The North Carolina Mason

November/December 2011 TRAVELING THE TAR HEEL STATE NEWS FROM NORTH CAROLINA'S LODGES By Ric Carter South Mills When you are as close to the state line as New Lebanon 314, it's easy to develop a close relationship with lodges in another state. New Lebanon Lodge frequently trades visits with Virginia's Indian River Lodge. Indian River came down for 314's fish fry in the spring. New Lebanon returned the visit and ate chicken with Indian River Lodge in June. They were also planning to visit Virginia again October 18 on Crazy Tie Night. New Lebanon filled their officer stations with past master for their Past Masters' Night Sep- tember 13. They figured up and found that they had 772 years of Masonic experience among those in the chairs. They were holding their fish fry fundraiser for the Masonic Home for Children on October 8. — The Plumb Line Gastonia King Solomon 704 did their adopted highway (Gaston Day School Road) trash pickup June 25. They accumulated ten bags including one each of glass, aluminum, and plastic for recycling. The lodge is adding a new multimedia projec- tor. The old Carousels are disappearing quickly and being replaced by digital projectors. — The Plumb Line Spencer Spencer 543 has established a calling sys- tem to pass along the word of meetings, special events, and items of interest. —On the Square Warsaw Hurricane Irene took off some roof shingles at Warsaw 677. Insurance handled the issues, but it did remind them to pay attention to their building fund for planned maintenance issues. Warsaw was to hold their Veterans' Day pa- rade November 5. Warsaw Lodge was holding their Annual Pancake and Sausage Breakfast the same day. Lodge Master Johnny McGee, currently serving in the Army, was participating in the parade. The lodge Ladies' and Awards Night was set — Warsaw Lodge or December 6. Wallace Wallace 595's Past Masters' and Widows' Night was scheduled for October 3. — Newsletter Smithfield Many lodges are discovering that while fi- nancial times may be slow, the squeeze is not finding its way to operating costs. Lodge ex- penses continue to climb requiring that lodge dues be raised. Friendship 84 has raised their dues to $100 for 2012. They had Past Masters' and Ladies' Night set for November 3. They had a lodge workday ex- pected October 15. — Harvey Evans Jacksonville Semper Fidelis 680's Annual Barbecue Fundraiser this year brought in $1,900 for Masonic charities. Semper Fi Lodge also enjoyed two "very suc- cessful" Family Days this summer. — Trestle Board Hickory August 13 was the date for Hickory 343's Family Day. They host a large crowd for the out- door fun day each year. They enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs and ice cream at the event. They have a bouncy castle and a water slide for the kids. There was Becky the Balloon Lady to en- tertain and tours of the foundry exhibit and the Catawba Science Center. Hickory Lodge sponsored a summer blood — Hickory Lodge drive August 12. Southport Predicted bad weather led to delaying Py- thagoras 249's Sixth Annual Masonic Golf Tour- nament. First scheduled for September 16, they changed the date to October 29. The $50 entry fee included breakfast and lunch. Non-Masons and ladies were welcome. It was being played at Lakes Country Club in Boiling Springs Lakes. Pythagoras Lodge's Annual Awards and Widows Appreciation dinner was set for No- vember 11. Gastonia Holland Memorial 668 was celebrating their 1,000th ner October 13. stated communication with a din- — Ric Clanton Weaverville Vance 293 held their annual barbecue fund- raiser October 8. It was also the night they pass out awards and honor their past masters and widows. They even hold an open house. Blue- grass and gospel music were featured. — Edward Hamlin — Newsletter Carthage They are considering building improvements at Carthage 181. They are looking at renovating an outside kitchen area as well as upgrading the fellowship hall, kitchen appliances, cabinets, and sinks. The September 30 fish fry fundraiser here was considered a success. Proceeds went to the Masonic Home for Children. A chicken and dumpling fundraiser was set for November 4. Carthage Lodge has launched their first — Quarterly Trestle Board newsletter. Conover Work on the ceiling is done and is proceeding on the stairwell at Conover 709. Fundraisers at Conover Lodge include a couple of local businesses. They had a day in Au- gust during which Texas Roadhouse donated to a lodge designated charity ten percent of every meal ticket accompanied with a special coupon. They had a similar arrangement with the Five Star Car Wash, getting two dollars back for every deluxe car wash they sent to the company. Mon- ey from the projects went to Masonic charities. — Conover Lodge Newsletter Salisbury Andrew Jackson 576 recently congratulated member Jason Mazzoni on his graduation from the United States Naval Academy and his mar- riage to Susannah Stokes, also an Academy grad. In July, Andrew Jackson Lodge members Elmer Lagg and Bob Yount got their Veterans' Emblems for 50 years membership. The big project at the Salisbury Temple is the replacement of the windows there. New windows will be more energy efficient, more at- tractive, and require less maintenance. They were hoping to have the needed $24,000 by Septem- ber. The drive stood at nearly $14,000 in July. — Master's Journal Hookerton Jerusalem 95 had some minor roof damage during Hurricane Irene, but repairs are complete. Jerusalem Lodge paid the expenses of their delegates to Annual Communication this year. Jerusalem's members have been faithful in their remembering the lady at WhiteStone they "adopted" a couple of years ago. They send her a few dollars every month for "the little things." — The Jerusalem Journal The North Carolina Mason Asheville The Lodge System of Masonic Education (now available on the Grand Lodge website) is reported to have become quite popular at Mount Hermon 118. It is certainly getting a thorough workout with their raising of seven new Masons in September alone. Restoration continues on the Asheville Ma- sonic Temple. The