The
NORTH
CAROLINA
MASON
Official Publication of The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons of Forth Carolina
VOL. XCIV, NO. 12
Oxford, North Carolina 27565, December, 1969
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR
William A. Hooks
Grand Master's Corner
My Masonic activities resumed on
Saturday, October 18, with a trip to
nearby Lucama to lay the cornerstone
for the new Masonic Temple of Lucama
Lodge No. 527. This was a fine meet
ing with a good
crowd present, in
cluding Brothers
Harris and Dud
ley from the Gr.
Lodge Office as
well as Bro. Berl
M. Kahn, Junior
Gr. Warden, and
Leslie H. Garner,
Gr. Steward. This
beautiful temple
will be an asset
not only to this
Lodge but to the
Lucama community. My congratulations
go to Lucama Lodge No. 527, and I pre
dict that we will see much increased
Masonic activity in that jurisdiction.
During the following week District
Meetings were held in Rockingham,
Sanford, and Asheboro. Attendance was
very good at Rockingham, and at Ashe
boro we had the second largest crowd
of the year. In the absence of the Dis
trict Deputy Grand Master, the meeting
in Asheboro was presided over by a
friend and brother who had moved to
Asheboro from my own county, John
ston, several years ago—Brother Pete
Holland, Past District Deputy Grand
Master. Other former Johnston County
residents present for this meeting were
Brothers Herbert and Vann Weeks and
James B. Jones. One visitor who has
attended several District Meetings this
year was Brother Herbert Ruffin of
Raleigh, Past Potentate of Sudan Tem
ple.
On the following Thursday, Oct. 30,
I traveled over to Harmony Lodge No.
340 in nearby Wayne County. This was
another evening of good food and good
fellowship, during which time it was my
privilege to speak to this fine group and
to present several 25 and 50 year
(Continufd on PaR'e Two)
Brother Oakley G. Hughett, D.D.G.M., pins
60-Year Veterans pin for Brother William
S. Harris, Sr., Bingham Lodge No. 282.
Greensboro Bodies Hold
Joint Ladies Night
By G. Worth Covington
On the evening of November 6, 1969,
Greensboro Lodge No. 76 and the three
Greensboro York Rite Bodies held their
annual joint ladies night with approxi
mately 300 Masons and their ladies in
attendance. Although the program had
been billed as “Ladies Night” it might
have been more appropriate to caption it
“Awards Night” because as the events
unfurled, the presentation of awards
was what it was all about.
After a delightful meal, the genial
Toast Master, Brother Russell P. Hale,
introduced the distinguished guests
among whom were R.’.W.'. Brother
Maurice E. Walsh, Deputy Grand Mas
ter of the Grand Lodge of North Caro
lina; Brother R. Tyler Freeman, Most
Excellent Grand High Priest of the
Grand Royal Arch Chapter of North
(Continued on Page Three)
Bingham Lodge No. 272
Has Annual Ladies Night
By Paul L. Coleman, Sec.
The Fellowship Hall of Mount Zion
United Church of Christ, Mebane, was
the scene of the local annual ladies night
honoring the wives and widows of Bing
ham Lodge No. 272, A. F. & A. M.
After a 30-minute period to meet and
greet and get better acquainted, and the
Invocation by A. A. Bradley, P.M., a
delicious turkey dinner with all the fix
ings was enjoyed by 123 members and
guests. Eighteen widows of former
members were present as honor guests.
When the meal, was completed, Bro.
J. Willard Oakley, W.M., and Master
of Ceremonies announced that certain
awards would be presented. Oakley G.
Hughett, District Deputy Grand Master,
was then recognized, who, in the name
of the Grand Master of Masons in North
Carolina, presented the 60-year Dia
mond Jubilee Award to William Shake
speare Harris, Sr., (P.M. 1913) for
(Continued on Page Three)
Elberta Lodge No. 654
Honors Its Past Masters
By B. A. Cox, Sec.
Elberta Lodge, No. 654, observed its
Past Masters and Ladies Night with a
delicious dinner, special music and en
joyable talks on November 7, 1969, in
the school lunch room at West End, N.
C. with 98 in attendance.
Brother Zebulon B. Conrad, Master,
welcomed the ladies and guests, leading
the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to
the Flag of our Country.
The Chaplain, Brother Reece B.
Graham gave the Invocation and led
the group in singing “My Country Tis
of Thee.” Brother Edgar Graham, P.M.
returned thanks.
Special music was presented by
Brother Calvin Cooledge Thompson, P.
M., Roman Eagle No. 550, accompanied
(Continued on Page Three)