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The North Carolina Mason Treasurer Everett leaves office By Ric Carter GREENVILLE — In 1995, longtime NC
Mason Editor Reynold Davenport pointed to Clifton W. Everett Jr. and said, "This year that will be the gavel slingingest man in the State of North Carolina." Everett had just been elected grand master, and just four months earlier had been elected Superior Court Judge for District 3A in Greenville. He did, indeed, spend much time on the road and with a gavel in his hand that year.
By the time he finished his term in the
East, he was drafted to serve as grand trea- surer, a post he held for 15 years. In that sta- tion he helped influence and temper many de- cisions made by the leadership of our Grand Lodge. His advice was always straight forward and considered. He was measured and careful with his influence. He has been much loved for his droll stories of family, characters, Pitt County, and the law. At Annual Communication this year, Ev-
erett surprised everyone, declaring that he would not serve again as grand treasurer. Ev- erett says, "I have had a thoroughly wonderful time in this office, and I'm perfectly capable of continuing to perform its duties. It's just that it's time for someone else to have that privi- lege." "I'm very pleased that Lew Ledford will be
grand treasurer. I think he's an excellent choice to take care of the Grand Lodge's money." Everett continues his work as Superior
Court judge in Greenville, NC. That's where he has spent most of his life. He was born just up NC 11 in Bethel, where his father was a lawyer. Everett went to Wake Forest Univer- sity where he got degrees in history, political science, and law. After serving as research as- sistant to Appeals Court Judge Naomi Mor- ris, he returned home in 1968 to set up a law partnership with his father. In 1969 he mar- ried his wife Mary. In 1970, he joined Crown Point 708. During his years as an attorney, he prac- ticed in both criminal and civil law in both federal and state courts. He eventually special- ized in real estate law. He sat on several boards for the State Bar regarding the specialty. He has served in many positions including
in the campaigns of Senator B. Everett Jordan and Governor James B. Hunt Jr. In his years on the bench, he has sat in
courtrooms from the coast to Rowan and Lenoir counties. He has been a member and vice-president of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Superior Court Judges. He and his wife Mary continue to live
Greenville. They have grown children and two grand children. "I don't want to fade away completely. I hope that I will have the opportunity to serve Masonry in other capacities." His influence and advice will continue to be felt for years to come.
Grand Master Gresham to begin district meetings in February
Grand Master Robert E. Gresham Jr. plans to visit about half our districts this year. His meetings start in early February and will finish at the end of May. His meetings will be similar to the area meetings of the past few years. Pre-meeting meals are scheduled for 6:15 p.m. with the tyled meet- ing starting at 7:00 p.m.. District officers and the grand master will be received with usual honors. You may make your lodge's reservation for the meeting with your district deputy grand master or host lodge secretary. Please be con- siderate of the host lodge. Make your reser- vations for dinner at least seven days before your scheduled meeting. It is very frustrating to try to plan for a meal when reservations have not been made. Your lodge will be re- sponsible to pay for all meals reserved. Those who have not made reservations should not expect to eat. In case of inclement weather, meetings will
be cancelled in accordance with local schools cancellations. If a meeting is cancelled, the host lodge and district deputy grand master will be notified. Your lodge may cancel its stated com- munication to attend your district meeting. Information will also be posted on the Grand Lodge web site: . This schedule was the schedule as of November 11, 2011. Changes may be necessary. Please consult your lodge for updates.
District Date Host
24 ..........February 7 .................... Blackmer 127 20 ..........February 8 ....................Siler City 403 13 ..........February 9 ........................Oxford 122
33 ..........March 5 ...........................Traphill 483 34 ..........March 6 ........................Cookville 502 26 ..........March 7 .....................Kernersville 669 38 ..........March 20 ........................Cliffside 460 36 ..........March 21 ........................Belmont 627 32 ..........March 22 ..................... Matthews 461
41 ..........April 9 ........................Blue Ridge 435 40 ..........April 10 .........................Dillsboro 459 37 ..........April 11 .............................Vesper 554 39 ..........April 12 ........Nichols W. Asheville 650 16 ..........April 17 ..............................Selma 320 14 ..........April 18 ...........................Raleigh 500 6 ............April 19 ...................William Pitt 734
22 ..........May 1 ....................Jefferson Penn 384 21 ..........May 2 ........................ Laurinburg 305 17 ..........May 3 ............................ Stedman 730 1 ............May 14 .............................Eureka 317 2 ............May 15 ............................Manteo 521 8 ............May 16 ............... Royal White Hart 2 4 ............May 21 ...........................Franklin 109 12 ..........May 22 .......................... Shallotte 727 10 ..........May 23 ....................Pleasant Hill 304 29 ..........May 30 ........................Albemarle 703
BOTTOM LINE, from page 1 Achievement requires effort. There are many who deserve our
most generous praise. Without question, the exemplary leader- ship of Board Chairman Dan Rice and Vice-Chairman Johnny Surles guided the event with great expertise and personal com- mitment. The active engagement of the three Shrine Temples and their potentates, Terry Hodges of Amran, John Sullivan of Oasis, and Bruce Bulluck of Sudan, was fundamental to the attainment of diverse participation and an enjoyable parade. We also grate- fully acknowledge the leadership of John Sullivan in the success of the barbecue. There are indeed many who deserve credit, but it is especially deserved by Chris Richardson and the staff at the Home. Their "passion and competence" really showed through! As great as the event was, we can and must seek to advance it
