North Carolina Mason
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/5189
The Mason
NORTH CAROLINA
Official Publication of e Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina
Volume 134 Number 2 Oxford, North Carolina March/April 2009
Ric
Car
ter
photos
see BOTTOM LINE, page 2
The BoTTom Line
By Dan C. Rice
Grand Master
The pursuit of the Masonic secrets
While working at the Oxford Or-
phanage Print Shop as a student in the
1960s, I heard about Masonic secrets. I
had no clue what they were, but I figured
they had to be something really big if all those men joined Ma-
sonry to find out what they were. e Print Shop boys had to set
the type on Linotype machines for the Orphan's Friend and Ma-
sonic Journal and for the Grand Lodge Proceedings. at meant we
were exposed to all the Masonic editorials and stories from those
days. I read them all knowing that somewhere in that paper was
the first clue to obtaining the Masonic secrets.
During that period, the Orphanage was in a building program
replacing all the original buildings that had been built around
1890 to 1900. at meant that there were a lot of cornerstones
being laid on the campus. Laying a cornerstone by the Masons
was always a solemn occasion which required the attendance of
all the Orphanage children. We had to put on our Sunday best
and stand very quietly while the Masons went through the cor-
nerstone ritual. I can still remember them lined up on stage with
their corn, wine, and oil. I never had much use for the corn and
oil, but I sure wanted a sip of that wine. e cornerstone ceremony
gave me a chance to observe, up close, a Masonic ritual. I watched
for any clue of their hidden secrets, but found none.
After graduating from the Orphanage, I found myself in a his-
tory class at UNC/Chapel Hill studying the French Revolution
under a Dr. Caldwell, who took a particular interest in me. e
class was given a list of books from which to do a written report.
Dr. Caldwell did not let me pick from the list but instead as-
signed me the book Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike. Many of
you know the name Albert Pike. He is considered a giant among
Masonic writers and was a very smart and interesting man who
led a very colorful life. e book is a comparison of the world's
religions and is intertwined with Freemasonry and its principles. I
read the book (which was the hardest book I have ever read) and
did my report. Dr. Caldwell gave me an incomplete and asked me
to reread the book and do another report at the end of the sum-
mer. I felt that he was a complete jerk, but I did what he asked,
and he gave me a B+ the second time. Years later I found out that
Dr. Caldwell was a past grand master of our Grand Lodge. I had
no clue at the time, but he was pointing me in the direction of the
Masonic secrets by having me to read the book a second time.
At UNC, the library was full of books about Freemasonry
both around the world and in North Carolina. I feasted on these
books, knowing that I would stumble upon the Masonic secrets
somewhere in the stacks at the old Wilson Library. I searched
thoroughly, knowing that they had to be there somewhere, but
what I got instead was a broad based knowledge of the principles
that Freemasonry was built on such as friendship, morality, and
brotherly love. e secrets were not to be found.
During this period, the Vietnam War was raging, and the
world seemed to go crazy. Drugs, war protests, campus violence,
and a general attack on the establishment took place. Integration
was happening, but not smoothly, Russia invaded Czechoslova-
kia and crushed them, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King
were shot down. Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and many other
rock stars died of drug overdoses. For a boy who had grown up in
a conservative country town orphanage, the world seemed totally
crazy. I lost track of the search for Masonic secrets and just tried
to survive in a world of constant change.
It was only after I had married and had children that I again
began to search for the Masonic secrets. By this time, I had gained
just enough sense to realize that a good place to actually find them
was in a Masonic lodge as a brother. I petitioned Bula 409 in
Burlington and began my Masonic journey. I can still remember
the apprehension on the day of my initiation. e subtle light and
the first appearance of the lodge room after being brought to light
is forever etched in my mind. I was most impressed with the Fel-
low Craft Degree as it explained where a man was to get further
instruction. en came the Master Mason Degree, and I was very
pleased that several men who had nurtured and directed me at the
orphanage came to the degree.
Eli Reagan, who was the disciplinarian at the Orphanage, ac-
tually raised me, and I could see tears in his eyes. You have to
understand that he was a tough old man and had whipped me
constantly for ten years when I was at the Orphanage. As the
assistant administrator, he actually managed the employees and
took care of the Orphanage campus while Administrator A. De-
Leon Gray raised money across the state. A boy that the cottage
counselor felt needed a better whipping than she could administer
was always sent to Mr. Reagan on Mondays. I somehow found
myself in his office every Monday morning for my whipping. One
Monday, to his shock and to my surprise, my name was not on
By Ric Carter
EDENTON — On December 13, Masons and Sons of the
American Revolution assembled here to honor a hero of Ameri-
can independence and North Carolina Freemasonry. Just two days
before Samuel Johnston's 275
th
birthday, the gathering saluted our
first grand master and one of our ear-
liest governors. e ceremonies were
held at Johnston's grave on Hayes
Plantation here, just a few hundred
yards from Unanimity 7. Members of
both organizations met at the lodge
before the assembly and returned
there for a reception after the honors
were concluded.
