VOL CXVII — NO. 6
^ North' Carolina
teW Mason
Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina
Oxford, North Carolina
R & D Seminars
Headed Your Way
The Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Research and Development will hold the
Grand Lodge Seminars again this year. These seminars are an important vehicle in
achieving an open line of communications to members of the blue lodges in North Carolina.
The Committee would like to extend an open invitation to have as many brethren as
possible to attend these most informative meetings. It is not only for the officers, but for
all brethren who are interested in the future development of our craft. A lot of planning has
gone into these meetings by the Research and Development Committee to make them as
enjoyable and informative as possible,
conducted in sixteen locations across the
January 16, 1993
North Wilkesboro 407
Franklin — Junaluskee 145
Goldsboro — Wayne 112
Charlotte Scottish Rite Temple
For your convenience, the meetings will be
on the following dates:
January 30, 1993
Asheville Scottish Rite Temple
Burgaw — King Solomon 138
Edenton — Unanimity 7
Enfield Lodge 447
January 23, 1993 February 6, 1993
Winston-Salem Temple Hickory Lodge 343
Forest City 381 Durham — Eno 210
Albemarle — Stanly 348 New Bern — St. John’s 3
Spruce Pines — Vesper 554 Fayetteville — Phoenix 8
The topics being discussed this year are: (1) Grand Lodge — Blue Lodge Relationship,
(2) Budget, (3) Organization and Leadership, and (4) Charity.
“The Grand Lodge — Blue Lodge Relationship” will discuss the structure of the
relationship between the Grand Lodge and Blue Lodges, the exercise of the power of blue
lodges at Grand Lodge, the Code, Constitution, and Regulations.
“The Budget” will provide information for blue lodges concerning budgetary processes,
managing your money, cash flow analysis, setting budget goals, allocating resources, and
how to set up a system of receipts and disbursements.
“Organization and Leadership” will discuss the qualities needed for approaching
masters, and how to establish goals and execute plans during their year as master. Planning,
organization, staffing, development, record keeping, and budgeting will be discussed.
The “Masonic Charity” program will discuss our Masonic obligations, local lodge
support in the community, time/talent participation, current lodge programs, a breakdown
of the current charities, and contrast of expenses/budget.
The meetings will last approximately four hours. Each topic will have an interesting
speaker to deliver the program which will last approximately twenty minutes, with a fifteen
minute question-and-answer session following. The meetings will begin at 9:00 a.m. and
conclude at 1:00 p.m., with a fifteen minute break in between. Ninety minutes will be
devoted to Grand Lodge business. In the past, the hosts for these meetings have produced
some excellent refreshments We are sure this tradition will continue for this year’s
seminars.
The Committee is requesting all district officers in the state to promote these seminars
in their respective districts and lodges. Communication is the vital key to all worthwhile
projects. These programs are essential to the future development of our craft, and the
dissolution of the “We/They” syndrome.
— The Committee on Masonic Research and Development.
November/December, 1992
You’re Never Too Old for a Little Courting
Call it spreading a little sunshine, if you like. Think of it as looking for conversa
tion, if you will. The truth of the matter is that Masonic and Eastern Star Home
resident Bill Eaton heads over to the Care Center every afternoon to do a little
courting. The young lady who was the object of his attentions the afternoon this photo
was taken didn’t wish to reveal her identity. Another suitor perhaps? Tune in next...
The Better Read Mason
A New Source of Masonic Writings
They just don’t publish a lot of books about Masonry.
Ask any new Mason.
There he is, hungry to know more about the Craft, search
ing for more and more light. He’s urged to talk with other
Masons to gain knowledge. But, he’s already spent a lot of
time out of the house studying his catechisms and needs to
get to know his family again. Where can he find something
to peruse while he’s at home?
They just don’t publish a lot of books about Masonry.
Ask any Masonic scholar.
