Masonic History Made in Mount Gilead 

History was made at Blackmer Lodge No. 127 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (A. F. & A. M.), Mount Gilead, on Saturday, October 5, 2002 when approximately 50 Freemasons gathered together for the first meeting of the newly chartered Wilkerson College Lodge No. 760 A. F. & A. M.

 
Wilkerson College Lodge No. 760 is a traveling Masonic lodge, the only one in the state, and is based out of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home in Greensboro. The lodge derives its name from the newly formed Wilkerson College, a school of Masonic education for North Carolina lodge deacons and one of the first schools of its kind to be established in the country. The college itself is named in honor of Brother H. Lloyd Wilkerson, Major General, United States Marine Corps (Retired).

 
The first graduating class from Wilkerson College consisted of 17 lodge deacons from across the state. Blackmer Lodge, with the assistance of a scholarship thru the Scottish Rite Valley of Greensboro, was one of the seventeen supporters of this college and was represented by Brother Larry Thompson, Jr., Blackmer’s Senior Deacon.  

The idea of forming a traveling lodge whose focus would be on Masonic education was developed and nurtured by the 17 Wilkerson College graduates. The concept was considered unique and much needed by Freemasons throughout North Carolina and the lodge was granted a charter earlier this month by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina A. F. & A. M. at its Annual Communication held in Raleigh. The graduates requested that Brother Wilkerson honor them by serving as the Master of Wilkerson College Lodge its first year, a request that he graciously accepted.  

Brother Wilkerson opened the lodge’s first stated meeting in Mount Gilead by thanking Brother Danny Blake, Jr., W. M., for Blackmer’s gracious invitation to host Wilkerson College Lodge. Upon completion of a regular business meeting, the members present retired to Blackmer’s dining hall where they greeted guests from the local chapters of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. A wonderful lunch followed which was prepared by Sylvia Blake and her husband, Brother Danny Blake, Sr. All those present at the luncheon later reconvened in the lodge room where General Wilkerson presented his research paper entitled “History of Military Lodges in Freemasonry”.  

Brother Wilkerson began his talk by giving a brief biography of his impressive 36-year career with the United States Marine Corps as well as describing his fascination with the relationship between Freemasonry and its military members in antiquity.  
General Wilkerson’s speech included an excellent synopsis of the evolution of structured Freemasonry as we know it today as well as several anecdotes on the wartime experiences of a few of our fraternity members. The general stated that his interest in the later topic grew from having heard of stories of brother Masons, serving in opposing armies, who spared each other from death upon being recognized as fraternity brothers on the field of battle. One particularly interesting account shared involved the Field Lodge of the North Dakota Regiment of Volunteer Infantry who came under rifle fire while performing a ceremony of obligation of a candidate in the Philippines in 1898! 

Some of the more famous military Masons included in Brother Wilkerson’s program were General George Washington, General Albert Pike, General John A. Lejeune, General Wendell C. Neville and General Lemuel C. Shepherd, the later three being past Commandants of the United States Marine Corps. 

Needless to say, General Wilkerson’s speech was warmly received by all those in attendance and several Blackmer Lodge members remained long after their brothers had departed, recounting the day’s events and the fact that history had once again been made in Mount Gilead…

Note: Freemasonry is the oldest and the largest fraternal order in the world. It is a universal brotherhood of men dedicated to serving God, family, fellowman and country. For more information regarding the fraternity, visit Blackmer’s home on the internet at: www.blackmerlodge.org.