The North Carolina Mason

January/February 2012 short capsule histories of those institutions. Du- plin Clerk of Superior Court Katie Quinn Har- rell spoke of the last hundred years in the Clerk's Office. Duplin County Register of Deeds David Hiram Brinson (St. John's 13) spoke of the part the Register of Deeds office and its personali- ties have played locally during those same 100 years. All six of the male Register of Deeds in those hundred years have been Masons. Duplin Sheriff Blake Wallace (Wallace 595) shared his department's history. Five of the nine sheriffs there in the last hundred years have been Ma- sons. Wallace was followed by District Court Judge Henry L. Stevens IV (St. John's 13) who spoke about the court system. Past Grand Ma- ter Charles M. Ingram presented a short history of the lodges, the cornerstone ceremony, and its symbolism. He spoke about the importance of the fraternity to the practice of local government institutions through history. For many, the highlight came as Bullard and Brinson shared the contents of the origi- nal cornerstone. As was often the case, memo- rabilia were deposited in the a hollow in the cornerstone. This one contained some Masonic hardware, some coins, and several paper me- mentos including local newspapers and Ma- sonic publications. Due to failed sealing, the paper documents were largely lost to the ele- ments. The organizers shared with attendees a view of the things to be included in the re- sealed stone. That included several documents and news items. There were also a number of Masonic pins placed. Among them was the commemorative pin from the 2008 proclama- tion which officially launched the new recog- nition relationship between the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Caro- lina. It was included to salute this cornerstone as the first joint meeting of the black and the white lodges of the county. The guests and Masons moved to the northeast corner of the courthouse where they reenacted the ceremony from 100 years earlier and rededicated the building's corner- stone. It bears the name of our 1911 Grand Master R. N. Hackett. The pro tem officers chosen to rededicate the memorial were: Dalton W. Mayo, grand master; Jackie Robinson, deputy grand master; Ray- mond Turner, senior grand warden; Lafayette Hall, junior grand warden; Gerald Strickland, grand marshal; Davis Brinson, grand secretary; Brian Bullard, grand treasurer; Franklin Brown, grand chaplain; Mike Aldridge, representative of the building authorities; and Charles Boney, principal architect. At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone was invited back to St. John's Lodge to enjoy a barbecue luncheon. Twin brothers and Deputy Sheriffs Herbert and Harvey Stroud, members of St. John's 13, did an outstanding job of cook- ing the pig donated by Raymond Turner. The large crowd enjoyed the lodge's hospitality. The North Carolina Mason DUPLIN, from page 8 Page 5 Master Bullard and Senior Grand Warden Mayo Sheriff Wallace STATE, from page 3 Thomasville The Annual Thanksgiving Banquet at Thom- asville 214 was held November 17. They honor their lodge widows during the event each year. They held it at Memorial Methodist Church. Thomasville Lodge tried a new holiday proj- ect this year. They collected gift cards for the kids at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. — Trestle Board Cherryville Both the Chicken Barbecue and Boston Butt sales at Cherryville 505 went well this year. Hail damage necessitated replacing Cher- ryville Lodge's roof this year. They are looking toward preparing for future repairs and accept- ing donations for such things as the parking lot and heating and air conditioning system. They are also collecting for their scholarships. — News Out of the Blue Kernersville Every Monday night without degree works at Kernersville 669, they hold Mason's Univer- sity. They get to learn lectures or catechisms or ritual or whatever strikes their fancy. It's open to all Masons. — The Kernersville Masonic News Jacksonville Semper Fidelis 680 hosted 40 at their De- cember 3 Ladies' Night Out. Bill Frost per- formed an evening of magic. Semper Fi had a great year. They raised 15 new members and donated $2,000 to each of the Masonic Homes. They also contributed to Relay for Life, Special Olympics, Masonic Ser- vice Association Veterans Visitation Program, an other local charities. — Trestle Board Hookerton Hurricane Irene. Jerusalem 95 suffered minor roof damage in — The Jerusalem Journal November 15. Cary Breakfast at O'Charleys Restaurant on De- cember 17 brought money for the Masonic Home for Children. All you had to do was buy a ticket from a lodge member and eat between 7:30 and 10:00 that Saturday morning. — Ben Oakes Mount Airy Renfro 691 is relaunching its newsletter and creating a new Facebook page. — Eric Southern Salisbury nual Awards Dinner (with turkey feast to be served) on December 3. Andrew Jackson 576 was holding their An- — Master's Journal raiser October 27. Fulton 99 held their charity barbecue fund- — Johnny Hatley Paw Creek In 2011, Eddie and Judy Ellis again coordi- nated their Oxford Toy Run for motorcyclists. This year, they emphasized socks, twin bedding, gift cards, and toiletries in their deliveries to the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. Riders enjoyed chili at Ellis' shop before departure. — News from the West Mount Gilead Ahead is the best way to plan. Blackmer 127 is in the second year of a roof replacement fund- raiser. Several members pledged to donate $100 per year for three years. The fund, at last report, stands at $3,000. Two changes have been made at Blackmer Lodge for 2012. Dues have been raised to $107 and their meeting time is now 7:00 p.m., with dinner at 6:00. — Blackmer Buzz Franklin Junaluskee 145 held their Past Masters' Night — Derek Cheek Southport Pythagoras 249 got in the Christmas spirit by donating $300 to the Shop With a Cop program. They also appropriated $150 for a needy family. — Newsletter Ranger Andy Liakos built a new website for Montgomery 426. You can find them on the Internet at . — Derek Cheek Canton ner honoring the ladies of their local Eastern Star Chapter. Benson ber 18. They invited family and friends of the awardees for the dinner. Relief 431 held their Awards Night Novem- — Grover Dees Newton Grove Mill Creek 125 cooked twice for the chari- ties last year. On December 3, they cooked more than 250 pounds of sausage and an un- known number of pancakes. Back in June, they cooked barbecue pork and chicken. The charities benefit from all the fun and food. — Earl Daughtry Benson ber 18. They invited family and friends of the awardees for the dinner. Relief 431 held their Awards Night Novem- — Grover Dees Rockingham Tommy Greene, of Rockingham 495, had the pleasure of raising his son, Braxton Greene in 2011. Past Grand Master B. T. Phillips Jr. sat in the East for the degree, but yielded to Tommy when the time came to raise Braxton. — Tommy Greene On November 15, Sonoma 472 had a din- — Sonoma News Judge Stevens PGM Ingram Register Brinson GRESHAM, from page 1 of Directors of WhiteStone by then Grand Master William L. Dill. He is a member of Oasis Shrine and the Charlotte Valley of the Scottish Rite. In his community, Gresham has been active in a number of organizations. He has been on the boards of the Central North Carolina Coun- cil of the Boy Scouts of America, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce, Stanly Memorial Hos- pital, and First Citizens Bank of Albemarle. He and wife Carolyn are members of Central Unit- ed Methodist in Albemarle and Camp United Methodist Church in Shallotte. Grand Master Gresham and his wife divide their time between their homes in Mount Gil- ead and Shallotte. SIGMON, from page 1 there and held several officer and committee as- signments in the church. He has also been a troop committee mem- ber and an assistant scoutmaster of Troop 333 in Newton. Currently, he serves as a merit badge counselor for the Lakeland District of the Pied- mont Council, Boy Scouts of America. Sigmon enjoys cooking and collecting cook- books. He also enjoys reading and writing Ma- sonic history. NC Mason Deadlines Issue .............................Deadline January/February .................... January 1 March/April .......................... March 1 May/June................................May 1 July/August.............................. July 1 September/October ..............September 1 November/December ............November 1 Ric Car ter photos

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