Melvin Hawkins, president of
the northern Albemarle Chapter of
the North Carolina Society Sons of
the American Revolution, welcomed
the crowd of 100 or so history buffs.
NCSSAR President Sam Powell also
had remarks about he honoree. e
keynote for the day came from Past
Grand Master Jerry R. Tillett. A direct descendant of the John-
ston's sister, Ann Cope Mueller, shared family thoughts of their
ancestor and thanked the assembly for honoring him.
e NCSSAR then presented the series of wreaths they use
to memorialize their heroes. Flowers were presented by several
chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Daughters
of the American Revolution, and National Society of Colonial
Dames. An SAR marker was installed at Johnston's grave site.
OXFORD — e tradition of Masons celebrating St. John's
Day at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford goes back
at least 100 years. Looking at records back to 1910 shows that
St. John's Day has changed many times during its history. ere
were brief hiatuses for world
wars, the Depression, and po-
lio. ere were wonderful addi-
tions such as the Shrine parade,
live music, and the leadership
of our departed friend Lloyd
Young, "Mr. St. John's Day."
e year 2009 will mark an-
other year of change, bringing
back some of the traditional
aspects of early St. John's Day
celebrations. On Saturday, June
27, the Masonic Home for Chil-
dren will host an open house for
Masons and Eastern Stars, their
families, and friends. Visitors
may once again tour many differ-
ent homes and facilities, includ-
ing the residences, the School of
Graphic Arts (Print Shop), and
Cobb Center museum.
e day will begin with a
stated communication of Or-
phans 761, the Masonic lodge
which meets on campus and
was chartered with a specific
goal of raising money to sup-
port the children. All Master
Masons are welcome to attend.
Soon after the lodge meeting, a
special St. John's Day service will
be held in the York Rite Chapel,
conducted by Grand Chaplain
George L. Tyre.
The old is fresh again
St. John's Day set for June 27
Jean and Harvey Evans stroll the campus at an ear-
lier St. John's Day celebration.
For this year's celebration, tours will be conducted by resi-
dents of the Home. Some residents will set up cottage booths,
allowing the children to sell food and gift items with proceeds
benefiting their respective cottages. A special "Legacy Tour" of
By Chris Richardson
By Tim Berly
Samuel Johnston was born in Dundee, Scotland, on December
15, 1733. In his third year, his parents came to Onslow County in
North Carolina.
He was educated at Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut
from 1750–53. At the age of 21, Samuel came to Edenton, then a
small village of no more than 500
inhabitants, yet an important in-
dustrial, political, and social cen-
ter of the Albemarle region.
Johnston read law in 1753,
was appointed clerk of the
court in 1755, and licensed
as an attorney in 1756. In the
spring of 1765, he purchased
Hayes Plantation where he
and his family would live for
the next 30 years.
Johnston served in the first
four Provincial Congresses,
which met in August 1774,
April 1775, August 1775, and
April 1776. After John Harvey, president of the first two con-
gresses, died in May 1775, Samuel Johnston was chosen to preside
over the third. On April 4, 1776 he was again chosen as presi-
dent of the Fourth Provincial Congress, which met in Halifax.
ey unanimously passed resolutions, including one to authorize
North Carolina's delegates to the Second Continental Congress
then meeting in Philadelphia to vote for independence from Great
Britain, as well as encourage delegates from the other colonies to
do so. is made North Carolina the first colony to empower its
Markers placed on Johnston's Edenton grave
First grand master's birthday saluted
Flags, historians, Revolution descendants, and Masons gathered at Johnston's grave.
Samuel Johnston —
early governor, first
grand master
see JOHNSTON, page 4
see MARKER, page 4
GM Rice speaks
about Johnston.
Ric
Car
ter
photo
campus will be conducted by
Home alumnus, Grand Master
Dan C. Rice. He will be high-
lighting the places and people
special to his life at the Home.
e tours with the residents
will be conducted throughout
the day following the service
in the chapel.
e Home will serve a bar-
becue and chicken lunch in
the dining hall for Masons and
Eastern Stars and their families.
ere will be souvenirs for sale,
and other activities for the fam-
ily. Special events are expected.
An updated schedule of events
will be posted on the Home's
website in April.
All our Masonic friends and
families are encouraged to make
the trip and spend a day visiting
our children's home, one of the
few Masonic children's homes
remaining in the United States.
For more information, please
call (888) 505-4357 or visit the
Home's St. John's Day web-
site at