Page Two
The North Carolina Mason
June, 1969
Ladies And Vets
Night At Cleveland
(Continued from Page One)
recognition of his long service to
to Masonry and the community.
Each attending lady was pre
sented with a souvenir of the occa
sion—a minature Slipper Masonic
pin.
The meeting was closed with a
benediction by W.’.Brother Troy G.
Robbins.
THIS MOST DESERVED
BROTHER
M.'.W.'. W. Edward Burrier, P.
G.M. in tribute to Brother Russell
Gold Laughridge on the occasion of
his Fiftieth Year as a Master Ma
son, and his 47th year as the faith
ful and efficient Secretary of
Cleveland Lodge No. 202.
There is a time of year when
Carolina is the most Eden-like place
in the country—and at that time of
year not only do our physical sur
roundings appear in their greatest
magnificence, but it is also that
period when we have just celebra
ted Thanksgiving, counted our
blessings, taken inventory of how
kind to us is our Maker—and, while
we are looking forward to the cele
bration of the greatest gift of God
to all of us, our Saviour, Jesus of
Nazareth.
More than seventy years ago in
the midst of that period when the
colors of nature in the Piedmont re
flected the Glories of God and
hearts were filled with gratitude
for the bounties conferred on them,
Edward Duval Laughridge and his
lovely wife, Anna Eveline, were
just a little happier than anyone
else in the Lawndale Community,
for on December second, they were
blessed with a ^boy-child. In their
happiness in their rich gift from
God, the baby received a rather
unusual middle name, “Gold”, the
meaning for which soon ibecame
evident and now in all the Glory of
rich life has become so apt, so fit
ting and so deserving. When the
boy was twelve, this happy family
established a home in every sense
of the word, HOME, in Shelby.
On April 18, now a mature 26
years of age, this young man hay
ing petitioned, had been investi
gated, received a clear ballot and
Raised to the Sublime Degree of
Master Mason, i^cognizing his
merit, the elders within two months
persauaded him to take on the bur
dens of Secretary of Cleveland
Lodge and except for a brief in
terval of three years he has contin
ually served his Craft and his
Brethren in that all encompassing
capacity. And while carrying on
these onerous duties, he became a
companion in the Lafayette Chap
ter, Royal Arch Masons, the Coun
cil of Royal and Select Masters,
Em. Com. of Shelby Commandery,
a member of Carolina Consistory
Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite, of which he is Ambassador, a
Master of the Royal Secret, a 32nd
degree Mason, a Noble of the Mys
tic Shrine of which he is also the
Ambassador, a member of the Pied
mont Shrine Club and Shelby
Lodge of the B.P.O.E.
A life long member of the Meth
odist Church, he has served the
Conference in General and Central
Our Favorite Mayor
There’s no telling how many
North Carolina greats have been
trained in St. Johns Lodge No. 1 of
Wilmington. It would be an inter
esting research project to look in
to the history of this wonderful
lodge.
At the moment this lodge, Wil
mington and comprehensive Mason
ry throughout the state are all
filled brimful with pride in the
knowing that our beloved Brother
Luther M. Cromartie has l^en
elected Mayor of our “Port City”
down where the Cape-able Fear-
naughts are building their city and
county, and all SENC (Southeast
ern North Carolina) into a great
and enterprising Empire.
Additionally, our Brother Cro
martie just happens to be Chief
Rabban of Sudan Temple A.A.O.
N.M.'S, and next year he’ll be Po
tentate-Most-Beloved of all Sudan.
We felicitate our favorite Mayor
and pray that the years ahead will
be for him times of great accom
plishment.
Traveling With The Grand Master
United Methodist Church in parti
cular as President of the Clyde R.
Hoey S. S. Class, as President of
Methodist Men and for many years
as Secretary to the Official Board.
Yes, 60 years ago, a group of
men just as you and I who are
gathered here this evening, con
vened and conducted in, a very ner
vous 'but extremely eager young
man and raised him to the Sublime
Degree of Master Mason. A won
derful occasion for the young man,
probably a routine and fairly fre
quent occasion for those 30 or 40
Shelby Master Masons who then
carried the responsibility of the
proper sharing keeping inviola
ble and propagating the secrets,
the mysteries and the great ancient
truth of Masonry.
If that was—as it probably was
—a routine meeting of some forty
masons, then if there is an immor
tal life—and you and I as Masons
are fully confident of immortality,
then isn’t it pleasant to contem
plate that they are with us in spirit
this evening to happily bask in the
Glory that is theirs in having given
to todays Masonry that fervid, zea
lous and avid young candidate of
April 18,1919, for truly Masonry is
so much the richer today because of
the degree they conferred that
Spring Evening fifty years ago.
Masonry honors all of its mem
bers and especially those of long
standing—but this evening repre
sents the honoring not only of fif
ty years of membership, but a half
century of True Masonic Service.
How many, many men and brothers
are better today because of this ser
vice so freely rendered by this
great Mason.
Yes, I mentioned earlier the mid
dle name of “Gold”. How perfect
the appelation! How perfect the
description of the life and service
of Russell Gold Laughridge, a Pil
lar of Boaz, a true monumental Pil
lar of Masonic Strength—and
because he lives now in all the
Glories of a dedicated and now Ma
ture Life, we with such deep appre
ciation say we thank you Thou Su
preme Architect of this Universe
for Gold Laughridge!
