The North Carolina Mason

Page 2 The North Carolina Mason September/October 2019 more ANNUAL, page 9 ANNUAL, from page 1 Code Amendments results Outcome of proposals at 2019 Annual Communication Amendment Group 1 To raise the per capita rate owed to the Grand Lodge to $25 from its current rate of $20. SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT: This amendment would have increased the grand lodge per capita $5 effective Dec. 31, 2019; $5 effective Dec. 31, 2022; $5 effective Dec. 31, 2025 Amendment Group 2 To require the Grand Lodge to collect $1 a year on all its per capita tax members on roll as of Dec. 31, for the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Amendment Group 3 To require brothers to immediately notify the Secretary of their lodge of changes in contact information. Amendment Group 4 To require a majority vote to approve an Honorary Member. Amendment Group 5 To administratively suspend the membership of a member who has been charged with a felony. ✖ FAILED ✖ FAILED ✓ PASSED ✓ PASSED ✓ PASSED WITHDRAWN and symbols of Masonry hold the key to great universal truths – is a natural follow to GM Sigmon's program. "Brethren, we are keepers of the light. ink about that for a second. We constantly talk about light in our lodges, e Light – the universal, spiritual truths – are there, in our rituals, in our symbols, just waiting for each of us to do the work necessary to suss them out, to discover and understand them at a deeper level." He announced a few changes to next year's Lion & Pillar program, including establishing Masonic book clubs as an activity in the Education category. Other new items will focus on keeping in touch with Masonic widows, reaching out to initiates who failed to progress through the degrees, and participa- tion in public events that will bring positive attention to the Craft. Attendance was higher than usual this year, with more voters – and more visitors. Grand Master Dwight "Mack" Sigmon and Grand Line officers were joined by a large contin- gent of friends – Masonic representa- tives from 12 states and the District of Columbia; and repre- sentatives of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Caro- lina, Masonic Service Association and from the North Carolina Scottish Rite, York Rite and Shrine. "You've been awfully kind to me," Sigmon said of his travels throughout the state during his term of office. "I have tried to represent the office to the best of my ability." He said he had promised to try to leave the office better than he found it even though "my predecessors set an extremely high bar. But I never stopped trying." He says his main concern for Masonry as his term winds down is the improper use of social media by some members, reminding Masons to be above the fray in upcoming election seasons. "I strongly encourage you to work hard to refrain from engaging in any of the rhetoric that we will be facing in the coming months and next year, the extreme negativity we experi- ence every four years. You have a choice to play in that negative arena or be a Mason and raise yourself to a higher standard and ignore that opportunity," he said. Brothers also elected the following: R. David Wicker Jr., deputy grand master; Larry B. ompson Jr., senior grand warden; and Kevan D. Frazier, junior grand warden. Brothers moving up in the Grand Line are: Donald E. Kehler, senior grand deacon; Robert W. Rideout, junior grand deacon; Steve M. Norris, grand marshal; and Gilbert D. Bailey, senior grand steward. Grand Master-elect Bradshaw appointed Michael Allen Register of Pilot #493, as junior grand steward. Brother Register, 58, is a field services representative for the NC Department of Justice. He was raised in 1986 and is also a member of Lux Libertas #772 and Sophia #767. He has twice served as a master, most lately at Pilot lodge from 2016-2017. He has served as a committee member on the Board of General Purposes, Board of Custodians and the Risk Manage- ment Committee, and currently is a trustee at Lux Libertas. He recalled the moment Brad- shaw asked him to join the Line. "It was the longest hour of my life," Register said. Brother Register got a special surprise as his appointment was announced. His son, Christian, a brother at Pilot #493, came to sit with him. In other action, the assembly decided on four of five proposed amendments. e fifth, a proposal to administratively suspend the membership of a member who has been charged with a felony, was withdrawn by the proposing lodge. A repeat proposal to increase the Grand Lodge per capita $5 to $25 per Mason was approved, while a substitute amendment proposing to increase the per capita $5 this year, in 2022 and in 2025 failed to gain the required two-thirds majority vote. See sidebar for a list of how each amendment fared. Brothers also reviewed and adopted a new budget for 2020, which anticipates a spending deficit of $78,019 over income without any adjustment to the per capita. A special honor was awarded during Annual Communication. Sigmon gave WB Hyler Wayne Cox of Atlantic #294 the Montfort Medal, the highest honor bestowed in NC Masonry. e assembly also was treated to a debut of a new video created by Newly appointed junior grand steward, Michael Register, left, sits on stage with his son, Christian, following the announce- ment by the Grand Master-Elect.

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