Official Publication of The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons of North Carolina
VOL. CXII—NO. 4
Oxford, North Carolina, April, 1988
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR
Grand Lodge Begins Third Century
The Grand Lodge of North Carolina will kick-off its Third Century as members and delegates converge on Raleigh
this Spring. The 1988 Annual Communication follows a year long Bicentennial celebration, which included meetings
and banquets held across the state.
This year’s Communication features an unusual evening session. Scheduled for 7:30 Tuesday night, it will be a
regular business session, at which time the proposed amendments to THE CODE will be voted on.
Several amendments to THE CODE have been proposed. They will be discussed and voted on during the
Communication. The proposed amendments are reprinted here for the examination of all Blue Lodge Masons.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE
Amend THE CODE by adding a new regulation as follows:
REG. 95-48. A subordinate lodge desiring to conduct fund-raising activities for Masonic Charity may do so if the
activity is one of the following; provided that the activity is conducted over a period of no more than three days and is
conducted no more often than semi-annually and providing the lodge keeps careful financial records of the project and
shall protect itself against general and special liabilities. (Reg. 85-01; 33-01 (3, P).
(A) The sale of food or food products.
(B) The sale of pre-priced goods, providing the marketing of such items shall not be perceived as a discredit to
Masonry.
(C) The sale of items by AUCTION.
Either substantially all of the work performed by or on behalf of the Lodge in preparing, delivering or selling food or
goods shall be performed by members of the Lodge or others on a volunteer basis without compensation, or
substantially all of the food or goods sold must be received by the Lodge as gifts or contributions.
(1) A subordinate lodge desiring to conduct any other fund-raising activity shall first submit an application detailing the
planned project and its purpose to the Grand Lodge Committee on Subordinate Lodge Special Activities and must
receive its approval before undertaking the said project. [Reg. 36 A-04 (3)]
(2) A subordinate lodge conducting any of the above projects without obtaining prior approval when required or in a
manner other than allowed by this regulation or who shall divert funds for other than the stated purpose, shall be
required to show cause why its charter should not be arrested.
(3) A subordinate lodge conducting any fund-raising activity shall file a financial report on that project within sixty days
after its completion with the office of the Grand Secretary and the Grand Lodge Committee on Subordinate Lodge
Special Activities. The Lodge shall report the type of project and the purpose for which it was conducted, funds to be
accounted for and its distribution of income.
Amend REG. 33-01 (3) by adding a new sub-section “P”.
P. Subordinate Lodge Special Activities Committee. (Chapter 36-A).
Amend THE CODE by adding a new sub-Chapter as follows:
(Continued on Page Two)
Grand Lodge Officials Support Campaign
For New Wing of the Care Center
With the announcement of plans by M.'.W.'.Eddie Stiles, Grand Master, to raise funds for the expansion of the
Care Center at the Masonic and Eastern Star Home, the Grand Lodge Officers and Past Grand Masters began
gathering support for the project through individual and corporate contributions. At the time the campaign was
announced to the membership, this group of Masons had raised more than $80,000.00 for the Mason’s Building Fund
at the Home.
As we go to press, Tommy Jones, Administrator of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home, reports that additional
contributions totaling $13,000.00 have been received and credited to the Mason’s Building Fund for the Care Center.
The Campaign ends April 20th, but those who wish to achieve a higher “honor roll” in their level of giving may do so
until August 1, 1988.
TWO HUNDRED FIRST
ANNUAL COMMUNICATION
OF
THE GRAND LODGE
OF
ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
OF
NORTH CAROLINA
WILL BE HELD
TUESDAY, APRIL NINETEENTH
A. D. 1988, A. L. 5988
IN
MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
FAYETTEVILLE STREET
RALEIGH
Attest:
Grand Secretary
Grand Master
Sentelle Receives Honors in Arlington, New Bern
On January 21, David B. Sentelle (Excelsior No. 260) became an honorary member of Cherrydale Lodge No. 42 in
Arlington, Virginia. Members voted on the nomination after the necessary procedures and dispensations had been
implemented by the Grand Lodges of both states.
Sentelle, who will reside in Virginia while serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia, retains full membership in Charlotte’s Excelsior Lodge No. 260. While in Virginia, he has attended
Cherryville Lodge regularly and the members have praised him as an asset to their group. They report that his friendly,
outgoing nature has gained him immediate acceptance as “one of the boys.”
