Larry B. Thompson, Jr., 32° 114 Orchard
Ridge Road, Locust, North Carolina 28097-8748 larry@thompsonenv.com
Though first put off by anti-Masonic allegations,
the author tells how he learned through family and friends to value
Freemasonry.
Bro. Larry B. Thompson, Jr., 32°
I will never forget the day, during my freshman year at college,
when one of my classmates recommended a book for my reading
pleasure. He began to tell me about some of the conspiracy theories
the book touched on, especially those relevant to Masons, since they
pretty much ruled the world! Intrigued, I accepted his offer to loan
me the book (titled withheld for soon-to-be-obvious reasons). I read
the book and promptly decided I would never seek to join this
allegedly occult and insidious organization. After all, it was the
antithesis of everything I stood for!
Years later, after a Thanksgiving dinner at my mom's house, I
asked my Uncle Frank1
what he knew about this "secret society called Freemasonry." My
question was prompted by my concern for an elderly gentleman in our
church, Mr. Bunn McRae,2
who was a Mason. I could not believe that he, a fine Christian man
by all accounts, could be a member of so evil a group as the
Masons.
I thought that my Uncle Frank would know at least a little
something about this organization given the fact that he had been
around the block once or twice and had served his country in three
wars. Well, you could have knocked me over with a straw when Uncle
Frank smiled and told me that he was a Mason!
I proceeded to tell him everything I knew about Freemasonry based
upon the book I had read. Uncle Frank listened intently as I shared
with him the sinister workings that only the "higher up" Masons
could possibly know anything about. When I finally gave him the
chance to speak, he simply told me that nothing I told him could be
farther from the truth, that I should take the time to learn more
about Masonry, and then see where my heart led.
Not long after, I changed jobs and met Bro. Terry Lee Harris,
32°, a man I instantly liked because of his positive attitude and
the way he made me feel at home in my new surroundings. One day I
noticed a gold band on Terry's right hand. The band had a triangle
on it and some kind of strange character or symbol inside the
triangle. I asked Terry what kind of ring it was, and he told me
that it was his 14th Degree ring. I guess I had a confused look on
my face, so he explained that it was a Degree within the Scottish
Rite of Masonry and that the symbol within the triangle was actually
the initial letter of the word Jehovah in Hebrew. I was
instantly intrigued!
Less than eight weeks later, I found myself working a Scottish
Highland Games at Stone Mountain, Georgia, in my capacity as the
High Commissioner for Clan MacTavish. While at Stone Mountain, I ran
into Thomas Allen Bruce, the High Commissioner of the Family of
Bruce, and noticed that Allen wore the same ring I had seen on
Terry. Allen and his lovely wife had been guests at our clan dinner
the year before in Charleston, South Carolina, and I had liked the
guy since we first met.
Having noticed the ring, I began to talk to him about
Freemasonry, sharing my concerns and expressing my fascination, but
noting that I did not want to enter into anything that would
conflict with my religious convictions. Allen offered up a smile and
began to tell me that he had been in the same situation himself not
too many years prior. He went on to tell me that if it made any
difference to me, it was a Southern Baptist minister that had
presented him with his petition to the Lodge and coached him through
the first three Degrees. Before we departed, Allen told me to feel
free to call on him with any questions I may have about Masonry, and
we exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses. For the first time,
I actually felt like Freemasonry might be for me!
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Lt. Colonel Frank F. Cannon,
U.S. Air Force, near the completion of his flight
training |
Within the next two weeks, I contacted Allen and told him that
after careful consideration, and in no small part due to the respect
that I had every Mason that I had met thus far in my life, I was now
convinced Masonry was something I wanted to learn more about. Allen
promptly told me to go to Terry and tell him the exact same thing.
The rest, he assured me, would be taken care of. He also asked me to
keep in touch with him as to how everything progressed.
Well, Terry got my petition, and was I surprised to see how many
old friends (men I had known all my life) showed up for my first
Degree! I was somewhat disappointed that my Uncle Frank was not
strong enough to drive up from Florida, but his battle with cancer
was draining his strength. Nonetheless, he was constantly sending me
e-mails saying how proud he was of me as a new Mason.
A Brother, who it turned out was my life-long neighbor and whose
son was also a good friend of mine, was assigned as my Coach, and he
began to work wonders on me. As my third Degree drew near, I was
shocked to learn Allen wanted to come up for it despite the fact
that it was a long drive from North Carolina to Atlanta.
Unfortunately, Uncle Frank was growing weaker, and I could tell that
he really hated the fact that he would not be at my raising, but I
assured him I knew he would be there in spirit.
When the big night finally arrived, Allen and Terry were there,
and Uncle Frank had sent a note of encouragement to me. The evening
progressed without a hitch, and I soon proudly earned the title of
Master Mason. Brother Allen really added the "icing to the cake"
when he presented me with my first Masonic book and lapel pin!
Sadly, not too many months after that big night, Uncle Frank
passed away. After his memorial service, my Aunt Nita called me to
the side and presented me with my uncle's Scottish Rite ring, saying
that he had wanted me to have it once I became a Master of the Royal
Secret. I had recently joined the Valley of Greensboro, Scottish
Rite. I was deeply moved given the fact that all five of my cousins
would have probably cherished that ring, but Uncle Frank had chosen
to leave it to me. I gave Aunt Nita a kiss, fought back tears, and
told her I had never received a gift so meaningful and so
appreciated.
Whether Uncle Frank knew it or not, he certainly left an
indelible impression upon me, as both a child and as an adult, and I
can only hope that I can live up to his expectations.
1. Lt. Colonel Frank F.
Cannon, U.S. Air Force, Ret. (see photo above), age 78, of Fort
Walton Beach, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2002. He was a 31-year
Air Force veteran, having served in World War II, the Korean
Conflict, and the Vietnam War. Uncle Frank received numerous
decorations throughout his career as a pilot, including the
Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star for Valor, Distinguished
Service Medal, and six Air Medals. He was a member of the American
Legion and Air Force Officer's Club, and a Freemason.
2. Bunn McRae will turn 94 years old this year.
The day I discovered that Brother McRae was a Freemason, he told me
that the three most important things in his life were his family,
the church (Stony Fork Baptist), and Freemasonry.
Larry B. Thompson, Jr., is currently
Junior Warden of Blackmer Lodge No. 127, Mount Gilead, North
Carolina, the Assistant Secretary of Wilkerson College Lodge No.
760, a 32° member of the Valley of Greensboro, the Greensboro York
Rite Bodies, and several other Masonic Bodies and societies. He is
employed as an Environmental Supervisor with the North Carolina
Department of Transportation.
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