The North Carolina Mason

Page 10 The North Carolina Mason May/June 2021 News oF the craFt OXFORD – The Annual Great Landscape Event at the Masonic Home for Children took place this year – just in a different way. Because of pandemic restrictions, there were not as many participants as in the past, but the folks who attended (by invitation since campus was closed) worked as hard as usual. MHCO Board Chairman MW Dewey Preslar led a group from Andrew Jackson #576 in beautifying God's Half Acre. Other groups spread mulch at the playgrounds and planted flowers at the York Rite Chapel. Also, children of the Home helped repot oak trees that will be available for purchase during the 2023 150th Celebration of the home. HIGH POINT – Acacia #674 in May celebrated broth- er WB Jacob R. Summey, as he graduated from East Caro- lina University with two bachelor's degrees: one in Biology and one in chemistry. Summey is a Past Master of Acacia in High Point, serving as Master in 2019 while attending school, a member of Crown Point #708 in Greenville, a Knight Templar in High Point Commandery #24, and a 32nd Degree Mason in Guthrie Valley, Orient of Oklahoma. Jacob is a Marine Corps veteran and a major in Civil Air Patrol, active since 2000. CHARLOTTE – Brothers from Temple #676 pay a special visit to WB Bill Parlier at this home to commemorate his 99th birthday. He was presented with a large birthday card, circulated among some local lodges for signatures. Brother Bill was in good spirits and even danced a little when his brethren sang "Happy Birthday." He is the lodge's senior surviving past master, having served in the East in 1967. During his tenure at Temple, he was secretary for several years. He doesn't get to lodge very often as he has hearing difficulties and doesn't like to drive at night, so the brothers took the party to him. OXFORD – The newest team of Ambassadors for the Masonic Home for Children spent a recent weekend in April on campus, getting to know the home and its kids. They spent a day learning about the home's history, re- ferral process, current operations, and marketing. They were all awarded the MHCO Ambassador Pin and Walking Stick. Ambassadors spread the word about MHCO in lodges around the state. They are: Marty Silverwood, Mi- chael Grantham, Kenneth Liles, Tracy Walter, Tim Merritt, Chris Vancil, Job Connor, Jason Ross, Aaron Slyter and Jordan Roddy. GATESVILLE – Nineteen 1st District past masters joined their brothers at the annual Gatesville #126 fish fry. Brothers Ralph Wilkins, Ben Stallings and Gilbert Cherry caught the fish and helped prepare the meal. Brothers from across the 1st Masonic District enjoyed a dinner of fried white perch, catfish stew, and all the fixings. What made this evening more special was that WB Steve Stallings, Master of Gatesville #126, invited Past Masters from the district to fill the chairs for their Stated Meeting. Thirty Brothers were in attendance. Grand Steward Phil Johnson sat in the East.

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