Page Two
The North Carolina Mason
April 1971
A^eef Your New Grand Master
(Continued from Page One)
Grand Master, William Watson Mims,
Jr., then called and since known to us
as “Bill.”
The family moved to Charlotte in
1922; Bill attended Charlotte City
Schools, as well as accounting school,
following which for some eleven years
he was an accountant for the National
Baking Company. During this period.
Bill made one of the most important and
joyful decisions in his life when he mar
ried lovely Nelleen Cox, and today they
enjoy so much their daughter Susan M.
Kimery of Hillsboro, North Carolina,
who with their son-in-law, Timothy H.
Kimrey, a minister, are the proud par
ents of three-year-old grand-daughter,
Erin.
Bill petitioned and was initiated, pas
sed and raised to the Sublime Degree of
Master Mason in Joppa Lodge No. 530
(the Port of Friendship) in 1949. His
talents that have so deservedly carried
him to the apex of the Craft were even
(Continued on Page Three)
George R. Bennette
Receives Many Honors
By Earley W. Bridges, P. M.
When a Master Mason has the ele
gance to be elected a life member of
nine Masonic Organizations, he is befit
ting to grace and adorn the Masonic
Fraternity. This is true of our beloved
brother George R. Bennette, who was
elected a life member of Greensboro
Lodge No. 76, A.F. & A.M. on Septem
ber 11, 1969; elected a life member of
Chorazin Chapter No. 13, R.A.M.,
Greensboro Council No. 3, R, & S.M.,
and Ivanhoe Commandery No. 8, K. T.
on October 1, 1961.
He was E. Commander of Ivanhoe
Commandery in 1941; Recorder 1944-
1948; and Grand Commander May 9,
1949 to May 15, 1950.
He was elected a life member of the
Scottish Rite Bodies of Greensboro on
October 14, 1970.
He w^as elected a life member of the
Oasis Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. on January
22, 1971; and is a life member of the
Oasis Shrine Club.
He was elected a life member of
Greensboro Chapter No. 14, Order of
the Eastern Star on September 25,
1959.
He was a full time worker of the
Lodge, the York Rite Bodies and The
Scottish Rite Bodies of Enfield for six
years; class Director in Greensboro and
Enfield more than forty years; and
served thirty-one years and three
months as Superintendent of the Mas-
Reynold S. Davenport
To Edit N. C. Mason
Reynold S. Davenport
The Board of Publication of the
North Carolina Mason has sought from
the time of its inception to take those
steps which it felt would lead to a better
publication, one in which the Masons in
North Carolina could take full pride.
For some time the Board had been
looking to the future, and hoping that
some way would be pointed to the selec
tion of a full-time Editor who might be
able to produce the type of paper the
Board was desirous of having. Brother
Allen Colenda, head of the Printing
Department at Oxford Orphanage, had
been serving as temporary Editor, and
the Board is deeply p-ateful to Brother
Colenda for all of his helpful contribu
tions to the publication. Brother Colen
da will continue to be available for such
assistance as he might profitably ren
der.
It was then reported to the Board of
Publication that Brother Reynold S.
Davenport, Sr., of Jacksonville, North
Carolina, had been interested in the
Editorship of the N. C. Mason for some
time, and that he would be available.
Brother Davenport was no stranger to
the Board, nor is he a stranger to Ma
sons in North Carolina. He has written
monthly articles for The Red Fez, the
publication of Sudan Temple, A.A.O.N.
M.S., and also for The Bagpipe, the
monthly publication of the Scottish Rite
Bodies in the Valley of New Bern. His
articles have always been challenging,
(Continued on Page Six)
onic and Eastern Star Home at Greens
boro.
He has passed his eighty-second
birthday and he plans to promote Free
masonry as long as he is able—which
we hope will be for many more years.
Colorful Ceremonies Will
Mark 184fh Installation
The Grand Lodge of North Carolina
will conclude its 184th Annual Commu
nication in Raleigh, North Carolina, on
the afternoon of Wednesday, April 21,
1971 with impressive Installation Cere
monies, held in the Masonic Temple in
Raleigh.
A Ceremony of Installation will be
conducted by Most Worshipful Brother
William E. Burrier, Past Grand Master
of Charlotte, North Carolina and who
appointed the new Grand Master in the
Grand Lodge line several years ago.
Most Worshipful Brother Burrier will
be assisted in this Ceremony by Most
Worshipful Brother James G. Johnston,
Past Grand Master, serving as Grand
Marshal for the Ceremony and he will
be assisted by the Assistant to the
Grand Secretary, Worshipful Brother
R. Pete Dudley. Most Worshipful Broth
er Robert L. Pugh, Past Grand Master,
will serve as the Installing Grand Chap
lain, Most Worshipful Brother William
W. Mims of Charlotte, North Carolina
is to be installed as Grand Master to be
gin his responsibilities as the Leader of
Masonry in North Carolina for the en
suing year. To assist him in discharging
the responsibilities of this high office,
he will have the services of the follow
ing brethren who have also been elected
or appointed to a Grand Lodge line:
R.'..'.Berl M. Kahn of Goldsboro,
Deputy Grand Master; R.'.W.'.Nathan
iel C. Dean of Norwood, Senior Grand
Warden; R.'.W.‘.William L. Mills, of
Concord, Junior Grand Warden; M.'.
W.‘.James W. Brewer of Greenville,
Grand Treasurer; M.'.W.'.Charles A.
Harris of Raleigh, Grand Secretary.
W.'.S. Frank Noble, Jr., of New Bern,
Senior Grand Deacon; W.‘.Hiram J.
Casebolt of Raleigh, Junior Grand Dea
con; W.'.Leslie H. Garner of Greenville,
Grand Marshal; W.'.J. Earl Watson of
Mt. Airy, Grand Steward; W.'.Fred F.
Harding of Raleigh, Grand Tyler; W.‘.
Richard D. Shinkle of Straits, Grand
Chaplain; W.'.A. D. Leon Gray of Ox
ford, Asst. Grand Chaplain.
W.'.Troy G. Robbins of Greensboro,
Asst. Grand Chaplain; M.'.W.'.James
G. Johnston of Charlotte, Grand His
torian; W.‘.James E. Spicer, North
Wilkesboro, Grand Lecturer; M.'.W.'.
William E. Burrier of Charlotte, Grand
Orator; W.'.William T. Hatch of Ral
eigh, Judge Advocate.
These are the brethern who will lead
the “Ship of State” for Masonry in
North Carolina during the ensuing year.
As of press time for this issue, the
other Grand Steward will remain undis
closed until the new Grand Master
makes the announcement prior to the
installation.