Official Publication of The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons of North Carolina
VOL. CX—NO. 2
Oxford, North Carolina 27565, June, 1985
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR
Large Crowd In Attendance at
198th Annual Communication
Raleigh—Masons from all over North Carolina
gathered in Memorial Auditorium, Raleigh, on
April 16, for the 198th Annual Communication of
the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. The Grand
Lodge was called to order at 10 a.m. byW.'. Brother
Zack Blackman, Jr., Master of Renfro Lodge No.
691. After presentation of the Colors the Grand
Lodge officers were conducted to their stations
and places by the Grand Marshal. M. .W. .Brother
I. Boyd Hopkins, Grand Master, opened the Grand
Lodge in AMPLE FORM, received the
distinguished guests and the Past Grand Masters.
Grand Master Hopkins presented W. .Brother
Frederick G. Speidel, Grand Orator of the Grand
Lodge of North Carolina, who delivered the
oration. (The oration is printed elsewhere in this
issue.) The oration was followed by the reports of
the Grand Treasurer, the Grand Secretary and
various Boards and Commissions as well as
reports of the Board of Directors of The Masonic
and Eastern Star Home and Oxford Orphanage.
Grand Master Hopkins presented the Joseph
Montfort Medal to W. .Brother Allen G. Colenda,
Past Master of Oxford Lodge No. 122, Manager of
the Printing Department of Oxford Orphanage and
Acting Editor of "The North Carolina Mason";
R.'.W.'.Brother Eddie P. Stiles, Junior Grand
Warden; and R. .E. .Frederick G. Speidel, Past
Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of
North Carolina. The Joseph Montfort Medal is the
highest award given by our Grand Lodge, and is
restricted to no more than three recipients per
year.
Before opening the Grand Lodge for the
afternoon session Grand Master Hopkins
recognized Brother John Verdery, State Executive
Officer, DeMolay, who introduced Steve Walston,
State Master Councilor of DeMolay, who delivered
a brief and interesting address.
After the Grand Lodge was called from
Refreshment to Labor W.'.Brother Robert M. Bird,
Chairman of the Committee on Necrology,
conducted a memorial service for the brothers
who passed away during the past year.
It Was A Fun Day!
By John W. Beach
Oxford Public Ledger
Once upon a time it was an all-day affair
attracting many thousands of people—some in
horse and buggies, others who came from all over
the state on trains specially designated to stop
here.
But today it is much smaller and doesn't last all
day. Folks no longer bring picnic lunches to be
served under the trees.
But St. John's Day at Oxford Orphanage is still
the same in one way—it is a lot of fun particularly
for the youngsters and the returning alumni.
There's still food—a fried chicken dinner was
served to about 5,000 people free of charge.
St. John's Day, an institution at the Mason-
operated Orphanage since shortly after its
founding in 1873, was discontinued in the mid-
19303 because of the polio epidemic. Prior to its
resumption in 1979 under Superintendent Robert
L. Winston, the festivities had been held on June
24, St. John's Day. Since its resumption, it has
been held on the Saturday closest to that date.
The five-hour program began at 10 a.m. with the
raising of the colors by the Amran Legion of Honor,
the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem,
the devotional by the Rev. B. Patrick Cox, chaplain
at the Orphanage, a performance by the New
World Singers, a gospel group from Garner and
two songs by Russell Wiley, an Orphanage
graduate, accompanied by Margaret DeMent on
the piano.
Then came the 77-unit Shrine parade, which
began at the National Guard Armory and
concluded in front of the administration building of
the Orphanage where the stage for the performers
was set up.
W. .Brother Reynold S. Davenport, Past Master
delivered the eulogy for our late Grand Marshal,
W. .Brother Wilton F. Walker, Jr., who died on
February 5, 1985.
Grand Master I. Boyd Hopkins gave his report
followed by reports of several more boards and
commissions.
The Grand Master, on behalf of the Masonic
Service Association, presented a plaque to
Brother Jack T. Dossett, Field Agent, for 15 years
of devoted service to the Masonic Service
Association's Hospital Visitation Program.
The Grand Master announced that it was time
for election of Grand Lodge Officers and the
election resulted as follows: Grand Master,
Norburn C. Hyatt, P.M.-118, Candler; Deputy
Grand Master, Walter F. McCall, P.M.-530
Charlotte; Senior Grand Warden, Eddie P. Stiles,
P.M.-584, Apex; Junior Grand Warden, L. R.
Thomas, Jr., P.M.-568, New Bern; Grand
Treasurer, Sam A. Hennis, Jr., P.M.-322, Mount
Airy; and Grand Secretary, Robert P. Dudley, P.M.-
202, Raleigh.
