4 #\ HISTORY OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE, NO. 3 A. F.& A.M. NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA 1772 - 1944 5772-5944, A. L. (ANNO LUCIS, YEAR OF LIGHT) BY ; GERTRUDE S. CARRAWAY Authorized in 1941 by ST, JOHN’S LODGE, No. 3, A. F.& A.M. GrraLp N. MITCHELL, Worshipful Master Past Master Joun H. PARKER, Past Master Harry Lipman, Senior Master), and Oscar A. Karer, Committee. Published 1943-44. J. M. Spivey, JR, Master, Master, 1944, Past Master ALFRED A. KAFER, Jn., Secretary; : 5 ioe W. H. Purser, Treasurer. } nae NEW BERN OWEN G. DUNN COMPANY PUBLISHER 1944 Chairman; Past Master J. HE. BosweEtt, Warden Laurence A. SrirH (Next 1943; Dr. W. I. GAUsE, Past Master DEDICATION Dedicated to the many worthy leaders and followers, past and present, of St. John’s Lodge, No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, who have held the high principles of their Craft high in their own lives and in their community interests, letting their “light so shine” that others have been inspired by their “good works” with resultant inestimable bene- fits for religious, educational and fraternal progress. “And when the Supreme Architect of all Worlds, Shall collect his most precious Jewels as ornaments of the Celestial Jerusalem, may you everlastingly Shine among those of the brightest lustre.” —From the Address of Welcome tendered by St. John’s Lodge to President George Washington during his visit to New Bern in 1791. RE PM LMI SS ART ESE Ee NER ERNE SARTRE STEN PENcIL SKETCH oF MAsoniIc TEMPLE, 1943, py Crt. Donatp EB, Brooxs, USMCR TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication 2 eet Se ee aN a Eas Table of Contents 228: @auien Be nheay Wa east TE Worshipful Masters of St. John’s Lodge_.-_-____ =” Chapter Ts 1G Til. TV: V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. xs XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXII. XXXIV. Freemasonry in Colonial Carolina__.____ Early Masonry in New Bern_______. eid Hirst’ Charter forlodger a Hirst wodge Meeting ta First Officers _____- New Members eee er rete eet Pre-Revolutionary Meetings Modre Reorganized esse ese ye Formation of Grand Lodge St. John’s Day Sermons_____ i Halling and? Martin eres ren eee ee poe Grand Lodge Meetings Here... is President Washington’s Visit —..____ ihe Lodge Rooms in Palace____._» ass Number 8 Place Accepted_______ weit THOMAS SE pL EVAN Os ck ease neh ser ae Building Site Purchased_______ Sawai = Masonic Funerals ________- seit Largest-lodge iniStatesg rt gro Cornerstonewsai dco eas Nee eee Lodge Building Progresses_________ ne Masonic tall in Use. sees yess lone $0 MTheatre LeRse ese Oy SU og geal na Cupola Fund Donated__—..--_-____. Willige, Wallies eeeeee eee etaats Masonic Book Published Here__...-_>___ Lotteries Aid Building Fund__.___..___ wae Hrancisslowthrop 2. s se ee Masonic Temple Completed________ Consecration of “Masons’ Hall’ Many Prominent Members _.__ Two Grand Masters Three Lots Sold President Monroe Welcomed._..._»_»_»_»_>_S Page 3 5 8 Lt: 13 17 19 20 25 28 31 35 37 42 44 47 53 56 57 60 65 67 68 70 74 76 82 87 92 93 95 97 101 - 105 = 109 113 115 eS roe aie 6 Chapter XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVILI. XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL. XLI. XLII. XLII. XLIV. XLV. XLVI. XLVII. XLVIIL. XLIX. L. LI. LII. LITI. LIV. LV. LVI. LVII. LVIII. LIX. LX. LXI. LXII. LXIII. LXIV. LXY. LXVI. LXVII. LXVIII. LXIX. Ibate Cyreiiea TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Francis L. Hawhksisg ai 2 ranma as =) 17 New Masonic Groups=2 eae RGA 99 Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. 124 Reorganization of Lodge ___ 129 Temple Renovated ____ ey Lists of Officers____ John D. Whitford _ NON Z OND, Serkin ss tee eee emg eee 141 Post-War Record eee LAD Masonic Insurance Compan yates 146 Lodge Minutes Resumed_ lene Bile Many Uses for Temple Bee LOS, Cornerstone Tayings ssemarnae natn as _ 156 Many Worthy Officers. gas ee ae DO Federal Appropriation ____ 2163 Temple Remodeled _____ SUL Dorie Lodge Formed 170 Charles: C3 Clank ssasecerss were ane eee 174 Sudan Shrine Temple ____ 20116, World War Period ____ augalyf!) Memorial Program WiorldeWarslit memset’ weenae Outstanding Lodge Record Members of St. John’s Lodge__ a ; Permricwisindetoentegnenieernstnereertninenntetiinnptaindtunctinenmnsinenine ILLUSTRATIONS Facing Page Pencil Sketch of Masonic Temple... Frontispiece _ First Charter of St. John’s Lodge 16 Martin Howard, First Worshipful Master 17 Second: Gharterm ot Lodges ess ae. 48 Tryon’s Palace, Where Lodge Long Had Lodge Rooms. 49 Agreement of Masonic Temple Donors, 1800. 64-65 Olde Pl aye Sees si rea eee eee 718-79 Francis Lowthrop, Worshipful Master for 14 Terms... 96 William R. Davie, Initiated in Masonry in New Bern. 97 The East, Blue Lodge Room, Masonic Temple. eB asi 128 The West, Blue Lodge Room, Masonic Temple._______._ 129 Masoniceremple1 905... 2 ee 160 Masonic memple; 1944) ae Se eee On Sesqui-Centennial Celebration Invitation____________ 176 ShrinetHome,..New Bern2- 22 ee 177 Grand Master A. T. Jerkins, Grand Master C. C. Clark, Grand Master Harry T. Paterson and Worshipful Master J. F. Rhem, Founder of Sudan hem pleases soe eseneeter tee eee 208 88rd. Degree Scottish Rite Masons of St. John’s a Tey Gh Se te RR a Ea rs ome WORSHIPFUL MASTERS OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE (Dates Refer to Years of Election) Martin Howard’. 2 cots er eee Richard Cogdell _ Richard Ellis ee © Isaac: Guion 2 tees 1788, Solomon Halling __ Francis Lowthrop _ John Louis Taylor _ Thomas P. Irving e Lucas J. Benners_____ 1818, Jonathan Otis Freeman Edward C. King Francis L. Hawks_ James C. Cole GOR Nathaniel Waples sadn eeet Thomas Carney John Harvey James Hayward 1772 1772 1787, 1788 1789, 1790 LOT 1792 - 1805 1806 1807 - 1812 1814, 1818 1819 1820, 1821 1822 1823, 1824 1825 1835 1846 1846, 1847 1848. 1850; 1857 E 1851 Edward F. Smallwood Paes Sho, David'S.- Willis 3 U2 Rinvirk 200 (in ioe Pap 1858, 1854, 1855 John Da Wlannen 2 «Sane Saye ieee 1856 Charles C. Clark_.(7 terms) 1858-59; 1866- 67; 1874-75 ; 1882 J. M. F. Harrison 1860 Frederick C. Roberts ee 1868, 1871, 1876, 1881 dieWa Baxter sen nora oo ida arian Mang 1869 Daniel T. Carraway___ - 1870 William Dunn ___. attain i dy bE LS C2 1872, 1873 John VevJordan tessa eee een (ih Thomas, Daniels soy sis ero: --1878-79, 1885, 1893 John C. Green. Ameer 880) EA W ie OOC cere ain ena ade ene aS ee N | ORO Thomas A. Green.._.(9 terms) 1884, 1888, 1895-96, 1902-06 misttaminderiameteimainsiaiaineenenees ne gee ape ee WORSHIPFUL MASTERS WB Boy decent cane Mies tree eacclties EG: Hilla, pe ek 1889, Hugh J; Lovickk2 = Joseph B. Clark... di Thomas W. Dewey_- ate Robert S. Primrose George Green —_. i Caleb D. Bradham tO ee 1900, Te F. Rhem. PAD V. Ones ese sa wots William P. Jones__.--___-_. STB CoD) AW SON 2 eshte sere ieee a a ee HerParkercvits swine Pate 1 O15, Harryale Pb atersones oe ee AlliesCook; ewe cz BS C. Whit Gaskins a J. E. Boswell. Maus MY Wee 3 Alberto Hibbard. = ses eee W. H. Purser___—. a Albert T. Willis. oes L. W. Hartsell___.._. aa Gad BR Garks Mts B um tin gies aire a ee Elisha He Bunting ieee a Charles. Bs Johnsonit = EeeW.cSummerell Alfred A. Kafer, Jr.— Harry Lipman —__ 3 Gerald Ne Mitchells 23 TAU EEN Ce Acs blues eeee waar en ye neet eee cee oe J. M. Spivey, Jr.—-— Willian ls: Gauss se a 9 1886, 1892 1887 1890, 1891 1894 1897 1897 1898 1899 1901, 1927 1907 1908, 1909 1910 1911 1912, 1920 1913 1914, 1925 1916, 1929 1917, 1926 1918, 1919 1921 1922 1923 1924, 1928 1930, 1931 1932 1933, 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1 FREEMASONRY IN COLONIAL CAROLINA Although the early history of Freemasonry in North Carolina can not be accurately traced because of the fact that complete records are not extant, it is known that the fraternity dates back more than two centuries in this State. “The Craft was actively at work in North Carolina prior | to 1735, for in that year enough Masons had assembled in the Cape Fear settlement, near the present city of Wilming- ton, to form a lodge,” according to the late historian, Marshall DeLancey Haywood, of Raleigh. “This was Solo- mon Lodge, chartered by Thomas Thynne, second Viscount Weymouth, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England.” In an historical address to St. John’s Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at New Bern on St. John’s Day, June 24, 1789, Francis Xavier Martin declared: “(Masons crossed the Atlantic with the first settlers of the British Colonies in America, and, soon after, the Grand Master of England appointed Pro- vincial Grand Masters and constituted regular lodges in the new world. “The Carolinas, whose settlement is of later date, had no Provincial Grand Master until 1736 (A. L. 5736), when the Earl of Loudoun appointed John Hammerton, Esquire, to that dignity. From him a regular succession can be traced to Joseph Montfort, Esquire, who was appointed by the Duke of Beaufort.” a j There is no record of any North Carolina charter from Provincial Grand Master Hammerton, of Charleston, S. C., or from his successors in South Carolina. But several lodges in this State did get charters directly from England. St. John’s Lodge of Wilmington was chartered by the Grand Lodge of England in 1755, and now ranks as the oldest still in existence in North Carolina, It is believed to have been an outgrowth of the Solomon Lodge, which disbanded about 1754 at Cape Fear. Its English number was 213. Later its number was changed several times. One of the first buildings erected in Wilmington was a Masonic lodge. = SS, 12 YEARS OF LIGHT Caleb Granger of New Hanover County, commanding officer of a North Carolina company of volunteers who fought in northern colonies during the French and Indian wars, became a Mason during the campaign. Probably a number of his soldiers also joined an Army Lodge char- tered May 13, 1756, by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Upon Granger’s return to North Carolina, he settled upon his father’s estate below Wilmington. A Masonic lodge called Hanover Lodge was formed. Long ago it ceased to exist, but from the number of Masons living in the vicinity the place became known as Masonboro and a nearby body of water as Masonboro Sound, and they are so known to this day. The Royal White Hart Lodge was formed Nov. 1, 1764, at Halifax, under authority from Cornelius Harnett, the “Worshipful Grand Master” of St. John’s Lodge of Wilming- ton. Among the members listed the following April was Joseph Montfort. On Aug. 21, 1767, this lodge was char- tered by the Right Worshipful John Salter, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England. Its original number, 408, was later changed. As early as 1766 a lodge was chartered in Pitt County by Right Worshipful Jeremy Gridley of Massachusetts, then Provincial Grand Master with jurisdiction over any parts of North America where no other Grand Lodge existed. The organization was called the First Lodge in Pitt County, and Thomas Cooper, a Pitt County merchant, was listed as its Master. According to data compiled by Judge Francis D. Winston of Windsor and Henry Harding of Greenville, this early Pitt County lodge was located at Crown Point about 15 miles from Greenville on the road then leading towards New Bern. > There officers, lawyers and other persons attending courts at New Bern, Halifax and Hillsboro often spent the night while en route to the various places. The inn operated there by Colonel Allen was first called Colonel Allen’s Inn, and later known as Crown Point Inn, in honor of the old Allen homestead in New York, which later became famous as the scene of one of Ethan Allen’s victories in 1775. EARLY MASONRY IN NEW BERN 13 In this inn, Judge Winston reported, there was a room ‘ known as “The Masons’ Room.” Children and servants are said to have been kept away from it by stories of butting goats, coffins and hobgoblins. At the same time that St. John’s Lodge of New Bern received its charter in 1772, the Kinston Lodge is supposed to have been chartered. When the Grand Lodge settled the precedence of lodges in North Carolina in 1791, the Kinston order was recorded as St. John’s Lodge, No. 4. In December, 1806, it was dissolved and rechartered in 1827 as St. John’s Lodge, No. 96. Ten years later it revived its original name, but for the past 40 years has been known as St. John’s No. 4. spate lodges started before the organization of the Grand Lodge in North Carolina in 1787 included the Royal Edwin Lodge, No. 5, Windsor ; Royal William Lodge, No. 6, Winton; Unanimity Lodge, No. 7, Edenton; Union Lodge, No. 8, Fayetteville; Old Cone Lodge, No. 9, Salisbury; Dornock Lodge, No. 5, of Warren County; and Blandford-Bute Lodge, ounty. : . iancaeae ihe order has always been a factor in the life of the people,” wrote Capt. Samuel A. Ashe in the second volume of his History of North Carolina. “Among them (the Masons) were many of the most honored patriots of the State,” Captain Ashe wrote else- where in the same volume. “Samuel Johnston, Richard A gare : tau Tavlons Caswell, Davie, Col. William Polk, Chief Justice Cay Judge Hall, Governor Benjamin Smith and Robert Williams were Grand Masters up to 1818, and equally distinguished were their successors; while the roll of members contained the names of the most choice spirits of the commonwealth. Hl EARLY MASONRY IN NEW BERN Although it has been generally understood for years that a number of Masons lived in New Bern before organization of St. John’s Lodge in 1772, only recently has it been definitely learned that there was a Masonic Lodge here as early as 1764. 14 YEARS OF LIGHT In an issue of the North Carolina Magazine or Universal Intelligencer published at New Bern December 21-28, 1764, by James Davis, first State printer, is a long account of the arrival and festivities in that month at New Bern for “The Honourable William Tryon, Esq., Lieutenant Governor of this Province, with his Lady.” Tryon had come to North Carolina from England, and early the following year he became Governor of this province, upon the long-expected demise of Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs. The news story, with its proof that Masons were organized here at that early date, follows in part: “On Thursday, being the Feast of St. John the. Baptist, the Members of the Ancient and Honourable Society of FREE AND ACCEPTED MASON S, belonging to the Lodge in this Town, met. in their Lodge-Room; and after going thro’ the necessary Business of the Day, retired to the Long Room in the Court House, to dine, where was served up an elegant Dinner; the Lieutenant Governor honoured them with his company; where also dined many other Gentlemen. The usual and proper healths were drank; and at drinking ‘The King and the Craft’ the Artillery fired 3. 3. 