(Continued from Page One)
of Grand Master in a few more
years, is Brother Leslie H. Garner
of Greenville. Brother Garner is
one of several outstanding masons
in the state who were considered
for this office, and he was selected
only after much deliberation. I am
very happy with this appointment,
because I know Brother Garner is
well qualified to handle the heavy
responsibilities which will face him
in the future.
He has served as Master of
Crown Point Lodge No. 708, and
has just concluded three years ser
vice as District Deputy Grand
Master in the fifth district, where
he is considered by many to have
been the best District Deputy tha'.
District has ever had. He is the
Brother who headed up the Rally
Day in Greenville in 1966, which
was such a big success.
Brother Garner is a pillar in his
church and active in the civic af
fairs of his community. President
of a Greenville Wholesale Business,
Garner-Wynn-Manning, Inc., he
has served as president of the
North Carolina Wholesalers As
sociation and is First Vice-Presi
dent of an International Mercan
tile Association. I predict that we
are going to hear a lot from Broth
er Leslie H. Garner in the years
ahead.
Your Elective Grand Lodge Offi
cers, in addition to the Grand Mas
ter, are Brothers Maurice E.
Walsh, North Wilkesboro, Deputy
Grand Master; William W. Mims,
Jr., Charlotte, Senior Grand War
den; Berl M. Kahn, Goldsboro,
Junior Grand Warden; James W.
Brewer, Greenville, Grand Tre^-
urer; and Charles A. Harris,
Raleigh, Grand Secretary. Brother
Robert P. Dudley, Raleigh, contin
ues to serve the Grand Lodge as
Assistant to the Grand Secretary.
I am proud of all of these officers
and, can assure you that the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina
will be in good hands for many
years to come.
The District Deputy Grand Mas
ter’s Conference was held at a late
luncheon following a long morning
session of Grand Lodge on Wednes
day, April 16. With most Grand
Lodge Officers and several Past
Grand Masters present, the Dedi
cation and Installation service was
conducted by Brother Robert L.
Pugh. After brief remarks from
most of the guests present, the
Gran Master outlined his pro
gram for the year to the District
Deputies. Brother Wyley Danner,
from Sylva and the 64th District,
was elected President of the Dis
trict Deputy Grand Masters, suc
ceeding Brother Cecil J. Liverman
of Murfreesboro and the 19th Dis
trict.
The Installation Ceremony on
Wednesday night was ably, and
sometimes entertainingly, handled
by Brothers William J. Bundy, as
Installing Marshall, with my
Brother, Cullen D. Hooks, and my
cousin, Thomas A. Hood of Fay
etteville assisting the Installing
Marshall. Brother James W. Brew
er presented a Past Grand Mas
ter’s Apron to the new Grand Mas
ter and a Past Grand Master’s
Jewel to the outgoing Grand Mas
ter, Brother Robert N. Bass, Jr.
The Grand Master in North Caro
lina is authorized to present not
more than three Joseph Montfort
Medals each year to Master Masons
whom he considers deserving there
of because of Distinguished Ma
sonic Service or Achievement. It
was my pleasure to present one of
these medals to Brother Fred F.
Harding, who has been a Master
Mason for nearly seventy years,
and who on April 16 was beginning
his 31st term as Grand Tyler of the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina.
Brother Fred was so moved with
emotion that he could not say a
word, and I must confess that I was
a little concerned about whether or
not the Grand Master was going to
be able to get through the presenta
tion satisfactorily. I heard later
that Brother Harding said he had
seen many of these medals pre
sented, but had no idea that he
would ever receive one. I don’t be
lieve there is anything I will do in
the next twelve months that will
give me as much pleasure as pre
senting this medal to him.
There was a good crowd present
for the Installation Ceremony, In
cluding a fine turnout from my
own Lodge, Fellowship Lodge No.
84, and the 27th Masonic District;
also including many of the wives
as well as members of the Smith-
field Chapter of the Eastern Star.
I was happy that my wife, Nell,
9ur three daughters, and other
members of our family could be
present.
A social hour for the new Grand
Master was held in the Ambassa
dor Room at the Statler-Hilton Inn
immediately following the install
ation, and it was a fine affair.
Everyone seemed to enjoy them
selves, and I must admit that I
liked the way everyone treated the
new Grand Master.
I am grateful to the Committees
from Raleigh and the three Dis
tricts in the Raleigh area for the
fine job they did throughout this
Grand Lodge Session, and especial
ly for the excellent arrangements
made for the installation and the
reception which followed.
I called a special meeting of all
Grand Lodge Officers and Past
Grand Masters for 10:00 o’clock
Thursday morning, April 17. The
meeting was well attended, and
everyone participated in a serious
and informative discussion about
Grand Lodge matters. It is my
opinion that this was a fruitful
meeting, and that we have started
this year with a feeling of under
standing and cooperation within
the Grand Lodge family.
Following this meeting, my fam
ily and I drove back to Smithfield,
packed some clean laundry, and
headed for Wrightsville Beach for
a short though much needed vaca
tion. In spite of the cold weather,
rain, and wind we managed to
take in part of the Azalea Goli
Tournament at the Cape Fear
Country Club. Back at home I
mowed the lawn which had almost
gotten out of control; and for the
rest of the week just took it easy.
On Saturday night, April 19, I
(Continued on Page Three)