The North Carolina Mason

Page 6 BENEATH THE Oaks Hearts of the children By Allen Hughes Administrator Masonic Home for Children at Oxford We try to teach our children and hope they learn well the lessons we offer. When they’re old enough to start making some decisions for themselves and we let them go out without our supervision, we plead that they will do the right thing. Tere are, unfortunately, many times children or young adults will not heed the guidance or teach- ings of adults until they learn through experience that they should have followed the advice. We hope that the lessons of reality sink in before the carefree spirit of youth leads to physical and emotional harm or loss of esteem or reputation. I guess it is “the law of grow- ing up” for young people to challenge what they are told. However, usually if we try to get our children involved in community work and projects for charity they are more apt to either follow our lead or ask us to step aside so they can do it. In their youthful exuberance, the hearts of children often lead them to be caring and to show concern for the welfare of people in need or for other worthwhile causes. When they identify a need, children often will pitch in to help until a goal is achieved or they feel that their help has made a difference. I am amazed by the num- ber of children who forego leisure and personal gifts to do things for the benefit of others. If you want to see signs of children doing things for others the Christmas season, spring, and early summer are good times to look around during the evenings and weekends and see what children are doing. While a lot of car washes, bake sales, raffles, etc. are to raise money for group trips, many more are to help buy food and basic items and necessities to help people who have experienced misfortune. Two examples quickly come to mind that show the benevolence of children. For Christmas 2008 a 9-year-old young lady set up an individual blog on her computer and generated over $2,500 in donations to buy individual gifts for all the residents in one of our homes as well as group gifts for the home. She matched that feat for Christmas 2009. Also for Christ- mas 2009, we received a cash donation from another 9-year-old who told us she wanted to give money for our children’s home instead of receiving gifts for herself. I occasionally have mentioned the generosity and dedication of the Little Miss North Carolina (LMNC) Queens of the past few years. Te reigning queens are working on projects to add to the legacy established by their predecessors. Some of them may be making visits in your area soon. Tese young ladies work on charity projects in communities around the state, but they combine their efforts to help the children at our Home. Each court con- sists of eight young ladies, and with them spread out across North Carolina any group effort becomes a major undertaking. Tat in itself takes a lot of sacrifice. All gifts we receive and the givers are dear to us, and I do not like to compare the efforts of donors, but sometimes the efforts made to raise the gifts are so special that they merit extraordinary recognition. Te Little Miss North Carolina Queens of 2008 reached two milestones at the end of their reign in July 2009. Tey presented the Masonic Home for Children do- nations in excess of $21,300, the largest one-year total given by any of the LMNC courts. Teir gift brought the total donations to MHCO by the Little Miss North Carolina Queens during a 10-year period to $108,300. Let’s put this in perspective with our Masonic giving. Te contributions made last year by the LMNC Queens were exceeded by only 6 of the 378 Lodges on our donor records; the 10-year average of the LMNC Queens is matched by only 8 of our Lodges. Tese young ladies receive no personal gain other than the satisfaction of knowing they have done something for others, yet the sincerity with which they approach their fund raising shows they really care. As much as the young ladies have done, they say they wish they could have done more. Tey not only raise money for our children; they visit and get involved with our children. Some of the former LMNC have formed lasting relation- ships with the children. What a fine example for us! Although the children who live here at the Masonic Home for Children are not in a position to do much, they display an interest in helping others. When they learn of disasters such as major hur- ricanes, tornados, earthquakes, flooding, or a local fire which cause hardships on families they are quick to suggest that we take up a col- lection