Great
Smoky Mountains
Masonic
Monument/Marker
At
an altitude of 4,522 feet, in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina,
stands a most singular and significant monument to Freemasonry. The
Masonic Shrine or Marker, is a tribute to the universality of Masonry that
should be viewed by all.
Located
near Black Camp Gap, it is 17 miles from Waynesville, North Carolina, and is
reached by taking Route 19 South through Lake Junaluska and Maggie Valley to
Soco Gap and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Head south on the Parkway toward
Cherokee, and turn right onto the side road to Heintooga Overlook. The
Marker, which is accessed by a short paved walkway from a parking area, is
identified with a plaque by the roadside.
Through
the efforts of Right Illustrious Companion T. Troy Wyche, Companion J. R. Boyd
contributed one and one-half acres of land to the Grand Council of Royal and
Select Masters of North Carolina during the Cryptic Year 1936-37. At the
1937 Summer Assembly of York Rite Masons, a copper box, hermetically sealed
and containing dated and Masonic memorabilia of that era, was locked into a
black walnut box, and buried in a concrete vault at the Black Camp Gap
property. (In 1972, the box was unearthed, and the contents removed and
placed in a display in Waynesville Masonic Lodge. A new container, with
items of that era, was placed back in the vault). Companion T. Troy
Wyche was already laying plans to mark the spot, and contacted Masonic Lodges,
Grand Lodges, Grand York Rite Bodies, Scottish Rite Bodies, and any
individuals of Masonic organizations interested in sending stones to be
incorporated in the building of the monument.
From
the proceedings of the Grand Council's Annual Assembly in Greensboro, North
Carolina, on May 10th, 1938: "To mark the spot where the Grand
Council last year buried its Memorial Deposit, we conceive the idea of a
Masonic Marker as a true symbol of the universality of Masonry, and therefore
have requested Masons of all countries and states to contribute stones to go
therein. Interesting stones have come from five continents, the isles of
the seven seas, and from historic spots of nearly every state in the
Union. The idea has caused manifestation of great interest in the United
States and among (Masons in) foreign countries, and consciousness that
Freemasonry does have a message for this troubled world." (This was
at a time when war clouds were gathering over Europe and we were destined to
involvement in World War II.)
Work
of constructing the Marker was under the supervision of a non-Mason, Oscar L.
Briggs, Supt. of the Water Department in Waynesville, North Carolina.
The city contributed the labor and the trucks for hauling the materials to the
site. M.I. Companion Wyche compiled a catalog showing the location and
giving a history and description of each stone. The completed marker was
unveiled and consecrated at the Summer Assembly on July 11th, 1938. It
was estimated that this was the largest group of Cryptic Masons, (over 600)
ever to meet outside the General Grand Council. There were ten
Illustrious Grand Masters present, distinguished Masons from 21 states,
Canada, Cuba, and the Canal Zone. After preliminary ceremonies at the
Masonic Temple in Waynesville, the group journeyed to Black Camp Gap for the
unveiling and dedication. Rt. Wor. Companion Thomas J. Harkins, Deputy
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, made the dedication
address.
T.
Troy Wyche passed through the Ninth Arch and to his just reward on April 26,
1939. That summer, the Grand Council voted to have an appropriate marker
erected in his memory at the Shrine site at Black Camp Gap.
In
1941, M.I. Claude B. Hosaflook, then a Provincial Grand Master of the Grand
Council, conceived a plan for a series of 3, 5, 7, and 9 steps and five
landings leading up to the Marker. These were cut from Georgia gray
granite and taken to the site in the Fall of that year. However, World
War II delayed completion and dedication until September 1948. The riser
of each step bears the inscription of each donor.
In
1949, the Blue Ridge Parkway took over the land on three sides of the Marker
from the Boyd heirs, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park owning the
remaining side.
Contained
in construction of the Marker are 687 separate items or memorial pieces,
consisting of various types of stones, granite, quartz, marble, slate, jade,
onyx, tile, brick, crystal, gypsum, fluorspar, agate, garnet, fossil stone,
and petrified wood. The stones are reported to vary in weight from one
ounce to a 170-pound stone from a Cuban fortress constructed by Don Hernando
DeSoto in the 1500's.
The
Marker was not destined to contain the Memorial Chest, since it remained
buried in its concrete vault. It is alleged that the plans for the monument
were drawn by Companion Wyche, it being 12 feet high and 9 feet square at the
base.
As
a protection against vandalism, an iron fence was erected around the Marker in
1954. Due to some deterioration from the weather, a wooden covering was
constructed through Grand Council efforts around 1978.
Of
primary significance was the enthusiasm and cooperation of Masonic Bodies
throughout the world in contributing to the Shrine Freemasonry's belief in the
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man is more appreciated when viewing
the tranquil and scenic setting of the Marker. The universality of our
great Fraternity was truly was truly demonstrated in a tangible manner, but
let us not forget that all of the stones contributed would be nothing more
than a pile of rubble were it not for the cement that binds them
together. It is the responsibility of each member of the Craft to make
certain that the cement of Brotherly Love and Affection continues to hold us
together as Masons, as Brothers, and as the children of God.
Here
is a color post card of the monument taken in 1935.
References
History
of the Cryptic Rite in North Carolina, 1822-1961, published by the Grand
Council of Royal and Select Masters in North Carolina.
Masonic
Shrine Catalogue of Stones in Marker, compiled by T. Troy Wyche.
Proceedings
of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters in N.C., March 16-19, 1936.
A
North Carolina Masonic Shrine, by Clufton L. Taylor, PSM, PGHP; Robert
Kraus, PGC Knights Templar of N.C.
This
story was reprinted from the Royal Arch Mason Magazine, Vol. 19 - 11, Fall
1999. It was submitted by Galard C. Moore, Jr. PGHP of N.C., June 14,
1999.
A
special "Thanks" to Brother Pete Streicher of Whittier, N.C. for
submitting the photographs above which assisted in telling the story of this
wonderful monument.
Click here to view the Catalog of Stones
used in the building of this Monument/Marker
A special
"Thank You" to Brother Peter Vojtik of Raven Lodge #303, Oswego, IL for
submitting the pdf copy of the above catalog so our visitors could view it.
