The North Carolina Mason

The Mason NORTH CAROLINA Volume 134 Number 4 July/August 2009 Page 8 The North Carolina Mason July/August 2009 In this issue of The NC Mason page 1 The North Carolina Mason The Grand Lodge of North Carolina, AF&AM 600 College Street Oxford, North Carolina 27565 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. AUTO U.S. POSTAGE PAID OXFORD, NC 27565 PERMIT NO. 56 Annual Communication is coming September 25–26. page 1 Pig Jig packs them in at NC Ag Fest. page 5 Masonic news from around the state. Ric Car ter photo pages 6 & 8 St. John's Day celebration returns to earlier era. OXFORD — 2009 was a year for rethink- ing the St. John's Day celebration at the Ma- sonic Home for Children. Without a volun- teer to coordinate the long running event, the Home was forced to return the celebration to an earlier model without the parade and lunch under the oaks. ere was an early morning lodge meeting and a devotional service in the chapel. ere were bouncing games for the children and booths with refreshments and trinkets to raise Mac Sigmon photos St. John's Day returns to an earlier model money for the individual cottages. Home grad Grand Master Dan Rice conducted a tour of the campus featuring many of his personal recollec- tions of life at the Home. Guests had tours from the kids and enjoyed a lunch in the cafeteria. Home Administrator Allen Hughes has a report f rom the new celebration in his col- umn on page six of this issue of The North Carolina Mason. Special thanks go to Mack Sigmon of Catawba 248 for his pictures f rom St. John's Day. GM visits Fayetteville VA Health Center FAYETTEVILLE — Grand Master Dan Rice visited the Fayetteville VA Hospital May 26 where he was greeted by hospital staff and volunteers of the the Masonic Service Association's Hospital Visitation Program. Seen here, from left, are Marie Robinson-McLaughlin, associate chief, Patient Care Services/ Long-Term Care; John Lynch (Phoenix 8), retired MSA coordinator; Norma Fraser, chief of Voluntary Service; Claude Capps (Clifford Duel 756), MSA coordinator; Rosalyn Cole, associate director; Grand Master Dan Rice; Junior Grand Deacon Dalton Mayo; and Jim Hay (Stedman 730). — Dalton Mayo Br ad Gar ner photo Woodard turns 106 RALEIGH — At 106 years old, Macon Watson Woodard, center, is likely the oldest Mason in North Carolina. The Hiram 40 member was born the same year as powered flight, the World Series, Ford Motor Company, the teddy bear, and the Tour de France bicycle race. A group from Hiram Lodge went by to pay him a visit and present him a special commendation on his birthday. He became a Ma- son in 1936. Woodard is seen here, center, with Chuck Henline (master of Hiram 40), left, and Frank Putney (Hiram 40's oldest past master). Word is that Woodard was anxious to move things along with the visit — he was getting ready to drive over to see his girlfriend — really. — Tom Imler The Masonic Carolina Pig Jig was held in May to its biggest attendance ever. Details of the big barbecue event are on page one.

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