The North Carolina Mason

T h e m i s s i o n o f fr e e m a s o n r y i n no r T h Ca r o l i n a i s T o r a i s e T h e m o r a l, s o C i a l, i n T e l l e C T u a l, a n d s p i r i T u a l C o n s C i e n C e o f s o C i e T y b y T e a C h i n g T h e a n C i e n T a n d e n d u r i n g p h i l o s o p h i C a l 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. The Mason NORTH CAROLINA (USPS 598-260) is published bimonthly by e Grand Lodge of AF & AM of North Carolina, 2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608. ird class postage paid at Oxford, NC 27565. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to e North Carolina Mason, School Of Graphic Arts, Masonic Home for Children, Oxford, NC 27565. Grand Master Dan C. Rice Board Of Publication John O. Newman Jr., Chairman Gary R. Ballance Don E. Bolden omas A. Pope Jr. Hugh K. Terrell Jr. Editor Ric Carter Good quality pictures, whether color or black and white, are essential for suitable reproduction. e 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 e 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 e 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: e 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. Page 2 The North Carolina Mason March/April 2009 From the editor's desk Oldest Prince Hall lodge damaged by fire NEW BERN — North Carolina's oldest Prince Hall lodge, King Solomon 1 suffered fire and smoke damage in a January fire. While the fire was limited to the basement, smoke dam- age to the recently renovated upper two floors was extensive. e 40-member lodge was the first black lodge formed in North Carolina and dates from 1870. If you would like to help their recovery ef- forts, send donations to King Solomon Build- ing Fund c/o Frank Evans, PO Box 218, New Bern, NC 28563. his list. I was already in his office and had been dreading the paddling all weekend. I asked Mr. Regan to go ahead and whip me and let me off the next week. He laughed and refused to do it, but he always remembered my request. e secrets handshakes and the secret words were all given to me as I progressed in Masonry. Somehow, I knew there had to be more to the story than that. Surely, I had not spent a lot of time chasing ghost secrets of the Masons. I had already found out most of the stuff before be- coming a Mason, so I kept on looking because I knew there had to be more to the story of Masonic secrets. As a quiet observer of the Craft, I began to look closely at what the Masons actually accom- plished. Jesus said that you distinguish good peo- ple from bad people by their fruits or their works. e first example that I saw was how the Ma- sons took care of Oxford Orphanage and all the children. I then observed what was being done at WhiteStone, then the Masonic and Eastern Star Home, in Greensboro, and I knew that this was also really great. I saw the Scottish Rite Learn- ing Clinics, the York Rite Eye Foundation, and how these also helped people in need. I watched the Shriners with their hospitals and how they did not charge anyone. I watched lodges raise money to help the homeless shelters in their ar- eas. Lodges raised money for scholarships, for widows, and for those in desperate need in their communities. I knew that God was at work in the Masonic lodges and that brothers that partic- ipated in these charities were blessed more than those they helped. It always made me wonder what inspires a man to want to help others less fortunate. It has finally hit me between the eyes that the secret of Masonry is that it really teaches a man to want to emulate that great teacher, Jesus Christ. It leads a man to the Holy Book on the lodge altar and instructs him to use it as a rule and guide for his life. Experience tells me that Masons from other cultures find the same lessons from their great teachers and their Holy Books. What bet- ter instruction, can a man possibly get? When properly applied, the teachings of Ma- sonry are all derived directly from the Holy Book on the altar. When we talk about faith, hope, and charity and the greatest of these being charity, we are quoting the Apostle Paul in Corinthi- ans. e three Masonic degrees which represent youth, middle age, and old age, are designed to impress upon us the fact that we have a very short time on this earth and that what follows is more important than what happens here. As grand master, I have had the privilege of observing Masonry at work across the state. I recently had the privilege of watching Andrew Jackson Lodge in Salisbury cook 700 gallons of Brunswick stew to sell to raise money for char- ity. e men and the women who were working that day were doing so in complete harmony and with a sense of excitement and enthusiasm even though some of them had been stirring the stew for several hours. e group worked like a well- oiled machine. Everyone just did their job as they cooked, served, ran a to-go operation, and waited on those who ate at the lodge. It was amazing to watch them work together, and it hit me that they had found the secrets of Masonry. is same en- thusiasm, energy, and work ethic is demonstrated time after time as almost all of the our Masonic lodges do as they hold their own fundraisers My Brothers, I believe you have found the secrets of Masonry. May God bless each of your fund raising projects and may they be fun for all involved. SALISBURY — Grand Master Dan C. Rice visited the Veterans Administration Medical Center here on January 10. He talked with veterans of our armed ser vices who are confined to the medical center and demonstrated his appreciation for the vol- unteers who attend those patients. The Ma- sonic Ser vice Association's Visitation Pro- gram is active in each of North Carolina's VA Medical Centers. Local Masons greeted Grand Master Rice at a local restaurant where they enjoyed lunch before their visit. Rice spent time with several patients at the facility, at least four of them Masons. Rice was accompanied by Grand Tyler Steve Lynch and Grand Lecturer Don Kehler. Bill McComb, who supervises the MSA Vis- itation program in Salisbury, said of the grand master's visit, "It lightened the hearts of all he met and will have a long term positive effect on the patients. I also appreciate the Grand Lodge officers, who accompanied him." Volunteers at the hospital are important in many functions. ey help entertain those who do not otherwise have much contact with the Rice visits VA Grand Master Rice enjoys a conversation with William Smith of Paul Drayton 7, PHA in Charlotte. Posing for a photo are, from left, DDGM Steve Schenk, Grand Tyler Steve Lynch, Alexander Mitchell, GM Rice, and Grand Lecturer Don Kehler. outside world. ey read, help write