 Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: It is my sad duty to announce the passing of Brother Donald Hampton Johnson who dropped forever the working tools of life on November 28th, 2024 at the age of 69. Brother Johnson was initiated on April 10th, 1990; Passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on May 22nd, 1990; and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on June 26th, 1990. Brother Johnson was known for his leadership. According to a Town of Benson publication, He earned his bachelor's degree in economics at North Carolina State University before acquiring a master's in business from Campbell University. He served as town commissioner in the early 1990s before becoming Mayor and holding the position from 1995 to 2005. He was reelected to the town board in the early 2010's and stepped down from his commissioner role in 2012 to become Benson's Public Works Director. Shortly thereafter, he retired to West Palm Beach, Florida to be closer to his family. Arrangements are to be held in West Palm Beach, Florida where he resided. Please keep his wife, Jenny; and sons Hunter and Blake in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| We'll have a practice on August 25th at 3:00pm for the Master Mason degree scheduled on September 7th. |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: Please be with us on Saturday, September 7th as we raise three brothers to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. We will have Breakfast at 8:00am and the degree will begin at 9:00am. We need as many brothers as possible to put on the degree so your presence is appreciated! Hope to see you there! |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: This is a reminder of our stated communication, Tomorrow, Tuesday July 23rd. We will have a meal at 6:30pm and the meeting will begin at 7:30pm. Please be with us! |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brother Lee just gave me a call and told me he is doing well! Just a little sore. He'll be a new man in a few weeks. He appreciates the calls that he received today and the prayers. He is at home taking it easy. |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren, Arrangements for Brother Kenneth Edwards will be at Skinner and Smith Funeral Home on Saturday, July 13th at 3:00pm with a visitation from 2:00pm to 2:50pm. Masonic Rites will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Masons are requested to be at the funeral home located at 905 Erwin Road, Dunn, at 2:00pm to prepare for Masonic Rites. Thank You, Brethren. If there are any questions, please reach out to me at 919-422-2058. S&F, Matt Moore |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: It is with sadness that I announce of the passing of our Brother, Kenneth O. Edwards this morning. He was well loved and respected in our town and he loved his Masonry. Arrangements are not known at this time but they will be forwarded when received. Please keep his wife, Nikki, and his children in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. S&F, Matt Moore |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren, Reminder of our Stated Communication & Fellow Craft Degree tomorrow night at July 9th. We will have a potluck dinner at 6:30pm and the degree/stated communication will begin at 7:30pm. Please be with us! |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: On behalf of Mt. Lebanon Lodge no. 117, it is my sad duty to announce the passing of WB Hughes Dillard who passed away yesterday, July 2nd. He was a Mason for 57 years, served as Master of the lodge in 1976, and served as Treasurer and Secretary for many years. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 5th at West Nash United Methodist Church in Wilson at 11:00am. Masonic Rites will follow at the church and will be held inside. Masons are requested to arrive at 10:30am. His obituary can be seen through this link. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. S&F, Matt Moore, DDGM |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: The service for WB Charlie Ryals will be on Saturday, July 6th at Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Benson. Masons are to be at the funeral home at 1:00pm. The family is requesting Masons to be active pallbearers so we will need as many brothers there as possible. If there are any questions, you can reach me at 919-422-2058. More details to follow. Please continue to keep the Ryals family in your prayers. S&F, Matt Moore |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: It is with sadness that I announce the passing of WB Charles Ryals. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Arrangements will be announced when they are known. S&F, Matt Moore |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: I've been keeping up with Charlie's condition through his daughter, Sarah's, Facebook page. He needs our prayers. See below for the latest update: "It feels like everytime we take a few steps forward, we end up taking a few back. He had a good night last night, down to minimal pressure support and able to rest some. Today we’ve had to add two additional medications to help with his blood pressure and it feels so defeating. As I firmly believe in specific prayer request I ask that when you lift dad up in your prayers you ask for his body to respond to these medications, his white count to go down, his blood pressure to stay up, his kidney function to remain stable, his liver function to normalize, his heart to stay strong, his lungs to clear the pneumonia, and for him to know that we are fighting right beside him These next few days will be trying and his body will need to show everyone just how strong Charles Ryals truly is for us all to feel more at ease (doctors included)." Thank you for your continued prayers! S&F, Matt Moore, Asst. Sec'y |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: WB Charlie Ryals suffered a heart attack recently and is currently in stable condition but isn't really out of the woods yet. Please keep him in your prayers as the doctors evaluate the next moves in the next 24 hours. |
Relief No. 431 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
| Brethren: Please join us tomorrow, Tuesday June 25th for our Stated Communication. We will have a meal at 6:30pm which will be prepared by DeMolay, and the meeting will begin at 7:30pm. Please be with us! Matt Moore, Asst. Sec'y |
Brethren,
The Demolay boys will be holding a car wash fundraiser this coming Saturday 5/11/24 donations excepted, the event will be at the Dunn Shrine Club from 9 am to 2 pm. Please go by and support these young men.
Brethren:
We will have our Stated Communication on Tuesday, March 26th at 7:30pm with a potluck meal at 6:30pm. We will initiate Three candidates to the degree of Entered Apprentice.
Please be with us!
Brethren:
We will have our Stated Communication on Tuesday, March 26th at 7:30pm with a potluck meal at 6:30pm. We will initiate Three candidates to the degree of Entered Apprentice.
Please be with us!
