North Carolina Mason
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/5195
Page 4 The North Carolina Mason September/October 2009
GRAND LODGE, from page 1
STATE, from page 3
Pilot Mountain
Jessica Sams, of East Surry High School, won
the Masonic Scholarship to Surry Community
College. e award was presented May 22.
George Toler has given Pilot 493 three hand-
crafted, walnut working tools — the jewels of
the master and wardens.
Pilot Lodge was holding their annual Wid-
ows' Dinner on August 14. ey were giving the
ladies flowers and taking them out to a restau-
rant in King. — e Pilot Mountain Traveler
Fayetteville
Creasy Proctor 679 recently raffled off a 47-inch
flat screen television. Robert Burnett was the lucky
winner, that is other than the kids at the Masonic
Home for Children. e fundraiser brought in more
than $3,000 for the home. — Timothy Williams
Clifford Duell 756 had a big Masonic break-
fast at a local cafeteria August 8. Members were
being urged to bring someone interested in the
lodge or members who have become inactive.
— James Baker
Charlotte
Charles M. Setzer 693's Barbecue Butt Sale
set a new record for the lodge, bringing in more
than $1,800 for Masonic charities.
— Trestleboard
Steele Creek 737 has new rules for renting
their lodge building. ey will rent only to mem-
bers of their lodge or their Eastern Star chapter,
and then only for personal use. ey are charg-
ing $100 per event. — Trestleboard
Warsaw
June is a bad time for the air conditioning to go out.
Warsaw 677 got burned by an early summer break-
down, but didn't let it get them down, just downstairs
to the dining hall to hold their stated meeting.
July 14 was set as step up night at Warsaw
Lodge. at night, officers were moving up one
station to get a taste of next year.
— Warsaw Lodge
South Mills
Ben Stallings had to pay up recently. Ben
had promised to throw the lodge a fish fry if
they met certain attendance goals. Ben lost,
well won, and fried the fish at a June meeting
of New Lebanon 314. ey took the occasion
to present Everett Brothers a special 70-year
membership certificate.
e lodge and Eastern Star at New Lebanon
recently raised enough money to replace their
aged heating and air conditioning system.
— e Plumb Line
Statesville
Statesville 27 Master Ben Stikeleather says
that they had the best participation in years at
their recent pancake breakfast.
May 19 at Statesville Lodge was Bike Night.
Biker Masons were urged to ride their motor-
cycles to lodge and enjoy the night's fish fry.
— e Joppa Informer
Robbinsville
e new handicap lift is in operation at Rob-
binsville 672. — Ed McCollum
Kenansville
St. John's 13 had its annual picnic at Maxwell's
Mill September 3. Everyone brings a dish, a dessert,
and beverage. e lodge serves chicken and pastry.
e entertainment was furnished by Tim Bass and
Ed Cloninger's grandchildren. — Lodge Log
Mount Gilead
Blackmer 127 was holding its Fifth Annual
Fun Shoot September 19 at Dewitt's Game
Farm in Ellerbe. e $50 entry fee got you a
morning of shooting skeet and a grilled chicken
and pork chop lunch. Proceeds will go to the
Masonic Homes. — Blackmer Buzz
Wilmington
In March, Orient 395 presented Julius R.
Townsend his 50-year service award on behalf
of his home lodge of Gardenville-Cache 455
in Missouri.
Orient Lodge is considering selling shirts
with the lodge logo on them. — Orient Express
Black Mountain
Jim Helgreen was made a Life Member of
Black Mountain 663 in June. Helgreen, an ac-
countant, has given the lodge special help and fi-
nancial advice for years. — e Traveling Trowel
Wake Forest
Rolesville 683, Youngsville 377, and Wake
Forest 282 are cooperating on Red Cross Blood
Drives. In January, they brought in 27 units.
Another was set for Wake Forest Lodge on
September 12. — Byron Hamilton
New to the procession this year was a contingent
of 63 Prince Hall Grand Lodge district and oth-
er officers. Grand Lodge officers from the grand
lodges of District of Columbia, Maryland, Mas-
sachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina Prince
Hall, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia,
and sitting officers from state appendant bodies
were escorted to the stage which held the po-
dium and the symbolic East.
Next, our attending past grand masters were
brought to the stage. Finally, the current Grand
Lodge officers marched in, took their stations and
places, and opened the session in a ceremony very
much like the one you use in every meeting.
Grand Orator Clifton W. Everett Jr., PGM
and grand treasurer, gave the keynote. roughout
the rest of the morning, committees, commissions,
and boards presented their reports. Several guests
were also allowed comments to the assembly.
Prince Hall Grand Master Toby Fitch addressed
the crowd and received a spirted and happy recep-
tion. His comments included his a cappella ver-
sion of "is Little Light of Mine," as he urged
Masons to let themselves be better known in their
communities. Prince Hall guests seated on stage
included Senior Grand Warden Jackie Robinson
and Grand Secretary Trent Carmon.