The Grand Master, with appropriate remarks,
presented lapel pins to all officers and members
who brought contributions of $200.00 or more to
the Masonic Foundation. A total of approximately
$106,000.00 was donated at the Grand Lodge
Annual Communication.
The Grand Lodge Officers, elective and
appointive, were installed during the final
business session.
The Committee on Credentials registered 1270
voting delegates consisting of the following: 1104
delegates representing 394 chartered lodges;
sixteen Grand Lodge Officers; sixteen Past Grand
Masters; forty-three members of boards,
commissions and committees (not otherwise
listed in foregoing categories); fifty-one District
Deputy Grand Masters, and forty District Deputy
Grand Lecturers. It is estimated that about 300
non-voting Masons also attended the Grand
Lodge session.
Lloyd Young of Raleigh, chairman of the St.
John's Day committee, introduced Superintendent
Donald R. Moul, who introduced special guests,
which included Commissioner of Agriculture
James A. Graham.
After lunch, three groups performed—the Class
Act Quartet, a barbershop group, from Raleigh; the
(Continued on Page Two)
Forsyth No. 707 To Sponsor
Fifth Annual Outdoor Degree
Worshipful H. Paul Gilgo, Master of Forsyth
Lodge No. 707, A. F. & A. M., has announced that
the fifth annual outdoor conferral of the Master
Mason Degree and barbecue supper will be held at
Brother Bill Carpenter’s farm in Stokes County on
Saturday, August 24. In the event of foul weather,
the date will be Saturday, August 31.
Lodge will open at 3:00 P.M. and the barbecue
supper will immediately follow the conferral of the
degree.
This event has become one of the highlights in
Masonry. Last year 255 Masons representing 55
lodges in six states attended. The reason? Good
fellowship, an outstanding portrayal of the work by
participants from numerous lodges in various
districts, and whopping helpings of delicious
barbecue, baked beans, and all the fixings. This
event gets better each year because more Masons
are bringing their lodge brothers with them.
Bill Carpenter's farm is a pretty place, all nestled
back in the mountains where it's cool and quiet
and peaceful. If you've never been there, plan to
come. You're bound to enjoy it.
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NORBURN CREIGHTON HYATT
Grand Master 1985-86
This Is Our New Grand Master
Norburn Creighton Hyatt was born October 10,
1928 in Buncombe County at Candler, North
Carolina. He is one of five children, four sons and
one daughter of the late Lane W. and Wilma
Wright Hyatt. He has lived his entire life within a
five mile radius of where he was born and grew up
on his father's farm in the beautiful Western North
Carolina Mountains. He attended the Buncombe
County Public Schools and graduated from
Candler High School in May 1947. He began his
working life in the field of sales at an early age, in
fact through the Distributive Education Courses in
High School, beginning in the Office Supply
business which he pursued until 1972 when he
became Territorial Manager covering the
Northeastern United States for The Cherokees
located in Cherokee, North Carolina.
He is a former Rotarian and member of the
Western North Carolina Sales Executive Club and
was awarded the National Sales Executive
Distinguished Salesman Award.
March 19, 1949 he married Martha Frances
Foster. They have two daughters, Karen who is
married to Dr. James D. Allman a Major in the
United States Air Force stationed at Eglin Air Force
Base. They live in Shalimar, Florida with their
three children Machelle, Jay and Nicole. Norma is
married to William Frank Kulseth, they have one
son, William Frank, II. Norma is a Special
Education Teacher in the South Carolina School
System. They live at Isle of Palms, S. C. Both
daughters are past Worthy Advisors of The Order
Of Rainbow For Girls.
The Hyatt's attend Hominy Baptist Church.
Norburn is a member of the Berean Bible Class
and has taught in the Youth Department Sunday
School and as Superintendant of the Young Adult
Sunday School Department.
Norburn's Masonic career began in the summer
of 1 960 while fishing in beautiful Fontana Lake. It
was on this occasion that he inquired of his friend
and fishing companion, D. James O'Kelley then
Junior Warden of Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 118
about membership in the Masonic Fraternity. His
interest in Masonic activities both fraternal and
charitable have been an important part of his life
since that time. Norburn was initiated in Mt.
Hermon Lodge No. 118, October 10, 1 960 on his
32nd birthday, passed October 24, 1960 and
raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason
November 21st of that year. Brother Rudolph M.
Gibbs, Master, appointed him Chaplain in 1963,
he served each station in the line and was elected
Master in 1 969. He has served as Treasurer since
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