Nortli Carolina
Mason
Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina
VOL CXVII — NO. 3
Oxford, North Carolina
May/June, 1992
St John’s Day
Celebration Set
Mark it now! Don’t wait! Ask your wife to note it for the whole family! Clean up those
lawn chairs. St John's Day at the Orphanage is just around the corner and promises to be
bigger than ever as Jerry Reed headlines.
The St. John’s Day observation will be on Saturday, June 20 at Oxford Orphanage. Join
in celebrating what has become the largest Masonic gathering in the state.
The Shriners of North Carolina are sponsoring a Masonic Foundation Golf Tournament
on Friday. It’s near Henderson, just up the road. You can find the tournament details on
page 8.
For you non-athletes, figure on Saturday being parades, picnics, and music under the
oaks. Things will kick off at 9:45 a.m. as the Oxford Orphanage Choir performs on the front
steps of the campus Administration Building.
It’ll then be time to hustle down the street for the 10 o’clock start of the Shrine Parade.
There’ll be units from Amran, Oasis, and Sudan temples. Be prepared for clowns, bands,
motorized units, and much, much more as the parade winds through town.
We all know the cooking talents of those fezzed fellows from all those fish fries to raise
money for crippled children’s hospitals. They’ll furnish your lunch right after the parade.
Jerry Reed
It’ll be up to you to find just the right spot
“under the oaks” on the Orphanage grounds
to picnic with your family.
A songful afternoon begins at 1 o’clock
when The Hollanders return for their second
St. John’s Day performance. This group of
six brothers and sisters wowed the crowd last
year with comedy, song, and dance. They’ll
be even better this year.
Scheduled for 2 p.m. is the headliner for
the afternoon, Jerry Reed. You’ve seen Jerry
on TV. You’ve heard him on the radio. You’ve
even seen him in the movies. A few titles will
remind you: “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,”
“Eastbound and Down,” “She Got the Gold
Mine, I Got the Shaft,” and Smokey and the
Bandit. His songs have been recorded by
Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Brenda Lee, Dean
Martin, Nat King Cole, and the Oak Ridge
Boys among others.
If you’ve never made it to Oxford for St.
John’s Day, there’s no better time than June
20. You can’t beat the cost — free.
Hope to see you there.
The Hollanders
Windell Cunningham's fingers have been known to coax a shy voice. It wasn't a barber
shop, but these fellows tried a little harmony at Tuesday night's reception.
Grand Lodge Holds
Annual Communication
Raleigh — On April 21 and 22, the 205th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge
of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina was convened by 1,253 voting
delegates and more than 500 other interested Masons.
After the call to order and presentation of the colors, Grand Master Lester P. Martin, Jr.
opened the lodge and received the distinguished visitors from other grand jurisdictions and
the appendant bodies. After past grand masters were welcomed James G. Exum, Jr., Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and grand orator of the Grand Lodge made
his address.
Most of Tuesday’s morning session was spent receiving, referring, and/or approving the
reports of various committees and boards. Reynold Davenport, who retired as editor of The
North Carolina Mason last summer, was named Editor Emeritus of the publication. Past
Grand Master Sam A. Hennis, Jr. was named Treasurer Emeritus.
See GRAND LODGE, Page 3
The one four-legged attendee of Grand Lodge wasn't the only creature present seen to
have nodded off during the business session.
Meet Our New Grand Master
Ray Norris was born in Candler, North Carolina on
September 27, 1924, to Isaac and Lois Norris. He is the
oldest of five children. Ray grew up on a small farm which
had a great and positive influence on his life. His dedica
tion to his studies in the public school system and respon
sibilities at home on the farm consumed a great portion of
his time; however, during his high school days, he found
time to participate in athletics and immensely enjoyed
relaxing through hunting and fishing. It was during his
high school years that he met a schoolmate, Jean, who later
became his loving and supportive wife.
Ray graduated from Candler High School in May, 1943
and is also a graduate of LaSalle Extension University in
Chicago, Illinois in Traffic Management. At Georgia State
University and Northwestern University, he was intro
duced to managerial developmental studies in logistics,
distribution, and transportation.
Ray entered the military immediately upon graduation
from high school. After basic training and completion of
Army-Clerk-Stenographer School at Camp Wheeler, Geor
gia. he was transferred to Fort Meade, Maryland. He was
later assigned to the U. S. 7th Army in Italy and served
with it in France and Germany. He was honorably dis-
Ray Norris
Grand Master
charged with the rank of Sergeant and returned home in
January, 1946. In 1951. he was recalled as an active
reservist in the military and served as Post Freight Officer
at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri until January, 1953 and
was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant. He re
ceived a direct appointment as a commissioned reserve
officer in the Transportation Corps while on active duty
and later left the military in February, 1960 from active
reserve status.
Ray and Jean were married in October, 1946 and are
blessed with five beautiful and talented children: Steve,
Kathy, Mike, Debbie, and Rened. Steve and wife, Karen,
and three children, Stephanie, Kristie, and Tyson live in
Santee, California. Steve is Deputy Test Director for a
Sub-Sea Research & Development Project for the Depart
ment of the Navy at the Naval Research & Development
Center in San Diego, California. Kathy and husband. Ken,
and two sons, Scott and Brian, live in Snellville, Georgia.
Kathy is a school teacher in the Gwinnett County Public
School system. Mike and wife, Leslie, and three children,
Russell, Graham, and Rebecca live in Hickory, North
Carolina. Mike is Manager of the Personal Insurance
Department, First Security Co. Inc. in Hickory. Debbie
lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Debbie is a Re-
See GRAND MASTER, Page 3