3.” Prior to the Revolution and well before the permanent formation of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, and even before the organization of St. John’s Lodge here, a Grand Lodge was probably started in 1771 in this province. It is said to have “convened occasionally at New Bern and Eden- ton, at which latter place the records were destroyed by the British Army, and the meetings of the Grand Lodge sus- pended.” In Haywood’s history it is recorded: “There seems to have been no separate and distinct Grand Lodge of North Carolina before 1771, when the Duke of Beaufort, Grand Master of England, made Joseph Montfort, of Halifax, North Carolina, Provincial Grand Master of the Province, with jurisdiction extending over the whole continent of North America where no other Grand Lodge had Juris- diction. “Montfort at first appointed James Milner Deputy Pro- vincial Grand Master, and after Milner’s death, Cornelius Harnett succeeded him as Deputy Grand Master. William Brimage was Grand Secretary, his term probably extending EARLY MASONRY IN NEW BERN 15 from the first foundation of the Grand Lodge, in W717 1, till the death of Montfort, 1776. Montfort’s death nullified all the offices held under him.” According to Gould’s History of Freemasonry Through- out the World, Vol. 6, Page 71: “The choice of Joseph Montfort as Provincial Grand Master was very fortunate. The minute books of the lodges at New Bern and Edenton, as well as in his home town, Halifax, show that he paid frequent visits to them. What is more important still, he chartered a number of new lodges as will be shown. He also appointed a full complemen of Grand Lodge officers to id him in carrying on the work.” ea after ae appointment of Montfort, “the first, the last, the only Grand Master of America,” it is likely that plans were set in motion for the formal organization of a lodge at New Bern. Evidently a number of Masons then resided in this town. St. John seemed to be the unanimous choice for a name, and so it remains here until this day. According to Masonic historians, St. John’s Lodge, New Bern, is the only Masonic lodge that at various times has been named St. John’s Lodge, No. 1; St. John’s Lodge, No. 2; and St. John’s Lodge, No. 3. Members themselves chose the first number; they were assigned the Number 2 place by Montfort in his charter for the organization; and the Number 8 position was given them later by the Grand Lodge h Carolina. : ase of the local lodge was Martin Howard, Chief Justice of the Royal Colony of North Carolina from 1767 to 1773, who had come from Rhode Island, where he had per- haps first become a Mason. For about a decade he lived near New Bern on a country estate called “Richmond. Upon petition of Howard, Joseph Leech, Richard Cogdell, Richard Ellis, William Brimage, Thomas Haslen and several others, the first charter was granted to the lodge under the name St. John’s Lodge No. 2. This charter was dated January 10, 1772. In the document Martin was named Master of the Lodge; Leech, Senior Warden; and Cogdell, Junior Warden. They had previously been named to these respective posts by the local members. Colonel Montfort, as “the first and only Grand Master of America,” attained the highest Masonic rank of any person 16 YEARS OF LIGHT : during the Colonial era in this country. When the Revolu- tionary period came, he cast his lot with the colonies, though he died March 25, 1776, before hostilities actually came to a head. On February 18, 1911, a granite sionnimant was Erected at é _ his grave in front of the old Masonic a in Halifax, with the Los inscription : THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL _ JOSEPH MONTFORT Born in England ‘A. D. 1724 Died at Halifax, N. C. EES 25, A.D. 1776 id Ha Appointed Provincial Grand Master of and for America on 4 : ae Jan. 14, A. L. 5771 (A. D. 1771) I By the Duke of Beaufort 1 ae Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England, A. F. & A. M. _ First Clerk of the Court of Halifax County ‘Treasurer of the Province of North Carolina f Colonel of Colonial Troops Member Provincial Congress : Orator—Statesman—Patriot—Soldier The Highest Masonic Official Ever Reigning eh on This Continent THE FIRST—THE LAST—THE ONLY GRAND MASTER OF AMERICA f 4 4 : , . _ Cornelius Harnett was Deputy Provincial Grand Master under Montfort, and he was one of the greatest patriots of a _ North Carolina. He served as president of the Provincial “se Council of North Carolina and a member of the Continental Congress of the United Colonies. Captured by the British, he died a prisoner in Wilmington. A handsome monument has been erected over his grave in St. James’ Churchyard at Wilmington. ' First CHARTER OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE FIRST CHARTER FOR LODGE 17 The history of Masons in the Colonial and Revolutionary eras is virtually a history of outstanding Americans, in- cluding George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and John Paul Jones. The Boston Teaparty is reported to have been staged by St. Andrews’ Masonic lodge of Boston. North Carolina Masons also were among the most patri- otic military, political and educational and even religious leaders of the early days. Tradition says that during the early part of the Revolution the Committees of Safety were composed almost entirely of Masons and that many of the committee meetings, usually being held secretly, took place in lodge rooms. New Bern Masons likewise included numerous outstanding leaders, as Colonel Leech and Colonel Cogdell of the Com- mittee of Safety here; Richard Caswell, who became Gover- nor of North Carolina and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina after the Revolutionary War; and many others whose names will appear later in this record as well as in political, military and educational histories of the city and the State. ul FIRST CHARTER FOR LODGE The original charter, a large parchment document, is still carefully preserved here in Masonic files, with the hand- writing plainly visible and easy to read: “No. 2. J. Mont- fort, P.G.M. To All and Every the Right Worshipful, Worshipful and Loving Brethren of the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, I, Joseph Montfort, Esquire, of Halifax in North Carolina, Provincial Grand Master of and for America, send Greetings. WHERE- AS, His Grace, Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, &c., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons hath been graciously pleased (by Patent dated the 14th day of January Anno Latomorum 5771, A. D. 1771 at London) to constitute me Provincial Grand Master of and for America with full power & Authority in due form to make Masons and to constitute and Regulate Lodges as occasion may require and also to 18 , YEARS OF LIGHT do and execute all & every other Acts & things appertaining to the said office, KNOW ye therefore that I, upon the humble petition of the Right Worshipful, Worshipful and loving Brethren, the Honourable Martin Howard, Esquire, Joseph Leach, Richard Cogdell, Richard Ellis, William Brimage, Thomas Haslen & several other Brethren residing in New Bern in the Province of North Carolina in America Do hereby constitute the said Brethren into a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons to be opened at New Bern by the name of New Bern St. John’s Lodge. And I do further in consequence of the said petition and of the great trust and Confidence Reposed in every one of the said Brethren Hereby appoint the said Martin Howard, Esquire, to be Master, the said Joseph Leach to be Senior Warden and the said Richard Cogdell to be Junior Warden for opening the said Lodge and for such further time only as shall be thought proper by the Brethren thereof; leaving the Election of such officers for the future to be Regulated agreeably to such bye-laws of the said Lodge as shall be consistant with the General Laws of this Society contained in the Book of constitutions. And I do hereby Will and require you the said Martin Howard Esquire to take special care that all & every the Brethren of the said Lodge are or shall have been Regularly made Masons, and that they observe & perform the Rules & orders contained in the Book of Constitutions AND further that you do from time to time cause to be entered on a Book kept for that purpose an account of your proceedings in the Lodge, together with all such Rules orders & Regulations as shall be made for the good Government of the same, that in no-wise you omit once in every year to send to me, and to my Successors Provincial Grand Masters or to James Milner, Esquire, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the time being, an account in writing of your proceedings & of all such rules orders and regulations as shall be made by your Lodge, together with a list of Members thereof, & such sum of money as may suit the circumstances of your Lodge & be reasonably expected towards the Grand Charity. More- over, I hereby Will & require you as soon as convenience may be to send an account in writing of what shall be done by virtue of these Presents. FIRST LODGE MEETING 12. “Given in North Carolina under my Hand & Seal of Masonry the 10th day of January A.L. 5772, A. D. 1772. Witness, William Brimage, P.G.S. By the Provincial Grand Master’s Command. J. A. Milner, D. P. G. M.” IV FIRST LODGE MEETING Even before the issuance of this charter by the Pro- vincial Grand Master, New Bern Masons held a local meeting, and designated their lodge St. John’s Lodge, New Bern, No. 1. This gathering was held January 9, 1772, the day before the charter was dated. Earlier informal meet- ings had also probably been held, since officers had already been named. Minutes of this first meeting are still extant, forming the first entry in the original minute book still in the possession of the lodge. This book is of imitation black leather, 12 3/4 inches in length and eight inches in width. There are 330 pages, of which about ten are blank. Although the cover has come off, the book is in remarkably good state of preservation, and the handwriting is exceptionally fine in most cases. Many of the illustrations in the book are unique and interesting. Handwritten in large letters, the minutes of this first gathering follow: St. John’s Lodge, Newbern, No. 1 At a Lodge begun and held at Newbern on Thursday, the 9th day of January, A. L. 5772. Present Right Worshipful Brother Howard, Master Bro. Leech, Senior Warden Bro. Cogdell, Junior Warden Bro. Haslen, Treasurer Bro. Brimage, Secretary Bro. Ellis Bro. Richardson Bro. Rooke 20 YEARS OF LIGHT Agreed at this Meeting Ist. That a Lodge be held Monthly (viz.) the first Thurs- day in every month. ; 2dly. That a Quarterly Meeting be held the first Thurs- day in March, June, September and December at each of which the Members are to pay five Shillings into the Treasury. 3dly. That every Candidate admitted to the Degree of an entered Apprentice, shall pay into the Treasury, Five Pounds, To the Tiler of the Lodge Eight Shillings, and shall also pay the Expences* of the Night. Athly. That every entered Apprentice raised to the De- gree of Fellow-Craft, shall pay Twenty Shillings; to the Tiler five Shillings ; together with the Expences of the Night. 5thly. That every Fellow-Craft raised to the Degree of Masters shall pay into the Treasury Twenty Shillings, to- gether with the expense of the Evening. 6thly. That the Elections of Members be by Ballot. Bro. Ellis proposed Mr. John Burnside to be admitted a Member of this Society, who was accordingly unanimously approved of by Ballot. Bro. Rooke proposed Mr. Richard Graham to be admitted a Member of this Society, who accordingly was unanimously approved of. Bro. Ellis proposed that a Lodge extraordinary, be held on Saturday night next, for the admission of Mr. Burnside and Mr. Graham, which was ordered accordingly. Resolved, that any person who shall have been Entered, Passed, or raised in any other Lodge, on application to be- come a Member of this, shall be Balloted for, and if approved of, shall be admitted on payment of Thirty Shillings into the Treasury. M/ FIRST OFFICERS The first officers of the New Bern lodge were among the - section’s leading citizens. *In all excerpts from minutes and records quoted in this book the exact spelling, even een ee words is copied. In numerous instances, the old-fashioned “f’* for ‘‘s’”” wi e noted, FIRST OFFICERS 21 Col. Joseph Leech, (1720-1803) Senior Warden of the lodge, was one of the main educators and statesmen pro- duced in the city. He was a member of the first board of trustees for the first local public school started in 1764 as the first of its kind in the province. He was also active in the leadership of Christ Episcopal church. Among the many public offices he held were the following: member of the First Provincial Convention; member of Assembly; member of Council of Safety; member of the State Constitutional Convention; State Treasurer; and Custodian of Tryon’s Palace. During the visit of President George Washington to New Bern in 1791 he was Mayor of the city. Junior Warden Cogdell and Treasurer Thomas Haslen were also members of the first board of trustees for New Bern’s first public school. Cogdell was also a leading church- man. For some time he served as sheriff of Craven County, then was State Treasurer. He held the militia rank of colonel. Dr. Haslen was the builder of the first brick house erected in the city, on East Front and Pollock streets, of which the brick kitchen survives now as the Haslen-West home at 46 East Front street. Started in 1761, this mansion was destroyed by fire in 1842. There visited John Bird Sumner, later Bishop of Chester and then Archbishop of Canterbury in England from 1848 to 1862, who stayed there while on a visit here with his mother, who was Haslen’s sister. Secretary Brimage held the distinction, already noted, of serving as the first Provincial Grand Secretary. He was one of the few like Howard who remained Loyalists during the Revolutionary period and suffered severe property losses here from his devotion to King George III. Throughout the history of North Carolina there is per- ‘haps no leader who has been so generally neglected or mis- represented by historians than Martin Howard, chief justice of the Royal Colony of North Carolina from 1767 to 1773. Only recently is he beginning to receive his just due from historical students and writers. Howard was prominent in colonial affairs of both North Carolina and Rhode Island. His father, Martin Howard, Sr., had been “admitted free of the colony” of Rhode Island and 22 YEARS OF LIGHT Providence Plantations on May 8, 1726. Though he took no great part in public life, the father was influential in the colony. The son was probably born in England about 1720 and brought to this country in early childhood, although some historians believe that he was born in Rhode Island after the removal of his parents there. The younger Howard studied at various places, perhaps including the Inns of Court in London. He also studied law under James Honyman, Jr., and practiced in Newport, R. I., where he resided most of his life. In June, 1754, he was appointed by the Rhode Island Assembly as a commissioner to confer with the six Indian nations at Albany, N. Y. In August, 1756, he was named on a committee to draft a bill to authorize a lottery for raising ten thousand pounds for the building of Fort George. In that same year he was sent to the Rhode Island Assembly from Newport. During 1760 and later during 1762 he was placed on a commission to revise the laws of the colony. For three years he was librarian of Redwood library. He was long a prominent member of Trinity Church at N ewport. Through- out the time he made an excellent reputation as an attorney. On December 29, 1749, the young man married Ann Brenton Conklin, a widow, at the home of her father, Maj. Ebenezer Brenton. The register of old Trinity Church tells of the baptism of three children: Ebenezer, August 14, 1751; Elizabeth, July 26, 1752; and Ann, August 24, 1754. His second wife was Abigail Greenleaf, daughter of Stephen Greenleaf, sheriff of Suffolk, whom he took later as a young bride to North Carolina. She probably lived with him on their estate near New Bern. With the approach of trouble between England and the American colonies, Howard became an ardent, active Loyalist. In 1765 he defended the Stamp Act, holding an office under the Crown for that act. On August 27, 1765, effigies of Augustus