Past District Deputy Grand Master of the 41st Masonic District, James Lawrence Hyde

Well, its official now. My close friend and brother, Jimmy Hyde is now officially a PDDGM....and I know of no one who has worked any harder to deserve the title. I can't speak for others. But, I can give my own personal account of what he means to me,

I first met Jim at a regular meeting of Montgomery #426 in the late summer of 2006. Jim had come to our Lodge in order to give us information concerning a young man in Hayesville who was losing his sight due to an injury at an earlier time. He gave us the facts, asked us to help, and answered all the questions posed by the Lodge. This was prior to his official GL appointment.
After that evening, it seemed that I was continually in contact with Bro Jim. We were on the phone and email daily it seemed working on some task at hand facing our mutual Lodges and the District. During this time we became fast friends, and formed a brotherly bond that seems to be daily strengthened.....all in the name of serving others with a vision of Masonry that we jointly share. I can say without hesitation that Bro Jim has never let me down, and that the brotherly affection I have for him grows stronger every day.
So, while at the 2009 Annual Communication of the NC Grand Lodge, Jim was bestowed his new title, and Brother Andy Liakos of Montgomery #426 was taking pictures of the event as it unfolded. It gave all of us from the 41st District great pride to see him walk the stage, get his certificate, and shake MWGM Rice's hand. I can think of no one any more deserving than Jim.
The next time any of you see Jim, email him, or talk with him on the phone....I am sure that he will still be serving the 41st with passion, fervency, and zeal....even though the position is being passed on to someone else. That is just the way Jim is. I doubt there has ever been a day since adulthood that Jim has not served mankind in some way. And, I'm sure that til the day he dies the story will never change.
Congratulations PDDGM MW James Lawrence Hyde. You are truly a light that shines!!!

2009 NC Grand Lodge Annual Communication

Many words could be used to describe this years Grand Lodge assembly...anti-climactic, harmonious, and several others come to mind. But, when it was all said and done I think that the word of the day was "victorious". Last year's GL meeting was filled with a victory of sorts. Many of us felt that with the PH resolution being passed that NC Freemasonry could once again "get back" to business at hand...supporting our noble charities, and spreading brotherly love and affection wherever we could. But, in all honesty many NC Masons didn't really feel the impact of what had truly happenned with that historic vote.....until now!
Going into the Meeting Hall, seeing the PH Brothers gathered among many Brethern we knew, and watching the company of 63 march into open Lodge showed us that it really had happenned. Hearing the splendid oration of a young character named Prince Hall, and finally being a part of history itself as PHGM Toby Fitch led us in that stirring lil hymn "This lil light of mine" led to an ovation that still rings with most who were there.

MWGM Dan Rice welcomes PHMWGM Toby Fitch to the podium.


A young orator dressed in period gives the Masonic history of Prince Hall.



MWGM Rice welcomes PHMWGM Fitch to the rostrum for his charge to NC Masons.




Once MWGM Rice got down to business, we learned that charity and what we do as Masons have had, is having, and will continue to have a great effect on people all over NC. There were no less than 5 people brought to stage, who gave testimony as to the way and manner in which Masonic charity had greatly effected their own lives. Two Montfort Awards were given by MW Rice....each to an individual who had gone far and above what was expected of them in service of our Masonic Home at Oxford. We found out that there were two "Little Charles's" who made their home at Oxford....and each were giving back to the home in their own special way. We listened as a young lady described how the MHCO kept her on the path toward a good productive life, and as how the Rainbow Girls was helping another help people all over NC. Yes, NC Masons were back to business as usual....helping those in need, and giving to those less fortunate.
MWGM Rice introduces a young lady from The MHCO.

One of the Montfort Medal recepients.


Brother Eddie Dickerson(Lil Charles) shares his experiences at the MHCO.



MWGM Rice recieves his official portrait.



Several Lodges present MWGM Rice with funds to the Masonic charities.



Brother Jimmy Hicks of St. Johns Lodge #3 is this years appointee to the Grand Line.


RWGS Walt Clapp accepts his election as Grand Secretary and shares a laugh with MWGM Rice over the pronunciation of his last name!!!

"This Little Light of Mine"

Prince Hall Grand Master Toby Fitch leads the 2009 NC Grand Lodge Assembly in singing "This little light of mine". The words of the old hymn rang throughout the room as over 1100 Masons took part in song. Any and all darkness of the past was clearly behind us, and the light of NC Freemasonry was at once shining brightly ahead toward a future of goodwill, cooperation, brotherly love and affection.

May God bless all NC Masons, wherever the gavel strikes. Keep us all pointed toward the light, and grant us opportunity to be a small beacon for all mankind to see. And keep subdued the evil intentions that may rear out of darkness. So, that we can continually see how good and how pleasant it is for the Brethren to dwell together in unity.

