The North Carolina Mason

Page 4 came to be known as the Washington Chair. It was, in fact, the only signed piece of furniture by Williamsburg's famed cabinet maker Benjamin Bucktrout. In 1983, Colonial Williamsburg of- fered the lodge more than $200,000 for the chair. They also gave them an exact copy of the original. The copy has remained in a plexiglas display just outside the entrance to the lodge room ever since. This was the history charging through these Tidewater Masons as they contemplated mod- ern possibilities. Authorities at Historic Edenton State Historic Site (which maintains the Chow- an County Courthouse) were cooperative in let- ting the Masons celebrate a temporary return to their old home. Unanimity's Masons opened the plexiglas case at the top of their stairs to let the light of the historic master's chair again shine on the second floor of the courthhouse. Saturday morning, April 14 was the big day. The North Carolina Mason EDENTON, from page 1 May/June 2012 Nearly all the 80 available seats for the gather- ing were filled. They were in the assembly room above the courtroom. The pine-paneled room, 35X45 feet, was one of the largest of its sort in the colonies. In its 200 years, it has hosted dances, socials, church events, and a multitude of other functions. The original lodge room was lost in a 1990s renovation which added rest- rooms, an elevator, and stairway. The assembly room overlooks the old town commons with its view of the Albemarle Sound and monument to Joseph Hewes, Declaration of Independence signer and Mason. Walls of the room are deco- rated with paintings of Hewes, Queen Anne, and the Duke of Albemarle. The degree started promptly at 10:00 a.m. The officers (with both archaic and modern terms included) for the degree were: enthroned on the seat of Solomon, King of Israel (mas- ter), Robert Street; attender of the Craft whilst at labor (senior warden), Johnny McDiarmid; attender of the Craft whilst at refreshment (ju- nior warden), Tommy Green; keeper of the lodge funds (treasurer), Wes McIntyre; recorder of the lodge activities whilst in session (secretary), Frank Wanko; conductor of the candidate (senior dea- con), Larry Golay; preparer of the candidate (ju- nior deacon), Steve McIver; preparers of the feast (stewards), Wally Adcock and Bill Brown; keeper of the holy writings (chaplain), Eugene Myrick; guardian of the portal (tyler), Roy Timbs; pre- senter of the lambskin, Tommy Green; presenter of the tools of the Entered Apprentice, Steve McIver; Entered Apprentice Lecture rendered by Wes McIntyre and Frank Wanko; and Entered Apprentice charge and seeker of the answers of the initial questions Bill Brown. The candidates were Unanimity 7's John Barnes Colonial costumes were bright in the large- windowed lodge room. The blossoming trees popped fresh green, and the unclouded sky lit Dunn and Perquimans 106's Daren Ray Arnold, James Dennis Robertson, and Kevin Robert Chase. It was a bright, sunny, perfect spring day. The unfettered blue outside the uncovered windows. So many of our degrees today are held in flores- cent lit, windowless rooms, it's hard to describe how it felt to have so much fresh, natural light for Masonic ritual. It was also refreshing to see our first degree the focus of a special event. Perhaps too often, we reserve special occasions for raisings. Our initiation degree is as impressive as the third and marks the first impression our candidates get of performed outside their district. It was also the old- est lodge in which they had performed. The antiq- uity of the language of our ritual was comfortable in the historic setting and with the attire of the degree team. Members of all eight lodges of the First Dis- trict were on hand to see the celebration. There were also visitors from other parts of North Carolina as well as Virginia and New York. the lodge workings. It was the first work the 21st Ric Carter photos District's team has Entered Apprentices, the Masons retired to Una- nimity's nearby dining hall for barbecue lunch. The last degree Unanimity Lodge performed in the old courthouse is thought to have been in 1953. That was about the time they were build- ing their new lodge just down the street. Perqui- mans Lodge, on the other hand, still meets on the second floor of the courthouse in neighbor- ing Perquimans County Seat Hertford. Soon after charging and congratulating the new Spillers family affair GREENSBORO — In Revolution 552 on February 16, Ray- Egg hunt preparations WHITEVILLE — The town of Whiteville has an Easter Egg Hunt each year. Members of Lebanon 207 volunteered this year to help pick up the litter downtown to make the place more presentable for the town Easter Festival. — John Norosky special events during the warm months. Luckily for Phoenix 8, they have lots of space to park cars