Johnston, attorney-general, Dr. Thomas Moffatt, a Scotch physician, and Howard, all three of whom were stamp officers, were drawn through the Newport streets and hanged on a gallows in front of the courthouse. That evening the effigies were cut down and burned before thousands of cheering spectators. i } : FIRST OFFICERS 23 Eoward was injured by the mob. The next day the mobs attacked and dismantled the homes of Howard and Moffatt, both of whom fled from the town, taking refuge on board a British sloop-of-war. Fearing to remain near the colony, Howard sailed for England. His home had been almost completely ruined. Doors and windows had been torn out and thrown into the street. The contents of the building had been damaged and cast out. The place was sold at auction after the flight of its owner. Later Howard filed a claim for 970 pounds from the Rhode Island Assembly, to cover his property losses from the colonial mob. For several years the matter was repeatedly postponed by the Rhode Island authorities. No settlement of it was ever made, tine province promising only to pay part of the loss whenever the British government might pay back colonial expenditures during the French and Indian wars. On his way to England from Rhode Island, ‘oward stopped at Halifax in Nova Scotia, where he wrote two political pamphlets. While abroad, he received an appoint- ment as chief justice of the Colony of North Carolina. His short judicial career in this province was a period of disturbance and turbulence, marked principally by the War of the Regulators and the trials of the offenders. He pre- sided with impartiality and fairness, it is now being generally conceded by modern historians, though earlier historians often censured him severely. “Though a loyalist, he seems to have acted from con- scientious motives, and was highly respected by members of the legal profession, including those of the opposite political faith,” Marshall DeLancey Haywood wrote of Howard in his book, Governor Tryon of North Carolina. “In addition to occupying a seat at the council-board, he filled the office of Chief Justice of North Carolina, and had no superior, if an equal, in the colonial judiciary.” Howard resided on his plantation, “Richmond,” in Craven County, until July, 1777, when he left the State to return to New York and Rhode Island, refusing to take an oath of allegiance to the State of North Carolina. The next year he went to England with his family and resided in Chelsea in 24 YEARS OF LIGHT the County of Middlesex until his death November 24, 1781. His office as Chief Justice of North Carolina had ended in 1773, with the expiration of the law creating the court. A conscientious Tory, Howard nevertheless kept the friendship of many North Carolinians, in spite of their political differences. On May 15, 1777, he wrote to Judge James Iredell, as follows: “Your favor from New Bern gave me no small degree of pleasure . .. I wish you could have conveniently fulfilled your intentions of riding to Richmond. My little family would have been glad to see you, and you would have seen, I think, the best piece of meadow in Carolina, whence (when I leave this country) you might be able to add one to the few observations which may be made upon an unimportant character, viz., that I had made two blades of grass grow where only one grew before—a circumstance among some nations of no small honor and renown.” Thus it may be seen that after his retirement from the bench he continued to live for four years on his plantation near New Bern where he reports considerable success in farming. When he founded the local Masonic lodge, he was serving as Chief Justice, and probably had to be out of the city on frequent professional trips to various parts of North Carolina, for Cogdell is frequently reported as acting as Worshipful Master at lodge meetings and ceremonies. Cog- dell was elected to succeed him the following year. “Martin Howard was a patriot, a cultured gentleman, a scholar, and a distinguished jurist,” writes Archibald Hen- derson, of Chapel Hill, distinguished historian. Griffith J. McRee, gifted biographer and historian, observed: “The removal of a little rhetorical lampblack will disclose a man, differing, it is true, politically, from the mass of the popu- lation, but in other respects, the peer of the proudest citizen of the realm.” ncn ical tae ienomtiacaheact a a vi NEW MEMBERS “At a Lodge in Ample form, held the 11th day of January, A. L. 5772,” just two days after the first meeting, apparently the extraordinary session provided for at the first gathering, John Burnside and Richard Graham became the first new members of the local lodge, according to the lodge minutes. Besides the local officers, the Right Worshipful the Grand Master, Joseph Montfort, was in attendance. And there were three other visitors: Brothers Euen, Ince and Alex. McAuslan. A lecture was given by Master Martin Howard, “proper for the Instruction of the Apprentices.” The third meeting took place February 6. Charles Craw- ford, Samuel Smythe and William Johnston were admitted as visiting Brethren. David Barron was approved as a new member, the third for the lodge. On the following Tuesday night Burnside and Graham were raised to the Degree of Fellow-Crafts. James Parrott and Capt. James McConnell were accepted as new members, the fourth and fifth respectively. William Bryan, “having been raised to the degree of an entered apprentice, though not in a regular Constituted Lodge,” was also received, and raised to the Degree of Fellow Crafts. At a special session February 18, with Cogdell acting as Master, Barron, Parrott and McConnell were admitted as “entered Apprentices. Simon Bright was reported as a visitor, as was also Brother Euen. Brother Learmond, “on taking the Obligation,” was likewise admitted. Dues were paid at the first quarterly meeting March 5. Brother Fowler was reported to be a visitor. It was voted that every person initiated in the first degree should pay his apprentice fee that night, and in case of his failure to do so, the member who proposed his name should be held liable for the payment. Decision was reached April 2 to procure a copper plate for granting certificates for the benefit of members who might wish to use their credentials while traveling. Mr. DeBruhl was employed to engrave a plate similar to the one 26 YEARS OF LIGHT exhibited at the gathering. Capt. Charles Thompson and Andrew Mack were admitted as visitors. : As an entry April 7 it was recorded that Mack was re- ceived as a member of the lodge. Acting Master Cogdell was authorized to procure a mahogany or cedar chest for the organization, and Treasurer Haslen was instructed to pur- chase “a Dozen parchment Skins for printing Certificates upon.” McAusley, Barron and Parrott were “properly pre- pared, introduced and raised to the Degree of a Fellow Craft.” McConnell was given the second degree of Masonry May 7. “Yesterday being His Majesty’s Birthday, the Members of this Lodge being at the Palace, could not meet,” reads an entry dated June 5, 1772, “and the next evening (the time appointed) there appearing not a sufficient number to con- stitute a Lodge, those met departed.” Haslen resigned as Treasurer, and Parrott was appointed in his place. To him was turned over 28 pounds, 15 shillings, then in the treasury, it was reported July 2. Cogdell, Ellis and Brimage were named on a committee to draw up rules and by-laws. Josiah Holt and Edward Winslow were elected members, and were initiated July 4. On July 22 Burnside, Graham and Parrott were raised to the Degree of Masters. Two days later the same degree was conferred on McAuslan, Barron and McConnell. “A Patent for constituting this Lodge by the name of New Bern St. John’s Lodge, No. 2, was presented from the Provincial Grand Master Joseph Montfort, Esq., which was read,” according to the minutes of August 6. It was ordered to be kept in the lodge archives, with a notation that Mont- fort be “wrote to with regard to the No., it being appre- hended that there is a mistake in that respect.” Evidently the charter dated January 10 did not arrive in New Bern until that August, and apparently the members did not like the Number 2 place assigned the lodge. But their letter to Provincial Grand Master Montfort did not bring any change in the number. On August 27 it was voted that the treasurer pay for a — Seal for the Grand Master. The next month it was voted to pay Mr. DeBruhl 25 pounds for engraving the copper plates for certificates and also for engraving a seal for the lodge. NEW MEMBERS 27 Parrott was asked to purchase “‘wax and wafers” for taking impression of the lodge’s seal. pepelog aoe and Duncan Fergus were voted new members at that meeting in September, and on September 7 were received as apprentices, as were also Joseph Down, William Cannon and Henry Vipon. Levi Gill and James Arrant were turned down as proposed new members, but Capt. Simon Alderson was approved by ballot. Capt. Jacob Milligan and Capt. John Patten were made members September PANS If was noted that Captain Patten resided at “a considerable distance from the Lodge.” John McKay became a member November 5. 5 In order to increase attendance it was voted November 5 to fine the officers and members if tardy or absent without a good excuse. It was further decreed that “Every Officer and Member of the Lodge shall behave himself during the sitting thereof in a Sober, Orderly and Decent Manner; every Officer and Member behaving otherwise shall be sub- ject to such penalty as the majority of the Lodge then set shall think fit to inflict.” : Other rules then passed provided: “That no private or public Conversation shall be held during the sitting of the Lodge without consent of the Master, under such penalties as he shall think fit to inflict ; That every Member addressing the Master, on any Motion, proposal, or other matter, shall rise from his Chair; That no Member shall speak more than twice to one question, unless by Consent of the Master, under such penalty as he may think Proper to inflict; That no Member shall leave the Lodge Room unless by consent of the Master, and that under such penalties as he shall think fit to inflict.” These rules were to be read each month in th if time permitted. Lae Agee miectae December 10, Charles Crawford was a visitor, as were also Samuel Smythe, John Wright Stanly, Thomas D. Newton and Thomas McLin. As St. John the Evangelist’s Day that year fell on Sunday, the observance was held the following day. Members and visiting brethren met at 10 o’clock in the morning at the Lodge Room, all absentees being held liable for a fine of five pounds proclamation money, “unless rendered incapable by sickness or some urgent business that may be deemed a 28 YEARS OF LIGHT sufficient excuse.”’ All were ordered “to be decently clothed, with white stockings, white aprons and gloves.” The processional formed for a march to the Court House. First, the tiler, with a Drawn Sword, “observing at every Corner, a right angle, the Sword elevated 45 degrees.” Second, the Stewards (Fergus, Milligan, Down and Holt), walking in couples, with white wands; next, the Junior Ap- prentice with the Bible; the Junior Masons, followed by the elder brothers, two by two; the treasurer and secretary ; the wardens; then the Master and Deputy Master. Cogdell was indisposed, so Parrott officiated as Master. At the Court House, the line of march was reversed, with the higher officers entering first. Parrott made the address of the occasion. Moses Almond was admitted as a new member. After the program, a dinner was served at the lodge room, prepared by James Ince. On that day Richard Caswell was received into the lodge. Cogdell was duly elected Master for the ensuing year; with Ellis as Senior Warden; Burnside, Junior Warden; Brimage, Secretary ; Parrott, Treasurer; Barron and Down, Stewards. Proving as it does that Caswell, afterwards Governor of North Carolina and second Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina, belonged to St. Jolin’s Lodge and that it was the first regularly-constituted lodge to which he did belong, the following item dated December 28, 1772, from the local minute book is of special significance in State Masonic history: . “Bro. Cogdell moved that Bro. Rich’d. Caswell might take the obligation again, having passed the different degrees of Masonry formerly tho’ not in a regular Constituted Lodge. Assented to that he be admitted on taking the Obligation which he accordingly did.” Vul : PRE-REVOLUTIONARY MEETINGS A resolution adopted January 7, 177 3, provided that in the future supper should not be ordered for lodge meetings un- less three persons were to be entered, passed or raised in membership, and then the expense was limited to 40 shillings PRE-REVOLUTIONARY MEETINGS 29 . However, it was stipulated that persons Being ini- Beret might order a supper if they so desired and “must pay the expence of the Liquor in the Lodge room that A ” Shameden to time in the minutes reference is made to the Lodge rooms. At other times it is stated that the meetings were held at the homes of members. Frequent mention the first year is made of meetings at the home of dette Ince: On April 1 the meeting took place “at the King’s Arms,” a local tavern. d That the Masons did much good work for their fellow is indicated from a notation April 5, when it is Roasted a Mason, Michael DeBruhl, had died in needy circumstances, so it was voted that he “should be decently interred at the expence of the Lodge.” Although not a member of the local organization, John Wright Stanly, a visiting Mason at the meeting, voluntarily offered to help share the cost. The bill of two pounds, seven shillings, was ntly reported paid. : athe inane’ nttduded in a body the funeral, which was conducted by Mr. Parrott at Christ Episcopal Church. From a collection taken among the Masons the treasurer paid 51 the widow. : eNO ate ai held in May, “most of the Brethren being absent,” but in June the following resolution was passed: “From time immemorial it has been customary among Masons to commemorate the Festival of St. John Baptist, it was unanimously agreed and ordered that the Brethren in Town and Country have notice to attend on chursday the 24th Instant, the Lodge to be opened precisely at 12 o’clock. Also ordered that a decent frugal Dinner be ready on the said Occasion at 3 o’clock.” This dinner was served at the neuen ough next minutes follow this entry on the a page of the same book, there is a lapse of almost 14 years, due probably to the inactivity of the lodge during the Revo- i riod. Seal Part oe such a prominent role in Masonic affairs here, was assistant to Schoolmaster Thomas Tomlinson and like him was also probably an assistant to the Rev. James Reed, rector of Christ Episcopal Church. 