Esse quam videri. You may be familiar with this Latin expression meaning “To Be, Rather Than To Seem”. It was chosen as the official North Carolina motto, in 1893. It’s also been adopted by scores of other schools, companies and organizations. It’s also the attitude of the Holly Springs Masons.
The Holly Springs Masonic Lodge is a benevolent and social organization deeply rooted with the societal development of the Holly Springs community since the completion of the Lodge building ca. 1852. The Lodge’s earliest members were some of the community’s most prominent citizens, but Lodge membership extended to men of all social stations. Its members included men who were local politicians, educators, ministers, doctors and building contractors. These men espoused Masonic principles of charity, morality, and benevolence, and inclusiveness at local cornerstone ceremonies, and provided both financial and in-kind contributions to Lodge members and to members of the community.
The Lodge began its benevolence in the community during the mid-nineteenth century when there were very few social or charitable organizations in Holly Springs other than those started by churches to provide ministry and support for their own parishioners. The Lodge began providing a service to its members and to the community between 1858 and 1859 when they voted to allow vacancies in the recently built Lodge to be filled by the orphans of deceased Lodge members. Shortly after the Civil War the Lodge served as one of the first schools for women in Wake County. They also later rented the first floor of the Lodge to the Wake County Health Department for polio vaccinations, Churches, schools, Red Cross, and the Girl Scouts. The Holly Springs Lodge is the oldest Lodge and school building in Wake County and is still used today for meetings and community events.
During the twentieth century, local charitable efforts in Holly Springs were led by individuals, churches, the Woman’s School Betterment Association, and, predominantly, by the Holly Springs Masonic Lodge. During World War I, the Lodge invested funds in war bonds and assisted with the fund-raising effort to construct a building at Camp Sevier for soldiers that were Masons. In 1943 and 1944, the Lodge contributed funds to the United War Fund and the American Red Cross. In 1956, they began a tradition of giving gifts to the families and widows of Masons in Holly Springs.
During the past several decades, the Lodge has increased in membership and continues to provide support to the Holly Springs Community and dedicates itself to the principles of charity to many organizations. How does one become involved with Masonry? Although the policy of the fraternity prohibits direct marketing and solicitation of members, it does welcome interested men to learn of the fraternity and submit an application for membership. Our Lodge meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month with a fellowship meal the first meeting of every month. We welcome men women and children to visit and meet with the Brothers at the fellowship dinner and experience the camaraderie and history of our Lodge. Our membership has seen significant increases during the past 10 years and our contributions to the community also have been increasing.
Following in the tradition of charity and benevolence, locally the Lodge has continued to issue scholarships to Holly Springs’ young students pursuing two and four year college degrees, and helps support the Holly Springs Food Cupboard. In addition the Lodge participates in numerous Town events to include, HollyFest, Farmers Market, Holly Springs Arts Council, Founders Day, the Christmas Parade and many others. Along with the local charities we support, we continue to support the Children’s Masonic Home in Oxford, NC and Whitestone in Greensboro, NC, along with sponsoring and supporting motorcycle travelling Lodge activities for the needy.
If you desire find out how to make good men better and to perform good deeds for our community then please visit our Lodge and get to know us. We are always happy to welcome interested people. You can also reach us by visiting our website @ hs115.org.
