The North Carolina Mason

July/August 2009 The North Carolina Mason Page 3 TraveLing The Tar heeL STaTe newS from norTh CaroLina'S LodgeS By Ric Carter 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 and informed. see STATE, page 5 Winston-Salem Old Town 752 celebrated their 35 th anniver- sary April 25. Kids enjoyed bouncing attractions, and the grownups took on the horseshoe pits. More than 120 attended. In April, Ed Schuller, publisher emeri- tus of On the Level at Old Town Lodge, got his Diamond Jubilee Award for 60 years Masonic membership. He is only the lodge's second 60- year recipient. Old Town Lodge had a cleanup day May 30, and their golf tournament is set for October 3 at Long Creek Course. — On the Level at Old Town Lodge Kenansville St. John's 13 participated in the Duplin County Relay for Life May 15–16 at James Sprunt Community College. e Relay is held across the country and raises money for cancer research as well as offering support to those who are battling the disease. e lodge raised more than $2,300 from contributions and by selling ribbons and food. A big portion came from auc- tioning the 1993 Lincoln Town Car donated by Mildred Mathis. St. John's 13 member Eugene B. Davis got his Veterans Emblem for 50 years membership at the lodge's July stated communication. — Lodge Log Mount Olive Mount Olive 208 held their Awards and La- dies' Night April 28. Fifty-two people, including nine lodge widows were on hand to see omas Hollowell get his Diamond Jubilee Award for 60 years Masonic membership. Mount Olive Lodge's Family Night was set for June 5. It was to be a covered dish affair. A. J. Bullard (on guitar) and wife (on fiddle) were supplying bluegrass and gospel music for the evening. Guests and kids were invited. To spruce things up at the lodge, Mount Ol- ive has begun replacing floor tiles. — Trestle Board Hickory ey went through 70 pounds of pancake mix when Hickory 343 held their Plez Teague Memorial Pancake Breakfast May 2. e 750 plates served brought in more than $5,500 for charities. During his life, Teague was one of the state's foremost promoters of Masonic charities. — Hickory Lodge Pineville James K. Polk 759 has been emphasizing community outreach this year. ey are sponsor- ing a girl's choir. e girls will wear the lodge name and colors for their event day at Carow- inds and other social activities. e lodge also is a team sponsor in the Pin- eville-Ballantyne Community Athletic Associa- tion. ey set up tables and ran the concessions at the association's April Spring Fling. Polk Lodge had a Memorial Day Tribute at their April 14 meeting. Brent Wildon organized a food and supply drive for a Marine unit in Iraq. — James K. Polk Lodge Asheville Mount Hermon 118 reports that the newly refinished floor in the dining room at the temple is "handsome." — Asheville Masonic Bodies Charlotte In mid-June, Charles M. Setzer 693 had a barbecued Boston butt sale. e slow-cooked, five-six-pound butts went for $25 each. In spite of torrential downpours, they made about $1,700 for Masonic charities. J. J. Yates is leading Setzer Lodge's School Tools Drive for the third straight year. Last year, they delivered more the $600 worth of school supplies to the kids at the Masonic Home for Children. They collected office supplies at the lodge all summer. Delivery was set for August 8. Ken Barnett built and donated a barbecue smoker to Setzer Lodge. e lodge is also talking about cosmetic improvements to the facilities. — Trestleboard Steele Creek 737's annual Fish Fry and Car Show in May was one of their best ever. Ed Sim- mons and Mickey Lawson ramrodded the event which brought in more than $6,000 for Masonic charities. e car show ran through the middle of the day, and they served fried fish from lunch through supper. Steele Creek Lodge has adopted a new rental policy for their lodge building. ey are now renting only to lodge and Eastern Star (Chap- ter 339) members, and only for personal family events. e fee is $100. Steele Creek was planning a family night at John's Family Restaurant on June 29. — Trestleboard Excelsior 261 recently chipped in $600 send- ing eight kids from the Masonic Home for Children to the Speed Street celebration and the Coca Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway. Lucky kids! Excelsior Lodge is starting a building fund to take care of maintenance issues. Every lodge needs one. For the second year, Excelsior is doing a car wash fundraiser. ey sell wash tickets for a local carwash. ey buy at a discount and sell at retail. — Trestle Board West Gate 738's April fish fry was a sell out. Between the profit and donations, they sent $6,000 to the Masonic Home for Children. ey report that it was one of their best fish fries ever. West Gate is running OSW classes on off Monday nights. Students can study whatever ritual part they like. — News From the West Fuquay-Varina Fuquay 258 planned a shooting event for Masonic charities for May 23. ey were do- ing sporting clays at Drake's Landing. — Trestle Board Wallace Wallace 595 is holding a ham and egg supper and gun raffle on October 23. ey have their Past Masters' Night set for October 5. — Bulletin of Wallace Lodge Pilot Mountain Pilot 493 presented two $500 scholarships in May. One went to a graduating senior at East Surry High. e other went to helping last year's winner for a second year. Pilot Lodge's barbecue brought in more than $1,050 for charity. ey have already started dis- cussions on details for a fall event. e lodge, in August, will be helping again this year with National Police Night Out. e lodge has gotten a couple of gifts recent- ly. Forrest Boaz has given them some books for the lodge library. Master J. T. Shelton is using