THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220218
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
What were all those sharply dressed men doing in the City Council chambers Tuesday night? It looked like a production of ``HMS Pinafore,'' what with the plumed hats, the purple sashes, the gloves and the medallions.
No, no. This was an auspicious occasion, fully deserving of the finery.
For on Tuesday night, for the first time in known political history, Lionell Spruill was appearing in City Hall not as a former councilman, not as a sitting state delegate, but as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, Free and Accepted Masons. In a top hat, too.
Political insiders have known for years that Spruill was a rising star in the Masons. In fact, it was said at times that they were his true political machine.
When Spruill finally rose to the top of the state organization, Chesapeake benefited.
Spruill brought its state convention this year to the city's Holiday Inn, bringing in more than 2,000 delegates.
The Masons were giving out money Tuesday night, but not directly to the city. Spruill came to announce more than $16,000 in gifts to local charities and volunteer groups. That included $500 to Our House, $500 to the Chesapeake Museum, $500 to Paint Your Heart Out Chesapeake and $1,000 to the American Heart Association.
Finally, Spruill had some words for his old council colleagues, Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr. in particular.
``And yes, Mr. Nance, as you teased me so often while I was on council, finally I am a grand poobah,'' Spruill chortled. Starting young
It happened in the hunting and camping gear section at Wal-Mart. A world of camouflage, blaze orange and animal decoys. And weapons.
A boy stared into a glass display case of Swiss Army knives, his eyes almost level with the four-foot-high counter. He turned to his father, who crouched next to him before the counter.
``Why do I need this, Daddy?''
The boy watched as his father peeled open each compartment of the all-purpose knife, one by one. They spread out like pieces of a metal fan.
It was a gift from father to son; a first-grader's introduction to the world of self-defense and Second Amendment rights.
``It's very important that you learn how to use a weapon,'' the father said as he handed the knife to his son. ``You have to learn how to use one so you can protect yourself. And as you grow bigger and bigger, I'll be getting you bigger and bigger weapons. And you'll learn how to use those, too.''
The son took the knife reluctantly. Roadside sleepers
The other day our Town Talk spies spotted an interesting layout near the Great Bridge swing bridge, at the corner of Watson Road and Battlefield Boulevard.
By the roadside there were two rather fancy floral mattresses lying side by side, both still neatly perched atop box springs.
Was that the sleeping arrangements for two classy hobos?
Or did some rush-hour motorists simply get so tired of waiting to cross the bridge during its hourly open swing that they found a rather comfortable alternative?
- Francie Latour, Tony Wharton
and Eric Feber by CNB