The North Carolina Mason

Page 6 The North Carolina Mason September/October 2017 our masonic charities at Work By Beth Grace Mason Editor Al Phillips gives as good as he gets. No, wait. He gives much, much better. e MESH #771 Master, and resident of WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community, is a big believer in paying good fortune forward. He does not let a day go by where he doesn't think of – and give thanks for – the generous donations that allowed him to find a modest room at WhiteStone after his wife died in 2012. WhiteStone is one of three charities North Carolina's 34,000- plus Masons support. Donations to the MESH Foundation LLC go directly to help Masonic brethren, sisters of the Eastern Star and their immediate families make do finan- cially when money runs unexpect- edly short. Donations from lodges, Masonic and Eastern Star members and those who love and respect their passion for the Craft help cover room costs, medical emergencies, expensive and unplanned dental surgeries and the like. Al gets help with his rent – the foundation pays the difference between his Social Security check and the rate for the room. "I am proud to say it: e North Carolina Masonic Foundation helped me get here, and stay here," says Phillips, who moved in after Barbara, his wife of 56 years, died. e couple at the time were living with their youngest son, Joe. After Barbara passed away, Joe suggested to his dad that he apply to move into WhiteStone. "Both Joe and his wife worked, and if something happened to me, they couldn't be with me all day," Al says. "is was a perfect solution." He moved in and soon found new friends and grew a deep appreciation for the brethren and their families whose donations made his stay possible. Al became a Master Mason in November 1977 and was a member of Guilford #656. He is a Past Master of Guilford and is the inau- gural Master of MESH #771. He also has been a member of the Greensboro Valley Scot- tish Rite since 1978. In 1979, he joined the York Rite. He worked hard and received the Knights York Court of Honor. Because of their exemplary service to the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, Al and Barbara were honored with the Grand Cross of Color in 1983. Because of Al's commitment to his Scottish Rite valley, he was granted Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 1993. In 2001, he was given the Order of the Purple Cross as an Associate Regent, the highest honor given by the York Rite College. In 2003, Al explored and became a member with the Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons of North Carolina. After eight years, Al was elected as Grand High Priest in 2011 and was also honored with the Knight Grand York Cross of Honor. Al is also a member of the Shrine and the Past Master's unit. In addi- tion, Al also served as Chapter Dad for the Greensboro Chapter Order of DeMolay in 1980. Al is not a man who misses a chance to give back. After years of hard Masonic work, he again joined his brethren in creating the new MESH #771 lodge at WhiteStone. e lodge meets on the second Saturday of each month, which allows those who can't drive at night to come during daylight and is a good time for fellow WhiteStone Masons to join. Visitors, including Grand Line officers, attend regularly. ey have some 75 members now, and expect more to join. is lodge does other things a little differently, he said. Because there's no overhead – no lodge to build or maintain – dues are gathered and divided between the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford and the WhiteStone employee fund, a collection that offers a little financial help to the workers who care so well for resi- dents at WhiteStone. As time goes by, some of that money will also be donated to the new Masonic and Eastern Star Outreach Program. Al credits the lodge's wardens, Eddie Moody and Gene Lewellyn, among others for making this lodge special – MESH #771 was named a Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excellence for 2017. He loves living and making a difference at WhiteStone. "ere is so much to do for people in homes like this," he says. "But you have to make an effort." He spends much of his time calling on his fellow Masons at WhiteStone to make sure they know they are welcome at lodge. "A lodge is not one person," he says. "e master happens to be the one who sets the direction but if you have good people in the room, you have a real gift." WhiteStone Family Album MESH's master pays good fortune forward

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