30 YEARS OF LIGHT When school trustees angrily discharged Tomlinson after he had incurred the displeasure of two trustees by reproving and suspending their children from school, Parrott was elected schoolmaster but in loyalty to Tomlinson he declined to take the place. / Cogdell, Ellis and Leech, three members of the lodge, were among the 40 men signing a petition in 1765 requesting Royal Governor William Tryon to ask the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to allow a yearly salary for Schoolmaster Tomlinson. They reported that they desired Tomlinson to have an assistant. Parrott came to New Bern from England as his assistant instructor for New Bern’s first public school, the first incorporated school in North Carolina and second private secondary school in English America to receive a charter. Masons were thus instru- mental in aiding New Bern’s educational development. John Wright Stanly, reported as a Masonic visitor at local lodge meetings, and William Bryan, upon whom a Masonic degree was conferred here at the first extraordinary session of the lodge, were both members of the board named in 1784 for the reorganized New Bern Academy. Richard Caswell was also a board member. Stanly was an illustrious patriot, who lost fourteen pri- vateers during the Revolution and is said to have lent about $80,000 to help Gen. Nathanael Greene win the war. It was in his home, now a public library here, that President Wash- ington was entertained in 1791 after Stanly’s death from yellow fever in 1789. Bryan was a Revolutionary general who played a gallant role in the battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, first American ' victory of the first organized campaign during that war. He served as Craven County sheriff, Christ Church warden, member of the Committee of Safety, delegate to three pro- vincial conventions and the State Constitutional Convention and representative in the State House of Commons. VII LODGE REORGANIZED . John’s Lodge “No. 2” was reorganized after the Revo- rehaoe War in a meeting held here March 16, 1787, “in consequence of a Circular Letter dated Fayetteville the 1st Jan’y Anno Mundi 5787 from the Worshipful Master and Wardens of the Union Lodge held there.” ; Richard Ellis was unanimously elected Master; with Francis Stringer, Senior Warden; Peter Butts Oram, Junior Warden; Henry Machen, Treasurer; Benjamin Manchester, Secretary; and James Arantz, Tiler. i It was decided to meet weekly for instruction, and a com- mittee was appointed to revise the former by-laws. Manchester was named to represent the lodge at a con- vention called for June 24 at Fayetteville to elect a Grand Master for North Carolina, and a committee was authorized to prepare a letter in answer to the one received from i Fayetteville lodge. During the War for Independence the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, like the lodge at New Bern, had remained dormant, and the New Bern Masons ae apparently eager to reorganize their work in both city an State. The first local meetings in 1787 were held at the tavern of Brother Lewis Heros. But on May 3 this entry was made: “When taking into consideration the Extravagant Charges of Brother Heros (as Tavern Keeper) against ue Lodge, it was unanimously agreed to adjourn to Brother endleton’s.”” ; ; ; During May the gatherings were reported twice at “The Palace,” Tryon’s famed palace nes then being no longer larly as the State capitol. ae aes May 11 plans were made to attend ina Pete the funeral of Past Master Cogdell the following Sun oe afternoon. Each member was ordered to wear poureaeiee him eight days and to attend church on the Sunday after the funeral. The order of the members in the funeral ae cession is given in the minutes. i Pallbearers were Ellis, Leech, Stringer, Machen, Isaac Guion and S. Pendleton. $2 YEARS OF LIGHT Many prospects were proposed for membership in the lodge, and usually forming the main items of business at the meetings the elections often caused friction. On April 27 this amendment was made to the by-laws: “That on balloting for any person to be made a Mason, who is well known to be a worthy Member of the Com- munity at large, should there appear only one black Ball against him, the Brother who put in the same to assign reasons for so doing, which if approved of by a Majority of: the Brethren present he shall not pass, otherwise to be con- sidered an Assenting Voice.” ; This amendment was repealed the following December. Meantime, various applications were rejected. At a meet- ing at Tryon’s Palace May 31 there were requests that certain votes be taken again. It was reported that one of the Masons had declared he would black ball every person proposed for membership unless a special friend of his was admitted. From Master Ellis came the following general reprimand: “That any Brother or Brothers being biased by such Illiberal Sentiments were unworthy of being Members of this Lodge.” Two members, Oram and Vipon, left this meeting without permission, and Ellis ordered that “their behaviour should be taken notice of on the Minutes.” ° At the next gathering Oram was expelled from the lodge for this action and “also other misdemeanours in the Lodge,” but immediately after- wards he was voted back into membership, retaining his office of Junior Warden. Recommendation was made that Oram should apologize “for his misbehaviour—which he did not comply with.” It was suggested that Vipon be repreved from the chair “for coming into the Lodge Disguised in Liquor,” but this motion was voted down. Nevertheless, the Worshipful Master “observed to B. Vipon that he had seen him more than once intoxicated with Liquor in the Lodge, and that he had privately reprimanded him, out of the Lodge, for such conduct.” : Oram’s conduct was again considered by the lodge on June 15. It was moved, seconded and “thirded” that he be ex- pelled for “a number of misdemeanors and in particular for Sac elpensa LODGE REORGANIZED 33 his confession this day in the County Court of sage = being guilty of Forging the name of Brother Jo - nite Smith (a member of this Lodge) as security to a oo a Bond payable to the Governour of this State e a Caswell] and Successors in Office, for the Sum of i me dred and Ninety-Six Pounds, Seventeen Shillings, an ” Ds motion of expulsion was unanimously passed, to Oram was expelled from the lodge. A circular letter c a of this action and the reasons for it was ordered writ a ‘i the various other lodges in North Carolina, in the hope a they would “take the necessary precaution in aa any imposition on your Lodge, or the Craft in genera : Thus the character and behavior of lodge mem ers a of much concern to Masons in those days. Another ins aris is found in the case of Lewis Heros. After the baa ae had voted not to meet any more at his tavern pears (e) + high charges, his name does not appear on the ee : we : the next November 1, when it was recorded that he had bee expelled from the lodge “some time since for living in © Adultery,” but was ready eS Pip himself of that allega- i i to rejoin the lodge. aa an aN that ce be notified to appear at ine oe meeting and offer his defense. He appeared the nex i ae and was acquitted of the charge that had ate a against him the previous ea by Peter Oram, so the mo i ion was repealed. : oa ar enc aeiied for reinstatement in the lodge. In December, 1787, he was rejected by ballot. nee ee voted that the Committee of Correspondence ae write circular letters to the other lodges of the State in hae! them that he had been acquitted in a jury trial in this mos y on the forgery charge for which he had been citbes ly ex- pelled from the lodge. The text of this letter and the Hee tion of Oram’s membership were debated pro and oN a September, 1788, when he was finally received back into ship. a dee ae pete Si are two of the lodge nae at that period—Abraham Hodge and Marquis De Bre ee Hodge was one of the first American war ae ents. He followed the army of Gen. George Washington during SS a ne 34 YEARS OF LIGHT the Revolutionary War for press accounts. A personal friend of Washington’s and a strong Federalist in politics, he moved to North Carolina from New York in 1785, and for 15 years served as State printer. Hodge was also one of the first newspaper chain pub- lishers in the country. In 1786 he and a man named Blanchard established a press at Fayetteville and started The State Gazette of North Carolina. Two years later Henry Wills succeeded Blanchard, and the paper was moved to Edenton. In 1793 Hodge and Wills started The North Carolina Journal at Halifax. Hodge and his nephew, William Boylan, managed The North Carolina Minerva at Fayetteville, The True Republican at New Bern, The Edenton Gazette, The Raleigh Star and The North Carolina Journal at Halifax. Stephen Weeks, later historian, wrote of James Davis, Francis X. Martin and Abraham Hodge, all of whom were in the printing and newspaper business at different times in New Bern and the last two of whom were members of St. John’s Lodge: “Davis, Martin and Hodge will rank in the hereafter with William R. Davie, Joseph Caldwell and Archibald D. Murphy, that other trio, who, in the closing years of the eighteenth century, did so much to broaden and strengthen the intel- lectual advancement of North Carolina.” The Marquis De Bretigney attended most of the local Masonic meetings during 1787. He is listed in many of the rolls as a “Past Master,” so he must have been Worshipful Master of some other lodge before moving to New Bern. A French nobleman, he commanded North Carolina Cavalry at the Battle of Guilford Court House during the last part of the Revolutionary War. After that conflict he lived in New Bern and owned property here. He was elected by the General Assembly to serve on the Governor’s Council. 1X FORMATION OF GRAND LODGE An account of the organization of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina after the winning of the War for Inde- pendence from Great Britain follows, as written by ee Xavier Martin, noted editor, historian and jurist, pee ; lished in The Ahiman Rezon and Masonic Ritual, printe: i Bern: wath beara nae ancnttact of the Universe having permitted a dissolution of the political bands which united North mare lina to Great Britain, propriety seemed to point out ee e lodges of this State should not remain longer un 5 oe allegiance to or dependence on the Grand Lodge ra ra i Master of that Kingdom. In 5786 the Union a as Fayetteville, being advised thereto by a number o. eeehat brothers from the different parts of the State, aged a convention of all the regularly constituted lodges 0: ; Carolina should be held at Fayetteville, on the 24th of et 5787, (1787), to take under consideration the ee y i. declaring by a solemn act the independence of es ‘ ges eu North Carolina, and to appoint a State Grand ee er Le other Grand Officers. The great distance to and t sma intercourse between the different parts of this ex oe State having prevented a sufficient number of pele ae attending, the convention adjourned to the ae (o) tar borough, where the (Masonic) Declaration of In nee ae took place, and a form of government was adopted. ae Most Worshipful Samuel Johnston having been ey Grand Master, and the Right Worshipful Richar : ni (then Governor of this State) Deputy Grand ths er, the first Grand Lodge was held on the following day. eter That New Bern Masons were actively interested Peers get large delegations from ee ae ae me oe es ia the Tarboro meeting is proved by : inted a committee to frame circular letters to ace representation at the gathering re for December 9 at Tarboro. On aa ier A Re hes ion, James Ellis, ; i i iperie heme of these committee members—Stringer, 36 YEARS OF LIGHT Guion and Neale—were elected as delegates to the con- vention. The committee’s letter sent to the lodges at Fayetteville, Halifax, Edenton, Kinston, Franklin, Salisbury, Warren, Windsor, Winton, Wilmington and Rockingham, follows: “Worshipful Brothers— “The election of a Grand Master and Grand Officers for the State of North Carolina, the important business for which several lodges of this State had sent representatives to Fayetteville, on the 24th of June last, having been postponed, on Account of the non-attendance of a majority of their delegates, it was then resolved that a General Convention of all the regular constituted lodges should be held for that purpose, at Tarborough, on the 28th of November next; and that Saint John’s Lodge of Newbern should inform them thereof. “But, it having been absolutely impossible to forward this important information, in so short a time, throughout this extensive State, this lodge, being anxious to have as full a representation as the solemnity of the business requires, (having taken the advice and opinion of the members of the different Lodges who have visited them,) came to a reso- lution: ‘That it should be proposed that said General Con- vention be held on the 9th day of December next, and that notice of this resolve be sent to all ye regular constituted Lodges of this State.’ “Therefore, we, the Master and Wardens of St. John’s Lodge of Newbern, do inform you, that this lodge will send delegates to meet such members of your Lodge, and of all regular constituted lodges of this State, who will be ap- pointed to form a General Convention, for the election of a Grand Master and Grand Officers of the State of North Carolina, on the 9th day of December next. “In the gladness of our hearts, Worshipful Brothers, we beg leave to anticipate our congratulations, to you on the manifold advantages which will arise to our society, from the appointment of proper officers to preside over us, so that our works be conducted to the greatest glory of God, the satisfaction of the Masters, the Instruction of the Craft and the edification of the whole world. In the mean while, we ST. JOHN’S DAY SERMONS 37 pray ye Great Architect of the Universe to keep yOu: and every member of your Lodge, under his holy protection. Signed by R. Ellis, Master; F. Stringer, S. W.; John Craddock, J. W.; and B. Manchester, Sec’y. ; That the local Masons played prominent roles at this Grand Lodge organization meeting in Tarboro, after having done so much to arrange for the gathering, is proved by the fact that Ellis was named Senior Grand Warden, and Neale was elected Grand Treasurer. James Glasgow, who had re- sided for some time in New Bern, was elected Grand retary. ; ee served as Secretary for the convention. A few days before the gathering he had been elected a delegate from the local lodge when Stringer had found that he would be unable to attend. Xx ST. JOHN’S DAY SERMONS Rev. Leonidas Cutting, second regularly-commis- Pipe rector of Christ Episcopal Church here from 1785 to 1792, considered “a man of piety and learning and of high reputation in the Church,” was invited to preach a sermon to the lodge members on St. John’s Day. The invitation was extended by three members of a new general committee authorized for yearly appointment, con- sisting of nine members divided into three departments: accounts, correspondence and charity for the relief of distressed brethren. Neale was the first general committee chairman, and Manchester clerk. 