The North Carolina Mason

September/October 2017

North Carolina Mason

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September/October 2017 The North Carolina Mason Page 13 By Carolyn Gresham Editor's Note: Carolyn Gresham is Scott's mother, and the wife of Past Grand Master Bob Gresham. On Aug. 22 at about 7:30 a.m., the phone rang at our beach house. It was our son Scott. He had trouble as he tearfully told his dad, "Our house just burned to the ground. e only thing left standing is the chimney." Scott and two of his three sons are members of Albemarle #703, along with Scott's dad, Past Grand Master Bob Gresham. ey all love Masonry and what it stands for. Tanner is in the Army and stationed at Fort Bragg. Alex is a sophomore at East Carolina University. He is the newest Mason in the family, raised on July 3. He knew that when he turned 18, he would become a Mason – and that he did. Let's get back to this story. Scott's family was staying at Bob and Carolyn Gresham's house while they were getting their floors refinished. Perhaps an explosion caused by the fumes from solvents and varnish caused the fire. Scott, Stephanie and Sam, their youngest son, were sleeping soundly as their home burned to the ground. e house was engulfed in flames by the time the first responder, a forest firefighter, arrived. He was sure Scott's family had perished in this massive fire because the entire roof structure was gone, and Scott's car was outside of the garage, burning. Such a scene, but a very different ending. We are so thankful and blessed that the smell of floor finishing materials caused them to leave that house. is is the part that Scott and Bob would like to share with other Masons. ey lost everything related to Masonry: three white leather aprons, two Masonic rings (Tanner was wearing his) and three Masonic Bibles. After the fire was extinguished, Scott and the boys took a shovel and started to poke around a little in the ashes. ey found some burned-out guns, a tiny burnt baby shoe and a Masonic Bible. We don't know whose it was because the Bible was burned around the edges and the cover. As they opened it, the first thing they saw was a picture of Christ with outstretched arms. is was a moment they will never forget. Was this a sign or promise from God? ey think it was there for a reason. It has certainly given the Gresham family comfort. UPDATE: When asked if brothers could offer any help to him or his family, here's what Scott Gresham said: "We are fine. We are now settled in a furnished rental house, we have some clothes, friends have helped out and insurance money will be coming soon. "We are so thankful to have jobs and food on the table. If anyone wants to do something, please chose a lodge or lodges in Texas, Florida or Puerto Rico or help those folks. ey are in worse shape than my family." Gresham family counts their blessings a er devastating fire Scott Gresham and family, safe and sound. Firefighters worried the family was still inside when they saw the car burning outside. A sign? The Greshams lost three Ma- sonic Bibles in the fire. They found the remains of one, and opened it to this image. Restored lodge columns bringing history alive Historic Eagle Lodge No. 19 in Hillsborough was built in 1823 with funds from a raffle authorized by the General Assembly. Its officer chairs were placed in the Lodge in the 1850s, but no one seems to know when the columns arrived. e wooden columns are fitted together in segments with a dowel system, suggesting an 1800s origin. e columns are one of the centerpieces of lodges. Eagle's columns had become dull and lackluster over the years and the brethren voted for restoration. Two brothers anonymously donated the cost of restoration. Artists were sought and quotes obtained. Local artist Courtney Faison was commissioned to undertake resto- ration, which began with removing what seemed to be centuries of bronze paint, revealing the under- lying wood. e painting process was meticu- lous and time-consuming. e finished product reveals a new depth and the ancient columns are now clothed in hues of paint symbolic of the ancient times. WM Bill Faison, Artist Courtney Faison, Senior Warden Bruce Gordon, Artist Assistant Luke Grasty.

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