 Biltmore No. 446 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
Last evening the Master hosted the Annual Awards Night. In attendance were WB Ron Mundy and Br. Stanley Pressley who were presented with 25 Year Service Awards. Br. John Moss was presented with a 50 Year Award and Br. Ronald Boone received a 60 Year Service Award. Each man spoke of his time as a Mason. WB Paul Gentry spoke on the condition of the roof; it having received extensive damage from the hurricane Helene. He reported that our insurance company would not pay for any of the repair or replacement work because of a previous claim so the total expense was on us. The cost of a full replacement of roofing materials and labor along with some extra work comes to $39,000.00. A motion was made and passed by the members present to have the work done. Though the lodge has the funds to pay for the work it will deplete our account. We need you to step up and give what you can to help offset the expense. If you can help, please drop off your donation at an upcoming lodge meeting or mail it in. Our address is: Biltmore Masonic Lodge P. O. Box 5457 Asheville, NC 28813. Next week WB Todd Lancaster will present the evenings talk. |
This year our Master, WB Howard Hazelrigg, has embarked on a mission to honor our Masonic military veterans. Our former member database software gave us the capability to note military status of those who served but we lost that information when we migrated to the current Grandview software. In order to make sure we know of your military service I am hoping you will respond to this email with your name, military branch, years of service and any other information you wish to pass on. This information will then be placed in your database record.
Veteran's day is November 11 which happens to be a Tuesday. We will honor our Masonic Military veterans that evening with a meal and a speaker. Please plan on joining us.
Biltmore No. 446 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
The next few weeks are going to be packed with different programs. Here they are in order: April 22 – Bucky Hanks – The talk will be related to the Easter week observances 29 – Open Night, maybe Brews brothers at Hillman and a short program May 6 – Annual Service Awards Night – Hopefully we will have a good turnout of recipients. The evening will begin at 6:15 with supper. This is an open event for family and friends to attend. 13 – Todd Lancaster will present the evening’s talk. 20 – Robert Stetson will present the evening’s talk. 27 – Memorial Day. No one has taken this date for a talk but we will have one. Also, Black Mountain Lodge will confer an Entered Apprentice Degree on April 28 starting at 7 PM. |
Biltmore No. 446 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Wow! Here it is April already. First, I would like to thank Brother Eric Willis and his friend Randy Moss for scraping our parking lot and getting it back where it belongs. It is efforts like this that keep our lodge viable and the property looking good. I encourage those of you who have not attended lately to return to your lodge. Here is the next installment of the newsletter. I hope you enjoy it. Lodge newsletter 2025-2.pdf |
Biltmore No. 446 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
Tuesday, March 4, is Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday. In recognition of this date our Junior Warden, Br. Frank Bryson says that pancakes will be served after close of the lodge. The tradition was born out of followers trying to use up all their fats and eggs before Lent. And eggs and fats like butter are key ingredients for an indulgent batch of pancakes. |
Biltmore No. 446 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
Several years ago Biltmore Lodge established through our Bylaws that the Initiation Fee for the degrees will be $200.00. Recently the Grand Lodge has added to the cost by implementing a $100.00 ‘New Member Packet’ fee. This then brings the Total Fee to $300.00. In addition to this there is a $33.50 Investigation Fee. If someone wishes to petition Biltmore Lodge for The Degrees of Masonry please provide them a copy of the Form 17 Petition. I have included a downloadable Form 17 (please print on front and back of page and not 2 sheets). On the reverse side is the schedule of fees. Please note that the Investigation Fee is to be paid separately and is not refundable in the event that the petitioner is rejected. Also, instruct the petitioner to answer all questions and provide all needed information and to sign it. |
As reported over the weekend, WB Eddie Maxwell passed away, Memorial services will be held at 6 PM on Sunday, September 22, 2024, in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with Pastor Keith Lindsay officiating. Masonic Funeral Honors will be provided by the Biltmore Lodge #446 AF&AM.
Okay, so I think I have it figured out. What you ask. Loading Grand View to your phone. First, what is Grand View?
Grand View is a comprehensive web platform that provides an encrypted portal where Grand Lodge, Constituent Lodges, and individual members can communicate and interact online. Over the last few years Grand View has evolved from a simple membership management database into a platform with nearly endless possibilities. With multiple grand jurisdictions, thousands of lodges and hundreds of thousands of memberships being managed, Grand View has literally gone from a drawing on a napkin to leading the industry.
Grandview has replaced “Our Lodge Page”. As a member of Biltmore Lodge you can load the app on your phone. It provides you with several tabs which you may find interesting. You will also be able to pay your dues through this app.
As an Android user you must be using the Google Chrome web browser. If you are viewing this email on your PC you must open the following URL on your phone. Once there just follow the instructions. For you Apple folk I simply don’t have an answer though I’m sure it will be equally easy.
https://nc.grandview.systems/public_members/16696/view_my_full_record
How did you learn about Freemasonry? Who or what influenced you to become a Freemason?
The most common answer to these questions might be that my grandfather or father was a Mason or I knew men in the community that were Masons. Rarely will you find a man that has become a Mason simply by coming across references to it and then seeking a way to become one. No, we were influenced by family or friends.
Over the years Grand Lodges, subordinate lodges and individual members have racked their collective brains to come up with ideas of how to attract men to become Freemasons. Nothing really seems to have presented itself as that “magic bullet”. Biltmore Lodge has held an occasional Open House and it has met with some success but the factor that caused a man to become a Mason through the Open House was that friend, who was himself was a Freemason, inviting his non-Masonic friend to attend.
If we are to grow in numbers it is incumbent upon us, the Master Masons of Biltmore Lodge, to begin talking with friends and family who we think might make good Masons. Oddly, sometimes your friends don’t even know you are a Mason simply because you don’t wear a ring or pin, have a badge on your car or you never mention that you are a Mason. Change that habit and you might well arouse interest in a non-Mason to seek more light. Don’t be afraid or reluctant to talk about our Craft and what it means to you. We rely on you, the Biltmore Mason, to bring to us god men who will become better men.