North Carolina Mason
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/77630
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AgFest next year on May 18. We'll bring you details right here. Don't miss the fun or the op- portunity to make a little money for your lodge.
Chicken Division First A. S. Hunter 825 PHA (Durham) Second Wake 717 PHA (Raleigh) Third Spurmont 98 (Strasburg, VA) Sauce Division First NC Grand Lodge AF & AM Second Hiram 40 (Raleigh) Third Riverside 606 (Catawba) The Masonic Pig Jig returns to Got to Be NC
Carter photos
Ric
The North Carolina Mason PIG JIG, from page 1
July/August 2012
ANNCOMM, from page 1
Twin City Quarter's Grand Pavilion Friday and Saturday, September 21–22. Lodge officers are asked to bring and wear their aprons for all busi- ness sessions. All Masons must present their dues card and give the pass to enter business sessions. Please do not mail your credentials to the
Perspective comes from looking backward... By Al Manning
November 8, 1867: "On motion Brother Hartgrove was ap- pointed a delegate to represent this lodge in the next meeting of the Grand Lodge of the State of North Carolina and was allowed $35.00 to defray expenses…" In those days, being a delegate to a Grand
An excerpt from Waynesville 259 minutes of
Lodge meeting in Raleigh was not a simple un- dertaking. Brother Hartgrove was faced with a long and arduous journey by horseback or bug- gy to the nearest railhead, which in 1867 was Morganton. Today, via I-40, it is approximately 85 miles from Waynesville to Morganton. In those days it was further, as the old road snaked around coming down out of the mountains. He had, a least, a three-day ride, stopping at night at the homes of other Masons, if there were any
arguments not thought of in analysis or lodge debate arise at the meeting, bringing a different outlook to the proposal. Discuss the votes and suggest the thinking of the lodge. Your delegates should vote in the best interests of your lodge and all Masonry after hearing all discussion. Amendment Groups 1 and 2 change refer- ences to our Masonic Homes that are necessitat- ed by law. The first is a bookkeeping correction missed earlier when the Masonic and Eastern Star Home became WhiteStone. The second re- moves the reference to lodges reporting on all applications to the Masonic Home for Children. That is now a violation of state and federal pri- vacy laws protecting children. Group 3 addresses a problem with demits.
Demits, quitting the lodge, must be granted by a lodge at the first stated communication after the request is made. With some frequency, demits are asked for rashly or mistakenly. Under current law, they cannot be reconsidered. Getting back into the lodge requires applying, laying over 28 days, and a unanimous ballot. These changes would allow a member three days to reconsider his request for a demit from the lodge. Due to a renumbering error when a proposal was withdrawn, there is no Group 4. Group 5 addresses official notifications which
are required to be sent by certified or registered mail. At the time these rules were written, US Mail was the only commonly available service which verified delivery. Systems which verify telephone and email are now possible and would satisfy requirements for official notification if we pass this amendment. Group 6 addresses our tobacco in lodges. The
along his route, or at local inns, if there were any, or camping out. On finally reaching Mor- ganton, he would have put his horse in the liv- ery stable and caught the train for an all day ride to Raleigh. After Grand Lodge, which we assume to
Grand Lodge office. You must present them at the registration desk to receive ballots and other essential information and materials. You may register at the main lobby on Thursday and out- side the Grand Pavilion on Friday and Saturday mornings. In order to vote, you must have your credentials, and you must register. Again, do not return your credentials to the Grand Lodge office. Grand Master Gresham will open the first
be for two days, he would reverse the process, and hopefully arrive back in Waynesville some 10–11 days after his departure. $35 seems to be a lot of money at a time when having the lodge room cleaned cost 50 cents, or chairs for the lodge cots one dollar each. However, consider- ing what this Brother had to go through, I don't think he was overpaid. In those days, complaints by our Brothers
that they have to drive an hour to attend Grand Lodge seem rather pathetic. Al Manning is a member of Waynesville 259.
VOTES, from page 1
reference to a balloting change made a couple of years ago, but at the time missed in the neces- sary changes to other parts of The Code. It con- cerns the allowed alternative balloting procedure sometimes know as the Royal White Hart Rule. Group 10 has to do with life memberships.
Group 9 is a housekeeping issue. It fixes a
Life memberships are granted by lodges to members who have made outstanding contribu- tions to the lodge. Election forgives the dues of a member for the rest of his life. Currently, elec- tion of a life member requires a unanimous bal- lot of the lodge. This amendment would change the necessary vote to a simple majority. Group 11 deals, once again, with the question
of alcohol in lodge facilities. The primary form would allow lodges to rent facilities to groups
Know the 2012 players
using alcoholic beverages. Use of those bever- ages would be forbidden in the lodge room. At this point, the rentals urban lodges are missing due to our rules fall into several groups. About a third are wedding receptions. Another third are civic groups holding fundraisers which include drinks. A third more are musical and theatrical performances or recitals which serve drinks dur- ing a short intermission. An alternative form which may be put on the floor is to allow the grand master to offer dispen- sations to as many as ten lodges to participate in a trial program allowing building use by groups utilizing alcoholic beverages. Such a trial would allow us to make an experienced judgement on the concept. We could find that it alleviates fears of the change, or we could find that it causes too
Grand Lodge officers until Annual Commu- nication rolls around. Can't tell the players without a program? Now you'll be able to identify those guys opening and closing the meeting. Here's your program. Starting just inside the door is Grand Tyler
Most Masons don't think too much about By Ric Carter DGM GT
current standard form bylaws in our Code require all lodge to ban smoking during degree work. This change would make that ban include all forms of tobacco. It would also add an optional bylaw form which would guide lodges banning use of all to- bacco products in their facility. Tired of people spitting in cups or Pepsi bottles during lodge? This amendment is for you. Need a chew during ritual? You'll want to speak up on this one. Group 7 is about lodge secretaries read- ing minutes of previous meetings. While many lodges already appreciate summarization of lodge minutes, this change would make it more explicitly acceptable. Group 8 would raise the minimum fees for
Scott B. Gresham (Albemarle 703) from Al- bemarle. He'll be helped out by assistant tylers who will be posted outside the several entrances to the meeting room to check your dues card and listen to a whispered password. At the front of the auditorium, a lodge room
will be set on and before a riser. It is of much the same form as your blue lodge, but with a station or two added. Four officers will be on the stage facing the crowd. Front and center on the stage will be Grand Master (GM) Robert E. Gresham Jr. (Albemarle 703). He was presi- dent of Service Distributing Company (SERV- CO) before his retirement. Gresham and his wife Carolyn live in Mount Gilead. On his right will be Deputy Grand Master
SGD GMsl GM GS GC
many problems. Either way, we would be mak- ing a more informed decision. Groups 12 and 13 would create two new
awards officially recognized by the Grand Lodge. Those favoring these proposals say there are men in these offices worthy of recognition. Others say that nothing prevents those recognitions now, and The Code is already too bloated to add things not important to our governance. They also fear that adding more and more awards will dilute the importance of the ones already in use. The exact wording and changes on the amend- ments is in the hands of your lodge secretary. If you have questions about any of the proposed changes to The Code, contact the grand secre- tary's office at