The Grand Master, Eddie P. Stiles, recently awarded Sentelle the Montfort Medal for his contributions to the
nation, the state of North Carolina and the Craft.
Sentelle was also honored by the Scottish Rite, which has given him the title of Knight Commander of the Court of
Honor. The KCCH is a decoration awarded by the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite. Sentelle was elected to
the honor on October 19th of last year and acted as exemplar candidate during the investiture on November 14th in
New Bern. The exemplar candidate is the active candidate who represents his class during the investiture ceremony.
A Message from the Grand Master
“The State of the Craft”
In a few short days, I shall lay the gavel down as Grand Master and pass the Collar to
another who will lead this great fraternity for the ensuing year. My life has been greatly
enriched through the service I have been permitted to give to the fraternity this year. You, the
delegates of Grand Lodge, made this possible and I thank you.
It is customary for the Grand Master to give an accounting of his activities to the Grand
Lodge. This will be done at the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge. I thought, in this final
Brother Sentelle is shown with Virginia Masons prior to his acceptance as an honorary member of Arlington’s
Cherryville Lodge. Left to right: Brother William C. Glascock, D.D.G.M., 54th District; Brother Dale Thurman,
Worshipful Master; Brother and Judge David B. Sentelle; Brother Robert Keller, Junior Warden; Brother William G.
Sizemore, P.M.; second row: Brother J. K. Perkins, Treasurer; Brother J. K. Gott, Secretary; Brother Harry Walch,
J.D.; Brother J. M. Pollard, S.D.; Worshipful Ben Smith, Chaplain, and Brother F. Reed Brown, Organist. (Photo by
Worshipful Richard Sobel and reprinted by permission of the Virginia Masonic Herald.)
message, that I would share with you a preview of that
report.
Although we have lost nearly 2,500 members over the
past five years, we are still a strong fraternity with a
membership of approximately 70,000. I have been
pleased with the upkeep and appearances of our lodges
across the state. Most of our lodges are active and the
more active ones have energetic youthful leaders and
multiple programs. They involve their families in non-tiled
lodge activities and they usually have strong programs in
support of our two homes and the North Carolina
Masonic Foundation.
If I were asked what causes me the most concern about
our fraternity, it would be the image we project of
ourselves to non-Masons. I was reading the three
Charges a few nights ago and some of the words that
jumped off the page at me were: “The greatest and best
men of all ages have been promoters and encourgagers of
the art, and have never dreamed it derogatory to their
dignity to level themselves with the fraternity, extend
their privileges, and patronize their assemblies.” Is this
true today? If you have a leading citizen of the community
as a member of the lodge, encourage him to attend the
meetings and to become an active member. Through his
activity, many times other leading citizens will also seek
membership.
“In the State, you are to be a quiet and peaceable
citizen . . . patiently submit to legal authority ... be
particularly careful to avoid censure or reproach.” We
have many members who are willing to place their lodge
and the whole fraternity in jeopardy in order to raise
money “from the public” (for lodge purposes, and even in
some cases for CHARITY) that are not in keeping with
the “laws of the land” or which may bring censure or
reproach upon the fraternity. This usually results from
the idea, “the law should not apply to ‘us’ because we are
Masons,” or “everybody else is doing it,” or “it’s too
much trouble (or work) to keep a good set of records.”
We must be good citizens and obey the “Laws of the
Land” including the “Tax Laws” with respect to Tax-
exempt Organizations. The best way to do this is to
“follow the rules” and to KEEP ACCURATE BOOKS.
The other problems that I see in the fraternity are
related to our quickness to claim as our own, the good
work of others without giving of ourselves. This is
reflected in the modest fees and dues we charge
ourselves for the upkeep of our buildings and the very
(Continued on Page Two)
St. John’s Day Set For
June 18th
This year’s St. John’s Day celebration will be
held on June 18 at Oxford, N. C. The annual event
features a Shrine Parade, nationally known
entertainers and a day-long picnic. It’s all free and
everyone is welcome.
Details will appear in the next two issues of this
paper, but our readers should start making plans
now to attend.
Helpful Hint: This notice can easily be cut out
and attached to any bulletin board or refrigerator
door.