more. Let's truly make it a very diverse event with other activities that will engage the greater community more and more. What a great mission we have had at Oxford since 1873. While times have changed, our cause remains great. Our future success will in large part relate to appealing to our members and gaining partici- pation by the community at large. WhiteStone
Similarly, it has been a great year at WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community in Greensboro. Of special note has been the expansion of the 46 apartment homes under construction. With the six new homes, community clubhouse, fitness center, and more, WhiteStone will indeed be among the best senior living cen- ters in Greensboro and North Carolina! A high number of units were presold prior to the commitment being made to move forward with the construction. Given the current challenging economy, that speaks very positively as regards the member and public interest as well as the fiscal overview by the Board of Directors. The independent living units are tentatively scheduled to open
in March 2012. Indeed, it was my honor to have participated in the cornerstone ceremony for the expansion on June 11. The home enjoys the most solid fiscal position that it has had for many years. Special thanks are owed to Board Chairman Past Grand Master Gene Jernigan, the Board of Directors, and the great staff ably led by Administrator Mark Kolada. As we celebrate the first 100 years of service at our cherished home in 2012, let's be reminded of our mission and of this great partnership of the Grand Lodge
NORTH CAROLINA The Mason
(USPS 598-260) is published bimonthly by The Grand Lodge of AF & AM of North Carolina, 2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608. Third class postage paid at Oxford, NC 27565.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The North Carolina Mason, School Of Graphic Arts, Masonic Home for Children, Oxford, NC 27565.
of AF & AM of North Carolina and the North Carolina Order of Eastern Star. While times have changed, our cause remains sound and authentic. Indeed, WhiteStone is an active senior community with a strong foundation and promising future. Masonic Foundation of North Carolina
Special thanks are extended to all of you for your support of
the program to raise funds for the North Carolina Masonic Foun- dation. The donations continue and have exceeded expectations. That is in spite of reports that a considerable number of the initial appeal letters in eastern North Carolina were not delivered in the mail due to Hurricane Irene. Significant increases in participa- tion have been noted since the delivery of the reminder notice. In addition to the lapel pin that was included for the more than 43,000 members, recognition is being provided to the high do- nors. A custom medallion features the NC State Capitol and the three presidents monument on the obverse and the Grand Lodge Building on the reverse; and the sequentially numbered Grand Lodge Case knife will continue to be available during December. (It's a great gift idea that also benefits an important cause.) Montforts
It was my pleasure in October to present my third Mont-
fort Medal, the highest recognition that can be presented by the Grand Lodge of AF & AM of North Carolina, to Claude Chil- dress of Traphill 483. I am grateful for the service and exemplary example that he has long advanced. Website
Masonry in North Carolina is showcased well in our new web- site that was just brought online in mid-November. The quick link is . As described elsewhere in this newsletter, ma- jor renovations and restorations are nearing completion at your Grand Lodge Office building on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. Staff
Deep-seated in the long-term accomplishments and success-
ful day-to-day operations of our Grand Lodge is the staff. There are compelling reasons that then Grand Master Gerry Smith in 1997 and then Grand Master Tom Gregory in 1999 recog- nized Theophilus Walton Clapp III and Richard Edward Carter with the highest award of our jurisdiction, the Montfort Medal. During terms of service, I heard a number of past grand masters
Grand Master Lewis R. Ledford
Board Of Publication Gary R. Ballance Don E. Bolden
Thomas A. Pope Jr. John A. Sullivan Hugh K. Terrell Jr.
Editor Ric Carter
express comments regarding an increased appreciation of their work. I join that chorus. In addition to their counsel and work, I have enjoyed their friendships. If there were similar fraternal recognitions for ladies, Cornelia Doherty, Vicki Lam, and Lisa Mondeau would have received those honors or be primary can- didates. From the experience and understanding afforded by Cornelia, to the resolve of Vicki to be thorough and accurate in fiscal accounting, to Lisa being a quick study and highly profi- cient in her office skills, thank you all for the professional, qual- ity work you provide the Grand Lodge Office and the service to the local lodges. Similarly, the zeal and enthusiasm, combined with the aptitude and expertise, of the elected and appointed Grand Lodge officers continue to position our fraternity for success in the years ahead. And certainly I wish to extend my most genuine appreciation to my wife Susan Pettyjohn Ledford for her untiring support. During the past year, in particular, there were times her unwav- ering support and actions guided me and were instrumental in the outcomes being positive. As this is the final column for 2011, I'd like to share a writing
that has long been a favorite of mine: "To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." — Emerson Finally, as grand master in North Carolina, I cannot legislate
passion or competence. What I would like to do is provide en- couragement for these traits that will thereby enable us to make Freemasonry – this gentle craft shaped in the Middle Ages and whose members' efforts have made it the most benevolent in the history of modern civilization – continue to be relevant, to be pertinent, to be self-fulfilling to its members, and to be true to its mission of raising the moral, social, intellectual, and spiri- tual conscience of society by teaching the ancient and enduring philosophical truths of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. May the Great Archi- tect richly bless you in this holiday season and in the New Year!
