The North Carolina Mason

March/April 2018 The North Carolina Mason Page 11 TravelinG the tar heel state KINSTON – Several members of Jerusalem #95 in Hookerton visited veterans at the N.C. State Vereran's Home in late February. They were escorted on a tour by Ms. Nikki Jerkins, Recreation Services Director, who pointed out several ways that our lodge can support the veterans home. They met and talked with several veterans living there, some who served in WWII, some in Korea and Vietnam. They also met a charming couple who had been married for 73 years who both lived at the home. All the brothers came away with a great appreciation of our veterans and were impressed by the facility. "ere followed after me to-day A youth whose feet must pass this way. is chasm that has been as naught to me To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be; He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!" Charles Edward Cathey, 147th Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina, passed away March 3, leaving a loving family and countless brothers in Freemasonry to mourn the loss of a gentle leader with the heart of a poet. He was 79. He often closed his district meet- ings during his year in the East in 2000 by reciting from memory the poem e Bridge Builder by Will Allen Dromgoode. He believed his role as a Mason and as Grand Master was to make the road ahead as accessible and smooth as possible for those who followed him. He loved his native Haywood County as deeply as Freemasonry, teaching his children and grandchil- dren about their local roots. He even narrated a DVD produced by the Bethel Rural Organiza- tion, Walking in the Footsteps of ose Who Came Before Us. e lifelong Haywood County resident was the son of Hugh and Barbara Sheffield Cathey. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ava Jean Henson Cathey, and his sister, Vera Cathey. He is survived by those he often said made him most proud: Chuck (Angie), Tom (Michelle), and Machelle; his grandchildren, Joshua, Seth, Jared, Taylor, Will and Erin; and two great-grandchildren, Payton and Kenley. He was a 50-year member of Sonoma #472 and rose to the appointed position of Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina in 2000. During his tenure as Grand Master, he established a scholar- ship fund which continues to award $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors each year. In July 2000, He was honored by Governor Jim Hunt with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor a governor can award a private citizen. He was a member of the Waynesville York Rite Bodies and served as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of North Carolina in 1996. A member of the Asheville Scottish Rite Bodies, he received the honor of 33rd degree in 1991. He served as Grand Chaplain of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1990-1991. A US Army Veteran, he served at Fort Hood, Texas as a combat medic from 1957-1959. A memorial service followed by Masonic Rites was held March 7 in Canton. If you wish to honor him, the family requests that donations be made to the Charles Edward Cathey Masonic Scholarship Fund, Grand Lodge Scholarship Committee, 2921 Glenwood Ave.,Raleigh, NC 27608 Cathey often spoke of his year as Grand Master, telling his brethren that he had only one regret as he left office: "To my brothers across this state, there's a thought from one of my favorite poems that says: I've lots of good friends so kind and so sweet; And still many more that I'll never meet. I've been blessed this year by getting to meet so many of my brothers across this state. "is is probably the best part of the job of grand master. But as the line from the poem says and still many more that I'll never meet, I count it my loss that there are many of you that I'll never be blessed to meet in person." Past Grand Master Cathey dies at age 79 'G' a force for 'good' in NC After months of work, in partnership with lodges all over the state, the G poster you have read about in the Mason is ready! The final product is gorgeous and a show of great work from our own Print Shop at the Masonic Home for Children. Some 70 lodges submitted their Gs. The photos were care- fully edited and processed by photographer Melody McBride, a sister of the Eastern Star, who often shoots great photos at meetings and major events for the NC Mason. Melody also designed the layout and produced a detailed legend, which shows which G is which on the poster. Want your own copy? The 16x20 glossy poster is available for $30. Right now, we're selling them at district meet- ings but soon will be able to fill mail orders. All sales benefit historic lodge preservation efforts in North Carolina.

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