a new gavel made by Tom Bryant Jr., a member of Ararat 558. — e Pilot Mountain Traveler Fellowship and fun mark a traveling gavel GASTONIA — On June 8, members of King Solomon 704 visited Gaston 263 to get the 36 th Masonic District's Traveling Gavel. The fun involved in competition for traveling gavels is widely enjoyed. Some of the associated goofi- ness is evidenced in the "special fellowship" moment pictured here as Gaston Lodge Mas- ter Johnny Click hands the gavel over to King Solomon Lodge Master Steve Willis. Seen in the more standard (and more realistic) version of the event are, from left, Billy Wiggins, Jim Mc- Clure, Steve Willis, Chris Hall, Kevin Brown, and Charlie Grissom. — Chris Hall Fayetteville Clifford Duell 756 has been enjoying group road trips lately. ey made a group visit to Lil- lington 302 July 13 and attended lodge in South Carolina in May. — James Baker Creasy Proctor 679 is running a raffle fundraiser. Third prize is a gift certificate to Chris's Steakhouse, second is a $150 detailing f rom TLC Carwash. Top prize is a 47-inch LCD television. — Timothy Williams Greensboro e 26 th Masonic District's Annual Arthur Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament was held May 20 at Holly Ridge Golf Links in Archdale. It was the fifth time they've held the event. — P. P. Turner Lodge P. P. Turner 746 had their Homecoming set for August 20. ey were making it an open meeting format so that family and friends could join them. Mike Daniels was presenting a spe- cial program. On April 16, Turner Lodge Master Tom Dolinger gave a program on the history of the Greensboro Masonic Temple. — P. P. Turner Lodge June 11 was irsty ursday at Gate City 694. at also meant that it was Gate City Lodge Night at the Greensboro Grasshoppers game. e minor league baseballers were taking on the Kannapolis Intimidators. For those who didn't make it to the baseball game, there was another chance to enjoy the fel- lowship at the June 13 Family Night. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and homemade ice cream were on tap. In addition to family, prospective Masons were also welcome. Gate City member Buddy Owens was named Volunteer of the Year at WhiteStone (MESH). Buddy organized a program which had volun- teer Masons doing handyman chores for Whit- eStone residents. ey do things like install gad- gets, move furniture, and trim shrubs. — Trestleboard Salisbury Andrew Jackson 576 had their old-fash- ioned picnic scheduled for July 16. Bob Himes was grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. Lots of watermelon was also to be on the table. Fifty folks from the Masonic Home for Children were also coming after spending a day at Dan Nicholas Park. Jackson Lodge members were planning to visit the Home for Children in June to do some landscaping around Eller Cottage and have a cookout for the kids while there. On April 16, young ladies from Rainbow for Girls presented a program on their organiza- tion to Andrew Jackson Lodge. e lodge will be sending one Rainbow girl to Rainbow Camp this summer. Past Masters' Night at Jackson Lodge was set for August 20. Salisbury's lodges, Fulton 99 and Andrew Jackson 576, were having a joint family dinner July 30. ey were dining together at a local sea- food restaurant. ey were urged to wear their lodge shirts and hats to make sure other folks knew who they were. — Master's Journal Fulton 99 recently made Ronald Lee Bea- cham and Charles Haskell Shoaf life members of their lodge. Fulton's Past Masters' Night was set for July 9. — Master's Journal Raleigh ings were hopping at James B. Green 735 this summer. ey had an ice cream social for the lodge June 25. ey had a cookout for the Rainbow Grand Assembly June 28. ey held a cleanup day July 11. e Spring Chicken Fund Raiser at Green Lodge was a "smash success," serving 500 plates and making $3,300 for their new heating and air conditioning system at the lodge. — James B. Green Scene and Dustin Tarditi J. J. Crowder 743 hosted the 14 th Masonic District blood drive July 18. — Dustin Tarditi Canton Sonoma 472's Charles Branson Memo- rial Scholarship went to three young people: Shawn Messer, Michael Mathis, and Josh Ev- ans. The recipients were joining the lodge for dinner June 4. Phil Cruise and Paul Reece are making and installing a new sign for the lodge and chapter. Sonoma Lodge had a blood drive May 23. ey had 11 donors present themselves, two first timers. ey had another set for July 24. e Calvin Taylor Memorial Toy Ride is September 12. e motorcycle ride in the mountains remembers a local Highway Pa- trol trooper who died in the line of duty. is ride began in 2001 and has raised more than $42,000 for the Masonic Home for Children. It has also donated nearly $3,000 to the Haywood County School Foundation for the Cecil E. Taylor Scholarship Fund. — Valley of the Moon Thomasville May 9 was a big workday for omasville 214. ere was work for any interest — landscaping, roofing, wall repair, ceiling tiles replacement, and even just plain old cleaning the basement. omasville Lodge combined a fundraiser and family outing July 7. ey sold tickets to the Hi-Toms minor league baseball game. ey made some money selling the tickets, and they got spotlighted at the game on Masons night. ey've set November 17 for their Widow's Banquet. — Trestle Board Conover As a fundraiser, Conover 709 sold hamburgers and hot dogs at the local Wal-Mart on May 9. — View From the East Durham Fellowship 687 held a Saturday morning Greet and Eat Breakfast at Knap of Reeds 158 on June 20. It was a chance to meet men who were interested in joining a lodge or learning more about Masonry. — Horace Lane

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