How can I find North Carolina Freemason lodges? – Find a Masonic Lodge Near You

How can I find North Carolina Freemason lodges?  – Find a Lodge Near You today! Did you know that you and your family are welcomed to visit any Lodge within the State of North Carolina? It’s true – many Lodges host Family Nights, Open Lodge Meetings, Presentation and Award Events, and Social Gatherings in what Masons in North Carolina call their ‘Grand Lodge‘. Simply use the link below to contact a Lodge nearest you. Sometimes, towns are so close that one lodge actually covers both. While for rural communities – there maybe a county wide lodge in some cases.

Here’s how to find North Carolina Freemason Lodges Near You!

When you call the lodge nearest you – just ask to attend the next open event, or schedule a visit with the Worshipful Master and Secretary.

The Worshipful Master and Officers of the Lodge will be happy to give you a tour of their Lodge. While touring the lodge building ask questions and learn more about how Freemasons helped improve your local community. The Lodge Officers are capable of explaining What is Freemasonry and how becoming a member can be a benefit to you and your family.  Many times, the Lodge Officers will go into detail about the history of Freemasonry and their particular Lodge.  Lastly, remember to invite your family members to ask questions and get the answers they are looking for.  North Carolina Freemasons pride themselves on being open and honest to directly address any of your questions or concerns. Here is the link to the lodge locator for the Grand Lodge Of Georgia.

Please note that the Freemasonry Report is run by Masons but it is not connected to, doing business with, or representing any Grand Lodge.

Enjoy learning about the History of the Grand Lodge Of North Carolina and how it was established…

Learn about the history of Freemasonry in North Carolina

Freemasonry was reputedly established in North Carolina at Masonborough in the mid-1730s. However, the first documented evidence of Masonic activity in the state can be dated to Wilmington and New Bern during the early 1750s.

Joseph Montfort was Treasurer of the Province of North Carolina, Colonel of Colonial troops, a patriot, and ardent Freemason. Montfort was born in England in 1724. He was a member of Royal White Hart Lodge at Halifax.

In 1771 the Duke of Beaufort commissioned Joseph Montfort Provincial Grand Master of North Carolina, a post he ably held until his death in 1776. Montfort’s exuberance for the fraternity led to his commission as Provincial Grand Master on January 14, 1771.

Montfort’s commission, which hangs in the Grand Lodge Office in Raleigh, was granted by Henry Somersest, the fifth Duke of Beaufort and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England.

Montfort’s short tenure as Provincial Grand Master proved to be a watershed for the development of Freemasonry in North Carolina. Montfort tirelessly promoted and organized the fraternity into an efficient and productive organization. He chartered at least ten lodges and helped reorganize a half dozen more.

Montfort’s affect on North Carolina Freemasonry cannot be understated, and for that reason his name bears the highest award offered by the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina. Montfort died in North Carolina, March 25, 1776.  But his zeal for the fraternity helped lay the foundation for the creation of the Grand Lodge in 1787.

Between Montfort’s death and the end of the American Revolution, the Provincial Grand Lodge Lodge of North Carolina essentially ceased to exist, though individual lodges continued to operate. In 1787 several delegates from several lodges across the state met at Tarborough to establish a new Grand Lodge and elected Samuel Johnston as their new Grand Master.

The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge in North Carolina have been published annually since 1787. These Proceedings are the historical minutes chronicling the business of the Grand Lodge. These records contain, among other things, Masonic law, committee reports, financial reports, officer listings, membership lists, lodge listings, correspondence, speeches, and much more. They are laden with important historical context concerning the fraternity, as well as the history of North Carolina and many influential citizens of the State.  I recommend visiting this link to read this information further.

Why do the North Carolina Freemasons use A.F. & A.M. in their Grand Lodge and Blue Lodge Titles?

From 1751 to 1813, there were actually two different and separate Grand Lodges in England. This caused to titles to be used to know what Brother Freemasons were part of which Grand Lodge at that time.  In the city of London, both Grand Lodges had their headquarters and both disagreed on certain matters which were critical to them at that time. The brothers actually were all part of the same Grand Lodge prior to the year 1751.

The division was caused by two groups in the Grand Lodge.  The first group was called the “Moderns”. It was made of lodges that were actually the older of the factions. The second group was called the “Antients”, which later became the “Ancients”.

The “Moderns” used the title – F.& A.M. and the “Antients” used the title A.F. &A.M.

This disagreement continued until 1813 when the two groups began formal Masonic Communication between the English Grand Lodges. Thankfully, the disagreement was later fully healed around 1880, but by that time, there were Blue Lodges and Grand Lodges all over the United States that were descended from either the “Moderns” or “Antients” Grand Lodge. So each group kept their corresponding initials with which they were formed. Therefore, this is why the Grand Lodge of North Carolina also kept the title of A.F. &A.M.

Today, all regular Grand Lodges acknowledge the history and have regular communications between the Grand Lodges within the United States.  Yet, there are small differences within different states’ ritual wording and Grand Lodge By-Laws and procedures. Many brothers love to visit and watch/listen to a degree when visiting the state of North Carolina.  Any visiting Brother of a Regular Blue Lodge from a different Regular Grand Lodge are regarded equally as Brothers and Masons.

North Carolina Freemasonry is Charity in action!

Freemasons have been a force for charity and goodwill in North Carolina longer than any other organization, supporting the oldest children’s home and oldest elder-care facility in the state for more than a century.

Since 1929, the brethern established and support the efforts of their own foundation. It is called the “North Carolina Masonic Foundation” and it has played a critical role in that work, ensuring the financial support and vitality of the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford and WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community in Greensboro.

The brethren who created the foundation ensured many things for Masonic Families in North Carolina. Just months after creating the foundation, the stock market crashed and the beginning of the Great Depression ensued across the state as well as the nation. The visionary thinking of these Masons ensured the safety of both homes through good times and bad, and formalized the Craft’s pledge to support and fund both homes for generations to come.

Such foresight guaranteed that masonic charitable work would endure, even after they were gone – today, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina is one of only four states that still have both a Masonic children’s home and an elder-care facility.

Today, the Noth Carolina Masonic Foundation:

1. Assists the Charles Edward Cathey Scholarship Fund and other endowed scholarships;
2. Oversees the Masonic Historic Preservation Fund;
3. Offers the opportunity for lodges and subordinate bodies to invest with the NCMF to achieve long-term gains on lodge reserve resources;
4.  Advocates for fundraising efforts from lodge events to capital campaigns on behalf of our two major charities;
5.  Educates the Craft on development, fund-raising and charitable issues;
6.  With the Grand Lodge of North Carolina A.F. & A.M., supports production of The North Carolina Mason newspaper;
7.  And supports the greater mission of fraternity to foster faith, hope, and charity across North Carolina.

Who are the top leaders in the Masonic Grand Lodge of North Carolina?

Currently, the top elected/appointed leadership of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina are as follows: Grand Master; Deputy Grand Master; Senior Grand Warden; Junior Grand Warden; Grand Treasurer; Grand Secretary; Senior Grand Deacon; Junior Grand Deacon; Grand Marshal; Senior Grand Steward; Junior Grand Steward; Grand Tyler; Grand Chaplain; Grand Historian; Grand Lecturer; and the  Judge Advocate. The Most Worshipful Grand Master is the top leader for Freemasonry in the State of North Carolina.

Please note that the Freemasonry Report is run by Masons but it is not connected to, doing business with, or representing any Grand Lodge. Read more interesting articles now about Freemasonry.