Newspapers / The North Carolina Mason … / June 1, 1987, edition 1 / Page 1
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Official Publication of The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons of North Carolina VOL. CXI-NO. 6 Oxford, North Carolina 27565, June, 1987 ONE DOLLAR A YEAR Grand Lodge Communication Held April 21 and 22 in Raleigh The 1987 Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge opened at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 21st, at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh. The two day event was attended by 1,296 registered delegates and a large number of Blue Lodge Masons. It was the largest turnout for several years. Fully, 385 of the state’s 394 Lodges were represented. Meet Our New Grand Master The most basic facts of M.-.W.-.Eddie Phillips Stiles’ life are simple. He was born on March 24,1932, in North Wilkesboro, to Edwin and Cybele Stiles. He married Loretta Clark while at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their three sons, Phil, Jon and Mark, are all Senior DeMolays. Phil is a member of Apex Lodge No. 584. But a closer look at the man reveals a remarkable intensity and sense of commitment. After achieving a very distinguished academic record at Lenoir Rhyne College, U.N.C. and Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Dr. Stiles established a private practice in Family Medicine in Apex. There he is a member of Apex United Methodist Church, which he has served in several This communication marked the two-hundredth year of Freemasonry in North Carolina. It was called to order by Worshipful Brother Robert R. Hall, Past Master of Joppa Lodge No. 530 and D.D.G.M. No. 41. The opening gavel marked the beginning of a series of sessions and events that would entertain and enlighten the attendees as well as conduct the Grand Lodge’s yearly business. A highlight of the first session was the Oration, presented by North Carolina’s Grand Orator, Governor James G. Martin (No. 31). Governor Martin set the tone for this bicentennial session by tracing the history of our Craft as it moved westward from England and Scotland into the New World. He told of the role played by North Carolina Masons in the founding of both state and nation. He stressed the Masonic influence that helped set a course for the new nation. The Bicentennial theme was continued in a special Wednesday session. Master Jimmy Brewer lead three prominent Freemasons in paying tribute to the memory of Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. Brother Ervin was hailed as a defender of the Constitution and a modern Founding Father. For more on this, see the page two article, “Sam Ervin Honored in Special Wednesday Session.” Another prominent visitor was R.-.W.-.Hope Harrison, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maryland. Harrison presented Grand Master McCall with a coin commemorating the bicentennial of the Grand Lodge of Maryland. Among the business items, was consideration of three proposed amendments to THE CODE. Several delegates came forward to discuss the amendments. Following discussion, they were voted on separately. The first two proposed amendments (REG. 72-01 and REG. 85-01) were defeated. The third proposed amendment (REG. 93-03 [1]) passed. Grand Lodge officers elected were Eddie P. Stiles, Grand Master; L. R. Thomas, Jr., Deputy Grand Master: Jerry G. Tart, Senior Grand Warden; Bunn T. Phillips, Jr., Junior Grand Warden; Sam A. Hennis, Jr., Grand Treasurer; and Robert P. Dudley, Grand Secretary. The new Grand Lodge officers were installed at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. For details of the installation ceremonies, please see the photographs that accompany this article. Another item of interest was the presentation of gifts to the Masonic Foundation. Several Lodges participated, bringing total donations of more than $20,000. Scheduled entertainment for the Annual Communication was a Tuesday night concert, “An Evening with Mozart.” It was attended by about 600 people, including members of the public. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s offerings included the overture from “The Magic Flute” and “Masonic Funeral Music.” A Message from the Grand Master “A Year of Celebrations” What a wonderful opportunity we have during this 200th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina to rededicate ourselves to the principles of Freemasonry, to rediscover the joy and excitement of being a Freemason and to tell our friends and families about it. Since the Grand Lodge of North Carolina is, in fact, the subordinate lodges which is chartered by it, the history of the Grand Lodge is the history of all of its subordinate lodges. In keeping with this thought, the Grand Master will visit the oldest lodge in each of the sixty-five Masonic districts during this Bicentennial year and he has requested each lodge to present a twenty minute program during the year on its own particular history (two copies of which are to be filed with the Bicentennial Committee of the Grand Lodge). There will be an Emergent Communication of Grand Lodge to be held in Tarboro, Saturday, October 3rd, for the purpose of laying a Commemorative Stone and to celebrate the founding of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina in that city two hundred years ago. Because the Grand Lodge was actually organized in the month of December, there will be a Special Communication of Grand Lodge to be held in Raleigh, Saturday, December Sth. We are planning a multi-media presentation, “The Presence of Freemasonry in North Carolina over 200 years.” We have asked and are asking lodges and EDDIE PHILLIPS Stiles Grand Master, 1987-1988 members to send in pictures and slides of Masonic events (Masons in action) which would help tell the story of Masonry from the sea to the mountains over this span of time. These items should be sent to Mr. Walton Clapp, Asst, to the Grand Secretary at the Grand Lodge Office