Clay #301 Honors Bro. Ronnie Smith!

Its not everyday that 2 Masonic meatcutters get to cut 140 Ribeyes....and its not everyday that they join with 138 more friends, family, and Brothers alike to eat them, to honor a man who has coached 64 candidates to profeciency in catechism. All that and more happenned this evening at the Clay County Senior Citizens Center. It seems that "Ronnie Smith Day" is one of the highlights of the year at Clay Lodge!

Where there is smoke.....there are hot Masons cooking steaks!


A big steak will bring the crowd....along with showing appreciation for some of the best Masonry has to offer in men.


Brothers Bob Wolfersteig and Bill Dietrich both recieve Ronnie Smith service awards.




Brother Ronnie recieves awards and gifts.





A coach's wife gets a much deserved reward!


Finally! Some good gospel music to end the night!

Trip to MHCO

For those of you who could not attend the trip to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford on June 7th, you missed a great time of fellowship and an unforgettable trip. While going to Oxford for St. John's Day would be fantastic in itself, I think anyone who went on the bus trip will agree we were received with open arms and given exceptional personal attention by the staff and residents of MHCO. I didn't expect what I saw once I got there. I encourage that we try to do this trip again next year. Thanks to everyone who went and to those who could not go but donated to the fuel costs. Also, a big thanks goes to GW Hodges, owner of Tri-State Charters for donating the bus and the drivers. Attached are a small portion of the pictures taken by PM Rocky Sampson.

5 Hour Lecture Services Held!!!!

How many of you Brothers have attended one of the 5 hour lecture services held so far this year? MAN!!!! They are GREAT!!!! Montgomery #426 had its service yesterday (6/14) and a great time was had by all who attended. Bro Jack Long DDGL conducted a very casual, yet extremely informative session that was well recieved in Montgomery by the Breathern present. THe school started with a few standard points stressed by the Grand Lodge...General Rules, Tyler's Oath, Calling from refreshment to Labor and vice versa. After that, the items worked on was our choice.
After the session, several Brothers expressed their thanks to DDGL Long, and mentioned that they felt this was vastly superior to normal Schools of Instruction. Personally, I'd like to see each of the Lodges have this every year instead of every other....and do away with one of the Schools of Instruction. The more personalized instruction is in my honest opinion...just that important!

Tell us what you think in the comments section. I'd love to hear some of your thoughts. Derek.

Charles E. Cathey Scholarship awarded 2nd year in a row in the 41st District

Eight years ago when Brother Charles E. Cathey was the Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina, he had a vision of Unity. As part of his vision, he created what was then called, “The Unity Scholarship.” He sent across this state to each member of our fraternity a lapel pin and asked each of us to contribute to this scholarship program. The goal was to create an endowment fund of $200,000 dollars. The interest from this fund was to be used to provide scholarships to deserving graduating seniors of North Carolina High Schools. Most Worshipful Mast Cathey visited members of every lodge across this state in order to promote his plan.

6 years later iIn 2006, a committee was appointed to look into the possibility of issuing scholarships, and the name of the scholarship was changed from THE UNITY SCHOLARSHIP to THE CHARLES E. CATHEY MASONIC SCHOLARSHIP in honor of the man and Mason whose dream it was for this to be possible.

Finally in 2007, the endowment fund had grown to the point that Brother Cathey’s dream was to become a reality. Ten (10) $1,000 scholarships were able to be given across this great state, with the first scholarship given at Hayesville High school.

This year there will be eight (8) similar scholarships given across this state. This scholarship program being only in its second year of giving along with competition for the limited number of scholarships available being state wide, I am pleased to say that I had the unique honor to present the first CEC Masonic Scholarship of 2008 and for the second year in a row to yet another deserving graduate from Hayesville High school. Two years in a row speaks well of the student body and faculty of Hayesville High School, and the caliber of young people in the 41st Masonic District. According to Right Worshipful Charles Cathey, to his knowledge no other high school has had the awesome privilege of producing the winner for this scholarship two years in a row!

On behalf of the Grand Lodge of Masons of North Carolina, and on behalf of my good friend and Brother, Charles E. Cathey it was my great pleasure and distinct honor to present the 2008 CEC Masonic Scholarship to Hayesville High School Graduating Senior, Mr. Devin Tant.