The North Carolina Mason

September/October 2020 The North Carolina Mason Page 7 neWs oF the craFt HOPE MILLS – Grand Master Shaun Bradshaw makes a stop at Hope Mills to present Worshipful Brother Kenneth Porter with his 70-year certificate and pin at Lebanon #391. Worshipful Brother DDGM James Pugsley, Master Mark Saults, PM Woodrow Inman III Chaplin, PM Bruce Pross, PM Bob Houston, PM Conrad Swick and PM Melvin Dove came for the ceremony. Brother Porter was born in Hope Mills, NC, in 1928 and became a Mason in 1950. He served as Master in 1958. After the ceremony, the Grand Master gave officers some guidance, Masonic education and talked about current events as it pertains to the Craft. Trey Andrews was initiated at Cannon Memorial #626 on Feb. 25. (See above photo) By the end of March, he was ready to stand his advance to the degree of Fellowcraft. But like many others, he ran into the coronavirus pandemic. Waiting for life to get back to normal, he and his coach Worshipful Brother Richard Secoolish met to refresh his proficiency. In August, the Grand Master offered to review and approve dispensations to hold outdoor degrees. Master George Maxwell offered his property. Following review and approval by the DDGM, Grand Master Shaun Bradshaw issued a dispensation for 25 attendees, with conditions that the lodge must take health and distancing precautions. e location was kept secret; attendees had to RSVP to the lodge secretary. In the meantime, brothers Maxwell, Secoolish, WB Jason Resendes, WB omas VanEtten, and B Srujan Katanguri, along with 15-year-old Eagle Scout Andrew VanEtten transported the lodge furniture to the outdoor site. ey painted x's on the ground to represent six feet of distance; the chairs and altar were specially located to ensure proper distance was maintained. ey offered gloves, masks and hand sanitizer at the entrance. To ensure safety, the lodge invited a doctor (also a brother) to take temperatures and assess any potential medical issues. With 22 people in attendance, brothers of all ages re-engaged with Masonry. After almost six months of coaching, the candidate was pleased to stand his proficiency and see what the Fellowcraft Degree – this time informally dubbed the "Pandemic Degree" – had to offer. Earlier in August, with dispensation from Grand Master Bradshaw, Semper Fidelis #680 conferred the first outdoor Master Mason's Degree in Onslow County. (See photo below) Four Fellow Crafts were raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. DDGM Wes Sales and DDGL Steven Springle were present. e fellowship enjoyed by those present will not soon be forgotten. Master Jason Caldwell and his officers prepared for and conferred the degree, raising Richard Barbee, Austyn Harrell, and Geoffrey Horning of Semper Fidelis and William Faulkner of Richlands #564. All the necessary safety precautions were met. 'Pandemic degrees' let brothers re-engage PINEHURST – The brothers of Southern Pines #484 raised more than $6,000 for Masonic scholarships at its an- nual golf outing on Aug. 8. The outing at Pinewild attracted 32 golfers and 10 volunteers to help out. Contests were held for some great prizes: a hole-in-one contest to win a Mustang, a silent auction for foursomes at Pinehurst No. 8 and Pinewild and a chance to win a golfcart.

• Cover