November, 1971
The North Carolina Mason
Page Three
Front row, from left, Fifty-year veterans
Bryant S. Hall, Zeb V. Murphy and F. Lee
Edwards receiving awards from Rev. Rich
ard D. Shinkle, Grand Chaplain. Back row,
from left, Twenty-five year veterans Sam
uel C. Sugg, Carlton A. Pollock, Liston M.
Nash, Douglas S. Tolar, Clarence L. Baker,
Aldridge W. Wilder, Warren S. Perry, El-
wood , Tylor, Ben M. Rouse and Frank 0.
Fitzgerald.
St. John's No. 4 Honors
Past Masters and Veterans
(Continued from Page One)
ceive their 25 Year Awards were: Jesse L.
Fields, A. Lionel Garner, F. Joseph Koonce,
Jr., Luther L. Smith and Dr. George A.
W'ooten.
Brother Fred Lee Edwards, Bryant Souther
land Hall and Zed Vance Murphy were con
ducted before the Altar where they were pre
sented their 50 Year Veterans Certificates in a
most impressive manner by Brother Shinkle.
The sons of Bro. F. Lee Edwards, Preston and
i'f Lee Jr., assisted in the presentation to their
father.
Each of these Brethren expressed their
pleasure in having received their 60 Year
Awards in a most sincere and appreciative
manner.
Brother Shinkle delivered a most enjoyable
and thought-provoking talk, taking as his topic,
“The Great Light” in Masonry and its impor
tance to the life of every Mason.
Those in attendance at the Meeting had a
most enjoyable time, not only from the deli
cious supper and the activities in the Lodge,
but also, the wonderful fellowship of the occa
sion. ,
Questions and Answers
The Constitution and Regulations of our
Grand Lodge (THE CODE) spell out the Ma
sonic law which governs Masons and lodges in
North Carolina. Copies of THE CODE are fur
nished to each lodge; individual Masons may
purchase copies from the Grand Secretary.
Some readers may wish to score themselves on
their knowledge of Masonic law with their an
swers to the following questions. The answers
(references in parentheses) are at the end of
the article—don’t peek!
1. Some lodges display the representatives of
the three Lesser Lights at times other than
when the Entered Apprentice Degree is being
conferred. Is this legal?
2. How many degrees may a lodge confer in
one day?
3. Is a minimum initiation fee prescribed by
law?
4. Is it proper to present a cloth apron to a
candidate?
6. Can a lodge invite a Masonic Club to eon
fer a degree?
6. Can the Master order a secret ballot when
voting on a lodge’s financial transactions?
7. Can a North Carolina lodge legally re
ceive a petition from a soldier stationed in
another state or out of the country?
8. Can a member be assessed on account of
lodge indebtedness?
9. Is the pledge of allegiance to the United
States Flag required? If so, when?
10. Can the Master shut off debate on a mo
tion which is on the floor of the lodge?
11. May a lodge conduct burial services out
side its territorial jurisdiction?
12. Can the Grand Master excuse a candi
date from proving his proficiency in the pre
ceding degree?
13. Under what circumstances may the trus- (REG. 35-08)
tees of a lodge dispose of its property?
14. Must a District Deputy Grand Master
and a District Deputy Grand Lecturer reside
in their respective districts?
15. Who is qualified to install lodge officers?
16. If a member pays his dues five years in
advance does he then have to pay any increase
in dues which may occur during those five
years?
17. When two or more lodges in the same
town meet in the same building how do you de
termine which lodge has jurisdiction over the
petitioner?
18. May a lodge hold a communication on
Sunday?
19. Can a Mason borrow money from his
lodge if he is in distress?
20. May a Mason who recommends a peti
tioner be a member of the committee which
investigates the petitioner’s qualifications?
The following answers to the foregoing
questions are brief, they are subject to error,
and they are intended only for general inform
mation. Masons needing or desiring complete,
lawful answers to these questions should con
sult THE CODE or other proper authority.
1. Yes, This is optional. (REG. 51-10)
2. All three, once each. (REG. 79-29)
3. Yes, fifty dollars, (REG. 72-01)
4. No. (REG. 96-28)
5. No. (REG. 79-21)
6. No. (REG. 68-11)
7. Yes, under certain circumstances. (REG
47-06)
8. No. (REG. 85-13)
9. Yes, at the opening of every communica
tion. (REG. 95-16)
10. Yes. (REG. 91-01)
11. Yes, by obtaining consent of the Master
of the lodge having jurisdiction. (REG. 90-14)
12. No. (REG. 80-06)
13. Only upon the order of the lodge. (REG
68-12)
14. DDGM, yes. (REG. 32-03) DDGL, no
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT
AND CIRCULATION
Title of Publication: The North Carolina Mason.
Frequency of issue: monthly. Location of known of
fice of publication: Oxford Orphanage Printing De
partment, Oxford, N. C. 27565. Location of the head
quarters or general business offices of the publish
ers: Oxford orphanage Printing Dept., Oxford, N. C.
27565. Publisher; The Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M.
of North Carolina, P. O. Box 650d, Raleigh, N. C. 27-
608. Editor: Reynold S. Davenport, P. O. Box S16,
Jacksonville, N. C. 28540. Managing Editor: Robert L.
Pugh, Box 1449, New Bern, N. C. 28560. Owner: The
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of N. C., P. O. Box
6506, Raleigh, N. C. 27608. Average number copies
each issue during preceding 12 months: 67,208.
Actual number of copies of single issue published
nearest to filing date; 67,104. Paid circulation: sales
through dealers and carriers, street vendors and
counter sales, none; mail subscriptions, average
no. copies during preceding 12 months, 67,003, actual
number of copies of single issue published nearest to
filing date, 66,904, Total paid circulation: average no.
copies each issue during preceding 12 months,
67,608; actual number of copies of single issue pub
lished nearest to filing date, 66,904. Free distribution;
average no. copies each issue during preceding 12
montns, 50; actual number of copies of single issue
published nearest to filing date, 50. Total distribu
tion: average no copies each issue during preceding
12 months, 67,058; actual number of copies of single
issue published nearest to filing date, 67,854. Office
use, leftover, unaccounted, spoiled after printing;
average no. copies each issue during preceding 12
months, 150; actual number of copies of single issue
published nearest to filing date, 150. Total: average
no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months;
67,203, actual number of copies of single issue pub
lished nearest to filing date. 67,104.1 certify that the
statements made by me above are correct and com
plete. Reynold S. Davenport, Editor.
15. A Master or Past Master who is a mem-
Grand Jurisdiction recognized by our Grand
Lodge. (REG. 63-13)
16. Yes. (REG. 85-12)
17. Such lodges have concurrent jurisdiction
and if one of them has jurisdiction over a pe
titioner all of them have. Either of them could
lawfully receive his petition. (REG. 48-10)
18. Only to conduct burial services or to at
tend religious services. A communication held
on Sunday for any other purpose is unlawful.
(REG. 51-12)
19. No. (REG. 68-07) A lodge may vote
funds to relieve a member’s distress, but this
would not be a loan. (REG. 60-09)
20. No. (REG. 75-01)
We will attempt here to answer (unoffic
ially) all questions submitted on Masonic sub-
ber in good standing of a regular lodge in a'jects which are lawful to be written.