Lester Sabsook, a minister from Carteret
County, performed his portrayal of Prince Hall
for the crowd. His reception, as his message, was
warm and celebratory.
Immediately after lunch, and before reseal-
ing the lodge, a young lady from the Masonic
Home for Children shared the story of her res-
cue by the Home. A young lady from Rainbow
for Girls told the story of her sorority and their
charity work.
After the non-Masons were escorted from
the lodge hall, we resumed labor. A ceremony
was conducted by A. Gene Cobb to honor our
members who died this past year. A special eu-
logy for Past Grand Master Leslie H. Garner
was delivered by Past Grand Master Cliff Ev-
erett. e eulogy for Past Grand Master Walter
F. "Bud" McCall was delivered by Past Grand
Master Richard G. Moore.
At the conclusion of the Necrology, Immedi-
ate Past Grand Master David R. Cash presented
a supplement to his preliminary report of last
year, finishing the business of his term. Grand
Master Rice then presented his preliminary re-
port on his year thus far.
While the intention was to vote on many of
the proposed amendments on Friday afternoon,
time was crowded by more speakers than normal.
ese included a number of out-of-state visitors,
testimonials from the Home for Children, re-
ports from the Masonic Homes, and a number
of presentations of gifts and checks.
Only the Report of the Committee on Ap-
peals was acted on by the delegates on Friday,
and that just before adjournment for the day. e
Committee presented the previous year's work
of the judge advocate and appeals for restora-
tion. All considered actions were approved.
Grand Master Rice hosted a reception for
Masons after the Friday session. On Friday
evening, Masons were seen in groups all over
downtown Winston-Salem. ey enjoyed the
entertainment and many restaurants around the
center of the city.
On Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m., the final
business session of the Grand Lodge began. e
first business before us on the second day was
the budget for 2010. Finance Committee Chair-
man Sam Lee presented the budget in sections,
calling for discussion before asking for approval
of the delegates for that section. Interspersed
between those parts, delegates marked ballots
to elect Grand Lodge officers for next year. e
budget was approved as presented.
Elections proceeded without any surprises again
this year. William L. Dill of St. John's 3 in New
Bern was elected to become our next grand master.
Dill is a retired school administrator and currently
serves as Scottish Rite secretary in New Bern.
Others elected were Lewis R. Ledford
(Statesville 27), deputy grand master; Robert
E. Gresham Jr. (Albemarle 703), senior grand
warden; Dewey R. Preslar Jr. (Andrew Jackson
576), junior grand warden; Clifton W. Everett Jr.
(Crown Point 708), grand treasurer; and T. Wal-
ton Clapp III (Mystic Tie 237), grand secretary.
e most awaited appointment each year is the
new grand steward, the man who will join the line
of men advancing toward the office of grand mas-
ter. e new steward is Jimmy B. Hicks Jr. of St.
John's 3. Hicks is a lawyer who lives in New Bern.
is year's appointed officers include Dalton W.
Mayo, senior grand deacon; Douglas L. Caudle, ju-
nior grand deacon; Bryant D. Webster, grand mar-
shal; A. Gene Cobb (Royal White Hart 2), grand
steward; Jimmy B. Hicks Jr., grand steward; Johnny
C. Surles (Zion 81), grand tyler; Dennis R. Shep-
ard (Mill Creek 125), grand chaplain; Michael W.
Brantley (Raleigh 500), grand historian; Howard
Kahn (Semper Fidelis 680), grand lecturer; PGM
omas W. Gregory, grand orator; and Jimmie R.
Stevens Jr. (Garner 701), judge advocate.
Past Grand Master David R. Cash (Camp-
bell 374) and James A. Wiley (St. John's 3) were
appointed to the Board of General Purposes.
Donald E. Bolden, of Bula 409, was elected by
the Board to return to the Board of Publication
of e North Carolina Mason.
Amendments were all dealt with on Saturday
morning. Groups 1 and 2 concerned reiteration
of two ritual requirements: catechism examina-
tions must include the entire catechism and the
junior deacon's place must be filled at all times.
Both these passed.
Groups 3, 6, 7, and 8 were housekeeping is-
sues that fixed details and rules missed in previ-
ous changes to e Code. All passed. ey include
issues with NPD procedures, meeting dates, and
record keeping in the modern age.
Ranger
On August 8, Montgomery 426 presented
Euclid Voyles his Diamond Jubilee Award for
60 years membership in the lodge.
— Sonoma News
Hillsborough
Live near northern Orange County and like
to play Bluegrass music? Alan Forrest is trying
to get together with like-minded Masons to play
music. Get in touch with hime at