The North Carolina Mason

Page 6 The North Carolina Mason March/April 2017 X By Tina Gilreath MHCO Financial Development & Communications Coordinator e 18 th Masonic District's 5 th Annual Masonic pheasant hunt was held on a beautiful February day at Honey Hill Hunting Preserve in Hallsboro. ree hunts were offered, and 200 birds were released at each. More than 150 hunters took advantage of the wonderful sporting event to help support the mission at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. e day began at 7 a.m. with a fantastic breakfast provided by organizers PDDGM James Britt of Proctorville Lodge #643 and Edwin Russ and Happy Buffkin of Lebanon Lodge #207. e hunt provided a great time for Masons and non-Masons to learn about the Home. e Walker Sisters always attend and share how important the Home was for them, and lead all attendees in giving thanks by offering the meal blessing. e Honorable A.B. Swindell, Oxford Lodge #122 and past board member, attended again this year with his sons. Everyone was there – even a family from Pennsylvania who had heard about the Masonic Pheasant Hunt made the trip. ey said they had a great time and plan to attend again next year. PDDGM Britt estimates this year's net proceeds will exceed $4,000 for MHCO. Sincerest thanks to all who planned, prepared, participated, and plan on attending next year. It's a great day for a great cause! our masonic charities at Work Annual hunt fun for everyone … except for the pheasants! A group of hunters awaiting the release of the pheasants at MHCO's 5th annual Ma- sonic Pheasant Hunt. Alumnae Kathy Walker Mack meets up with a pheas- ant for a moment before joining in the hunt. e Grand Lodge has distributed about $25,000 in aid to lodges that have applied for relief in the wake of the devastating Hurricane Matthew. Matthew hit North Carolina between Oct. 8 and 9, bringing widespread flash flooding and record river flooding to eastern North Carolina. Hourly rainfall estimates from radar were as high as 7 inches per hour. Rainfall totals toppled records: In Greensboro, 15.24 inches fell; in Fayetteville, 14.82. e storm caused more than $1.5 billion in damage and left countless North Carolinians homeless, destroyed businesses, and left entire towns vacant for a long while after the storm. At least 26 North Carolinians died. e Masonic Service Association of North America came to the rescue quickly, raising funds to help brothers, their families and lodges in stricken states. A total of $50,000 was forwarded to the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, as part of the MSA Disaster Relief Appeal. As of March 2017, about $25,000 had been distributed to 22 families and three lodges. e MSA was created in 1919 by the Grand Lodges in the United States. It originally was formed to provide aid to Masonic military servicemen near the end of World War I. e War Department (now Masonic aid provides relief for those hurt by hurricane APRIL 21-22 Ambassador Orientation JUNE 9 End of School Block Party JUNE 24 Orphans Masonic Lodge #761 MAY 21 Baccalaureate Service & Scholarship Ceremony JUNE 3 OO/MHCO Alumni Association Meeting & Lunch MHCO COMING SOON: see CHARITY, page 9

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