He’s visited the local collections of Masonic works. He’s
gotten lucky and stumbled across a volume or two at yard
sales and used book shops. Mostly, he’s seen the same old
tomes in many different editions. He’s seen references to
obscure works, but they’re hard to impossible to find. What
can he do to gain access to these rare volumes other than
traveling across the country?
A new answer has recently entered the picture.
Kessinger Publishing Company in Montana is now print
ing facsimile editions of classic Masonic works. Founded
by Roger A. Kessinger, member of York Rite, Scottish Rite,
and Shrine, the company specializes in reprinting rare and
out-of-print titles.
They’ve got dozens of interesting books to choose from.
In addition to Masonry, the available topics include al
chemy, Hermeticism, religion, metaphysics, mysticism,
theosophy, and other subjects. In the past few months we’ve
looked over a few of the many available titles.
We’ll briefly examine these volumes. More importantly,
we’ll talk about this new source of study material.
Albert Pike, A Biography is a 1928 life history of that
Masonic champion by Fred W. Allsopp. This account be
gins when, at age 22, Pike left Harvard because he was
unable to come up with the necessary two years’ tuition. His
life is then followed through his adventures in the American
west to his settling in Arkansas and his later military career
in the Mexican War and as a Brigadier General in the
Confederate Army. Many of the details of his Masonic life
are included along with the complete texts of several
speeches.
A list of his descendants is included. A son, Albert Pike
II, and several of his grandchildren lived in Tarboro, NC at
the time the book was written.
The Book of the Words by Albert Pike was once limited
to 100 copies. By examining the meanings and origins of
the words used in our ritual, Pike hoped to lend more
meaning, through deepened symbolism, to the work.
For the philologist or academic there is much “meat.”
For the average Mason its interest may now be limited. Its
frequent usage of Latin language and Hebrew and other
alphabets makes the going tedious at times. There are still
many thoughts and facts worth the search.
Lecture on Masonic Symbolism is another “very rare”
volume by Pike. Also limited to 100 copies in its first
See READER, Page 7
A Message From the Grand Master
Hiram Abif Lives
/ use this space each month to bring to your
attention topics that I think are important to Free-
masonry. That fact has not changed this month, but
the author has.
When we hosted the Southeast Masonic Confer
ence in August, Past Grand Master I. Boyd Hopkins
delivered the keynote address. That body of distin
guished Masons from around our region were so
moved by that speech that they offered one of their
two standing ovations of the conference. I felt that
speech was important enough to bring it to you in
this space.
Before I offer the floor to Brother Hopkins, I want
to take this opportunity to offer each of you my
prayers and wishes for the best of all possible
holidays. May this season bring you as many bless
ings as this time as your grand master has brought
me.
Ray Norris
Grand Master
The following is the talk presented on August 7, 1992 by
I. Boyd Hopkins, 1984 Grand Master of North Carolina. It
was the keynote address for the Southeastern Masonic
Conference. In it Brother Hopkins expressed his own feel
ings about each of the topics to be presented at the meet
ing.
"Hiram Abif Lives"
Freemasonry is a beautiful story, a beautiful system of
morality, a beautiful way of life that gives meaning to life.
Every good story includes a hero and a villain. That the
story is mythical, mystical, legendary, or true hardly mat
ters. What matters is the lesson it teaches, the meaning it
has for those who hear it or read it or experience it. The
question is, “Are we a better person because of the story?”
Who the hero or the villain is not important. The impor
tance lies in these questions: what was the motivating
energy of the hero, and what was the inner conflict of the
villain that created his dilemma?
In the beautiful story of Freemasonry, Hiram Abif is the
hero. A man of unusual talent and expertise, of sterling
character and courage. Having drawn designs on the trestle-
board, he summoned the craft, gave them proper instruc
tions, and set them to work. With a beehive of activity
underway, he retired to the sanctum sanctorum, or Holy of
Holies, where he offered his devotions to Deity, giving
thanks for harmony among the workers and for construc
tion of a magnificent temple. Then tragedy struck. At the
See GRAND MASTER, Page 3