The North Carolina Mason

July/August 2017 The North Carolina Mason Page 15 WeLcome our neW Brothers Wilson, Michael Anthony St John's 1 Blegen, James Lee St John's 1 Elderdice, Randy Dale St John's 1 Pecker, Sean Lavee St John's 1 Williams, William Wilson Charity 5 Albee, James Jordan Phoenix 8 Cooper, Gary James Phoenix 8 James, Tony Phoenix 8 Morales, David Phoenix 8 Smith, Joshua David Phoenix 8 Williams, Timothy Lee Liberty 45 Frazier, John Wesley Liberty 45 Minton, Brian Steven Liberty 45 Bates, Aaron David Kilwinning 64 Ricketts, Heith Edwin Kilwinning 64 Sheppard, Jesse Evans Kilwinning 64 Nesbitt, Grady Laverne Lafayette 83 Cockman Jr, Oren Keith Hiram 98 Moore, William Hedrick Franklin 109 Steers, Michael Brandon Wayne 112 Mayzak, Michael Anthony Wayne 112 Tan, Jerome Cosmiano Wayne 112 Niez, Gilbert Laurence M. Mt. Lebanon 117 Dodgion, Robert Shannon Mt. Hermon 118 Wakefield, Andrew Kampen Mt. Hermon 118 Wall III, Robert Lindsay Dan River 129 Cassell, James Edward Leaksville 136 Guilliams Jr, James Harold Mt. Olive 208 Lancaster, Joseph Warren Mt. Olive 208 David, Dexter Dennis Corinthian 230 McLain, Darren Greggory Lee 253 Porzio, Nathan James Fuquay 258 Cline, Markus Andrew Hibriten 262 Bradley, Dustin Dale French Broad 292 Griffin, Keaton O'Bryan French Broad 292 Ricker, Mitchell Ryan French Broad 292 Silver, Justin Derek French Broad 292 Willis, Jeffrey Wayne French Broad 292 Gibbs, Cameron Lane Atlantic 294 Gibbs, Ryan Mitchell Atlantic 294 Kennedy Jr, Larry Speight Pleasant Hill 304 Nunley, Steven Ray Raeford 306 Pequeno, Gregery Anthony Raeford 306 Sasser, Christopher Mark Eureka 317 Strange, Jackie David Wilmington 319 Hand, Jeffery Wayne Harmony 340 Snapp, James Michael Mount Vernon 359 Hammerly Jr, Gregory James Gastonia 369 Jackson, Joseph Michael Gastonia 369 Doster, Corey Austin Price Friendship 388 Lawson, Bryan Thomas Friendship 388 Mathis, Donald Edward Lebanon 391 Beck, Jeremy Dustin Stokesdale 428 Hopkins, Ira Blevin Elkin 454 Bullis, Dennis Blane Thomas M. Holt 492 Norris, Seth Anthony Thomas M. Holt 492 Cook, Warren Scott Cherryville 505 Hull, Timothy Wayne Cherryville 505 McCants, Charles Wardlaw Cherryville 505 Bragg, Earl Scott Whetstone 515 Goode, Tyler Lee Whetstone 515 Paschall, Larry Fred Whetstone 515 Payne, Jonathan Chase Whetstone 515 Wyrick, Daniel Wayne Corinthian 542 Godsey, John Michael Mount Holly 544 Cooper, William Robert Elise 555 Blackwell, Tyrahn Tarell Ashe 594 Easter, Tyler Andrew Round Peak 616 Riley, Devan Ferrell Beulaville 658 O'Briant, Christopher Charlie Garland 664 Perry, Jared Ronald Ft. Bragg 667 Brafford, Jimmy David Kernersville 669 Campbell, Joseph Andrew Kernersville 669 Whitt, James Nelson Kernersville 669 Woods, Jason Blaine Kernersville 669 Newsome, Jared Parker Piedmont-Pioneer 685 Weavil, Jonah Christopher Piedmont-Pioneer 685 McMorrow, Michael Joseph Charles M. Setzer 693 Watkins Sr, Clifton Lee Garner 701 Parker, Mitchel Roland Garner 701 Rowland, Brian Scott Albemarle 703 Pearson, Stewart Forest Conover 709 Smith, Darren Phillip Liberty 714 James, Edward Grantham 725 Anderson, Edward Lee Shallotte 727 Bell, Kendall Davis Stedman 730 Egan, Brian Scott Stedman 730 Large, Anthony David Stedman 730 Bumgardner, Ricky Lee Stump Sound 733 Gooler, Shaun Michael Stump Sound 733 Forth, Robert Eugene Steele Creek 737 Brown, Mark Alexander Steele Creek 737 Lay, Nicholas Austin Federal Point 753 Harrington, Clifford Duke Clifford Duell 756 Lilly, Christopher Pierce Clifford Duell 756 Hemmerich, Laurence Louis Denver 757 Martin, Fred Thomas Oak Island 758 Lindsay, Gregory Charles James K. Polk 759 Shah, Romin Bharat James K. Polk 759 Stubbs, Thomas Charles James K. Polk 759 Holland, Justin Paul Ashlar 765 Schmidt, James Andrew Ashlar 765 THREE BROTHERS from page 14 apparent he was not destined for such a career. With the influence of his family, George obtained an