near the Park. They rent out spaces to attendees to raise needed money for lodge maintenance. They brought in more than $5,000 last year. Recent maintenance needs included a new water heater and repairs to the elevator. On March 25, volunteers descended on the build- ing to do other work. They cleaned lights and replaced bulbs on the porch and did some yard work. They hung some pictures and even got a little painting done. The lodge was soliciting members for dona- Fayetteville's Festival Park is the site for many Fayetteville tions of a laser printer, laptop computer, and fax machine for the new secretary's office. They were also looking for a television, DVD player, and desktop computer for use of the newly reacti- vated Marquis deLafayette Chapter DeMolay. Members of Phoenix Lodge collect pocket mond Spillers raised his brother Robert. About 20 minutes later, Robert raised his son Robert II. Raymond was raised September 2011 and coached his brother and nephew through the degrees after they were initiated just a month after his raising. The family patriarch, Ray Leo Spillers (Raymond and Robert's father, Robert II grandfather) was a Mason for thirty-seven years and is credited with inspiring their interest in Masonry. — Casey Landreth arships each year. One of their scholarship fun- draisers this year was a turkey shoot/skeet shoot. They held it April 28 at the Rowan County Wildlife Association. Five dollars got you in the Turkey Shoot — they loaned you a gun and fur- nished shells. For the Skeet Shoot (ten dollars entry), you had to bring your own gun and shells. — Dewey Preslar Rowan County Masons award several schol- STATE, from page 3 Salisbury the back of their building. It's good news for members who have difficulty with stairs. Con- struction was to start in mid-April. Pythagoras Lodge's Spring Festival Barbe- cue was held April 6–7. They turned a profit despite being rained out on the second day. — Newsletter Pythagoras 249 is installing an elevator on Southport change for the Masonic Home for Children in what they call their Change A Life campaign. A little here and a little there can add up to a siz- able amount when men work together. In March, Phoenix initiated a dozen men. — Trestleboard Members of Creasy Proctor 679 were talk- ing about visiting Florence, South Carolina to see a Master Mason Degree there. — Derek Willmott March. They prepped things March 4. A big crew was planned for March 10 to paint the front of the building and treat the new deck and stairs. Blue Ridge 435 was painting the lodge in Highlands 5 to reclaim the District 39 traveling gavel from Mount Hermon 118. Hominy 491 was planning an excursion April — Jimmy Dean Blair — Gordon Jolly/Derek Cheek Asheville tion Committee at Cherryville 505. Their job is to add new fellowship opportunities for mem- bers and their families. They are working on repeating their Variety — News Out of the Blue They've started an Attendance and Participa- Cherryville Show this year. ber of Conover 709 on January 26. — Conover Lodge Newsletter Blood Drive set for April 6. — Jim Dautel/Derek Cheek Junaluskee 145 had their Second Annual Franklin The T. Bruce Boyette Memorial Golf Tour- nament was set for April 6. It is sponsored by Wilson 712. The lodge planned to hold their Pancake and Sausage Supper March 2. Wilson Mt. Lebanon 117 had their Pancake and Sausage Supper set for February 17. — David Ellis — David Ellis for March 10. Thomasville 217's Brunswick Stew was set — Trestle Board Thomasville Jerry Triplett was named an honorary mem- Conover Tail wagging for the dogs UNION GROVE — Phil Keller personally sponsored a raffle at the 30th District School of Instruction at Grassy Knob 471. The prize was an unusual one — a ponytail — Keller's own ponytail; as a matter of fact. Junior Grand Warden Doug Caudle won the raffle for the privilege of cutting off Keller's queue. The clipping raised $350 for the Iredell Humane Society. — Tom W. Gregory gavel from Long Creek 205. — News From the West Hickory West Gate 738 recently took the traveling Paw Creek project to collect personal items and toiletries for our troops. Hickory 343 is participating in a district — Hickory Lodge April 14. Long Creek 205 was holding their fish fry — News From the West Huntersville fish fry May 11. Proceeds from the Alaskan flounder meal were going to charity. — Brandon Thomas Meadow Branch 578 was holding their Wingate Grazier his Veteran's Emblem for 50 years Ma- sonic membership. St. Patrick's 617 was to hold their Barbecue Pork Supper on March 3. Princeton — David Ellis cently presented his Veteran's Emblem for 50 years Masonic service. Oak Grove 750's Charles Anderson was re- — Doug Harward Durham On December 3, Hanks 128 presented Jerry — William Baird Franklinville

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