The North Carolina Mason

September/October 2015 The North Carolina Mason Page 9 photos A. Gene Cobb Jr. (Royal White Hart 2) was elected deputy grand master. Jimmie B. Hicks Jr. will be se- nior grand warden, and Speed Hallman junior grand warden. Both Grand Treasurer Lewis R. Ledford and Grand Secretary T. Walton Clapp III were reelected. We moved on to the recommendations of the frater- nal correspondent. After Grand Lodge overwhelmingly granted recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Delaware, another resolution regarding Prince Hall rec- ognition was put on the floor. It passed with fewer than a dozen negative votes. From now on, we have fraternal relations with all Prince Hall jurisdictions that are in am- ity with a grand lodge we already recognize. For instance: since the Grand Lodge of Kansas recognizes the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Kansas, so do we. Since the Grand Lodge of Arkansas does not recognize their Prince Hall jurisdiction, we do not either. When Arkansas votes to recognize them, we will automatically add Prince Hall Arkansas to our recognized list. We now recognize 42 Prince Hall jurisdictions in the United States. Appointed officers for 2016 include: Senior Grand Deacon Dwight M. Sigmon (Catawba 248), Junior Grand Deacon P. Shaun Bradshaw (Stokesdale 428), Grand Marshal R. David Wicker (Oak Grove 750), Grand Steward Larry B. ompson Jr. (Blackmer 127), Grand Steward Kevan D. Frazier (Mt. Hermon 118), Grand Chaplain Henry C. Hilliard (Black Mountain 663), Grand Tyler Deleron L. Webster (Knap of Reeds 158), Grand Lecturer John M. Burchfield (Black Moun- tain 663), Grand Historian Steven A. Campbell (Black- mer 127), Grand Orator David B. Sentell (Excelsior 261), and Judge Advocate James R. Stevens (Garner 701). Kevan D. Frazier, a member of Mount Hermon 118 in Asheville was named grand steward. Frazier is a historian with degrees from UNC-Asheville, Kent State University, and West Virginia University. He is currently director of Western Carolina University's Programs at Biltmore Park. Grand Lodge was closed just before noon Sat- urday, September 26, and the Closing Charge was shared by all present. New Grand Lodge officers will be installed at 10:00 a.m., December 5 at the Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway, Asheville, NC. By Dennis Campbell HOOKERTON — On May 30, the Sixth Ma- sonic District held its first outdoor Master Mason de- gree. It was conferred at a secluded farm in the Green County countryside. Five candidates were raised as Master Masons under the direction of Crown Point 708 (Greenville) Master Kyle Weaver who presided in the first section of the degree. e lodge was set up in an isolated clover field en- compassed by tall pines with a bright moon and an ac- tual starry decked heaven overhead. e fixtures of the lodge were constructed of bales of hay, burlap, and bags of shelled corn. e warm, soft light for the degree was furnished only by tiki torches surrounding the lodge. A pre-degree pig picking to feed the brothers was provided by Bethel 589 and prepared by Wilber Futrell and Greg Giles. e degree team for the second section was assembled with members from the nine participating lodges. As- sisting Weaver in the planning and lodge assembly were Sixth District Deputy Grand Master Chuck Smithwick (Grifton 243), Sixth District Deputy Grand Lecturer Justin Robinson (Crown Point 708), Greg Giles (Beth- el 589), Kendall Paramore (Grimesland 475), Charles Chapman ( Jerusalem 95), Charlie Hall ( Jerusalem 95), Ted Sauls (Crown Point 708), Dennis Campbell (Crown Point 708), and Bennie Heath (Radiance 132), as well as many other brothers participating from the various lodges. An innovative and impressive lecture was presented by Justin Robinson who narrated the lecture with the brothers reenacting their parts including the raising and guided by a torch held by Robinson. Capping off the evening was a very solemn and moving Bible lec- ture delivered by Scott McLaurin (Crown Point 708). ere were about 90 Masons in attendance. Participants and Sixth District officials plan to carry forward the outdoor degree as a proud tradition. Dennis Campbell is a member of Crown Point 708 and a past Sixth DDGL. Kyle Weaver photos Eastern outdoor degree GM Caudle's wife Angela spearheaded a silent auc- tion that raised $6, 261 for WhiteStone Masons joined hands all over the auditorium for the Closing Charge. Two Rainbows visited the open session. up for the meeting. Master-elect Webster.

• Cover