and identified if the item is to be returned. Additionally, we are planning to deposit a “time-capsule” with a small momento representing each lodge. Lodges should be selecting the item to be sent and when selected this should also be sent to the Grand Lodge Office to the attention of Mr. Walton Clapp. More information about these meetings will be given in the next issue of the North Carolina Mason. North Carolina Masons can be most proud of the two Masonic Homes which they support: The Masonic and Eastern Star Home in Greensboro and the Oxford Orphanage at Oxford. We are caring for two hundred or more children at Oxford. We are one of the oldest and we are the largest Masonic Child Care Institution in the United States. We can be justly proud of what we are doing for these children, most of whom are not Masonically related. I encourage you to visit our campus at Oxford at any convenient time, but I especially invite you to come to St. John’s Day, Saturday, June 13th. Enjoy the parade, meal and entertainment. Have a real family day with your Masonic family. It is easy for young people to capture your heart and capacities over the years, as well as serving the community through such vehicles as the Board of Education and the Boy Scouts of America. Masonically, our new Grand Master began his journey in May, 1953, in Catawba Lodge No. 248, in Newton. He your purse-strings, but we must not forget those who have come to the years of their retirement. We have members or their qualified loved-ones who have been on our waiting lists at the Masonic and Eastern Star Home for three years or more. We are in great need of an expansion program for the Acute Care Unit, yet these things cannot be done until you, our members, demonstrate through your love and gifts that we can maintain the operating costs of such an expansion program. Won’t you reach into your pocket a little deeper this year in support of our Homes and won’t you remember the needs of others when you plan for the distribution of your estate? Come, visit the Home in Greensboro and see the needs for yourself. You will find that “our guests” at the Home are happy and well cared for. There are others who also need this care. You and I can make it possible. I’m glad to be a Freemason. It was a privilege and an honor to be accepted into the Fraternity by the members of my community. It is a special privilege to serve the Fraternity as Grand Master, especially during this year of our 200th Anniversary. May we each enter into the spirit of celebration and celebrate Freemasonry throughout the year. Eddie P. Stiles, Grand Master was raised on July 17, and within four months was a Certified Lecturer. Thirteen years later, he affiliated with Apex Lodge No. 584. There he served as Senior Warden in 196.7 and as Master in 1968 and 1970. Stiles now holds a Life Membership in his Lodge and Honorary Memberships in several others, and has been District Deputy Grand Lecturer and District Deputy Grand Master. He was awarded the Joseph Montford Medal for meritorious service in 1985. His other Masonic memberships, activities and honors are too numerous to list in full. As a member of Raleigh Chapter No. 10, Enoch Council No. 5, and Raleigh Commandery No. 4, he has held numerous offices and positions and received a long list of honors, including Knight of the York Cross of Honor. He has a similarly distinguished record in Carolina and Raleigh Consistories of the Scottish Rite. His honors in that Rite include Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and an Honorary Thirty-third degree. In 1954, M.-.W. .Brother Stiles was created a member of Oasis Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. He affiliated with Sudan Temple in 1966 and was a charter member of Amran Temple in 1975. He is also the founder of James E. Horne, Order of DeMolay in Newton and William L. Guest Chapter in Apex. His service to this most respected youth organization has brought him considerable recognition over the years. Finally, he is active in numerous other Masonic organizations, including the Allied Masonic Degrees, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis, Red Cross of Constantine and Royal Order of Scotland. Dr. Stiles is indeed well prepared to assume the duties of Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina, and he has begun his term of office with the same energy and enthusiasm that has characterized all his academic, professional and fraternal activities. Expanded Book Program Unvieled “Senator Sam” Book Targeted for Libraries, Schools, etc. During a special session of the Grand Lodge Communication, Past Grand Master, Jimmy Brewer, unveiled a special program to promote the book Sam J. Eruin, Jr., The Man and the Mason, and to raise funds for the North Carolina Masonic Foundation. The program is designed to place copies of the book in libraries, schools, hospitals and other institutions throughout the state. Anyone who donates at least seventy-five dollars to the Foundation may present two copies of the book. These copies will be sent to the institution or institutions of the contributor’s choice. This program was created to increase the book’s circulation and to raise much needed funds for the Masonic Foundation Endowment. For more information, see “Sam Ervin Honored in Wednesday Session” on page two. Notices The Grand Lodge has lost track of a film titled “When the Band Stops Playing” in a brown case. They request that whoever has the film notify the Grand Lodge Office. • The Print Shop is changing over to a new computerized mailing list. This type of changeover always results in a few errors. If you do not receive the September issue of The North Carolina Mason by the second week of October, please notify Chris Foster at the Printing Department, Oxford Orphanage, Oxford, N.C. 27565.
The North Carolina Mason (Oxford, N.C.)
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June 1, 1987, edition 1
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