Why the York Rite?????

The following was taken from an email forwarded to me my PGM Charles Cathey.

WHY THE YORK RITE
Ray Hayward PM, KCT, HRAKTP
(Copied from the Spring 2009 Minnesota Supplement, Harland L. Thomesen, Editor)

If I were asked why anyone should join the York Rite, one of my first answers would be that anyone who has joined a Blue Lodge in practically anywhere in America, is already a York Rife Mason and can continue the journey. I would tell them that the oldest and most accepted version of the Lost Master's Word" is revealed in the York Rite where future ages found out the right,
Many parts of the dialogue between the second ruffian and Hiram, and between King Solomon and the craftsman all become: clear in the later York Rite degrees: I would tell them that the York Rite is the template for all degrees that have been added or rewritten in the last 200 years. I would say that the York Rite degrees engage all five senses as well as the spirit, intuition, and emotions, instead of just the eye and intellect.
I would tell them that the York Rite follows a. basic Biblical sequence with the degrees imparting lessons from various books of the Bible. The three degrees of, the Blue Lodge, the four degrees of the Royal Arch Chapter; the three degrees of the Cryptic Council, and the first Order in the Commandery, the Order of the Red Cross follow the Old Testament. Beginning with the Order of Malta and concluding with the Order of the Temple, (Knight Templar degree), the Commandery ritual follows the New Testament. Even though the fundamental York Rite ritual ends with the New Testament, I would tell them there is no graduation or end to Masonic learning. In every degree after the Master Mason degree, a York Rite candidate continually seeks further Light because there is no end to Light. No finishing schools exist where you get to the end of Light and seek no more.
I would also put to rest the most questioned and confusing part of the York Rite, the Commandery, with its Christian overtones. There are many applications of the teachings of Christianity, some of the most well-known being Roman Cat holicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism, and the various Evangelical movements. I would say that the Commandery and its chivalric ritual, is a uniquely Masonic application of these teachings, just as the Blue Lodge is a Masonic application of the teachings of Judaism.
I would say that the appended and invitational bodies in the York Rite are some of the most interesting and educational. These York Rite bodies preserve many or the traditions and history its all of Freemasonry. The Allied Masonic Degrees in which members study and confer some of the ancient degrees that have fallen out of usage. I would mention that the York Rite College degree shows the intimate connection between King Athelstan of York, England and the Masons who built York Cathedral. York is also the home of the ancient brethren who wrote the Regius Manuscript, which is the oldest Masonic document in Freemasonry. The Knight Masons "Green Degrees" are some of the oldest, unchanged, degrees in America. Many people know that there is a 33' degree in Scottish Rite Masonry. Few people know that the York Rite has a 33' degree, that of the Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest, which is the 33' degree, and name, of the invitational body that confers that high honor.
If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then I would: say the York Rite deserves the highest praise. Not only have its degrees been imitated, rewritten, and sampled, they have been outright-copied cherry-picked, and plundered by Masons and non- Masons alike. Some of the best parts of the York Rite degrees have been taken and inserted into many other newer degrees. It is invaluable to see the York Rite degrees in their entirety, using the original arid traditional form, imparting the light and wisdom preserved arid worked by numerous generations of York Rite Masons.
I would say that although a gift is more important than the package, if an engagement ring was given in a plastic bag ; it would not have the same dramatic effect as one given in the traditional black velvet box. Indeed, the lessons in York Rite ritual are more powerful when taken in context.
I like to point out to questioners that the York Rite is really Scottish, the Scottish trite is mostly French. The York Rite, more than any other Rite, really deserves to be called the American Rite. Using good old-fashioned American ingenuity, the York Rite has, catalogued the best from European Freemasonry and made it truly an American institution. And I would add that the various bodies in the York Rite each have their own charity which they fund and support, in addition to educational and research programs.
The most important point that I could share when asked as to why someone should join York Rite Masonry is simply this: after a Master Mason has been exalted to the sublime degree of Royal Arch, passed through the circle of perfection of a Select Master, and dubbed a Knight Templar, he has found the York Rite to he the best Masonic Rite for himself as an individual. Indeed "he, who tastes, knows"
Because a Mason feels an affinity for the York Rite from their own personal journey of light, not from someone else's evangelizing or pressure.
This is the best reason to join, support, maintain, promote, and be, active as a member of the York Rite.
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PM Frank Hedrick's son, Lee Roy Hedrick recieves father's Veteran Award

It would be fitting that a Brother just awarded his 25yr pin, would also recieve his father's 50yr pin just over a month after his father's death. Montgomery 426 never got to present the pin to WB Frank Hedrick before his passing. Everyone present last night was proud to see Lee Roy step up to get the award. In fact, emotions were running a lil high to see a worthy PM honored by the Lodge and his son. It will surely be one of the memories I cherish for years to come.