The North Carolina Mason

March/April 2009 The North Carolina Mason Page 5 Harvey, from page 8 BORGLUM, from page 8 such beautiful statues from simple blocks of stone, he said, "It is very simple. I merely knock away with a hammer and chisel the stone I do not need, and the statue is there… It was there all the time." His description is reminiscent of our Masonic admonition on using the gavel to shape our lives. Honor in the lodge to perpetuate the memory of those storied people from Kinston's historic lodge. Jerry took his plan to Harvey family members Felix Harvey III and his sister Myrtilla Brody, both of whom are known for community service and generosity. Ms. Brody's late husband Sammy was a member of Greenville 284. Kanter researched the history of the family's involvement in St. John's 4 and shared with the family its importance. Touched, Ms. Brody had a sophisticated sound system installed in the lodge. anks to the wire- less microphones at officer stations and remote audio pickups around the lodge, members who have severe hearing impairment can once again attend lodge and hear what is going on. Felix financed Memorial Endowed Mem- berships for each of his Mason forefathers eNCompassiNg the world CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA — 2009 will be the 50 th year for the Grand Lodge of Al- berta presenting scholarships to students for high- er education. In 2008, they presented 100 bursaries of $2,000 each. — e Alberta Freemason CINCINNATI, OHIO — August 16 was the 70 th annual Masons' Night with the Cincinnati Reds. Many Masonic dignitaries were introduced on the field before the game. Grand Master Ronald L. Winnett threw out the first pitch. — The Beacon INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA — is year, the Indiana Grand Lodge awarded 328 college scholarships worth more than $425,000. Since the inception of their Grand Lodge scholarship, they have given 7.2 million dollars helping near- ly 7,900 Indiana students attend college. — Indiana Mason A major academic symposium on the history of Freemasonry was held in Havana, Cuba, at the end of last year — the first of its kind to be held in the country, and was officially opened at the Uni- versity of Havana. ere were welcoming speeches by Osmundo Cabrera, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Cuba, Professor Jose Ferrer Benimeli, founder and director of CEHME (Center for Study of the His- tory of Spanish Freemasonry) based at Zaragoza University, Spain, and the event's principal orga- nizer, Professor Eduardo Torres-Cuevas, director of the National Library and the current holder of the chair for research into Cuban Freemasonry. For the remainder of the three-day event, there were around 20 presentations on the history of Latin American and Caribbean Freemasonry at the fashionable Hotel Habana Libre Trip. Freemasonry first struck root in Cuba in 1859. Since then, many of the country's most famous per- sonalities have been Masons, including the nine- teenth-century Cuban independence leader, Jose Marti. Following the Castro-led revolution of 1959, Freemasonry went into a sharp decline. However, since 1990 the number of members has grown by almost a third and today there are some 30,000 Free- masons in Cuba spread across more than 340 lodges. at Freemasonry operates in Cuba at all is remarkable, in that it was the only state formerly within the Soviet sphere of influence where Free- masonry was permitted. Although it is not alto- gether clear why Cuba should have tolerated the Craft, it is strongly rumoured that the intellectual elites backing the revolution, felt an affinity for Freemasonry due to its historical involvement with many of the liberation movements of Central and South America. Northern GLs enjoy snowbird visitations We North Carolina Masons think of the heavy travel schedule of our grand masters each year, but it could be worse. Several northern states have so many members who move south to retire and escape the North's winter doldrums that they schedule district meetings to stay in touch with members in other states. Ohio's Grand Master Charles Murphy will hold three Florida meetings this win- ter in Sarasota, Ft. Myers, and Tavares. He will present service awards and have rep- resentatives of their Masonic Homes with him at the January gatherings. Minnesota Grand Master omas Jackson will be visiting Phoenix, Arizona in February — the ninth year of the event. He will be visiting Harlingen, Texas also to host Minnesota Masons who live in warmer climes. at party has been going on for 28 years. — Beacon and e Minnesota Mason Masonic conference held in Cuba Indeed, a cursory glance at a short list of famous Masons across the southern Americas, figures such as Simon Bolivar, Dom Pedro I of Brazil, Benito Juarez in Mexico, and more recently, the leftist President of Chile, Salvador Allende, would appear to suggest that such a story might in fact hold more than a modicum of truth. A reader of Freemasonry Today added the follow- ing information on Cuba and Freemasonry. e author poses the question as to why Ma- sonry is tolerated in Cuba. e answer stems from prerevolution time, when Fidel Castro was imprisoned by the Batista regime. In the next cell was a prominent local Free- mason, who over the period of mutual incarceration explained to Castro all about the Masonic ethos, brotherly love, relief, and truth etc, along with the charitable tendencies and works of its members. Castro eventually came to the conclusion that Freemasons had only good in their hearts and rep- resented no threat to his Communist beliefs what- soever, therefore upon the success of the revolution, he avowed to allow Freemasonry to continue un- molested by his regime. It is also true that Jose Marti, author of the revo- lution, a prominent lawyer and hero of the cause was a Mason, and his tomb in the cemetery in San- tiago, the old capital of Cuba is in a Masonic part of the cemetery, surrounded by other prominent local Freemasons. Editor's Note: Just a few years ago, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina became one of the first US grand lodges to reestablish recognition of the Grand Lodge of Cuba. From the British journal, Freemasonry Today with a note added by its reader