and do something to help. On occasion, they have collected food and other items to deliver to homeless shelters. It is rare that any of them turn down an opportunity to participate in a community project. Last year some of them got involved with the Little Miss North Carolina Queens in the Great Human Race to raise money for charities in Durham and the adjoining areas while the LMNC Queens raised funds primarily for MHCO. Some of our children chose to support charities other than MHCO and conducted a cou- ple of car washes. Tey contributed over $300 to charities. Despite the cold weather, the first weekend in March some of our girls held a car wash to raise money to donate to the Great Human Race chari- ties again this year. Other fundraising activities are being planned so they can make a larger donation. We often think of the need of our children, but many of them realize their good fortune to live here and think of the need of others and want to help. Often, when adults make donations we are as concerned about getting a tax deduction or credit for our group as much as the purpose of the donation. With children, that is not the case. Their gift comes from the heart, and they are sincere in their desire to help others. We can watch the children and learn the true meaning of giving. Let me help Masonry's charities ❍ Te North Carolina Masonic Foundation ❍ WhiteStone, a Masonic & Eastern Star Community (MESH) ❍ Te Masonic Home for Children ❍ Send information about wills and bequests. ❍ Please have someone contact me. My name Address City Phone Grand Secretary Clapp sets program ALEXANDRIA, VA — Grand Secretary Walt Clapp chaired the agenda committee for the 2010 North American Grand Secretaries’ Conference. The selection of topics presented included can- didate investigations, electronic conferencing, digitizing historical records, the uses and future of the Masonic Service Association, jurisdictional insurance programs, and more. Clapp is seen here, between Wisconsin Grand Secretary Michael A. DeWolf and Pennsylvania Grand Secretary Mark A. Haines, whom Clapp drafted to help on the committee. In memory of (optional) Address To assure that your gift is properly credited to the fund of your choice, please make the check payable to that charity. Mail to Te Grand Lodge of North Carolina, PO Box 6506, Raleigh, NC 27628. WELCOME OUR NEW Brothers 1 ................................... Erik Martin Gray 1 ................................... Ryan Vance Jones 1 .....................................Allen Victor Lee 1 .............................. Sammy Greg Nobles 1 .................................Robert Alan Parker 8 .................................. Ian Shelley Brown 8 ................... Joseph Marshall DeCosta V 8 ............................Scott Timothy Harvey 8 ..................................Casey Dallas Jones 8 .................................Jeff Perry Singleton 8 .................................Treager Rigil Stout 10 ............................. Brian Wayne Mazor 17 .............................Ronald Lee Baker Jr. 19 ...................... James Richard Whitfield 27 ......................Doyle Eugene Shoemake 27 ...................William Alexander Walker 31 ............................ Charles Allen Cutlip 31 ......................Christopher Brian Miller 31 ..............................Jon Steven Porter Jr. 53 ................................Joey Shane Russell 58 ........................ Jonathan Charles Cobb 58 ...................Christopher Michael Craft 58 .....................Stephen Wayne Nobles II 75 .............................Dean Stillman Alley 75 ............................ Stephen Carle Dunn 76 ............................... David Austin Beck 76 ....................... Geoffrey Tornton Cass 76 ................... Christopher Wade McCoy 81 ..................William Gerald MacIntosh 83 .......................Brandon Lee Blackmore 83 ..................................James Sean Cudd 83 ................................. John Russell Petit 83 ...................................Jarrod Paul Solar 97 ..............................Eric Gray Crawford 97 ...........................Alvis Gray Speight Jr. 102 ............... Samuel Herbert Leggett III 109 ...............................Orville Gillikin Jr. 115 ............................ Jason Allen Browne 115 ......................John Francis Dullaghan 115 .............................James Earl Sauls Jr. 117 .......................Peter Bridgeford Edgar 117 ............................William Lee Turner 118 ...................Galen Woodrow Holland 122 ....................... Timothy Mark Carroll 122 ................ Matthew Luther Perkinson 122 .............................. Roger Dale Setzer 122 ...................Danny Dean Williford Jr. 125 ............................. Joseph Brian Hope 125 ............................................ J. B. Price 125 ................................... Billy Obid Tart 125 .............................William Brian Tart 125 ............................... Billy Obid Tart Jr. 127 ........................Randall Clinton Poole 128 ...................John Henly Chaulklin III 128 ..........................Darren Vestal Layton 132 .......................James Scott Nethercutt 132 ...................... Johnny Everett Wooten 134 .....................Arnold Emory White Jr. 136 ....................William Perry Barnes IV 136 ...............Christopher Cameron Clark 136 ............................Joshua David Eanes 137 .................. James Garry McCorkle Jr. 137 ..................Robert Franklin Varney Jr. 143 ......................Anthony Wray Maddox 145 ....................David Leslie Crunkleton 145 ............................... David Wayne Nix 147 ................Douglas Patrick Godwin Jr. 147 ......................... Edward Lynn Holder 147 ........................ Jerry David Jackson Jr. 147 .......................Kevin Burns Matthews 147 ..............................Carl Phillip Miller 158 .......................James Harold Clark III 172 .................................. Justin Wm Pace 176 .............................. Jeffrey Bruce King 176 ...........................Andrew Ryan Oliver 181 .............................Roy Eugene Timbs 191 .......................Alvis Stirling Clack III 191 .....................Andrew Scott Hemphill 207 ............................Harry Lee Parker Jr. 217 ..........................Matthew Kyle Arney 217 ................................Randall Lee Pitts 217 ..........................John Wesley Watkins 218 ............. Clemens William Bremer III 218 .....................Scott William Souffrant 218 ....................Gregory Swain Williams 226 ...................... Alec Charles Englebert 240 .............................Randy Alan Powell 243 ........................ Bradley Cecil Gaskins 243 ...........................Jason Corey Gaskins 244 ............................ Jeremy Scott Benoy 244 ..........................Joseph Dustin Purser 244 ...........................Tomas Lee Starnes 249 ...................Samuel Franklin Watts Jr. 253 ......................... Brian Matthew Clark 253 ............................Justin Cody Fortner 261 ............................James Lynn Ringley 261 ........................Robert Tomas White 262 ...........................Phillip Allan Branch 262 ................William Tomas Bridges Jr. 262 ......................... Benjamin Ray Sutton 262 .............................Larry Todd Triplett 263 ......................Timothy Lee Lancaster 265 ................................Rufus Neil Brock 267 ...............Benjamin Michael Hawkins 272 ........................... Eric Brandon Dunn 277 ................................Lee Ritchie Irvin 282 ........................Edward Earl Norris Jr. 284 ................................... Jason Lee West 289 ......................... Johnny Keith Jackson 289 .............................George Lee Troxler 292 ..........................Todd Henry Duckett 293 ..............................Myron Scott Allen 293 ....................Joseph Richard Moffat II 301 ....................... Jonah Bruce Matheson 301 ....................... Rodney James Penland 301 .....................Anthony Mark Wiegold 306 ............................... Kirk Nathan Ellis 306 .................................... Adam Serrano 319 ...................... Gerald Daniel Glunt Jr. 319 ...................... Ricky Lynwood Parrish 319 ..................... Michael Clyde Spradley 319 .........................Timothy Dale Waters 339 ..........................Eric Brandon Carroll 339 ........................ Ricky Dean Carroll Jr. 339 ................................ Tracy Max Davis 339 ..........................Ronald Kevin Ramey 340 ............................. James Keith Harris 343 .........................Adam Wesley Beagles 344 ..................Edward Wayne Hurley III 344 ...................Michael Keith Megimose 344 ................... David Wayne Turnipseed 344 .......................Matthew Bryan White 348 ...........................Edward Tate Talbert 356 ................ Christopher Howard Davis 358 ........................... John Hunter Morris 358 ....................... Erick William Roberts 373 ................... John Anthony Lee Bryan 373 ...............Dwayne Anthony Lawrence 373 ......................Joshua Brant McMillan 375 .......................Ronnie Dwayne Dixon 375 .......................Daniel Ugene Freeman 375 ......................... Jordan Chance Piercy 377 .........................Mason Kenneth Hurt 377 ...................Jonathon William Walker 381 ........................... Michael Larry Jones 384 ...........................Jerry Allen Hobbs II 384 .........................Edward Alton Owens 387 ..........................Charles Russell Jones 387 .....................Timothy Scott Stiwinter 388 ....................... Darrell Wayne Barkley 388 ..........................Michael Todd Moore 391 ...................................Terry Del Dahl 391 ..............................Daniel Scott Davis 391 ............................Kyle David Mueller 391 ...............................Leo Boyd Starkey 403 ..........................John William Linton 404 ........................Anthony Kyle Hoglen 408 .............................. Steven Paul Boggs 408 ........................................Altin Ilirjani 408 ...............Samuel Bradford McKnight 413 ...............................Joshua Tyler Perry 418 .........................Joshua Michael Brock 418 ..........................Daryl Kent Williams 428 ............................Justin Douglas Hite 432 ........................Michael Shane Ashley 432 ..........................Roger Lee Billings Jr. 432 ......................Craig Randall Williams 435 .............Charles Franklin Lambert III 435 .....................Michael Anthony Smith 437 ...........................Vance Reid Lambert 439 ..................Robert Neal Neal Posey Jr. 446 .............................Herbert Gibson IV 446 ................Lemuel Frederick Moore Jr. 446 .................................Jason Eddy Patla 446 .........................Lynn Edward Perkins 446 ...................Robert Marvin Stetson Jr. 453 ........................George Bullard Brown 461 ......................Edward Doyle Plyler Jr. 462 ..................................James Paul Blair 462 ..................... David Walter George Jr. 462 ......................Jerry William Woods Jr. 483 ...........................James Elisha Dowell 484 .......... Christopher Edward Goodyear 484 ....................Robert Tornton Prisock 497 ....................... Stephen Craig Shearin 499 ............................. Paul Tomas Keith 500 .......................Aaron Andrew Guyton 500 .....................David Edward Mirfin Jr. 502 .................... Bradley Charles Johnson 502 .........................Jeremy Samuel Jordan 502 ........................Travis Charles Shaffer 505 ...........William Andrew McSwain III 515 .....................Chadwick Martin Farris 515 .....................................Todd Lee Irby 515 ..............William Jefferson McKnight 515 ........................Michael Scott Nichols 521 ........................... Michael John Hoert 529 ........................... Jerry Vincent Parker 542 ......................Richard Lee Bullington 543 ........................ Joshua Michael Saylor 550 .......................... Keith John Childress 550 ..................... Charles Everett Pearson 550 ...........William Matthew Swearengin 552 .............................Justin Dwight Hall 552 ........................Christopher Todd Key 552 .................... Casey Michael Landreth 564 ...............................Jason Ray Burgess 564 ......................Linwood Benjamin Foy 564 ..............Christopher Michael Gibson 564 ........................Wilbur Ray Gurganus 564 ................................... Kelly Joe Jessee 564 ........................Randy Allen Meeks Jr. 571 ....................William David Saunders 571 ................................. Jerry Todd Sipes 576 .............................Eric Eugene Reavis 578 ...................... David Michael Ludlow 578 ...........................William Lee Mosley 578 .......................... Brian Eric Sossamon 579 ............................Donnie Lee Downs 590 ........................ Matthew Keith Jacobs 592 ............................Tony James Tomas 593 ..................... Matthew Wade Hartsoe 593 .................Joseph Christopher Martin 594 ........................ Joseph Parker Slade Jr. 595 .............. Johnnie Jefferson Murray III 602 ..............................Scotty Ray Medlin 602 .........................Michael Charles Rose 616 ...........................Cory James Baldwin 617 ................ Donald Edward Martin III 617 .........................Joshua Tomas Raney 618 ....................... David Franklin Barbee 618 ..............................Jeffrey Bryce Jones 618 .................Christopher Ronald Wiley 626 ......................... Brian Keith Atkinson 629 .......................Roger Arnold Vance Jr. 637 ....................... Brandon Wesley Plyler 637 ....................William Randall Shelton 643 ..................... Charles David Andrews 646 .........................Gaston David Russ Jr. 658 .......................Brandon Matthew Cox 663 .....................Honley Dee Etherton Jr. 663 .............................Robert Kirk Forbes 668 ......................James Aaron Tompson 669 ...................Johnny Tomas Ballard II 669 .............................Joshua Robert Ford 669 ....................Billy Harden Stockton Jr. 670 .......................Joshua Douglas Martin 675 .........................Joshua Tomas Carter 675 ....................Tomas Mann Carter III 675 ...........................Billy Winston Torp 676 ..................... Patrick Doherty Finn Jr. 676 .................Napoleon Deon Tompson 679 ..........................MIchael Justin Davis 679 ............................. Derec John Mercer 680 .............................Michael Dean Burr 680 ...........................Jeffrey Lloyd Finnell 680 ...........................Terrell Antwan Ford 680 ............................Timothy Paul Ryan 680 .................................John James Stein 680 ................. Glenn Walter Trieselmann 680 ....................Earl Ethelbert Wilson Jr. 683 ..........................Edward Donahue III 685 ...........................Fred Allen Elliott Jr. 687 ............... Edward Campbell Berry III 687 ........................... Ricky Lamont Riley 688 .................Vincent Anthony Medgley 688 .......................Tomas Earl Simmons 688 ........................Peter Devlin Van Vliet 688 ..........................Charles Ray Webb Jr. 692 ...............................James Arthur Hill 692 ....................Christopher Wade James 694 .........................Adam Whitley Butler 694 ............................ Robert Earl Bynum 694 ..............Benjamin Michael Crissman 694 ............................ Jeffrey Scott Jalovec 694 ............................... Robert Dale King 694 ......................... Michael James Lopez 694 .....................Andrew Michael Pisano 694 .............................Robert Bruce Pugh 694 ....................Christopher Neal Walker 701 ................. Adam Anthony Berkowitz 701 .............................David Charles Guy 706 .............Nicholas Dean Culpepper III 708 ....................Marcus Christopher Dill 708 ............ Matthew Ashkan Hojatzadeh 709 ...........................Fred Lee Sherrill IV 710 .......................Timothy Wayne Smith 710 ......................William Andrew Suggs 713 ........................Jason Michael Stroupe 715 .......................George Donald Barrier 720 .........................Lewis Wetzel Burgess 720 .......................Justin Alexander Lewis 722 ............................. Collin Shore Davis 723 ...............James Donavon Cannette Jr. 723 ................................. David Earl Pope 723 ............... Christopher Scott Rountree 724 .......................John Gary Hardison Jr. 734 .......................John Gaston Harrelson 741 ......................Kenneth Wayne Harrell 743 ................... Robert Raymond Wilson 744 ................. Earl George Culbertson Jr. 744 ..............James Robert Cody Marshall 749 .............................Dillon Lane Helms 749 .............................Brian Lew Whitley 751 ......................... Jeremy William Ingle 751 ........................Bruce Donald Ingle Jr. 751 ....................... James Sterling Minton 752 ...............................Jason Gray Cheek 756 ..................... Joseph Tomas Lorenzo 758 ....................Christopher Lee Gupton 758 ..........................James Frederick Reid 759 .............. James Gregory Chamberlain 759 .........................Scott Edward Karrow 759 ........................Kenneth Brian Walker 759 ............................. Billy Ray Winecoff 762 ................................ Aaron Bart Cecil 763 ..................Charles Gregory Kirkman 763 ..........................Jeffrey Alan Stallings The North Carolina Mason March/April 2010 State My lodge Zip  Ric Car ter photo

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