The North Carolina Mason

November/December 2016 The North Carolina Mason Page 11 see next page Bonlee Mount Vernon 143 is challenging "big city lodges" to outdo their "small country lodge" in giving to victims of Hurricane Matthew. ey have (so far) given an average of $12 per member. — Terry Byrd Winston-Salem Grand Master Webster and doz- ens of Masons from all over the state gathered in Winston-Salem October 23 for the grand opening of the new Masonic Center of Winston-Salem. — Joey Transou Even before the official opening, the regular Masonic Barbecue was held in Winston-Salem's new Masonic home. Award winning Big Boy Barbecue was the featured dish on October 21. Pro- ceeds are for Masonic charities and youth programs. ey charged ten dol- lars per plate or per pound and offered free delivery on 12 or more plates. Win- ston 167, Salem 289, Piedmont Pioneer 685, and Forsyth 707 were the sponsors. — George Troxler e 26 th Masonic District chicken stew was held on October 15. Atten- dance was good and so were the dif- ferent stews presented. ey plan to repeat next year, perhaps with an up- graded contest and invitations to lodg- es outside the district. — On the Level at Old Town Lodge Salem 289 had their Past Masters' Night on October 4. Fourteen of their previous lodge masters were there: Ter- ry Jones, Harold Schaffer, Doug Mason, Cliff Pranke, Fred Cook, Gerald Wood, David Simmons, John Hoover, Ronnie Bailey, Bobby Perdue, Sandy Erwin, David Grubbs, Richard Lambert, and Jason Anderson. Recent educational program pre- senters at Salem Lodge included Mike Daniels (a state York Rite officer) and Rick Smith (former grand historian). —e Salem Sentinel Old Town 751 has launched its Leg- acy Project, a way to memorialize large contributions to the building mainte- nance. Pavers by the flagpole will carry the names of contributors who give in excess of $150. Old Town Lodge's Bikes for Books program is taking on five elementary schools this year. ey are using two volunteers per school to represent the lodge at the schools appearances. — On the Level at Old Town Lodge Raleigh On October 29, William T. Bain 231 sold barbecued chicken plates to support their scholarship. e Linwood T. Hicks Scholarship Fund helps young people attend vocational school. e nine-dollar chicken plate got you half a chicken, boiled potatoes, and a roll. —Chris Mills James B. Green 735 celebrated the 51 st anniversary of Grand Master Sam Hennis signing the lodge's charter at their October 11 meeting. ey were asking the oldtimers to bring their sto- ries from the early days of the lodge — "their favorite memories, funny stories, or moments of great reward." Green Lodge was holding their Fall Charity Barbecued Chicken Fundraiser September 30. — Sam Sholar Discussions are underway to create a traditional observance lodge in Wake County. — W. C. Barrett Laurinburg Gun raffles have been big the last couple of years. Laurinburg 305's was to draw their winner on December 6. ey were awarding five guns and two other prizes. Tickets were ten dollars. Pro- ceeds were for the Home for Children and other Masonic charities. — 21 st District Calendar and Michael Nobles Waxhaw October stated meeting was set for past masters recognition as well has ser- vice awards at Waxhaw 562. ey were having a steak dinner. Joe Simmons and Tim Lyons are lead- ing classes on the lectures for members of Waxhaw Lodge. — Richard Shields Southport Pythagoras 249 is one busy lodge. eir 11 th annual golf tournament in September was a record setter for them with more than 90 hole sponsors. ey have already set the date for the 12 th , September 16, 2017. Recent charitable spending from the lodge includes $1,000 for neighboring Atkinson 612 which suffered damage in Hurricane Matthew, $200 for storm damage at Phoenix 8 in Fayetteville, $500 to the Southport Police Depart- ment's Shop with a Cop program for needy kids, and $1,000 scholarships for Cameron Peters and Lorn Watts of South Brunswick High School. ey are also buying a Henry rifle and en- graving it in celebration of their 150 th anniversary. ey will be raffling it to help a VFW project that provides com- munications between active duty mili- tary and their families. Pythagoras Lodge held their An- nual Widows Appreciation and Awards Banquet on October 29. — Newsletter Fayetteville Due to damage at Phoenix 8 during Hurricane Matthew, Fort Bragg 667 is meeting at the Fayetteville Masonic Center. — John M. Hall Jr. Creasy Proctor 679 and Derec Mer- cer hosted Fayetteville Masonic History Dinner recently. Bruce Daws of Phoe- nix presented the program, and Creasy Proctor Lodge handed out their awards. e program was open to all Masonic groups. — Michael Reams Washington Past Masters' and Ladies' Night at Washington 675 was held on Novem- ber 4. Local traditional musician Linda Boyer entertained. Diamond Jubilees honoring 60 years membership were announced for Edgar Woolard, Roy Edwards, and Carlos Jackson. Beaufort Franklin 109 held a fish fry fund- raiser on September 30. ey were rais- ing money for the Masonic Home for Children. — Keith Redmon Ocean 405 was having a past mas- ters degree November 1. e old-timers did a ird Degree on two candidates. Joe Morris was making his clam chow- der to reward them. — Wray omas MARTIN, MICHIGAN — John Strickland, the sitting master of Hiram 98 in Clinton, won his first drag racing national event June 11 at the PDRA Summer Drags at US 131 Dragway. Strickland runs GALOT Racing's 1969 Camaro in the Pro Boost class. He won the event on a single run of 3.82-seconds at 196.76 mph. Strickland drives for Past Grand Lecturer (and his father-in-law) Earl Wells of Hiram 98. — Thomas Pope Lodge master grabs his first national Lin Webb photos

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