3 Dr. Cutting accepted the invitation and preached a special sermon in the church, the Masons attending the service in a body. He was later voted the thanks of the lodge and seven pounds as a gift. In addition, “for their polite atten- tion to this Lodge,’ two pounds was presented to Mr. Buxton, clerk, and one po t i . : ee at a meeting December 6, 1787, Richard Ellis was reelected Master of the lodge; Stringer, Senior Warden; und to Mr. McGrath, the church. a I PED IEEE EIA TE IEE EIS IEE LS 38 YEARS OF LIGHT Isaac Guion, Junior Warden; Henry Machen, Treasurer ; B. Manchester, Secretary; Richard Hunley, Senior Deacon; James Ellis, Junior Deacon; and John Ingraham, Tiler. Headed by James Carney as chairman, the general com- mittee reported later that they had examined the accounts of Treasurer Machen and found them satisfactory. Machen then resigned the position, and Samuel Gerock was elected in his place. ‘ Joseph Leech and Bartholomew Clinch were chosen representatives for the Grand Lodge meeting planned for July, 1788, at Hillsboro. This communication was held simultaneously with the State convention called for Hills- boro to consider the adoption or rejection of the Constitution of the United States. Grand Master Johnston was president of the convention. No business of importance was trans- acted by the Grand Lodge. A communication of the Grand Lodge was opened Novem- ber 17, 1788, at Fayetteville, where the General Assembly was then in session. Grand Master Ji ohnston, then Governor of the State, left his political duties to fill the “Oriental Throne” at the Grand Lodge meetings; ex-Governor Caswell filled the west; Secretary of State James Glasgow responded from his station on the left; and Alexander Martin, then Speaker of the Senate and later Governor, and a host of other State celebrities filled the new Masonic Temple on Green Street in Fayetteville. It was at this Grand Lodge session that the Fayetteville lodge name was changed from Union to Phoenix. A special dinner was served for all visiting Masons at Barge’s Tavern. Isaac Guion was elected Worshipful Master Dec. 11, 1788, succeeding Ellis. Gerock was reelected Treasurer, and Man- chester was reappointed Secretary. John Craddock was named Senior Warden; James Carney, Junior Warden; Edward Pasteur, Senior Deacon; and Will Johnston, Junior Deacon. Dr. Cutting again preached a suitable sermon at the church for the Masons on St. John’s Day. His discourse must have been even better than the one the previous year, for this time he was voted ten pounds as a gift from the lodge. ST. JOHN’S DAY SERMONS 39 the Masons present for the service _was Grand iestaretrell who had succeeded Johnston in the high Masonic position. The former Governor expressed his ap- probation of the conduct of the local members on the occasion. He was accompanied by Grand Junior Warden S. W. Arnett, of Royal Edwin Lodge, of Windsor. At a meeting March 12, 1789, Caswell was again a guest of the chapter. This time he had with him James Glasgow, still a Grand Lodge official. Glasgow had been inaugurated here in Tryon Palace on January 16, 1777, as the first Secre- tary of State of the independent State of North Carolina, at the same time that Caswell was inaugurated as the first Governor of the independent State and Joseph Leech was inducted as a member of the first Council of State. These visits of Grand Lodge officials prove how closely New Bern Masons were then identified with State proceed- ings. Richard Ellis received one vote of the nine cast for Grand Master at the organization meeting in 1787 at Tar- boro. si a ate The period was an important one in civic, State and i history. In 1787 the Federal Constitution was pani Two au the three North Carolina signers were New Bernians, Richard Dobbs Spaight and William Blount, and the third, Dr. Hugh Williamson, had often visited and prac- ticed professionally in New Bern. In 1789 the new republic was started auspiciously, under the leadership of George ington as its first president. nme Johnston and Caswell, the first two Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, were par- ticularly outstanding in State as well as Masonic history. Johnston served in 1787, then was succeeded by Caswell in 1788 but after the latter’s death he was reelected and served ain from 1789 to 1791. pyar in Dundee, Scotland, December 15, 1733, Johnston wan County, North Carolina, with his parents ine. ane studying in New England, he studied and practiced law at Edenton. Prior to the Revolution he served in a dozen sessions of the General Assembly. He served as a member of four provincial congresses, acting as president of the last two. Following three terms of the State Senate, he was elected in 1781 to the Continental Congress. Sa 40 YEARS OF LIGHT Three times he served as Governor of North Carolina, in 1787, 1788 and 1789, and was president of the Federal Con- stitutional conventions held in this State. He was made a trustee of the new University of North Carolina, and in 1789 was also elected as the first United States Senator from North Carolina, serving in that position until March 3, 1793. From 1800 to 1803 he was a Superior Court Judge. The last years of his life were spent on his plantation, “Hayes,” near Edenton. There he passed away August 18, 1816. As surveyor, soldier, statesman and executive, Caswell had a career strikingly like that of Washington. Born in Maryland, August 3, 1729, he moved to North Carolina when 16 years of age. Within a few years he was appointed deputy-surveyor of the province. Studying law under William Herritage with such success that he is said to have known by heart four books of Black- stone’s Commentaries, Caswell was admitted to the bar in 1754. Later he served as clerk of the Orange County Court. During 1754 Caswell was elected to the Assembly, where he remained as a member for 17 years. In 1770 and 1771 he was Speaker of the House; in 1779 he served as Speaker of the State Senate. He was in New Bern often during these years, and as has already been noted joined St. John’s Lodge here during the last month of 1772. As a colonel in Royal Governor Tryon’s army during the War of the Regulators, Caswell was commended by the governor for his bravery and skill in the battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771. In subsequent conflicts between royal authority and the people of the province, he stood staunchly for the people and became one of their main leaders. In 1773 he was a member of the Committee of Corre- spondence, and the next year was named by the first pro- vincial convention as a delegate to the First Continental Congress. He also went as a delegate to the Second Conti- nental Congress. Resigning this office, he returned to North Carolina to assist in organizing a regiment of Minute Men ' in the district of New Bern, for which he had been named colonel. For his gallantry at the battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge he was made brigadier-general of the New Bern district. Then ST. JOHN’S DAY SERMONS Al he served as president at the State Constitutional Conven- tion. Under this first constitution, he was elected first governor of the independent State of North Carolina. He was reelected by the legislature in 1777, 1778 and 1779. The following year he was made major-general of the State militia. After the Revolution he became comptroller-general from 1782 to 1785. Then for three more years he served as Governor of North Carolina, a record of gubernatorial reelections never equalled in this State. In 1789 he was elected Speaker of the State House, but died shortly after- wards. News of his death reached Fayetteville in the midst of the great bustle and business of three important gatherings there during November, 1789. The Grand Lodge and the General Assembly were both in session as well as the State convention which ratified the Federal Constitution and made North Carolina a part of the new Union. Isaac Guion of New Bern, with Stephen Cabarrus and Maj. Gen. Montfort Stokes, later named Deputy Grand Master, drafted committee resolutions expressing the sor- row of the Grand Lodge members on the death of the out- standing statesman and Mason. Mourning and religious exercises in his memory were prescribed for all the lodges in the State. : The Grand Lodge formed in a procession, the Legislature recessed and the Constitutional convention suspended its deliberations while members of these three bodies and citizens in general marched from Phoenix Lodge room to ane State House, while the only bell in town tolled from Barge’s Tavern, and paid the last tribute of respect to Caswell. Legislators attended his funeral in a body, and many Masons were also among the number. The body was buried near Kinston with Masonic honors. A funeral oration for “The Most Worshipful and Honor- able Major General Richard Caswell, Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina,” was delivered in Christ Epis- copal Church, New Bern, on Sunday, November 29, before St. John’s Lodge members. TPR Gt at rae ee RATIO einem ran 42 YEARS OF LIGHT This address was printed here by Francis Xavier Martin, who after the death in 1785 of James Davis, first State printer and newspaper publisher, had become New Bern’s chief printer and editor. Original pamphlets of the oration are still extant. x! HALLING AND MARTIN The name of Solomon Halling first appears in the Masonic records of New Bern on June 11, 1789. He was at that time accepted as a member of St. John’s Lodge. From then on he was active in Masonic work and leadership. A native of Pennsylvania, he had been educated as a physician and served to the close of the Revolutionary War as Surgeon of the Fourth North Carolina Regiment. He likely came to New Bern soon afterwards as a physician, druggist or instructor at the New Bern Academy. Like other local teachers, he assisted with church services. In 1792 he was ordained as an Episcopal minister and suc- ceeded Dr. Cutting as rector of Christ Church, a charge he held until the year 1796 when he moved to Wilmington. He has been described as “a most exemplary man, and the most zealous clergyman of his time in the State.” A notation in the Masonic lodge treasurer’s book shows that he paid on April 18, 1803, the sum of eight pounds five shillings, ap- proximately $17, in back dues to the local organization, for which he had been in arrears, it is stated since “June, 1796, at which time he removed to Wilmington.” Shortly after his induction into the local lodge, Dr. Halling delivered the oration on the festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1789, which had been prepared by Francis Xavier Martin, then secretary of the lodge. The thanks of the lodge members was voted for both. To Martin was given five pounds from the treasury, and five shillings from each member. Martin had been a Mason here for some time. He arrived in the city about 1782 as a penniless young Frenchman, unfamiliar with English language, laws and customs. Able, talented and versatile, he became an important printer, a St HALLING AND MARTIN 43 i i i William Gaston rominent publisher and scholarly editor. | studied law under his direction. Later Martin was known as one of North Carolina’s chief historians. English translation of any book on Roman- ae ee Subened anywhere in America was printed i Martin at New Bern in 1803 when he edited a textbook o Pothier’s “Sur Les Lois Des Obligations.” He is reported to have placed the French copy on a table in his printing aa and to have translated it directly into type set by han without any intermediate step of writing his translation. This early American print is now considered a rare treasure by legal bibliophiles. ; ane due to his membership in the Masonic lodge wt his intense interest in Masonic proceedings, Martin oF quently printed Masonic books or pamphlets. ie as he remained in New Bern he took an active part in Masonic ork. ; ‘ During the early part of the 19th century pei oe eta city and State. In addition to his many other activi Ken ae the versatile citizen had studied law. He was eae pee a Federal Judge of the Territory of Mississippi, an Pa served as the first Attorney General and later a ie Justice of Louisiana. In that Southern State, after ecom- ing blind, he died as a wealthy and eccentric priser : Dr. Guion was renamed Master of St. John’s Lo re December 10, 1789, with Gerock renamed vise ae oe Thomas Crew Tiler. Halling was elected Orator. ‘ . Mak thanked for reading the funeral oration for a sea Caswell in Christ Church. Martin was thanked co kt prepared this address, and was requested to ae i ae _ expense of the lodge. Copies were ordered forwarde very lodge in the State. ; ; i sehen the Evangelist’s Day that year, sis abe Right Worshipful Grand pest Alain . eae ee . those present, Dr. Halling delivere " “Sf : odge members, and asked to furnis ecre. ie eaten wees so that it might be ees at lodge expense and sent to all the lodges in North Carolina. - After the religious service on St. John the suas we Day, the minutes set forth, “the Brethren then proceede: 44 YEARS OF LIGHT the Palace, & sat down to an elegant dinner, & departed in good order of decorum.” The next year Francis Lowthrop was asked to have made an altar, two desks and “proper seats” for the lodge officials. } Xil GRAND LODGE MEETINGS HERE ; Many Grand Lodge meetings were held in New Bern dur- ing those early days before establishment of State Masonic headquarters in Raleigh. As has been seen, New Bernians were active in the organization of a Grand Lodge, and they retained their interest and leadership. On December 28, 1788, the Grand Lodge met here. Ata session the next day Silas W. Arnett presided in the place of the Grand Master. Almost all the State offices were filled then by New Bernians, serving in the places of absent officials: Joseph Leech, Junior Grand Warden, pro tempore; John Craddock, Grand Treasurer, protem; Benjamin Man- chester, Secretary, protem; Edward Pasteur, Senior Deacon; William Johnston, Junior Deacon; and James Carney, Tiler, ; Earlier that year, during July, at a Grand Lodge meeting in Hillsboro, Arnett, Leech and Neale were present from New Bern. John Louis Taylor was also reported as attend- ing. Leech served that year as Grand Senior Warden, and was named to the Committee of Correspondence. Arnett was elected Grand Senior Deacon. Evidently meeting here when courts were in session, the Grand Lodge met in New Bern March 12, 1789. Isaac Guion. B. Clinch and Benjamin Manchester were appointed on a committee to revise the by-laws. James Ellis was appointed Grand Senior Deacon by Grand Master Richard Caswell in June, 1789. The following year Guion was elected Grand Senior Warden. 3 Local minutes report a meeting of the Grand Lodge here in June, 1790. New Bern members met with the officials on St. John the Baptist’s Day and walked with them in a procession to Christ Church for divine services, GRAND LODGE MEETINGS HERE 45 Frequently during the following year the Grand Lodge communications were held here. Solomon Halling, William Johnston and Francis Lowthrop were delegates in June, 1791, and other New Bern Masons also participated. Sometimes “occasional”? sessions were held at intervals over an extended period. A communication was opened here on December 16, 1791, and continued on December 25, January 8 and 18. Halling, Lowthrop, William McClure and Richard Hunley were the official representatives of St. John’s Lodge. James Ellis was named Grand Junior Deacon. A resolution was passed as follows: “Resolved, that the thanks of the Grand Lodge be presented to the Rev’d. Doct’r Cutting for his excellent discourse delivered the fraternity on St. John’s Day in Christ’s Church, Newbern, and that the Grand Lodge Treasurer present him with ten pounds.” The next December the Episcopal rector again preached a sermon for the Grand Lodge and the “charge” of ten pounds was divided equally between the Grand Lodge and the local lodge. William R. Davie, who became president of the University of North Carolina, was initiated in Masonry on Christmas eve in 1791 at a Grand Lodge meeting called under dispen- sation from the Deputy Grand Master at the Lodge room of St. John’s Lodge in New Bern. James Ellis served as Senior Deacon. James Glasgow presided. At another Grand Lodge communication held here the next December Davie was passed to the degree of Mark “Mason. He chose for his mark a lion supporting a pillow. Halling, Lowthrop and Joseph Shute were present from the New Bern lodge. Later that night Davie ‘Passed the chair with ancient ceremonies.” The very next day, December 11, 1792, Davie was nomi- nated for the office of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge; and on December 14 he was elected to the position, after having been a Mason less than a year. Since he was probably not a member of any lodge when elected Grand Master, New Bern has a claim to a certain extent on him, as he was initiated and passed here as well as elected to be Grand Master. One of North Carolina’s most influential sons, he was educator and legislator, governor and national emissary. 