THE MISSION OF FREEMASONRY IN NORTH CAROLINA IS TO RAISE THE MORAL, SOCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND SPIRITUAL CONSCIENCE OF SOCIETY BY TEACHING THE ANCIENT AND ENDURING PHILOSOPHICAL TENETS OF BROTHERLY LOVE, RELIEF, AND TRUTH, WHICH ARE EXPRESSED OUTWARDLY THROUGH SERVICE TO GOD, FAMILY, COUNTRY, AND SELF UNDER THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD WITHIN THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.
Good quality pictures, whether color or black and white, are essential for suitable reproduction. The right to reject any submission not suitable for use is reserved. Pictures will be returned to the sender only if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Submissions and other correspondence should be sent to the editor at PO Box 6506, Raleigh, NC 27628 or rcarter@grandlodge-nc.org.
Each North Carolina Mason is a subscriber to The North Carolina Mason. If you know a member who is not receiving the paper, please send us his full name, his complete address and the name and number of his lodge. Masonic widows receive The Mason free upon request. Subscriptions are available to others at a rate of five dollars per year. Subscription inquiries and address changes only should be sent to: The School of Graphic Arts, Masonic Home for Children, 600 College Street, Oxford, North Carolina 27565.
Reproduction of articles by Masonic organiza- tions is permitted with proper credits.
Opinions expressed are not necessar- ily those of The North Carolina Mason, the Grand Lodge, or Board of Publication.
November/December 2011
You're invited Annual Masonic
23rd
Blood Drive January 6 The 23rd
Annual Masonic Blood Drive
will be held at five locations in western North Carolina on January 6. Donor gifts, cook- ies, and child care are available at all loca- tions. Collecting locations are: Taylorsville, First Baptist Church (1:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.); Conover, Conover Fire Department (2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.); Hickory, Masonic Center (2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.); Statesville, States- ville Civic Center (8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.); and Mooresville, Charles Mack Citizens Center (2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.). This is one of the largest blood drives in
North Carolina. Donor gifts, cookies, and child care are available at all sites.
Great Landscape Event at the Home for Children March 10 OXFORD — The Masonic Home for
Children will be hosting a day for those wish- ing to help the Home with beautifying the campus grounds. They will start the day with a continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Work starts at 9:00 and ends at 12:30 p.m. with lunch for you afterward. Come and enjoy the Great Landscape
Brother Everett on the bench.
Event. Groups and individuals may register or get more information by visiting or calling the Home at (919) 693-5111.
Statesville 27 presented Twain Award SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND — At Annual
Communication, Statesville 27 was presented a 2010 Twain Award by the Masonic Information Center. The presentation was made by Masonic Service As- sociation Executive Secretary Richard Fletcher and Grand Master Lewis Ledford. Ledford is himself a member of Statesville 27. The award is presented to those lodges in North
America which distinguish themselves in display- ing Masonic awareness. The award is sponsored by the Masonic Information Center (MIC) which is part of the Masonic Service Association of North America (MSANA). When informing Statesville 27 of the award, MSA-
NA Executive Secretary Richard Fletcher, said, "[the] lodge clearly demonstrated Masonic awareness both within the lodge and the community." Fletcher went on to say, "We at the Masonic Information Center are very proud of what Statesville 27 was able to accomplish." The award was created to encourage lodges in North America to make Masonry more visible in the
community and more vital in the lives of Masons. In 2010, Statesville 27 took up a number of proj-
ects to increase Masonic awareness in their lodge and community. Those projects included: • Quarterly friendship breakfasts • First participation in Relay for Life • Homecoming • Emergency services night • Outreach to local Prince Hall lodge • Increased use of existing lodge resources such as
Pancake Jamboree and Family Night. Kevin Combs, master of Statesville 27 in 2010
said, "The lodge officers and members worked hard to raise public awareness of Masonry and to make the Craft more meaningful in the lives of each Brother. I am very pleased that the Masonic Information Center recognized the lodge's hard work. The key to our suc- cess was positive energy."
The MIC announced the winners in February at the annual Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America.
Ric Car ter photo
Ric Car ter photo