most current projects are the rebuilding of the recreation room and building the emergency shelter stocks. They were seek- ing a shuffleboard, card tables, chairs, a modern television, stereo, cots, bedding, clothing, canned goods, water vessels, and board games. October 1 was Appalachian Harvest Festival at Mount Hermon 118. They were conducting public tours of the Masonic Temple and serving barbecue. There were art demonstrations, line dancing, clogging, and Appalachian music. They were holding a rummage sale at the same time to raise money for the Masonic Homes. The Annual Theater Degree at the Temple was set for September 17. The Saturday degree included breakfast and featured the second sec- tion of the Master Mason degree in the upstairs theater of the lodge. At Mount Hermon's Service Awards Dinner September 22, Herbert A. Hill received his Vet- eran's Emblem for 50 years Masonic membership. — Trestle Board, Ron Lambe, and John Burchfield Kannapolis Allen-Graham 695 was to hold their Char- ity Breakfast October 15. Their Annual Ladies' Night was to be held November 19. Cannon Memorial 626 had their Ladies' Night Banquet set for October 29. The Kannapolis lodges were having a work- day October 22. Upgrades to the building were on tap, with redoing the kitchen area paramount. They were not doing all the restorative work, but cleaning up and tearing out in preparation. — Randy Crainshaw Page 3 At the Abernathy hat trick adding a third generation of certified lecturer are, from left, Jake Abernathy, Jake Abernathy III, Grand Lecturer Mack Sigmon, and Ray Abernathy Jr. Abernathy family pulls hat trick Concord CATAWBA — When Jacob Ray Abernathy III passed his proficiency exam August 20, he joined his father Jacob Ray Abernathy Jr. (certified 20 years) and his grandfather Jacob Ray Abernathy (certified 49 years) as a Class A certified lecturer. Records are not readily available, but this milestone could be one of the first three-generation families of certified Charlotte Phalanx 31 was having a past masters Mas- ter Mason degree October 15. They were having breakfast followed by the degree on a Saturday morning. — Brad Hufeld Charles M. Setzer 693 collected Halloween candy and decorations for the kids at the Ma- sonic Home for Children. Their yard sale was not the success they hoped, but they were trying again October 15. At their October stated meeting, Setzer Lodge was having a program about Mozart's Magic Flute and opera with Masonic themes. — Trestleboard Excelsior 231 recently hosted a barbecue en- joyed by members of Charlotte Fire Stations 3 and 14 and several MEDIC ambulance crews. Jim Ringley and Jeff Peck did the chefly duties. Excelsior Lodge did their street clean up along Sharon Amity Road September 17. Chuck Men- kel, Frank Riley, and Charles Blake did the work. — Trestle Board Thomasville Thomasville 214 had a special awards program September 6. Lawrence Hiatt was presented his Diamond Jubilee for 60 years in the lodge. They presented Veteran's Emblems for 50-year mem- bers to Fred Plummer, Ellis Jackson, Charles Stout, and Harold Hillard. For their dedication to training new members, Thomasville Lodge saluted coaches Roger Bryant, Doug O'Kelly, Ronnie Boles, Royal Jarvis, Gus Plakakis, Mike Elberson, and Sam Watford. pine straw bales. Thomasville Lodge has finished their sale of — Trestle Board Cabarrus 720 has raised their dues to $100, its initiation fees to $150, and their affiliation fee to $25. Cabarrus Lodge's second fundraiser of the year, the iPad raffle, brought in $800 for the Ma- sonic Homes. In October, Cabarrus members Bobby Layel, Art Layel, and Frank Burrage got their Veteran's Emblems for 50 years lodge membership. Union 618 held their Ladies' Night Out No- vember 19. A bluegrass band was to entertain. Union Lodge and Cabarrus Lodge and the other bodies meeting in their building are install- ing a new computer projection and sound system. — Cabarrus Lodge Kinston St. John's 4 participated in a Masonic church service September 18. They wore aprons and brought their spouses to the Southwood Memo- rial Christian Church for the ceremonies. Rick Vernon was to give the message. — Lynn Hill Cary Matt Ward, son of Cary 198 Past Master Watts Ward, has made a curio cabinet for the lodge. It is being placed in the foyer and will house historical artifacts of the lodge. Cary Lodge is reviving their scholarship pro- gram. This year, they presented two $1,000 and two $500 scholarships. The promising recipients were Hannah Wetmore, Cameron Bunch, Za- kiya Toney, and Erin Beasley. Their Past Masters' Night was held October 3. Their Fall Barbecue for Masonic charities was November 4. — The Trestleboard lecturers since the program began in 1941. The currently active three hundred-seventy lecturers now include nine sets of father/son certified pairs. Grand Lecturer Mack Sigmon made this special presentation at Riverside 606 on September 12. Just two months after this celebration, Jake passed away. He is much mourned. — Mack Sigmon Cherryville Cherryville 505 was cooking for fundraising this fall. They had their chicken barbecue Oc- tober 21. They were selling Boston butts on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. — News Out of the Blue Marble Supper October 1. Marble Springs 439 was having a Poorman's — Sonoma News Apex After rain washed them out for a week, the kids at the Masonic Home for Children got to fly model airplanes again in late September. Dave Nyce of Apex 584 visits periodically with his tiny flyers and teaches the kids how to use them — a unique experience for them. Nyce says, "The kids had a great time, and so did I." A coincidental blimp flyover added another special note to the afternoon. — Dave Nyce see STATE, page 5 If your lodge has a newsletter for its members, make sure The North Carolina Mason is on your mailing list. Lodge newsletters are a major source of news for Masons around the state. If you don't have one, think about starting one. Newsletters are a good way to keep your mem- bers active, happy, and informed.

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