46 YEARS OF LIGHT At the Grand Lodge meeting here in June, 1791, after the various lodges had complied with instructions to submit their claims for precedence as to lodge numbers in North Carolina, the Grand Lodge members ruled as follows on the lodge number assignments: St. John’s, No. 1, Wilmington. Royal White Hart, No. 2, Halifax. St. John’s, No. 3, New Bern. St. John’s, No. 4, Kinston. Royal Edwin, No. 5, Windsor, now Charity Lodge. Royal William, No. 6, Winton, now extinct. Unanimity, No. 7, Edenton. Phoenix, No. 8, Fayetteville, formerly Union Lodge. Old Cone, No. 9, Salisbury, now extinct. Johnston-Caswell, No. 10, Warrenton, formerly Bland- ford-Bute lodge. Caswell Brotherhood, No. 11, Caswell County. Independence, No. 12, Chatham County, now extinct. St. John’s, No. 13, Duplin County. Rutherford Fellowship, No. 14, Rutherford County, now extinct. Washington, No. 15, Beaufort County, now extinct. St. Tammany, No. 16, Martin County, now extinct. American George, No. 17, Hertford County. King Solomon, No. 18, Jones County, now extinct. The N ew Bern Masons protested against the Number 3 place assigned their lodge and held out for Number 2. Guion, Martin and Leech were named to represent them at the next Grand Lodge. The question was not settled definitely for some time. Finally, as will appear later, the local delegates to the Grand Lodge in January, 1795, “relinquished their claim to No. 2,” and a charter was issued to the lodge as No. 3. This charter, dated January 26, 1795, was issued immediately after the Grand Lodge settled this and other matters per- taining to the lodge. The number is still retained by the local organization. Xl PRESIDENT WASHINGTON’S VISIT At an Extra-Lodge called by special order of Worshipful Master Guion April 1, 1791, the members were informed by the Master that “The President of the United States—Bro. George Washington—being expected to arrive in this town shortly—he had called them together to consult of some manner of showing him the respect this Lodge entertains for him.” It was “Resolved that an address shall be presented to Bro. Geo. Washington, in behalf of this Lodge on his ar- riving in this town.” 4 Martin, Halling and George Duffy were named on a com- mittee to prepare this address. A copy of their “Addrefs Presented to Brother Washing- ton & his answer thereto,” appear in the minutes of the lodge. The address follows, its religious phraseology point- ing to the minister, Dr. Halling, as the most likely author: “To the President of the United States— “The Addrefs of the Master, Officers & Members of St. Jno’s. Lodge No. 2 of Newbern. “Right Worshipful Sir,— “We, the Master, Officers and members of St. John’s Lodge of Newbern No. 2 beg leave to hail you with the mystic numbers. “We approach you not with the language of adulation, but sincere fraternal affection. Your works having proved you to be ‘the true and faithful brother, the skillfull and expert craftsman—the just & upright man.’ “But the powers of eloquence are too weak to exprefs with sufficient energy, the cordial warmth with which our bosoms glow towards you. “We, therefore, most fervently wish, most ardently & devoutly pray that the Providence of the most high, may strengthen, establish & protect you, in your walk through this life, & when you are called off from your terrestrial labours, by command of our divine Grand Master, and your operations Sealed with the mark of his approbation may pancetta: Peshesa h tt 7APT NED RPINEREMGN OGTTES AMMER? NTTRD cabinet del en sineonncesonnats = 48 : YEARS OF LIGHT your Soul be everlastingly refreshed with the streams of living waters that flow, at the right hand of God. “And when the Supreme Architect of all Worlds, Shall collect his most precious Jewels as ornaments of the Celestial Jerusalem, may you everlastingly Shine among those of the brightest lustre.” Signed: Isaac Guion, Master; Sarnuel Chapman, S.W.; William Johnston, J. W.; Solomon Halling, Edward Pasteurt James Carney, Francis fe thcort Committee. The President’s reply to the lodge follows: “To the Master, Officers & Members of St. John’s Lodge No. 2 of Newbern— “Gentlemen, “T receive the cordial welcome which you are pleased to give me with Sincere gratitude. “My best ambition having ever aimed to the unbiased’ approbation of my fellow-citizens, it is peculiarly pleasing to find my Conduct so affectionately approved by a fra- ternity whose association is founded in Justice & benevo- lence. “In reciprocating the kind wishes contained in your address be persuaded that I offer a Sincere prayer for your present & future happiness. “Geo. Washington.” This answer of President Washington was read to the - lodge by the Master at a meeting held April 29. It was ordered entered on the minutes. Washington’s 100-day journey of 1,887 miles through the South was started March 21, 1791, in a white coach or “chariot,” as he called it, from the national capital then at Philadelphia. It was not until April 16 that he reached Halifax, the first town at which he stopped in North Carolina. After visiting Tarboro and Greenville, he came on towards ~ New Bern. At Colonel John Allen’s farmhouse in the Pitch Kettle section, numbers of tempting viands were prepared for his breakfast. Imagine the consternation of the busy hostess when her distinguished guest glanced over the groaning table and said he would like only a hard-boiled egg and a cup of coffee with a little rum. SECOND CHARTER OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE THE TRYON PALAGE. Ee New Bern, North Carsiing. St. JoHNn’s LopGE LoNG HAD LopGE ROOMS IN THE FAMED TRYON PALACE. PRESIDENT WASHINGTON’S VISIT 49 Gen. Samuel Simpson headed a local reception committee which accompanied Washington here from Greenville. Ten miles from New Bern they were met by John Sitgreaves and other prominent citizens on horseback. Near town the New Bern Volunteers fired salutes in honor of the first president. In his diary Washington wrote of New Bern: “This town _ is situated at the confluence of the Rivers Neuse and Trent, and though low is pleasant. Vessels drawing more than nine feet of water cannot get up loaded. It stands on a good deal of ground but the buildings are sparse and altogether of wood—some of which are large and look well. The number of souls is about 2,000. Its exports consist of corn, tobacco, pork—but principally of naval stores and lumber.” © : : Washington was entertained at the home of the late John Wright Stanly, now a public library, which stood originally on the corner lot of Middle and New Streets where the post- office is now located. He described the building as “exceed- ingly good lodgings.” In honor of his visit the town was “elegantly illuminated.” ‘ After a first night’s rest, following his arrival on Wednes- day, April 20, Washington enjoyed a walk around town the next morning, with visits to old Christ Church and other points of interest, as the historic Cypress tree on Neuse river at the end of Change Street in the rear yard of Richard Dobbs Spaight, who within the following twenty months _ became Governor of North Carolina. Washington is said to have requested to see this tree, under which Spaight had promised aid to Gen. Nathanael Greene during the last years of the Revolution. That afternoon Washington was entertained at a public dinner at Tryon’s Palace. Fifteen toasts were drunk during the banquet, the last one being to the president. A member of Washington’s party then read the chief’s reply to the address of welcome. : During the evening an elaborate ball was given at the palace. Washington reports in his diary, “abt. 70 ladies” — were present. He is said to have left at an early hour to attend another ball given in his honor at the home of — Colonel Leech, on East Front and Change Streets, where a tore exclusive crowd had gathered. 50 YEARS OF LIGHT The next day Washington left New Bern, “under an escort of horse, and many of the principal gentlemen of New Bern.” While on his way to Wilmington, on Friday, April 22, he states in his diary that he “dined at a place called Trenton which is the head of the boat navigation of the River Trent, which is crossed at this place on a bridge— and lodged at one Shrine’s 10 m. farther—both indifferent Houses.” The ten-mile house is said to have been that of James Shine. The place where Washington dined is thought to have been on the old Pritchett corner site, in front of the old cemetery. At Trenton the president.was cordially greeted by his Masonic brethren. Members of King Solomon’s Masonic Lodge there presented to him the following address: “To the President of the United States of America “Sir “Impressed with the purest Sentiments of Gratitude and Brotherly Love, Permit us the Members of King Solomons Lodge at Trenton North Carolina (now in Lodge Assembled) to Hail you Welcome to this State, and Salute you as a Brother. “We should feel ourselves remiss in our Duty were we not to Congratulate you on your Appointment to the Head of the Executive department of the United States— “That the Great Architect of the Universe may long pre- serve your invaluable life to preside over a great and free People and to the Advancement of the United States in Opulence, order and Felicity, is the sincere wish of the Members of this lodge— “By Order of the Lodge “Wm. T. Gardner, Secy. “April 22d AL 5791.” Five years after Washington’s visit to New Bern and almost four years before his death his birthday anniversary was celebrated publicly in this city, as the first public cele- bration of the date which is now observed as a holiday in all States, territories and possessions of the American nation. According to an article published February 27, 1796, in the North Carolina Gazette edited at New Bern by Francis X. Martin, a copy of which is in the library files of the PRESIDENT WASHINGTON’S VISIT 51 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the birthday of the first president was gaily celebrated with toasts at Frilick’s Hotel in New Bern on February 22, 1796. Three years later, on February 22, 1799, before Wash- ington’s death December 14 of that year, New Bernians also observed his birthday. The Gazette for February 23, 1799, reports that on the preceding day, “The inhabitants of New Bern in celebrating the birthday of George Washington, drank the following toasts: “The day: May it be kept by future ages, that those who see the great fabric of American glory completed, may remember the hand that laid its foundation. “The immortal Washington and his companions in arms, the heroes of the American Revolution. “The President of the United States, whose firmness and wisdom have sealed our independence. (John Adams.) “Generals Marshall and Pinckney; our excellent, but ill- treated and rejected envoys. “Timothy Pickering, the Secretary of State, who writes not for Mazzei, but for his country. “The Governor of North Carolina. (William R. Davie.) “The enlightened minority of the legislature of Virginia. May their moderate and virtuous sentiments finally prevail. “The minority in Congress; May some great genius amongst them discover that the legislature was not designed merely to depress and embarrass the executive. “The Federal Constitution. “The Navy of the United States: May it teach those who do not respect our rights to dread our power. “Gratitude for public services, and contempt for empty professions. “The government that is neither to be intimidated by threats, nor seduced by intrigue. “May the will of a foreign power never become the measure of American rights. “May loud faction, and silent treachery, and disappointed ambition, under the mask of patriotism, be far removed from our public councils. “May we never distrust integrity, or confide in falsehood. “The Army of the United States: May its exertions ~ correspond with the spirit by which’it was created.” 52 YEARS OF LIGHT Local Masons undoubtedly participated in the early cele- brations of Washington’s birthday here. For, they were not only among the town’s leaders during the era put also among the greatest admirers of their distinguished Masonic brother. : Upon the invitation of St. John’s Lodge in January, 1800, William Gaston delivered an address “on the distressing ‘event of the death of their late brother and beloved fellow citizen, George Washington,” for which he received “their public and unanimous grateful consideration.” Though not a Mason, Gaston was a great friend to the Masons, as will be seen from his contributions to the Masonic building funds. From 1833 to his death in 1844 he was on the State Supreme Court, but retained a home in New Bern. He is known as “The Father of Religious Liberty in North Carolina,” and he composed the State’s anthem. After his death, “free people of color” in New Bern held a meeting at the Masonic Temple, and went on record regard- ing Gaston as follows: Fs “Others have spoken of him as a great statesman, a learned Judge, a ripe scholar. They are better judges of these things than we are; in our humble situation we shall confine ourselves to his walk among us. As our neighbor, our friend and kind protector, it is our privilege to speak from personal observation. “Where so many virtues and graces are blended in the game individual it is not easy to particularize. Judge Gaston was an example in word and conversation, in spirit and purity. He was the friend of the widow and the orphan —he was a kind and indulgent master... the most of his servants can read and write, the consequence is they are a most intelligent set of people. “Judge Gaston was a friend of emancipation, he not only emancipated several of his own people, but he bought others and set them free... . He was a Christian in deed and in truth; his religion was not a thing of form and decencies, it was a pervading principle that entered into all his concerns, all his thoughts and all his hopes. His course was marked with no obliquity, his path was a shining light—the voice of calumny shrunk abashed at his presence.” LODGE ROOMS IN PALACE 53 Accordingly, just as Gaston had spoken eloquently in memorial testimony of President Washington for the Masons, so his praise was sung later after his death in the Masonic Temple. When the 150th anniversary of the founding of St. John’s Lodge was commemorated here January 19, 1922, elaborate costumed ceremonies included a pageant portraying the day in 1791 when Washington was “waited upon by a committee” from the Masonic Lodge, headed by Worshipful Master Guion, who read to him the Lodge address of welcome and received in return the appreciative reply of the first president. As the three chief actors in that part of the pageantry, Col. P. M. Pearsall took the part of President Washington ; Judge Owen H. Guion portrayed the role of his great- grandfather, Dr. Isaac Guion; and Congressman Samuel M. Brinson participated as Mayor Joseph Leech. XIV LODGE ROOMS IN PALACE Masonic meetings were frequently held here in Tryon’s Palace, as has already been noted. In October, 1792, the minutes again state that lodge gatherings were held at the Palace. Thereafter specific mention is repeatedly made of the “Masonic Rooms in the Palace.” Some of the gatherings must have lasted until late, or early, hours. One entry relates that adjournment of busi- ness came at midnight for a supper. But all was not rosy in those stirring days. At a called meeting of the lodge October 21 in the Palace, it is reported that “a reconciliation took place between the Brothers and an excelent charge given on the Ocation by the Worshipful Master.” An earlier entry in the minute books reads: “Some of the brethren attended at the Lodge door, but thro’ the mis- conduct or neglect of the Tyler, could not get in.” (August 16, 1790.) 