The North Carolina Mason

Page 4 The North Carolina Mason Spencer adds fun to school start OXFORD — An event the children at the Masonic Home for Children look forward to each year is the Back to School Pool Party. Te party is a joint project of Spencer 545, Spencer Eastern Star 51, and Pat and Jeff Phillips. Tis is the time when the school supplies they have col- lected during the year are delivered. Last August’s Pool Party started with loading with a ton (actual) of school sup- plies getting a rental truck. People piled into several cars for the journey east. It seemed that once they had crossed the Yadkin River, the bottom fell out. Each time they thought the downpour was over; along came the rain again. After a very slow drive, they finally arrived at Oxford. In Oxford, the sky was dark and threatening. Just as everything was being set up, the bottom fell out again, and Home officials thought that the party would be called off. But soon, the rains ended, and the sun shone brightly. D. J. (and 28th District deputy grand master) Steve Schenk set up his equipment. Pat and Jeff setup their snack tent, and the door prizes were displayed so that the children could see what would soon belong to someone. With the coming of clearing skies, the children began to appear from their cottages. Tey headed straight to the pool and for the junk food at the snack tent. Tey danced, they swam, and they ate. Tey even threw John Hatley (fully clothed) into the pool. Everyone had great fun. Te better weather also let them get school supplies unloaded. About five o clock, when the children were almost worn out, they Academic rewards for kids OLD FORT — Joppa 401 last year decided to encour- age excellence in students by sponsoring a financial award for academic performance. Each of the kids receiving the award graduated from their McDowell County school at the top of their class. The winners were Levi Pittman, a sixth grader from Old Fort Elementary (top left); Mary Greene, ninth grader from West McDowell Junior High (top right); and Kaylie McCraw, a graduating senior from McDowell High School (above). Ms. Mc- Craw is pictured with Joppa Master Mark Murphy and Treasurer George Ellis. — Mark Murphy PHA Mason new honorary CHARLOTTE — Several lodges here have been very active Fruit and song for the ladies MOUNT AIRY — This past Christmas season marked the tenth year that Granite 322 has serenaded the widows of their lodge with Christmas carols as they home-delivered fruit baskets to them. They also carolled at the Eastern Star meeting and at Ridgecrest Assisted Living Center where several widows live. — Joe Arnder in visiting with their Prince Hall brothers. They have participated in degrees, lodges of sorrow, dinners, and other activities. Al- lan Mann has been central to planning many of the events. His Prince Hall cohort Charles Sharpe was recently made an honor- ary member of Charles M. Setzer 693. Sharpe is one of the first Prince Hall Masons in North Carolina to be made an honorary member of one of our blue lodges. made their way to the picnic area for a supper of hot dogs, hamburg- ers, baked beans, chips, cookies, watermelon, and cold drinks. While they were eating, they were entertained by professional clown Mike Decker, who made balloon characters for each child. District meetings Grand Master William L. Dill plans to visit more than half our districts this year. His meetings start in late February and will finish in early June. Te meetings this year will be mostly in the odd numbered districts. His meetings will be similar to the area meetings of the past few years. Pre-meeting meals are scheduled for 6:15 p.m. with the tyled meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. District officers and the grand master will be received with usual honors. You may make your lodge’s reservation for the meeting with your district deputy grand master or lodge secretary. Please be considerate of the host lodge. Make your reservations for dinner at least seven days before your scheduled meeting. It is very frus- trating to try to plan for a meal when reservations have not been made. Your lodge will be responsible to pay for all meals reserved. Tose who have not made reservations should not expect to eat. Date District Lodge Location April 19 ..............1 ..............Eureka 317 ........... Elizabeth City April 20 ..............2 .............Manteo 521 .....................Manteo April 26 .............41 ...........Cherokee 146 ................... Murphy April 27 .............40 .........Waynesville 259 ............Waynesville April 28 .............34 ............ Maiden 592 ......................Maiden April 29 .............24 ...........Bush Hill 732 ..................Archdale May 10 ...............6 .............. Bethel 589 ...................Greenville May 11 ...............8 ...........Royal Hart 497 ................. Littleton May 24 ..............36 ..........Cherryville 505 ..............Cherryville May 25 ..............32 ........ Steele Creek 737 ...............Charlotte May 26 ..............38 .........Western Star 91 .......Rutherfordton May 27 ..............28 ........... Cabarrus 720 ................... Midland June 1.................18 .......... St Alban’s 114 ..............Lumberton June 2.................20 ......Neill S. Stewart 556 ................. Erwin June 3.................16 ..............Kenly 257 ..........................Kenly In case of inclement weather, meetings will be cancelled in ac- Family line at Joppa OLD FORT — Joppa 401 picked up a third generation mem- Tomcats help lodge scholarship LUMBERTON — As with all of us, St. Albans 114 is suffering in these economic times. Their scholarship fund was looking for help. The Tomcats, a parade unit of the local Shrine Club, stepped up to the pump with support to St. Albans Lodge’s local scholarships. The annual contributions to the St. Albans Masonic Lodge Scholarships at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Robeson Com- munity College are long standing traditions. With the help of the Tomcats and others, it will continue to grow. Tomcat members come from St. Albans 114, Proctorville 643, St. Pauls 474, and Fairmont 528. They are proud of their members from different lodges moving forward together for a local benevolent goal. — Dayton Wilson ber last year, Scott Robinson, right. He is seen here with his father, Randy Robinson, and his grandfather, James Groce Robinson. — Mark Murphy cordance with local schools cancellations. If a meeting is cancelled, the host lodge and district deputy grand master will be notified. Your lodge may cancel its stated communication to attend your district meeting. Information will also be posted on the Grand Lodge web site: www.grandlodge-nc.org. Tis schedule was the schedule as of March 30, 2010. Changes may be necessary. Please consult your lodge for updates. Planting a successful lodge garden Paul Shuler of Junaluskee 145 gives us this green thumb guide for a productive lodge. A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds. And don’t forget a liberal application of the fertilizer of fun. Next five of lettuce First Plant five rows of peas Patience Promptness Preparation Perseverance Purity Next three rows of Squash Squash gossip Squash criticism Squash indifference Let us be faithful in duty Let us be unselfish Let us be loyal Let us be true to obligations Let us love one another RAGAN, from page 8 Complete with turnips Turn up for meetings Turn up with a smile Turn up with good ideas Turn up with determination March/April 2010 Pool romping and balloon clowns made unloading school supplies more bearable. Looking after a brother RANGER —Don McCarter, a Montgomery 426 member, was excited about his son taking his Masonic degrees in Texas. However, he was too ill to go see them for himself. He wanted his son to have something of home with him in the degrees. He asked the members of his lodge to all sign a Bible that he was sending to Texas for the ceremonies. In mid-February, many members of the lodge visited McCarter to deliver the book. Tey en- joyed this one and the many other visits they had made to his home during his protracted illness. He died less than a week later. Tey again went to be with him when they performed his Ma- sonic funeral. — Derek Cheek Doc holds patient appreciation day STATESVILLE — Chiropractor Ron Adams, a member of Statesville 27, held a customer ap- preciation day for the second straight year. Patient visits that day cost only a donation to charity — specifically the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. Adams says his goals are threefold: show his customers he appreciates them, do more for our charities, and spread the word about Freemasonry. He’s satisfied he’s accomplishing those things with this simple formula. — Te Joppa Informer David Ragan saddled up and ready. road to it,” said an enthusiastic Ragan after the Tuesday night degree. Oasis Potentate Wayne King said, “We’re all excited that David and his teammates have begun the exceptional journey of Masonry and the Shrine. It’s the world’s best fraternity with the world’s greatest philanthropy, and we need to strengthen it by getting quality, young, enthu- siastic members.” “Te NASCAR race schedule is tough, and it’s taken us a while to be able to get David and the guys started, but it all came together,” said Shea Fadel, who has worked many months be- hind the scenes to work out the initiation and who also serves as Oasis membership chair- man. “Hopefully, we can get on track for the next two degrees and have three new Masons by summertime.”

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