From the East
Brethren,
Greetings! We had a great May and I’m looking forward to another great month in June.
We’ll be conferring the Master Mason degree to our two Fellow Crafts this month. As always, we will need a large turnout on the night of this degree to assist in raising these brothers. We would also like to see you at our 7pm Thursday evening practices. The officers are dedicated to putting on an excellent degree and they especially need your support in preparing for a Master Mason degree.
On Sunday, June 11th, we will be conducting a Masonic Memorial Service for our departed brother and Past Master of Temple Lodge, Don Cummings. This service will take place at Hankins & Whittington at 1111 East Blvd. Receiving will be from 2:00 – 3:00 PM and the service will be from 3:00 – 4:00 PM. The service will be conducted
by WB Bob Braswell. Don was a very dedicated Mason and had many close friends in both Temple and Phalanx Lodges. Many of us also knew his widow, Ann Marie Cummings. Please come to this service if you can in support of Ann Marie and WB Don’s family and friends.
A couple in the Charlotte area found the Past Master’s apron of one of their family members, George E. Rushforth, who belonged to Dalhousie Masonic Lodge in Massachusetts during the World War I era. On the back of the apron are embroidered the names of 37 Masons who received degrees during WB Rushforth’s year as Master. The couple contacted WB John Harder and asked if he knew of anyone who would be interested in receiving this apron. WB Harder contacted the Master of Dalhousie Lodge who said he would like to send two of their brothers to Charlotte to receive the apron. We are inviting the couple and the two representatives of Dalhousie Lodge for dinner before a summer Stated Communication for a presentation of this apron to Dalhousie Lodge. We will keep you posted on the timing of this event.
I hope all is well in our Masonic family. Happy Father’s Day, to all our fathers!
Fraternally,
John Hulla – Worshipful Master, PM
From the West
Brothers,
In June we observe three holidays: Flag Day (June 14), Father’s Day (June 18), and Juneteenth (June
19). As Brother Masons, we should pause and reflect on the importance and relevance of these
events to each of us.
Masons are ever mindful of the meaning of the American flag, and the reverence and respect due our flag. It is always with us at the start of every Masonic gathering. This is a well-established and meaningful tradition as a reminder of our patriotism and the profound respect due to this respected symbol of our great nation. Let us give thanks that we have the privilege of reaffirming our allegiance to the United States of America and let’s all show our pride by flying the American flag at our home and place of business.
We give special thanks and appreciation to Dad for all that was good in our upbringing and our development. If you are blessed with having your dad still with you, I know that you understand and we need not elaborate on this point. And if you are a Dad in your own right, I also know you will share your pride as a role model by all your actions since you are an upright man and Mason. As such, you recognize that our children are indeed our most precious resource and our heritage. We all must love and cherish every opportunity we have to make children, especially ours, better citizens.
Lastly, Monday, June 19th is Juneteenth. While it has only been a federal holiday since 2021, it has long been celebrated. It marks the annual celebration when Union Major General Gordon Granger read General Orders No. 3 in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to enforce Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in the Confederate states. Texas was therefore the last state to be emancipated. As Freemasons, we stand for the freedom, dignity, and
equality of all people. Happy Juneteenth.
(Please note the above text is an amalgamation of comments from several Masonic websites)
Fraternally,
Eric Cable, SW, PM
From the Secretary
Brothers,
(I am repeating this note, as to date we have 16 members registered) Please note that the MORI system and OLP (Our Lodge Page) systems was phased out on June 30.
NC Lodges are now utilizing the Grand View web platform which has many of the features we’ve enjoyed with the previous system, including online dues payments. Please take a moment to register with Grand View:
https://nc.grandview.systems/membership_registration
Fraternally,
Mike Hamrick, PM