S. E. Mitchell of Sussex Ser- vices 5906, Province of Sussex. Ohio holds 200 th SPRINGFIELD, OHIO — During its recent Bicentennial Grand Lodge Session, the Grand Lodge of Ohio hosted several thousand visitors from across the country at an Exhibit of Ameri- can Masonic Treasures. Among the artifacts in the show were the St. John's Lodge Bible on which George Washington took the oath of office and the gavel Washington used to set the cornerstone of the United States Capitol in a Masonic ceremony. Art objects in the exhibit included paintings by Pe- ter Waddell and a ladel made by Silversmith Mason Paul Revere. Many Ohio Masonic treasures were also included. — Beacon Rail lodge still active ALBERTA, CANADA — e membership of King George 59 here was, at one time, largely made up of railroad employees. Industry clos- ings have changed the makeup over the years, but each October the lodge celebrates Railroad Night. at's when a group of former railroaders assemble and confer a second degree. e tradition started more than 25 years ago. e degree team wears engineer's coveralls, and they use a locomotive bell in the place of a gavel. As the rail industry has dwindled over the years, the lodge has relaxed the basic qualifications for their rail team. It is said these days that rail fans or anyone who has recently ridden a train is "likely to be railroaded into joining the team." — e Alberta Freemason Rookies Down Under WESTERN AUSTRALIA — If you are in- terested in the symbolism and details of the En- tered Apprentice Degree, the Western Australia Lodge of Research runs a special production which "explains many of the words, perambula- tions, and complexities" of that ceremony. e presentation is open to anyone who has received a degree in the past year. "Its object is to give new Masons an opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of the other new mem- bers of the Craft, make new friends, and to be aware that they are not alone in taking 'their first steps.'" — Fraternal Review RI Masons play ball EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND — Masons in Rhode Island are getting fit and having fun as they form a softball league for lodg- es. In its early stages, they are shooting for a team in each Masonic district. ey hope to add more teams as time goes on, including teams from ap- pendant bodies and Prince Hall lodges there. For the first year, DeMolay members and entered apprentices will be allowed to play. A Master Mason-only rule is anticipated for the second year. — Rhode Island Freemason WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT — It is reported that the lengthiest discussions at the October Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut came on the budget for next year. e are said to have spent much time figuring where to cut expenditures. Effective Jan- uary 1, 2009, their per capita will be $55. (North Carolina's is $15.) — Connecticut Freemasons TUMWATER, WASHINGTON — e Grand Lodge of Washington was celebrating their 150 th birthday in December 2008. — Oregon Masonic News SPRINGFIELD, OHIO — e Grand Lodge of Ohio directed all its lodges to hold an open house on Saturday, March 21. While the details, agenda, and schedules were left to indi- vidual lodges, the single statewide date allowed for a larger publicity effort. — Beacon Notes (eight in all). ose memberships work as an endowment that provides income for the lodge in perpetuity. On November 10, the lodge held a special dinner to unveil the Wall of Honor that car- ries the Endowment Certificates of all the lodge's endowed members. ey hosted several members of the Harvey family for dinner and expressed their appreciation to the Harveys for their years of support. Felix spoke to the lodge about his affection for the institution. He and his sister unveiled the certificate collection on the wall of the lodge dining hall. Before the dinner, Jerry Kanter con- ducted the family on a tour of the lodge. It in- cluded their viewing of several of their ancestors who are pictured among the past master por- traits in the lodge room. Harvey family and friends in front of the Wall of Honor. Aycock wears his newly cleaned finish. Rainbow landmark HILLSBOROUGH — Crumbling walls continue to fall. On December 22, the Hillsbor- ough Assembly of Rainbow for Girls elected the Rainbow's first black member. Rainbow for Girls is a Masonically-connect- ed, service oriented youth group for girls ages 11 through 20 years old. Many assemblies also have Pledge Groups for girls six to 11 years. According to Al Serff, both organizations "stress service and virtue, along with good fel- lowship (or is it 'girl-ship'?), and fun times." e Hillsborough Assembly meets at Eagle 19 in Hillsborough. Correction In our September/October issue, the pre- senter of Chuck Taylor's Veteran's Emblem was incorrectly identified. Cherry Point 688 Master James Muse Jr. made the presentation. We are pleased to make the correction. HARMONY — On February 7, Josh Cope made it five generations of the his family to be a Mason. He was raised by Harmony 299. Dot- tye Rash is the connection. Dottye's great great grandfather was a Mason, as were her father, her husband, her son, and, now, her grandson. Josh's little sister, Sarah, already has her Eastern Star petition filled out, and she's only 14. Josh's grandfather, J. B. Rash, conferred the first section, and Past Grand Master Tom Gregory con- ferred the second section. Seen here, from left, are DDGL Keith Rash (uncle), J. B. Rash (grandfa- ther), Dottye (grandmother), David Cope (father), Josh, and Dana Rash Cope (mother). — Joe Link Rashes a big part of Harmony TRENTON — A family tradition may start suddenly. Zion 81 had two special initi- ations at the end of 2008, first on December 29, and again on December 30. They initi- ated two families. On December 29, they initiated a father and son along with a friend. ey are seen in the back row here, from left, David Andrews, Brian Higgins, and Franklyn Higgins. On December 30, they initiated a father, his two sons, and his son-in-law. ey are, front from left, William Batchelor, Edgar Mills, Acting Master Johnny Surles, Keith Mills, and Kevin Mills. — Bobby Meadows Zion launches a family tradition

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