4 : Abner Nash, second Governor of the independent State of North Carolina, who had held that office from April, 1780, 54 YEARS OF LIGHT to June 26,1781, and who resided at Pembroke across Trent River from New Bern, was rejected as a member at a lodge meeting June 9, 1791. A year later, however, he was listed asamember. Apparently political partisanship might have influenced some of the voters. Dr. Halling was elected Worshipful Master in December, 1791, succeeding Guion. Frederick Divoux was elected Treasurer, to succeed Samuel Gerock. Thomas Crew was renamed Tiler. Later Guion was voted the thanks of the lodge “for his praiseworthy demeanor while he presided in this lodge.” The following year, on December 13, 1792, Francis Lowthrop was elected Master. From then on for a number of years his name is found among the lodge leaders. Lowthrop Hall in the Masonic Temple is named in his honor. John F. Smith was named Senior Warden; Joseph Shute, Junior Warden; George Vultus, Senior Deacon; John Robin- son, Junior Deacon; John Craddock, Treasurer; William Lawrence, Secretary; and Thomas Crew, Tiler. Craddock soon resigned and Edward Simpson was elected in his place. The next month, with the installation of these new officers, the lodge voted thanks to Dr. Halling for “his care and strict attention during his office.” Ten pounds was voted for Dr. Cutting for preaching a sermon on St. John’s Day in December, 1792. Each member was requested to pay five shillings, later raised to seven shillings and sixpence, for a dinner on that day. The stewards, John C. Osborn and Abraham Outten, had been instructed to give advance notice “in Martin’s paper” that the tickets would not be delivered until three days before the festival. Two pounds was afterwards given to the clerk and bell ringer of Christ Church. In April, 1793, a letter was read from William M. Herri- tage, requesting the Master and members to meet at Fort Barnwell for the purpose of installing him as Worshipful Master of a new lodge there. Lowthrop was authorized to attend, if he thought proper, and to lend the jewels belong- ing to the local unit. At that meeting there was a discussion as to asking that the Number 8 place then assigned the lodge by the Grand Lodge be changed to Number 2 as it had been formerly LODGE ROOMS IN PALACE 55 known. The following Fall it was voted that the organi- zation retain the “old and established” Number 2. The celebration of St. John the Baptist’s Day on June 24, 1793, was featured with an address by Dr. Halling, who had then succeeded Dr. Cutting as rector of Christ Church. He was presented with ten pounds. Jarvis Buxton was allowed 40 shillings for ringing the bell and preparing the church for the “well-selected discourse.’ Dinner was served as usual after the service. Lowthrop was reelected Master the following December, with Smith renamed Senior Warden; George Ellis, Junior Warden; John C. Osborn, Treasurer; Silas Cooke, Secre- tary ; and Thomas Crew reelected Tiler. George Vultus and John Howard were named Deacons. Dr. Halling was ap- pointed Chaplain for the year, and was allowed 20 pounds, payable semi-annually, for conducting both St. John’s Day services. Francis X. Martin was delegated to represent the lodge at the Grand Lodge communication in Fayetteville. The new officers were installed December 27 at a Past Masters’ Lodge opened by William Johnston, High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter. A processional was formed afterwards for the march to Christ Church for a sermon by Dr. Halling for St. John’s Day, “in which discourse the W. B. (Worthy Brother) did himself and the Lodge Honor. The Lodge then moved back to the Lodge Room and no further Business being before them the Lodge was Closed in due form until the next Lodge in Course and the Brethren withdrew to Partake of an elegant dinner prepared for the purpose.” From time to time the minutes tell of the Masons attend- ing funerals of their members, marching in a body to the services and conducting last rites at the gravesides. There are also numerous records of gifts of money to needy brothers or widows of former members. iF XV NUMBER 3 PLACE ACCEPTED Francis X. Martin reported at the Palace in 1794, that at the Grand Lodge held the previous aid Fayetteville he had endeavored to get the local lodge recog- eee Number 2 in North Carolina, but that his request was contemptably rejected.” He was thanked “for the faithfull discharge of the duty committed to him.” The following December this matter was again the members. A committee named for the Eases EMA E? a report that in their opinion the lodge had no right to per- sist in its claim of Number 2 for its name and that the controversy ought to be settled as expeditiously as possible with the Grand Lodge. At first this report was rejected, but after further consideration it was adopted, clause by clause. / At a meeting of the lodge held February 1 Ellis, one of the delegates to the Grand Hanieriiite January 20 at Raleigh, displayed a charter granted the local lodge there and a copy of the minutes so far as they re- spected the New Bern group. These were ordered entered on the minutes, and still tell the story of assignment as follows: y of the lodge number “Grand Lodge, Jan’y. 20th, 5795. Pre , é & b sent W. B. John L. Taylor, G. M. P. T.; John Ingles, S. W. P. T.; Walter Alves Treasurer; Rich’d. Freer, Sec’y; Visiting Bros., etc. : “Brother David Witherspoon delegate from St. John’s Lodge, No. 3 Newbern appeared and took his seat; he in- formed this Lodge that the Lodge he eee relin- quished their claim to No. 2. Therefore ordered that a Charter be issued to the said Lodge No. 3. Adjourned.” “Grand Lodge, Jan’y. 25th, 5795. Present R. illi r ' 5 5 b . W. Will R. Davie, G. M.; R. W. John L. Taylor, G. S. W.; R. W. me 1. Tatum, G. J. W.; R. W. Walter Alves, Treasurer? . W. William Duffy, Sec’y. Visiting Bros., etc. ; “A further delegation was sent from St. John’s Lodge No. 3 Newbern certifying that Bro. George Ellis was appointed a room of F. X. Martin, pursuant to which he took his THOMAS P. IRVING : $7 “The Delegates from St. John’s Lodge No. 8 Newbern now appearing according to the requisition of the Grand Lodge at their last annual meeting to explain some part of the conduct of St. John’s Lodge did now appear accordingly and gave such an explaination as was perfectly satisfactory to this Lodge. . “Whereas, it appears to this Lodge that large drafts have been made on the Charitable funds of St. John’s Lodge No. 3 Newbern which have been employed to the most benevolent purposes; and as the funds of that Lodge are thereby nearly exausted, “Resolved, therefore that the said Lodge be Credited for all sums heretofore due from that Lodge to the Grand Charity.” Ellis and Witherspoon were accordingly thanked by the local members “for their assiduity and particular services rendered at the Grand Lodge the 25th Ultimo for obtaining a new Charter No. 3 and settling other business agreeable to this Lodge.” xv THOMAS P. IRVING Thomas P. Irving was elected a lodge member May 15, 1794, to begin a long career of active and useful Masonic _ service. -A native of Somerset County, Maryland, he arrived in New Bern during the late Fall of 1793 to become principal of the New Bern Academy. Following his graduation from Princeton in 1789, he had been awarded the degree of Master of Arts. From 1796 to 1813 he was rector of Christ Church here. Able as educator, preacher, dramatist, poet and musician, he was one of the most versatile and brilliant men ever to reside in this city. At the same time that Irving was raised to the grade of Fellow Crafts, Elias Hawes also took the same degree work. He became later an outstanding layman of the First Presby- terian Church here, being a charter member and Ruling Elder of that congregation upon its formal organization in 1817. It was he who opened here the first free school for wal Ht MI lees 58 YEARS OF LIGHT white children in North Carolina, on a site now occupied by the Stanly-Dill home on Pollock and Hancock Streets. For a celebration of St. John the Baptist’s Day June 25, 1794, it is recorded that “an elegant Oration was delivered by the Rey. Doctor Halling from the following words—‘Be ye kindly affectionate one to another with Brotherly Love’— after which the Brethren partook of a Collation and Spent the day in the utmost Harmony and good Fellowship.” The following December for the Festival of St. John the Evangelist, Dr. Halling preached on the text, “God Is Love.” He was thanked by the lodge “for his beautiful Ode com- posed to the occasion.” Many distinguished visitors were reported at different times at the lodge meetings, coming from all parts of the State. In July Stephen Cabarrus was listed among the visiting members. He served several times in the General Assembly and four terms was Speaker of the House of Commons. Cabarrus County was named for him in 1792. The Masonic minutes from March, 1795, through May, 1796, when Isaac Taylor and A. H. Adams acted in turn as Secretary, are truly works of handwriting art. The signa- tures of these two gentlemen are especially worthy of note. Taylor indulged in fancy curlicues and marginal decorations. For the records of funerals he drew a skull and crossbones on a coffin, surmounted by the initials of the deceased. When he resigned the office, he was accorded “the warmest appro- bation of the Lodge.”’ It was he who built about 1792 the large brick house now known as the Taylor-Ward house at 53 Craven Street. Adams also delighted in writing huge capital letters. His pages are unusually neat and legible. Following use for around 28 years, the old school building on the present school campus here was destroyed by fire in 1795, said to have been due to the carelessness of a singing class. By the permission of the General Assembly, the local school was then held at Tryon’s Palace, where Principal Irving and his family also resided. Masonic meetings also continued at the Palace. A nota- tion in the Masonic minutes July 16, 1795, shows a motion that “the sum of five pounds be granted for the purpose of repairing the roof of the Palace—which being half the sum THOMAS P. IRVING 59 necessary for that purpose. The Trustees of the Academy i he other half.” anaes Master Lowthrop took a trip to the West Indies from June to October and upon his return brought some communications from the Masonic lodges of Jamaica and Hispaniola. During his absence Senior Warden George Ellis acted as Master. Edward Jones represented the lodge nd Lodge that year. papi ioes was eB iicaoudls reelected Master December 17, 1795; with James Bryan elected Treasurer; Adams, Secretary; Ellis, renamed Senior Warden; John Craddock, renamed Junior Warden; Thomas Hyman _and Archibald McCalop, Deacons; Thomas Crew, Tiler; William Lockhart n Bryan, Stewards. : piers Peta don of these officers December 27, “the Lodge proceeded to Christ Church where our W. Brother Halling deliver’d a Sermon very suitable to the day from 1st Genesis 1 Verse: ‘In the begining God Created the heavens and the Earth’ In which he clearly Investigated the Existance and being of the Great Architect of Nature, who brought that divine Order of harmony of the Planetary system from a dark and confused Chaos. 2 ; “The whole of the Discourse was lively, animating & very suitable to the day. He concluded with a warm and Pathetic Address to the Brethren of the Lodge. In which he expaciated on the noble Virtues of Benevolence & Charity, and recommending that Unity Love & Friendship which is the Cement of Society. He did not fail to touch the hearts of the audiance in arresting their feelings to acts of Charity & Benevolence to distrefs’d Bros. seins other objects that ll loudly for the voice of humanity. a The pee was Concluded by a Masonic Ode Composed in for the Occasion. ane Church the Lodge return’d to the Palace; and was closed with much Solemnity and the usual form. Few, if any periods in the history of New Bern have pro- duced such outstanding men as were then in Masonic and civic circles. “In those days there were Giants,” such as Halling, Irving, Lowthrop, Guion, Ellis, Isaac Taylor, John Louis Taylor, Francis Hawks, Richard Dobbs Spaight, John Stanly, the youthful William Gaston and many others. 60 YEARS OF LIGHT The city and lodge lost a useful leader when Dr. Halling moved from New Bern to Wilmington in 1796, accepting a call as rector of St. James Church there. He also acted as principal of the Wilmington Academy. In Wilmington he also continued his Masonic affiliations. Halling evidently came to New Bern soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, for an advertisement of drugs he was then offering for sale here was contained September 2 1784, in an issue of the North Carolina Gazette or Sete Intelligencer and Weekly General Advertiser printed here for R. Keith and Company. Thus he remained here as doc- tor, druggist, educator and minister for about 12 years, and for the last seven of those years he was active in St. John’s Lodge. In 1809 he moved from Wilmington to the Diocese of South Carolina, where he “continued the same course of devout faithfulness, and endeared himself to all his brethren in that new home. He died in 1818, much honored and lamented by the Bishop and the Clergy of that Diocese.” (Sketches of Church History, by the Rt. Rev. J oseph Blount Cheshire. ) XVII BUILDING SITE PURCHASED A lapse of more than a year and a half is in the lodge minutes from May, 1796, when the first book ends, to January 17, 1798, when the second book begins. However Lowthrop is still listed as Worshipful Master. : Through February 27, 1798, the minutes show that the lodge continued to meet at Tryon’s Palace. A meeting was held there that evening. Later that night the main portion of the Palace was destroyed by fire, reportedly caused when a Negro woman went to the basement with a torch to look for eggs in stored hay. ‘ Because of the secrecy of their order, early Masons were sometimes subjected to various suspicions and accused of various crimes by outsiders unfamiliar with the high standards of their organization; and among the unjust charges brought unofficially and quietly against them at that BUILDING SITE PURCHASED 61 period was a “whispering rumor” that they had set fire to the Palace. No credence was given to this suspicion by most of the townspeople, for the worthy objectives of their lodge and the high character of the members were generally understood and admired. The Masonic meeting of March 1 and later gatherings are said to have been held “at Mr. Stanly’s Office,” though this entry is inked out of seven minute records. On a meeting held March 7 it was reported: “The thanks of the Lodge was returned to brothers McMains & Jacob Johnston for their assiduity in saving great part of the Treasures belong- ing to the Lodge from the Flames on the 27th Feb’y.” As early as May 12, 1796, a committee was appointed “for the purpose of choosing a Lot of Ground on which to erect a Lodge.” On the committee were named Worshipful Master Lowthrop, Richard Hunley, William Johnston, George Ellis and John Craddock. They were asked to report at the next meeting, but apparently the decision required more time, for there is no mention of the question in the next minutes. After the destruction of Tryon’s Palace, where the Lodge had kept rooms for some time, a new ‘committee was ap- pointed March 10, 1798, “for the purpose of choosing a