Page 8 The North Carolina Mason March/April 2016
By Steven Campbell
Brother Freemasons played a major
role in North Carolina's Revolution-
ary War effort. All would pledge their
lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. How
far would you go this day in taking the
risks of life & limb as well as all you
owned for a principle and honor? A new
program is now available detailing these
early Brothers, their deeds, deaths, and
final success. So ask yourself, are you:
Rebellious: given to or engaged in
rebellion, or
Resolute: marked by a firm determi-
nation, resolved.
To learn of this chapter in our Ma-
sonic history, contact your grand histo-
rian through the Grand Lodge's Speak-
er's Bureau link .
Here's is a preview of the program "Re-
bellious & Resolute, Freemasons and eir
Role in Revolutionary North Carolina."
For more than eight generations (169
years) the men and women who colonized
the 13 original colonies were considered
English subjects, no matter their nation-
ality when they emigrated to the New
World. Europe, with its tyranny, depleted
resources, and corruption, lost its allure to
many people. If one were to survive the
hazardous ocean voyage, the opportunity
to own their own land, worship as they
chose, and, yes, to seek fame and fortune
for themselves and their kin presented
itself. In this migration also came Free-
masons. e first Mason on record in the
New World was John Skene of Aberdeen
Lodge, Scotland, who emigrated to Burl-
ington, New Jersey, in 1682.
From 1663 until 1712 the Carolinas
were one and overseen by the King's
friends and supporters known as Pro-
prietors. e manner in which they
managed the affairs of the colony and
its inhabitants was not all that much of
an improvement from the Old World
order. As a result, seeds of mistrust, de-
The Grand Historian's Courier Case
Rebellious & Resolute
spair, and misunderstanding were sown.
From the northern colonies to Georgia,
displeasures were being expressed by
the working man as well as the com-
munity leaders (Freemasons).
e rolls of early Freemasons in British
North America included military officers,
high ranking politicians, barristers, prop-
erty owners, merchants, and craftsmen.
When tempers flared and patience waned
because of imposed fees, taxes, and little
or no government reform, it was the lead-
ers of the colonies who stepped up to defy
Royal authority. In the North men such
as Brothers John Hancock, Benjamin
Franklin, Samuel Adams, and Richard
Montgomery led the way. Moving South,
Brother George Washington would lead
the established rebel or patriot army (de-
pending on one's point of view). North
Carolina, too, had its bevy of Revolution-
ary leaders — Cornelius Harnett (known
as the Sam Adams of North Carolina),
Gen. Robert Howe, Edward Buncombe,
William Lenoir, Joseph McDowell, just to
name a few of the hundreds of Brothers
who fanned the flame of liberty. And let us
not forget that the three men from North
Carolina who would affix their names to
the Declaration of Independence ( Joseph
Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn)
were members of the fraternity.
e American War for Independence
was a long, harsh, and hard conflict
which lasted for eight years. rough
perseverance, vision, luck, patience, and
foresight, the young fledgling nation of
the United States, established in 1776,
achieved its goal of severing its ties with
Great Britain. With victory and inde-
pendence won, it should come as no
surprise that the men of the Masonic
fraternity who had bled, wept, and sus-
tained loss would continue to lead the
way in our new Republic.
Grand Historian Steven Campbell is
a member of Blackmer 127 and Wilkerson
College 760.
We found John Baucom, a past
master of Yadkin 162 in Yadkinville.
Baucom helped organize a Confeder-
ate Memorial Day celebration in his
lodge a few years ago. Many of the
costumed reenacting Masons attended
the ceremony.
Unanimity 7's Bill Potts was there
from Edenton. He and friends sat
around the entrance to his tent smok-
ing pipes and cigars.
Sean Dunham, a young Mason was
there from Spencer 543. He'll be swap-
ping his Civil War costume for overalls
when his home lodge holds their Rail-
road Degree April 2.
As Jim and I wander around the
fields and camps, we enjoy lunch and
meet interesting folk, a Maine Ma-
son strikes a conversation with Jim
thanks to the square and compasses
on his chest. He's new to the town and
is happy to find more about visiting
lodges there.
e home at Bellair Plantation,
built about 1763, is the oldest surviv-
ing brick plantation home in North
Carolina. It is said to have been spared
in 1862 by Burnside's advancing Union
troops thanks to the Masonic affilia-
tion of its owner.
is war of brothers created num-
berless stories of Masonic Brotherhood
in the midst of the horror of war.
Any Mason attending one of these
events will find a pleasant and outgo-
ing contingent of fraternal members.
How long before we have a traveling
affinity lodge featuring degree work in
tented lodges with Masons in battle-
field regalia?
BELLAIR, from page 1
Clockwise from top, one of the Con-
federate camps, Jim White and his god-
son, Sean Dunham has a sip of water.
Ric
Car
ter
photos
