Master John Litton was re- cently presented the working tools of the Maori Master: the needle, the white cotton, the red cotton, and the black cotton. ey bring to mind the words of the first Maori King, Potatau Te wherowheri at a gathering of dignitaries in 1860: "ere is one eye of the needle through which must pass the white cotton, the red cotton, and the black cotton. read these cottons, and sew us together as one in faith, hope, and charity." FLORENCE, OREGON — Flor- ence 107 has volunteered their lodge as an emergency warming center. When weather requires, emergency shelters open to give shelter to the homeless. e lodge provides the facility, the shelter organiza- tion supplies volunteers, cots, blankets, and pillows to equip and man the facility. Lodge Master Hunt Ramsey said, "It went very well, the guests were helpful and respectful and very grateful. e commit- tee and volunteers did a wonderful job." ey even created a call list of their own in case extra volunteers are needed. — Oregon Masonic News SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — e lodges of Illinois sponsored an academic contest for state high schools last year. e Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl was held at 30 sites around the state in 2014. In the 31 st year of the event, 313 schools participated. More than 275 lodges provided financial support for the contest to the tune of more than $42,000. Sectional and state top four finishers got cash awards for their schools. Illinois Math- ematics and Science Academy won the Class AA championship, and Newman Central Cath- olic High School won the Class A title. ey are adding a third division this year. Divisions are based on school enrollment size. — Illinois Freemasonry Working tools of the Maori e black and white threads denote the dif- ferent races, and the red cotton signifies the same red blood which flows through the veins of everyone irrespective of race. ey were pre- sented to Litton by the Maori Brethren Associa- tion with the charge that he "sew us together as one, not as Maori, not as Pakeha, but as New Zealanders, so that we may go forward in peace, love, and harmony the three virtues which are the distinguishing characteristic of a Freema- son's heart." — New Zealand Freemason Illinois Masons hold academic contest Lodge volunteers as emergency center Secrecy, the old way Ever the teacher, Ralph Herbold [late secretary of the Southern California Research Lodge] gives insight into to a cause of the Freemasonry's troubles created by Masonic "secrecy." "In explaining to a young lady why her grandfa- ther told her he 'couldn't tell [her] anything' about Masonry," I said. "Your grandfather went through certain ceremonies to become a Mason. To cement those lessons in his mind, he learned a catechism. In the process, he was told never to reveal any of the secrets of Freemasonry. But, in most instances, he was never told what the secrets were, so assumed that ev- erything he learned was a secret. He was told about his duties to God, his country, his neighbor, and himself. He was told about the four cardinal virtues: temperance, fortitude, prudence, and justice, first enumerated by Plato, so how could that be a secret. I could go on and on. Your grandfather was done an in- justice by not getting a proper explanation which, sad to say, is rarely given even today." — Fraternal Review By Chris Wilhoit NEWTON — On November 25, Catawba 248 enjoyed a visit from Luis Rodriguez of L'Olivier 678 in Normandy, France. He was back to visit after being a foreign exchange student at New- ton-Conover High School during the 1979–1980 school year. e ex-student was ready to play teacher during his visit. He gave the lodge a presentation on French Masonry. He attended in full French lodge attire consisting of dark suit and tie, white gloves, and his past master's apron. He went over the signs, due guards, and movements around a French lodge. Seating in the lodge is orderly and in procession with designated seating ac- cording to degree. Rodriguez explained that a trestleboard is drawn by the equiv- alent of our senior deacon in each degree. e work is most often read. He commented that our Grand Lodge is to be commended for having us memorize our work. Meetings are followed by a fine dinner, wine, and cigars outside of the lodge prepared by a restau- rant. Dues are about $300 annually. In France, it takes a considerable amount of time to go through the three degrees. Each degree has "homework" that must be satisfactorily completed before a candidate may pro- ceed to the next degree. They do not wear or display Masonic Catawba Lodge entertained by foreign visitor symbols outside of the lodge. After closing the meeting Rodriguez presented Catawba Lodge was copies of the French degrees. He pointed out the tres- tleboards of each degree as well as other interesting facets. Chris Wilhoit is a member of Catawba 248. STATE, from page 3 Conover It was a big money year at Conover 709. ey raised $4,000 for Masonic charities. ey also had to install a new roof on the lodge to the tune of $8,000. — Conover Lodge Newsletter Jacksonville Semper Fidelis 680 was doing their roadside cleanup March 21. Participants will have break- fast together before they head out. e lodge is having an open house April 29. — Trestle Board Candler e 39 th Masonic District was having a Chili Cookoff and Silent Auction March 14. It was to be held at Hominy 491. Proceeds will be used to help the local hospice program. — Terry Gevedon Hominy 491 helped out our three Masonic charities, the Homes and Foundation, last year. ey also gave a scholarship, built handicap ac- cess ramps for two local families, helped needy members with cash, and contributed to the Backpack Program of Buncombe County. — Hominy Lodge Kenly Kenly 257 was having a Barbecue Chicken Scholarship Fundraiser March 29. ey are hop- ing to award two $1,000 scholarships to local kids this year. — omas Jackson Clayton Granite 191 was having a Father and Daugh- ter Dance at the Clayton Center January 31. Tickets for the fundraiser were $40 each. — W. C. Barrett Hillsborough Steve Barrel was running a Masonic educa- tion for members of Mosaic 762 February 25 at his office in Durham. He was covering ba- sic public speaking techniques including use of breath, voice, and clarity. ey were also talking about how to use printed text in presentations. — Keith Morgan Lewisville West Bend 434's barbecue team was named Grand Champion for the second consecu- tive year at the Masonic Home for Children's Homecoming barbecue contest. Under dual member Pit Master David Gill, they took first in pork, second in chicken, fourth in ribs, and first overall. — By the Square Midland Union 618 recently named David "Skeeter" Warwick a Tyler of Distinction. ey gave him a plaque denoting the honor. — Newsletter Clemmons Enterprise 752's 40 th anniversary falls exactly on the day of their April stated meeting. ey got their charter April 13, 1975. — Joseph Gibson Eden Leaksville 136 last year helped a local char- ity feed needy neighbors. In November, they donated $2,183 to Lord's Pantry, enough to help stock the pantry for three months. Lodge member Andrew Collins is executive director of the Pantry. — Carl Robertson Catawba Riverside 606 was to hold their annual Ham Day March 14. e lodge was serving country ham breakfast, lunch, and supper with all the trimmings from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. to help charities. Benefitting were the Home for Chil- dren, WhiteStone, the North Carolina Masonic Foundation, and local Boy Scouts. — Wyatt David Kannapolis Allen-Graham 695 was hosting a blood drive February 9. ey were doing this drive in honor of Rick Mullinax and Larry Brewer. — Trestle Board Burgaw King Solomon 138 combined their Past Mas- ters' Banquet and officer installation this year. — Danny Buck Kenansville St. John's 13 is installing an elevator in the lodge. — Lodge Log Carthage Carthage 181 fundraisers last year brought in more than $1,800 for charity. eir last of the year was a drawing for a Food Lion gift card. — Quarterly Trestle Board Gibsonville Tabasco 271 has their spring barbecue fun- draiser set for April. ey'll hold their family picnic in May. — Jeffrey Scott Wilson Mount Lebanon 117 has appointed a Sun- shine Committee to keep up with lodge widows. ey are to contact and visit all the ladies. MORGAN'S CORNER — e First Masonic District's Pulla-Pull- Ooza was held on September 20. Five hours of truck pull competition was followed by an outdoor concert by Joe Diffie. Proceeds of the big event went to the Masonic Home for Chil- dren. A group from Gray's Cottage at the Home attended and overnighted in Elizabeth City. ey were put up by Masons of the First District and treated to lunch after attending First Christian Church the next morning. Grand Lodge officers Doug Cau- dle and Bryant Webster also attended this event. — Kevin Otis Helping and entertaining the kids

• Cover