letters, and offer personal favors for people who very much need and appreciate the aid. You can pitch in by contacting the volunteer offices at your local VA Medical Center. If you are not convenient to those centers, there are volunteer opportunities at local hospitals and nursing homes. GREENVILLE — Past Grand Master Leslie H. Garner died February 23. He was 89. Grand master in 1976, Garner received his de- grees in Greenville 284 in 1946. He was a found- ing member of Crown Point 708 in Greenville and Orphans 761. Les, along with our late Past Grand Master Jack Honeycutt, was an unofficial welcome wag- on for the Grand Lodge, hosting a hospitality room for visiting dignitaries over the years. At his funeral, his minister praised him as "not afraid of new ideas," as a man who was al- ways "investing in something bigger than him- self." e same applied to his life in Masonry. Garner was active in many parts of the com- munity. He was quite busy and well known in Kiwanis, having served as district governor. He helped organize more than 50 Kiwanis Clubs including the first Golden K Club and the first all female Kiwanis Club. He was the second president of the Pirate Club, East Carolina University's athletic boost- ers. He sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch of East Caro- lina baseball games. Garner is survived by five children and sev- eral grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Evelyn, his dear wife of 47 years. Poor Man's Supper April 25 KING — Hot dogs, corn bread, and slow- cooked pinto beans are highlighting the Poor Man's Supper at King 722 on April 25. It's all you can eat for five dollars. ey're serving from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Golf Tournament April 25 WALNUT COVE — e Eighth Annual J. Arthur Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament will be a best ball, captain's choice contest. e entry fee is $240 per four-man team. A meal and snacks along the course are included. For details on sponsorships or playing, visit . Building Bicentennial June 6 NEW BERN — St. Johns 3 and the New Bern Scottish Rite Bodies are celebrating the 200 th anniversary of their building. On June 6, at the building, they will hold a commemorative banquet, lodge meeting, dedication, and tours of the facility. A number of recognitions are avail- able for donations to the building preservation fund. Banquet tickets are $20 per person or $35 for a couple. Lodge opens at 10:00 a.m., the dedication is at 5:00 p.m., and the banquet is at 6:00. Tours will be conducted throughout the day. For more information contact New Bern Masonic e- ater Historic Preservation Fund, 516 Hancock Street, New Bern, NC 28560. You're invited CHAPEL HILL — Several lodges have already enjoyed visits with Prince Hall lodges. On February 2, Mosaic 762 hosted members of Mount Olive 36 PHA in Chapel Hill. More than 30 Prince Hall Masons attended the fellowship supper. Several University undergrads interested in membership also attended the dinner. Ric Car ter photo DDGM Dickie Lyon arranges and instructs the fellow craft for the degree. Mount Olive cancelled their stated meeting for the night in order to stay for Mosaic's triple third degree. ree of their members participat- ed as fellow craft in the second section of the degree. In addition to the 18 Prince Hall visi- tors, there were Masons attending from Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Mosaic Lodge hosts Prince Hall neighbors NC Mason Deadlines Issue Deadline January/February January 1 March/April March 1 May/June May 1 July/August July 1 September/October September 1 November/December November 1 PGM Garner dies at 89 At the funeral, Past Grand Master Les Gar- ner's minister praised him as "not afraid of new ideas," as a man who was always "investing in something bigger than himself." Les, like his old friend Jack Honeycutt, em- bodied the antithesis of "old man's disease." He smiled, laughed, and embraced life. He was not the stodgy, grumpy old man complaining from the corner of the room. He was full of life and joy. He was one of those men who knew that loving life was not the same as clinging to history. Freemasonry is old. It is the oldest fraternal organization ever. It has as many personalities as it does members. Some have no respect for the history of the craft and would make it over in their own image. Others see it as a perfected in- stitution — perfected at the moment they took their obligation — no further changes needed or allowed. Freemasonry has evolved over the years. It is a different creature than when it began. Other- wise, it would have died with the stone masons' guilds. It has adapted, though carefully, to the needs of its times and culture. Over the years, our version of the craft has become more reserved — more like Sunday School and less like a social club. We once met in pubs, now we ban any contact with alcohol in our functions or facilities. We are discouraged from playing cards or dancing in a lodge hall. As a result of our growing reverence, we must defend ourselves as not offering the lodge as a substitute for the church. We are admonished to avoid any frivolity be- fore we confer a degree. is is despite the fact that it is a social play to bind men to one another, not a religious ritual. Visiting another Masonic jurisdiction is now much more available to North Carolina Masons. No longer do we have to journey across state lines to see how other Masons celebrate making new members. We can do it in our own communities. During a recent visit to a Prince Hall third degree, we were impressed by the statement of the lodge master at the beginning of the confer- ral. He reminded us, his brothers, that we knew when to have fun and when to be serious. He admonished us to maintain those boundaries. eir approach allowed much more play be- tween the members and their future brothers. It allowed more variation for individual lodges in certain portions of the work. Is their approach better? Is ours? Both have their advantages. Our privilege will be to exchange visits and thoughts and philoso- phies. Our jobs will be to discern what it is we have to learn. What can we take away to make our work and fraternity more vibrant? What are the lessons we may apply to make ours a stron- ger, more useful fraternity? Let's make sure that Ancient, Free and Ac- cepted Masonry in North Carolina is "not afraid of new ideas." Let us assure that our Freemason- ry is "investing in something bigger than" itself. Let us make sure that we continue to grow and thrive, not just cling to history. Fear not, invest in something bigger BOTTOM LINE, from page 1

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