Page Two
The North Carolina Mason
November, 1969
Grand Master's Corner
(Continued from Page One)
they will come up with a sound program
which will mean much to the Lodges
and the Masons in North Carolina in the
years ahead. As in the case of Area
Education, the other Grand Lodge Of
ficers agree that this should be a con
tinuing program from year to year.
During the week of September 15 we
held District Meetings in Coinjock, Cole-
rain, Plymouth, and Buxton. These were
all well attended; in fact, there were 141
Masons present at Coin jock—one of the
largest crowds we have had this year.
This was an expecially good week, pri
marily because Nell made the trip with
us. On Tuesday and Wednesday morn
ings we played golf—or maybe I should
say we played at it. On Thursday morn
ing we got an early start and went deep-
sea fishing off Oregon Inlet. We had a
lot of fun and came in with more than
300 pounds of fish.
On the return trip Friday, Nell and
I took the long way home so I could stop
by Engelhard to see Brother Durwood
Gibbs, District Deputy Grand Master
of the 3rd Masonic District. Brother
Gibbs has been seriously ill for several
months, and I was pleased to find that
he was feeling much better when we ar
rived. While in Engelhard we picked
up a few pounds of big, beautiful
shrimp which we later found were also
delicious.
Because some of our September meet
ings had been postponed until a later
date, my first meeting the next week
was on Thursday night, September 25,
at Hamlet Lodge No. 532. It was my
privilege to present 25 and 50-year a-
wards to several members of this Lodge,
including a 50 year award to my good
friend and brother, Allen G. Powers,
with whom I had served as District Dep
uty Grand Master many years ago.
This was a most enjoyable occasion for
me, as well as for the large number of
Masons present from the Hamlet area.
Among those in attendance was another
friend and brother who served as Dis
trict Deputy Grand Master with me.
Brother B. A. Cox.
That night I drove from Hamlet to
Greensboro where the next day I insti
tuted P. P. Turner Lodge U.D. This
new Lodge is named for a beloved Ma
son who served for many years as Sec
retary of the Scottish Rite Bodies in
Greensboro. I was especially pleased
to be able to conduct this ceremony be
cause the Junior Warden of this new
Lodge is none other than my good tra
veling companion. Brother Troy G. Rob
bins, Superintendent of the Masonic kKc,
Eastern Star Home. During our travels
Troy has worked hard on learning the
ritualistic work, and is doing so well
that I predict he will be a Certified Lec
turer within the next year. Other prin
cipal officers were a couple of old
friends. Brothers C.L. Ozmint, Senior
Warden, and James 0. Thornton, Mas
ter.
On that same evening it was my
pleasure to attend a Ladies Night din
ner meeting of Revolution Lodge No.
552. This was a special meeting cele
brating the outstanding job done by this
Lodge in raising the sum of $10,500.00
for Oxford Orphanage this year under
the leadership of their young and ener
getic Master, Brother Bill King. In ad
dition to speaking to this fine group, I
was privileged to present several 25 and
50 year awards.
The next week I was able to commute
to District Meetings in Henderson,
Franklinton, and Wendell, and it was
good to be able to get back home and
sleep in my own bed each night. Again,
it was my pleasure to see another Ma
son who has served as District Deputy
Grand Master with me, Brother Dover
Hinton, who is again serving as Master
of his Lodge, Wendell No. 565.
The week’s activities ended with a
Ladies and Past Masters Night program
in my own Lodge, Fellowship No. 84 in
Smithfield, on Thursday, October 2. I
was pleased to have the opportunity to
present a Past Master’s jewel to Broth
er Floyd W. Stewart, w’ho had done an
outstanding job as Master of the Lodge
last year and is now serving as our Sec
retary. The main feature of the pro
gram was an excellent talk by Brother
David Henderson, U. S. Representative
from the 3rd Congressional District.
Because a trip Nell and I planned fell
through, I had a reprieve during the
two weeks from October 3 throught Oc
tober 17, and was able to catch up on
some work which had been sadly neg
lected. I found, however, that those two
weeks slipped by in a hurry, and al
though I did get a lot accomplished,
much remained to be done.
I want to close this column with a few
remarks about two of the finest institu
tions you will find anywhere, the Oxford
Orphanage and the Masonic & Eastern
Star Home. The season of Thanksgiving
is upon us, and this is the time of year
when we focus our attention on our Ma
sonic philanthropy. The needs of these
institutions ar.'! increasing in line with
the increase in the cost of living. It is
my sincere hope that every Lodge in
North Carolina has an active committee
engaged in the task of raising the funds
needed by the Orphanage and the Home
this year.
Oxford Orphanage is in great need of
increased support to enable us to con
tinue giving our 320 children there the
best in training opportunities. Each of
these children were found in need by
one of our Lodges and taken to our Or
phanage to receive our care. They are
depending upon “their” Masons, and we
must not let them down.
Gastonia Lodge 396 Has
Annual Ladies Night
The Annual Ladies Night of Gastonia
Lodge No. 369, A.F. & A.M., was held in
the Masonic Temple Dining Room, Fri
day Evening, October 17, 1969, at 6:30
P.M.
Approximately 225 Masons and their
guests attended, with the highlight of
the occasion being the recognition of the
Widows of our departed brethren.
Twenty-five of these special guests were
present and recognized.
The officers and their wives of Hol
land Memorial Lodge No. 668 and King
Solomon Lodge No. 704 were also guests
at the dinner.
Each lady present was presented a
favor and approximately a dozen door
prizes were awarded to the lucky ticket
holders.
The male quartet of the First United
Methodist Church furnished entertain
ment during the evening.
There is also great need for increased
support of our Home in Greensboro,
where we are caring for 140 old folks
who have reached the point in life where
they are unable to care for themselves.
The kind of care we will be able to give
them in the coming year will depend
upon the kind of support received from
you, the Masons in North Carolina. If
every Mason will make a contribution in
keeping with his ability to give. I’m con
fident this will be our best year. This is
not an “either-or” proposition, breth
ren, it is imperative that we as Masons
be true to our Masonic obligation.
Brethren, this year and every year,
there is nothing more important to us
than these two fine institutions, and I
urge you to open your hearts, and your
pocketbooks, in their behalf.
"Freemasonry Is A Way of Life"
Over the years volumes have been
written as to what Freemasonry is and
what Freemasonry is not.
Freemasonry is first, last and always
a way of life. It teaches monotheism and
the Golden Rule. Its ethical principles
are acceptable to all good men. It en
courages toleration and understanding.
Freemasonry does not pretend to take
the place of religion or the church; al
though it is certainly religious in char-
racter.
Freemasonry is kindness in the home,
courtesy in society, honesty and fair
ness in business, concern for the unfor
tunate, help for those who need assis
tance, forgiveness and above all, reve
rence for God.
Freemasonry is many things to many
people. . .Most of all however. Freema
sonry, is in fact, A WAY OF LIFE.
—Neiv Mexico Freemason