The North Carolina Mason

T his past June 23, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina celebrated the Masonic Feast of St. John the Baptist a little differently. Grand Master Frazier and his officers heralded the celebration as a Masonic Day of Giving — a day for brethren across the state to volunteer in their communities, to donate to charity, or to just visit a neighbor. Giving back can be defined in many ways; what's important is that we, as Masons, give back to our communities. What was significant about this particular St. John's Day was that the Grand Lodge celebrated the ancient Masonic tradition as it was originally intended: as a feast and festive board, something the Grand Lodge has not done in probably more than 200 years. In 1717 the Grand Lodge of England celebrated the Feast of St. John the Baptist, not as a celebration for the Grand Lodge's formation, but as a celebration of the revival of Freemasonry. Masonry's origins prior to 1717 are rather obscure, but there is a fair amount of evidence to illustrate that Masonry, as a fraternal and social organization, was neglected and facing obscurity. However, men and Masons such as Anthony Sayer, John Theophilus Desaguliers, and James Anderson believed Freemasonry had more to offer the world – like friendship, philosophical discussion, and charitable endeavors. The restoration of the Feast of St. John was celebrated as a revival and a reminder that Freemasonry was not dead and intended for nobler deeds, higher thoughts, and greater achievements. The Feast of St. John became a staple of Masonic tradition and was carried over to the American colonies in the mid-18th century. In North Carolina the earliest record of a Masonic Festival comes from St. John's Lodge at New Bern, when on December 27, 1755, the Masons of New Bern gathered at Christ Church to celebrate the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. It is presumed they proceeded to the tavern afterward to dine together. The earliest record of the celebration of St. John the Baptist can be found in the minutes of Royal White Hart Lodge in Halifax, when, on June 24, 1770, it was noted, "The excessive heat of the weather rendering it very inconvenient and even dangerous Masonic Renewal and the Feast of St. John 18 | T H E M A S O N M AGA Z I N E

• Cover