Page 4 The North Carolina Mason March/April 2018
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ird class postage paid at Oxford, NC 27565.
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Grand Master
Speed Hallman
Board Of Publication
William Elliott Warnock (chairman)
Adam Russell Cloninger
Kenneth Wayne Lambert
John R. Beamon III
John S. Dodd
Editor
Beth Grace
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From the editor's desk
Grand Master Speed Hallman ................................. shallman@glnc.us
Deputy Grand Master Dwight M. "Mack" Sigmon ...msigmon@glnc.us
Senior Grand Warden P. Shaun Bradshaw ............ sbradshaw@glnc.us
Junior Grand Warden R. David Wicker .................... dwicker@glnc.us
Grand Treasurer Lewis R. Ledford (PGM) ............... lledford@glnc.us
Grand Secretary T. Walton Clapp III ...........................wclapp@glnc.us
Senior Grand Deacon Larry B. ompson Jr. ........lthompson@glnc.us
Junior Grand Deacon Kevan D. Frazier ......................kfrazier@glnc.us
Grand Marshal Donald E. Kehler ...............................dkehler@glnc.us
Grand Steward Robert W. Rideout ............................ rrideout@glnc.us
Grand Steward Steve M. Norris ................................... snorris@glnc.us
Grand Tyler John W. Speed II
Grand Chaplain James G. Jones
Grand Lecturer Donald M. Helton
Grand Historian Michael W. Brantley
NORTH CAROLINA
The Mason
By Beth Grace
Editor
How good intentions
can go terribly wrong
F
acts. Truth. Objectivity. Reality.
Once upon a time, these were essential
elements of how all news was reported,
from the daily newspaper to word of mouth on
the street.
at's old news these days. And that worries
me when I consider the current
debate in this Craft about the
Grand Master's gun raffle direc-
tive. Now, I am not a Mason. No
news flash there. But as editor of
the Mason and as communica-
tions director for the NC Masonic
Foundation, I have in the last year
and a half grown to know and
love the brothers of this fraternity.
I care about what you think, feel
and how you are perceived – not
because that's my job, but because I
believe my own eyes, ears and heart.
It is my job to help the world
understand Masons and the good
work you do. Generally, that's pretty easy.
You raise money for those in need; you help
community groups; you respond to a brother,
sister, widow or friend in need without asking
questions. Good stuff.
But there's another side to this conversation:
public perception. Let's face it. Most people
have no real understanding what Freemasonry
is, what it stands for, the promises you make
or the lives you lead. Some think Masons are
dark figures who speak some unintelligible
language, signal each other in suspicious secret
signs and have something to hide that must be
REALLY terrible.
Fair? No. I know I'm not telling you
anything you don't know. But keep reading!
I want to ask you to do me a favor. Take
some time to think about these things, these
unfair perceptions, groundless rumors and how
they could get out of control in the hands of
those who don't – or won't – understand.
Full disclosure – I support responsible and
lawful gun ownership, with this exception: I
think only police and the military should have
access to assault-style weapons. I also respect
your right to take a different stand. We all have
a right to disagree – and remain friends.
But what I do oppose is the very real
potential in this new climate of protest and
anger, that Masonry itself could be irreparably
harmed, all because of the perception that
either we lack compassion by raffling guns,
or by a bad and unfair outcome from a well-
intentioned raffle.
I speak from almost 40 years of experience
on the front lines of journalism,
from my work at local newspapers
to covering national and interna-
tional stories for e Associated
Press.
What I bring to the Masonic
table is the view from out there.
Here's what very likely could
happen should an assault-style rifle
get into the hands of a bad actor
after being advertised in a Masonic
raffle: It won't matter that the
weapon was acquired legally, that
the lodge took great care to distance
itself from the final owner and to
run the raffle ethically, that the only
intent of staging a raffle was to raise money
for kids or the elderly. Sadly, that last part only
makes it more newsworthy.
Most reporters are responsible and work
hard to get the real story. But there are many
people who have access to the internet who
are not reporters, who have no code of ethics,
and who could not care less about getting the
story right. ey want to go viral, to earn click-
throughs, to grab as many eyes as they can
with the most scandalous headlines. Adding
in the mystery that surrounds Masonry would
just make it hotter news.
In unethical circles like this, bad news sells.
Big.
is gets very real. It's not something that
only happens to somebody else. It can change
lives, cause bigger problems, provoke ground-
less lawsuits. At the very least, it could subject
good men to the thought that they lack
compassion – which has never been true.
You don't have to agree with me on ANY
of this. I'm asking only that you consider this
argument from the outside perspective.
I want the world to see you as I do. I want
them to understand that at the end of the day,
good hearts and hard work motivate every-
thing you do and are. Masons build UP, not
tear down.
