The North Carolina Mason

May/June 2009 The North Carolina Mason Page 5 APRON, from page 8 STATE, from page 8 eNCompassiNg the world By Ric Carter Creedmoor Creedmoor 499's fifth annual benefit ride for the Masonic Home for Children was scheduled for May 9. —Rick Haskins Wilson Happy Valley Country Club was the site for Wilson 712's Seventh Annual Bruce Boyette Scholarship and Masonic Charities Golf Tour- nament on April 3. ere were gift certificates for various winners and a trophy for the lodge with the lowest overall score. Entry fees were $220 per four-man team. — Tony Ferrell Kannapolis Cannon Memorial 626 and Allen-Graham 695 have been running a special fund taking con- tributions to add a computer, PhoneTree, and video projector to the lodge. e electronic pro- jection system is now up and running. Time to re- tire those old slide projectors. Fifty-dollar donors get their name on a plaque. — Randy Crainshaw Oak Island Oak Island 758 was selling Boston butts for $20 each May 16. — Keith Stocum Asheville Nichols-West Asheville 650 scheduled their Second Annual Masonic Light Classic set for May 16. Entry fees for the golf tournament at Broadmoor Golf Links was $75 per person. e proceeds from the fundraiser were to go to the Masonic Homes. — Eric Redden Greenville William Pitt 734 hosted the annual joint in- stallation of lodge officers in Greenville. Grand Master Dan Rice was the installing officer and Past Grand Master Les Garner was installing marshal. e participating lodges were Green- ville 284, Farmville 517, Bethel 589, Crown Point 708, and William Pitt 734. William Pitt Lodge's Secretary Tom Jones's son Tom Jr. was taking his degrees out of town. When the time came for his raising in Granite 191 in Clayton, they packed up a degree team and hit the road. ey performed the degree and enjoyed a nice visit. At their March 27 Pancake Supper, William Pitt Lodge raised more than $2,100 for our Masonic Homes. — William Pitt Lodge TAOS, NEW MEXICO — is city is host- ing a parade for Brother Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson's 200 th birthday and Bent Lodge 42's 100 th anniversary (Kit's Lodge). e festivi- ties will be on Saturday, September 5, 2009, La- bor Day Weekend. e parade starts at 3:00 p.m. and will have numerous historical re-enactments as well as Native American tribes… and a bunch of Masons. If you are a Mason, you can actually be in the parade. After the parade, there will be A Masonic gene? LOUISBURG — James Peter Cash, once a member of Youngsville 377, would have been proud when James A. Johnson 413 installed their new officers. Three of his great grandsons were intimately involved. Stan Joyner, left, was the outgoing mas- ter; District Deputy Grand Lecturer Chris Hedrick, center, was the installing officer; and Matt Faulkner, right, was installed as the lodge's 2009 master. — Bill Riggan New Bern lodge takes flowers to widows NEW BERN — Doric 568 delivered poinsettias to their lodge widows during the holidays, a tradition the lodge has maintained for years. They are seen here distributing the flowers to all the folks who will spread out across town to brighten days with the gifts. Master Elmer Bur- roughs is seen at front. Al Bannister organized this year's effort that distributed 60 poinsettias. — Max Freeze Eagle Lodge, chartered in 1792, is one of the oldest Masonic lodges in North Carolina. Lodge members participated in the Old East cornerstone laying, a ceremony that marked the birth of public higher education in the United States. Dossett's notes on the back of the frame say the apron was stored in a trunk for 150 years before it was given to him in 1986 by Winecoff 's mother, Hilda Johnston Winecoff, for preservation. Johnston was born at Greenhill, NC in 1800 and became a merchant in Hillsborough. He moved to Alabama in 1834 and, according to contemporary accounts, died two weeks later. Eagle Lodge meets in an 1823 Greek Revival building designed by state architect William Nichols and built by John Berry, a past master of the lodge. e building, financed by a lottery authorized by the NC General Assembly, was built during Johnston's term as secretary. Lodge members are engaged in an extensive restora- tion of the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Speed Hallman is a member of Eagle 19. BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY — In the winter edition of The New Jersey Freemason, NJ Grand Master John M. Colligas reported that their Masonic Charity Foundation and their Masonic Home is "now in a crisis mode." Only one in nine Masons there contribute to their Home. In an effort to keep things going, they have reduced work force to a ratio of one employee to one resident. ey have f rozen hiring. ey ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI — Need an excuse to pick a driver to root for as those NASCAR boys go round and round? How about 22-year- old David Ragan? Why? He has announced that his official charity of choice is the Shriners Hospitals for Children. His relationship with the hospitals began in February when he toured the hospital in Tampa. He hopes to visit other facilities as the Sprint Cup season takes him around the country. "I look forward to a long and productive re- lationship with Shriners International and the health care system they help support," Ragan said, "With the help of NASCAR fans across the nation, I know we can increase donations to their worthwhile cause and ultimately help thousands more children in the future." You can learn more about the Georgia native at . — Red Fez Oldest US Mason GREAT FALLS, MONTANA — Walter Breuning is the oldest man in the United States, third oldest in the world. He joined Great Falls 118 in 1925. He was master in 1934 and lodge secretary from 1945–1970. Breuning worked for Great Northern Rail- road from 1913–1963. On his 112 th birthday, Breuning said, "e secret to long life is being active. If you keep your mind busy and keep your body busy, you're going to be around a long time." — e Minnesota Mason Ohio bicentennial celebration continues CANTON, OHIO — In recognition of the 200 th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, the William McKinley Presidential Museum and Library is running an exhibit on Ohio Freema- sonry through June 6. McKinley's membership in the fraternity is the lynchpin of the show. ere are also artifacts from presidents Gar- field, Taft, and Harding — the Ohio-associated Presidents. e exhibit will be available to coun- ty museums around Ohio after it finishes its en- gagement in Canton. — e Beacon New Mexico's GM clamps down on ritual ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — In his first edict, New Mexico Grand Master David L. Baker charged that "ritual in many of our constitu- ent lodges has fallen below acceptable standards." To attack the problem, he is refusing to ap- point any district deputy grand lecturers. In- stead, their duties will be assumed by the district deputy grand masters who will be assisted by five regional assistant grand lecturers. — e New Mexico Freemason HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA — at's the name of Dan Brown's latest book scheduled to be released September 15, 2009. According to a news release, the The Lost Sym- bol 's story takes place over a 12-hour period. Rumors still persist if will be set in Washing- ton, DC and will focus on Freemasonry. Dan Brown was quoted as saying, "is novel has been a strange and wonderful journey," and continued, "Weaving five years of research into the story's 12-hour time frame was an exhila- rating challenge. Robert Langdon's life clearly moves a lot faster than mine." Also, the movie adaptation of Dan Brown's book Angels and Demons starring Tom Hanks, opened in movie theaters May 15. — EMESSAY Notes Driver Ragan names Shrine Hospitals his charity NJ Masonic Home troubled have suspended f raternal care (charity) admis- sions. ey have also adopted more conserva- tive investment policies. — e New Jersey Freemason Kit Carson's 200 th an open house and Barbecue and Burger Fry at Bent Lodge to celebrate. Arrangements have been made at host ho- tels, and if you are in the parade, you will get a discount at the hotel. For further informa- tion please contact: J. Mark Drummond, Kit Carson Home and Museum, 113 Kit Carson Road, Taos, NM 87571 or (575) 758-4945 or . — EMESSAY Notes The Lost Symbol NASCAR'S David Ragan Raleigh lodges hide eggs RALEIGH — There was a good turnout for the Easter Egg Hunt at the Ra- leigh Masonic Temple April 4. The fun for kids was sponsored by William G. Hill 218, Raleigh 500, Hiram 40, and Masters 754. They invited kids from the Home for Children, brought their own kids and grandkids from home, and invited friends and neighbors. They served hot dogs after the hunting was done — not classic Easter fare, but they were making kids happy. — Dave Rowson Max Freeze photo Mount Carmel visits Statesville STATESVILLE — On February 17, States- ville 27 hosted Mt. Carmel 37 (PHA) in an evening of fraternal unity. More than 50 Ma- sons attended the meeting, including two past grand masters, Tom Gregory and David Cash. Gregory is a member of Statesville 27. Statesville Lodge served supper before the meeting. After lodge was opened, Statesville and friends exemplified the Fellow Craft De- gree. is was one of the first Prince Hall visita- tions to one of our lodges. — Joe Link Statesville 27 did a demonstration second degree for visitors from their local Prince Hall affiliate.

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