The North Carolina Mason

March/April 2016 The North Carolina Mason Page 9 Encompassing the world SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — On May 2–3 last year, Masons from sev- eral states, including Illinois, Missouri, and Virginia participated in a reenact- ment of President Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession 150 years previous. Exact replicas of Lincoln's funeral train and coach were used to transport the president's "body" to the city and then to the State Capitol and Oak Ridge Cemetery. More than 15,000 spectators watched 1,250 reenactors portray the solemn occasion. Lincoln's state rail coach was the Air Force One of the day. He never got to use while he lived. After his as- sassination, it was converted to his fu- neral coach to transport his body from Washington, DC back to his home in Springfield, Illinois. A duplicate of the car and train were used in the event. — e Wisconsin Masonic Journal Academic Bowl in Illinois BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS — e Grand Lodge of Illinois held its 33 rd annual Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl in March. ey set another record in their contest's growth with 327 high schools registered this year. High schools are placed in one of three classifications based on their size. ey compete in regional contests test- ing their knowledge in various subjects with winners moving forward to a state final. e state's Masonic youth groups help with the Bowl as one of their ser- vice projects. According to the Grand Lodge of Illinois, "We believe in advancing the welfare of others, especially children, through charitable programs. Aca- demics are a critical part of the over- all welfare of children." — Illinois Freemasonry Spruce-up grants DOUSMAN, WISCONSIN — e Grand Lodge of Wisconsin en- couraged lodges to take on building improvement projects last year. Sug- gestions included remodeling, paint- ing, and landscaping. Lodges complet- ing projects between April 1, 2015 and April 1, 2016 could apply for grants of up to $500 to help pay for the work. — e Wisconsin Masonic Journal Know Your State BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — 2015 was the 58 th year of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota's Annual Know Your State Contest. e first stage of the contest included 746 students from 35 high schools around the state compet- ing online. e 86 who scored highest were invited to the finals here at Bismarck State College. ey competed for nearly $5,000 in prizes supplied by the North Dakota Ma- sonic Foundation. e finalists were joined this year by all the members of the North Dakota Supreme Court, the their secretary of state, and other state officers and cabinet members. Chief Justice Gerald W. Vande Walle presented the group a history of the North Dakota Supreme Court. — North Dakota Mason BLOOMINGTON, MINNE- SOTA — Fast tracking your Masonry has been operating in Minnesota for some years. On November 14, 2015, the Grand Lodge of Minnesota and the state's Shrine Centers cospon- sored the fourth annual Big Tent event at the Minneapolis Scottish Rite Temple. Lodges were encour- aged to bring their Fellows Craft to New Zealand celebrates 125 years of Freemasonry HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND — Members of Hill- crest 363 saluted the beginnings of Masonry in New Zealand with an 18 th century First Degree demonstration. ey ap- peared in full formal period dress and wigs of the 1770s. ey seemed to have had great fun in imitating the topics of the time and enjoying themselves. A "visitor produced a bottle of rum to assist in the festivities… He poured the contents into the punchbowls, two members of the audience were overheard to say, 'e bottle contains cold tea. at is what they do on stage,' but apparently there was a revised opinion about the contents of the bottle at the end of the show from the same knowledgeable chaps." — New Zealand Freemason Minnesota degree shortcuts the conferral to be raised with other Masons. A Shrine ceremonial fol- lowed the raising so they could leave as Master Masons and Shriners. e Grand Lodge of Minnesota's Annual One-Day-to-Masonry event was held January 16, 2016 at the Scot- tish Rite Temple. Special one-day pe- titions were necessary for candidates for the degrees. ey got "a continen- tal breakfast and a hearty lunch. All three degrees [were] portrayed in full form." e $250 fees for the event included "all degree funds and as- sessments, the white leather apron, a ritual cipher, and Minnesota Masonic Manual, the meals for the candidate and other items." Lodge dues for the year were not included. — e Minnesota Mason Lincoln funeral reenacted The locomotive used in the Lincoln reenactment is currently in the B&O Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Ric Car ter photo

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