appoint- ment to West Point from then- Congressman Abraham Lincoln. (It is reported that Brother Pickett never allowed, nor wanted to hear, any ill words regarding Mr. Lincoln.) ough not a scholar, Pickett proved to be brave, daring, charis- matic, and a natural leader. Upon graduating last in his class, he soon achieved recognition for his service during the Mexican War. He would marry his childhood sweetheart, Sallie Minge, who died shortly after their wedding. Wishing to "keep busy," Brother George found himself stationed in the far flung Washington Terri- tory, whereby his clear thinking and diplomatic skills prevented an armed confrontation with nearby British troops. (He was awarded the "anks of Congress.") e circle of friends (Armistead, Hancock, Pickett) bid their fare- wells in California and Pickett, like Armistead, resigned his Army commission. As a result of his actions, Brother Pickett rose in rank to Major General in the Army of Northern Virginia. It was his division of 5,800 men that would spearhead the fateful assault upon Hancock's line. e result is well known: Armistead's and Hancock's wounding, the Federal victory, and the loss of 75 percent of Pickett's men. For the next 21 months, the war continued, lives were lost, yet Brother George found personal bliss again upon marriage to LaSalle Corbell of North Carolina. Upon the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army at Appomattox, Brother Pickett and his family fled to Canada. However, all was forgiven when his friend U.S. Grant inter- ceded on his behalf, even offering Brother Pickett an appointment as a US Marshal, which he declined. George Pickett would become a businessman (insurance agent) and perish at age 50. He, like his beloved "Miss Corbell," would be laid to rest in Richmond's Holly- wood Cemetery, he in 1875 and she reinterred there in 1998. A band of brothers, comrades in arms, men of principal, shattered by war. Yet each guided by the tenets of our Fraternity as every Brother should endeavor to be. Most of us have visited lodge rooms that simply take your breath away. Our cover photograph, taken in the lodge room of the Asheville Masonic Temple, is just a peek at the beauty and brotherly love invested in so many of the historic Masonic buildings that pepper North Carolina. The Asheville temple cornerstone was laid on July 1, 1913, and construction was complete by April 1915. The price tag: $56,262 or about $1.25 million in today's dollars. Brother Richard Sharp Smith, who was in Asheville supervising construc- tion of the famous Biltmore House, designed the temple. The third and fourth floors of the temple housed the Scottish Rite and was referred to as the Scottish Rite Cathedral. That section of the temple houses a theater with a horseshoe balcony and hand-painted scenery drops painted by Chicago artist Thomas Moses. Nothing was left undecorated. Even the brass doorknobs throughout the temple bear the Masonic square and compass. The temple has been pressed into service for non-Masonic uses through the years. During the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, it was converted into an emergency ward for women and African American patients and, in the 1950s, was designated a fallout shelter. Such Masonic treasures must be preserved – and the North Carolina Masonic Foundation is here to help. The NCMF will travel the state to photo- graph and chronicle the story of these beautiful, historic venues over the next six months to produce a coffee table book. The book will be sold to generate proceeds for the North Carolina Historic Masonic Properties fund, which offers financial help to preserve historic Masonic buildings and sites around the state. Know of a lodge that should be remembered? Nominate your favorite! Contact Mason Editor Beth Grace at ncmason@glnc.us! On the cover

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