Brethren:
As most of you are aware, Jethro passed away last night at the age of 89. There will be a private graveside service next Thursday, February 8th at 4:00pm at Banner Chapel Church (1771 NC-50 S, Benson, NC 27504). The family is extending an inviation to the lodge for pallbearers and to perform Masonic Rites. This is strictly a private service so no other announcements will be posted anywhere else.
If you are able to make it next Thursday, please make an effort to do so. Jethro loved the lodge and his brothers.
Thank You!
Brethren:
Please be with us as we raise two brothers to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason THIS Saturday, January 20th at 9:00am. We will have breakfast at 8:00am and the gavel will drop at 9:00am. We'll need everyone we can get to fill Fellow Craft rolls.
See you there!
Brethren:
Please join me in congratulating Worshipful Brothers Tyler Harper & Brian Shew on the arrival of their new babies!!
Tyler & Chelsea welcomed their daughter, Lillian Michael Harper on January 6th and Brian & Allison welcomed their son, Wyatt Graham Shew yesterday, January 10th. Everyone is doing well!
Sincerely & Fraternally,
Matt Moore, Assistant Sec'y
Brethren,
Please be in prayer for Brother Matt Moore and Family as his youngest has been admitted to the hospital with RSV. The Good Lord knows the need, and hears them all! Thanks for all that you do!
Fraternally yours,
Justin Langdon
Master-Relief Lodge #431 AF&AM
Brethren:
We will be passing two Entered Apprentices to the degree of Fellow Craft on Tuesday, November 28th. We will begin with a meal at 6:30pm which will be provided by the Order of the Eastern Star and the meeting will begin at 7:30pm. After the degree, we will be buttoning up some end-of-year business.
Hope to see you there!
Brethren:
Congratulations to the following Brethren who were elected to their respective stations and places for the ensuing year:
Master: Tyler Harper
Senior Warden: Wesley Tyndall
Junior Warden: Justin Stewart
Treasurer: Andy House, PM
Secretary: Steven Stanley
A date for the Officer Installation will be announced at a later date.
Brethren:
The Veterans Memorial Dedicstion at the American Legion Building will be Saturday November 11th. We will be meeting at the lodge at 1:15pm to ride out together. If you plan on going, please call or text Matt Moore at 919-422-2058 to RSVP by 5:00pm tomorrow. We need a head count for the legion. Coat or suit and tie is earnestly solicited. We want to represent Masonry well.
Thank You!
Brethren:
We have made it easier for you to make tax deductible contributions to the lodge!
By donating to our Lodge Charity Account (LCA) through the North Carolina Masonic Foundation, you can contribute to our scholarship and other causes. You have the option to make a one-time donation, or a monthly recurring donation!
To make a contribution by following this link!
Thank You Brethren!
Matt Moore
Secretary
Brethren: I made a mistake on the date of our next stated communication in which we will vote on our by-law change. It will be Tuesday, October 24th. Not the 26th.
You may receive a letter in the mail with the 26th being the date. I've attached the correct letter to this post for your reference.
Sincerely,
Matt Moore, Sec'y
Brethren:
At a Stated Communication on September 26th, 2023, amendments to our By-Laws were read to make the following changes:
Note: This amendment adds Section 4 which clarifies when our annual communication will take place.
ARTICLE 8
SECTION 4. The annual communication of this lodge shall be on the first stated communication in November.
Note: This amendment changes our dues to $125.00 in addition to the Grand Lodge per capita tax: $35.00 (effective 2024 dues year).
ARTICLE 10
SECTION 1. The annual membership dues in this lodge shall be one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($125.00) plus Grand Lodge per capita tax as specified in Regulation 20-1.1. of The Code which each member shall pay in advance on or before the first day of January.
We will be discussing and voting on this amendment at our next stated communication on Tuesday, October 24th at 7:30pm. If you have any questions regarding the changes to our by-laws, please contact By-Law Committee Chairman Matt Moore at 919-422-2058.
Sincerely,
Justin Langdon
Master
Brethren:
At last night's Stated Communication I and our Treasurer, Andy House, announced that we will not accept our roles next year if elected at the first stated meeting of November. With additional pressures on me on the home front with two small boys and Andy's professional obligations, we are looking to pass the torch to other brothers.
So, if you are administratively inclined and would like to serve our lodge in any two of these roles, please contact WM Justin Langdon at 919-868-3551 or myself at 919-422-2058.
Sincerely & Fraternally,
Matt Moore, Sec'y
Brethren:
Please mark your calendars for the next couple of meetings coming up:
This coming up Stated Communication, Tuesday July 11th, we will be presenting Benson Mayor Jerry Medlin's 50 year pin and certificate! We will also be making a couple presentations to deserving Brethren. We will have a meal at 6:30pm and the meeting will begin at 7:30pm. Please come on out for this special meeting!
On the first Stated Communication of August, Tuesday August 8th, we will be initiating one candidate into the mysteries of Masonry. Dinner will be at 6:30pm and the meeting and degree will begin at 7:30pm. Please come out to support this candidate as he takes his first step in Masonry as all Masons have done before him.
Your presence is always appreciated at the lodge! We hope to see you there to enjoy the fellowship!
Sincerely,
Justin Langdon, Master
Matt Moore, Sec'y
Brethren - Anyone that would like to attend Landscape Day at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford this weekend, March 18th, we will be leaving the lodge at 7:30am. Please come out to enjoy a great day of fellowship at our Children's Home!
Sincerely & Fraternally,
Justin Langdon, Master