piece of Ground to build a Lodge.” On this committee were named Lowthrop, Senior Warden George Ellis, Junior Warden Francis Hawks, William McClure, Hunley, Johnston and Taylor. - Junior Warden Hawks was the only son of John Hawks, who had been brought to New Bern by Royal Governor William Tryon as the supervising architect for Tryon’s Palace, erected here 1767-70 as “the finest building in Colonial America.” i John Hawks, “the first professional architect to remain in this country,” was a native of Dragby, Lincolnshire, Eng- land. Though he was nominated by Royal Governor Tryon as Collector of the Port at Beaufort and subsequently was made Commissioner of Finance and was recommended by Tryon’s successor, Royal Governor Josiah Martin, as Clerk of the upper house of the General Assembly, he cast his lot with the colonists during the Revolutionary era. Through the Revolution he held his post as Clerk of the upper house, and in 1784 became North Carolina’s first State —— | | | wat 62 YEARS OF LIGHT Auditor, continuing in that position until his death February 16, 1790. The war and post-war periods were bad times for architects, so he seems to have turned mainly to other pur- suits, but he is believed to have designed other buildings in New Bern. The son, Francis Hawks, served as United States Collector of Customs for the Port of New Bern. He must have been an excellent father, and his wife, Julie A. Stephens Hawks, must have made a splendid mother, for their five sons turned out exceptionally well. One became a lawyer, one an educator, and the other three clergymen, including one who was a bishop and another, Dr. Francis Lister Hawks, who was elected bishop three times. It is said that Francis Hawks used to “tune up” his sons every Monday morning with a whipping. If one of the boys would protest with a plea of not deserving punishment, the father would reply, “Oh, you will deserve it anyway before the week is half gone.” Francis Hawks demonstrated his keen: judgment and great influence in Masonic as well as domestic roles. Ac- cording to the lodge minutes, as a committee member he settled a controversy between two members, the Masons being said to be entirely satisfied with his report and the lodge then being closed “in due form and harmony.” Later when another member named Reading was ad- monished “for his indecent and affrontfull behavior to the lodge this Evening,” the following resolution was passed unanimously as offered by Hawks: “Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Tyler to pre- vent any member or visiting brother from entering the lodge when intoxicated and whenever he has a doubt about the Situation of any such member or visitor he shall inform the Lodge when two Brethren shall be appointed to go out to examine into the situation of such Brother.” Dr. William McClure, another member of the lodge com- mittee named to select a site for a Masonic building, was noted as the only surgeon in his regiment during the Revo- lutionary War. He held the rank of major-general in the Revolutionary Army. He served as Grand Junior Deacon of the Grand Lodge in 1797. BUILDING SITE PURCHASED 63 On May 2, 1798, this committee was instructed to “examine as soon as possible the situation of two Lotts belonging to Mrs. Haslin near where the School House formerly stood* which she is willing to sell. Should the Sd. Lotts appear to the Committee to (be) Suitable for the aforesaid purpose & the title good, they are to purchase the same in the Name of this Lodge without further delay and draw on the Treasurer for the amount of the sd. purchase.” On St. John’s Day the next month the Rev. Mr. Irving, lodge chaplain, delivered at Christ Church, of which he was then rector, serving in this capacity from 1796 to 1813, “an elegant discourse suitable to the day from Job 37 C; 14th V: ‘Stand still brethren and consider the wonderfull works of God.’ A Masonic ode composed by Chaplin T. P. Irving was sung by many Ladies & Gentlemen in a Masterly man- ner after which the Lodge returned to the room & was closed in due form.” A report on the lodge building site was given the following Fall at a special meeting at “Mr. Oliver’s room,” as follows: “The Committee to whom was entrusted the choice of and purchase of a proper piece of Ground on which to build a lodge Report that they are of opinion that the two lots belonging to Mrs. Haslen and which lye near where the former Academy stood is a proper and convenient place and that the price of 250 dollars which they are held at is by no means an obstacle—provided the funds of the Lodge are adequate to the meeting of such a demand in Cash, the Committee not knowing the Situation of the funds is a reason why they have not as directed proceeded to make the purchase. New Bern, Sept. 5, 5798.” (Signed) F. Lowthrop, George Ellis, Richard Hunley, Francis Hawks, Isaac Taylor and William Johnston. Lodge members thereupon authorized Lowthrop to have the proper deeds executed to acquire Lots 325 and 326 in the name of the lodge, and draw upon the treasurer for the purchase price. These two lots were on Hancock and John- son Streets, just where the Masonic temple is still located. The deed for the two lots of land purchased from Mrs. Elizabeth Haslen for the erection of lodge rooms was ex- *Burned in 1795. NENT ee eee Su i eS £ PLP rescues Pte se 64 5 ) » YEARS OF LIGHT hibited at a lodge meeting November 7. It was voted to record the deed in the office of the County Register of Deeds, then deposit it among the archives of the organization. Lowthrop was unanimously yenamed Worshipful Master December 5, 1798; with Hllis again Senior Warden; Hawks, Junior Warden; Irving, Chaplain; Taylor, Treasurer; and ~ McCalop, Tiler. John Knowles was appointed by Lowthrop to serve as Secretary, and Ji onathan Fellowes as Senior Deacon. Ellis named John R. Good as Ji unior Deacon. Com- mittees were formed for Charity, Accounts, Laws and Correspondence. ‘The next February McCalop was “ad- monished” and “excluded” as Tiler, with Knowles named to succeed him. M. C. Stephens, former treasurer, Was ap- pointed in Knowles’ place as Secretary. Irving was voted on December 27 ten pounds for his services, with a letter of thanks, for delivering on St. John’s Day “a most excellent discourse from Psalms 13:1.” Jarvis Buxton was given 40 shillings for helping at the church. On that same December night the Committee of Laws and Correspondence was instructed to “form an address to our Grand Master Wm. R. Davie, Esq., and Congratulate him on his apointment as Chief Magistrate of the State of No. Carolina.” At a special gathering January 11 this address prepared by the committee was yead for the committee members by John C. Osborn, publisher of the Newbern Gazette. It was unanimously approved. An appreciative reply from Gover- nor Davie, also known as “The Father of the State Uni- versity,” was read to the lodge March 20. The same committee, at the same time of being requested to write to Davie, was also asked to “form an address to our Worsh’l. Grand Sen’r. Warden J. L. Taylor and Congratulate him in the above manner on his Late apointment as one of the Judges of Law & Equity in No. Carolina.” Ellis, Taylor and Edward Pasteur were put on a special committee “to report to the next Lodge what kind of build- ing will be most proper for the accomodation of the Society to be erected on the land purchased by the Lodge.” Although stricken from the minutes, a lined notation indi- cates that some consideration was given to a suggestion that plans for a Masonic building on the new lots be deferred ica -George Gardner, $20 COPY OF FRAMED HANDWRITTEN PARCHMENT AGREEMENT OF MASONIC TEMPLE DONORS NOW KEPT IN BLUE LODGE ROOM We, the Subscribers, promise to pay unto Isaac Taylor, Treasurer of ST. JOHN’S LODGE NO. 3, or his Successor in Office, the Sums annexed to our names, for defraying the expences of erecting a Masonic Hall in Newbern, in Three Installments, Viz. one third part of the Sum Subscribed, on or before the first day of April next, one other third part, on or before the first day of May, the remaining part when the Building shall be inclosed and Glazed. Newbern, Dec’r. 27, 1800 Silas W. Arnett, $20 Matthew Gleeson, $20 Nathan Tisdale, (in bricks), $30 Jonathan Fellowes, $10 William Johnston, $20 John Stanly, $25 Isaac Lee Guion, $20 Thomas Webber, $24 R. D. Stanly, $20 John Devereux, $30 Thomas Marshall, $10 Charles Hatch, $5 William Gaston, $20 Charles Bates, $20 John Vail, $10 Edward Tinker, Jr., $20 William Kyle, $10 James Bryan, $20 Henry Tillman, $20 Thomas Ruijisell, $25 Thomas Harris, $20 John D. Friou, $10 Lemuel Holmes, $10 George Kinns, $10 Allen Backhouse, $20 Thomas Hyman, $10 Levi Fulcher, $10 William Wyatt, $10 S. B. Shanansolf, $10 Thomas G. Vipon, $10 James Blanks, $5 William Lockart, $20 Samuel Thomas, $10 Thomas Curtis, $5 John Brown, $5 Levi Dawson, $10 Gilbert McClure (in work), $20 David Wallace, Jr., $24 Francis Lowthrop, $50 George Ellis, $50 Edward Kean, $50 Isaac Taylor, $50 John Osborn, $30 Alex’r. Torrans, $30 Thos. P. Irving, $30 John Louis Taylor, $20 Edward Pasteur, $30 James Carney, $30 James Wilson, $25 James McKinlay, $50 William Lawrence, $20 Jacob Cook, $20 Francis X. Martin, $20 Robert Hunt, $20 John Sears, $20 William Kean, $20 Francis Stringer, $20 Robert Ogden, Jr., $25 ‘Stephen Minor, $20 James Harker, $20 John Hill, $10 Joseph King, $5 John S. Pasteur, $20 Morgan Jones, $25 Samuel G. Barron, $50 B. H. Martin, $20 William G. Berry, $50 Edward Graham, $20 Benjamin Woods, $20 Thomas Thomson, $20 James Green, $10 Charles Williams, $10 William McClure, $50 Marcus C. Stephens, $20 John Dewey, $20 Benners Vail, $24 Francis Hawks, $20 Samuel Oliver, $10 B. Moring, $10 William Ferrand, $50 D. Witherspoon, (pd.) $20 Robert Williams, (in work) $10 John Jones, $10 Abner Pasteur, $10 John Knowles, $10 Samuel Chapman, $24 Richard West, $10 Samuel P. Johnston, $15 William Taylor, $10 Peter Chase, $24 James Taylor, $15 Abraham Hunt, $10 John Sheffield, $10 John R. Good, $15 Clabourn Ivey, $5 William D. Bryan, $20 George Linguist, $10 Frederick Divoux, $10 William M. Heritage, $10 Probit Collier, $5 William R. Cray, $10 Samuel Wilkins, $20 David Slocumb, $10 Samuel Smith, $20 John Bloodsow, $10 James Rhodes, $10 John Justice, $5 Francis Lamotte, $10 Samuel Sparrow, $5 Reuben P. Jones, $10 Richard Cogdell, $5 James Kennedy, $15 John Harvey, $25 aa alii William Roe, $10 William Holland, $4 Hardy Dunn, $5 William Hampton, $2 F, Green, (in Plank), $24 Joseph Mitchell, (laying bricks), $25 Longfield Cox, $20 John Washington, $10 S. B. Forbes, Jr., $10 John Coart, Jr., $10 F. MclIlwean, $10 Mathias Handy, $20 Lucas Jacob Benners, $20 William Bell, $15 Jarvis Buxton, (pd.), $6 Jelsey Cobb, $10 Frederick Jones, $10 Joseph Hearn, $20 John Strother, (pd), $5 Joseph Masters, $20 Robert Pettet, $10 Watson Brown, $10 Samuel Dewhurst, $20 William Fisher, $2 Alexander Duguid, $15 Joseph Collins by Benjamin Woods, Esq., $50 Charles Churchill, $15 L. Fray, (pd), $5 Robert Woods, $21 C. McCall, $5 Joseph Wallace, $15 Richard Jennings, $10 P. N. Fite (pd) $20 David Sabiston, $5 O. H. Hanley, (pd) $5 Joseph Boon, $20 Total $2,718 ITT TEST MASONIC FUNERALS 65 until sale of the Tryon Palace property on George Street. By Act of the Assembly, the Palace site was sold at public auction in March, 1799. ' _ This idea of trying to obtain the Palace site for erection of a lodge building was discarded, as observed, and on March 13 John Dewey was named to “draw up a Plan of a Building fit for a Lodge of the dimensions of 50 by 36 feet, also an estimate of the expences to close the same in and building the chimneys.” A week later “Hunley, Osborn and Hawks were appointed a committee to draw up a Subscription for the building of a lodge upon the lotts purchased by the brethren.” XVill MASONIC FUNERALS One reason perhaps for the delay in erecting a Masonic Temple here was due to the yellow fever epidemic which caused many deaths duririg the last year and a half of the 18th century. So many persons died of the dread disease in the latter part of 1798, it is reported, that numerous bodies had to be interred hurriedly in trenches dug along the northern boundary of Christ Church yard. These new burials in the churchyard, already well filled with graves, probably formed the main explanation of why the church opened Cedar Grove Cemetery in 1800. This cemetery was transferred in 1854 by the church to the city. A number of Masons were among those succumbing during the epidemic. Lodge minutes tell of many Masonic funerals, most of them conducted by Mr. Irving. For many of the early ones he composed special odes and had them read or sung at the services. Among the lodge leaders | passing away were Secretary William Good and Thomas Crew, who long served as Tiler. - Masonic funerals had to be temporarily abandoned in 1799, it was reported later by Col. John D. Whitford in his Historical Notes. He pointed out that the mortality rate among the fraternity was exceedingly great, since Masons eee 66 YEARS OF LIGHT so often nursed the sick and helped bury their deceased brothers. : A note in the lodge minutes explains why Masons did not attend in August, 1798, the funeral for John Craddock, for some years Junior Warden. The rites were attended by the Corps of Artillery, of which Craddock was captain, the Light Dragoons and Light Infantry, so many of whom were Masons, it was said, that a separate procession of Masons could not be formed for the funeral service. Military as well as Masonic honors were paid at the funeral for William Bartlett on January 18, 1799, the minutes show. “Firing of Cannon commenced on board the Ship Tillman laying in the harbour of New Bern commanded by Brother Jacob Cook, which continued in a slow solemn manner untill the Body was intered. At the Grave a funeral Ode was sung by the Bretheren, composed by Rev.’d. Brother T. P. Irving, our Chaplain.” The largest attendance perhaps for any Masonic gathering was reported April 18, 1798, for the funeral of “Brother Mathew Byrne who was murdered on the Night of the 16th Instant in his Bead.” The Rev. Mr. Irving “delivered a Short but very Solemn Oration prepared for the occation.” A “solemn Hymn sung over our truely unfortunate deceased Brother was prepared by Brother Irving.” i According to Colonel Whitford’s account, Matthew Byrne had moved here early in life from his native Scotland, and became eventually a prominent merchant on lower Craven Street. During the first part of 1798 he received from Scot- land $8,000 in gold and silver, which he kept in his store. One night he was killed with an axe in his store, and his money was stolen. Through the efforts of his brother . Masons, a store clerk was arrested and jailed on a charge of robbery and murder. The clerk killed himself in the local jail before his trial by taking laudanum which had been spirited to him in a loaf of bread by some unidentified person. The money has never been recovered, so far as is known. Many persons familiar with the episode at the time it took place believed that the assassin threw it into Trent River. xIX LARGEST LODGE IN STATE St. John’s Lodge ranked as the largest Masonic group in North Carolina at that period. It had 134 members listed in 1798. In contrast to modern names which in most in- stances have two initials, many of the men in those days had only one Christian name. ; Praise for the local lodge is contained in a Grand Lodge report for that year, as follows: “St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, New Bern—Johnston-Caswell, No. 10, Warrenton—Phoenix, No. 8, Fayetteville—Old Cone, No. 9, Salisbury—Pansophia, No. 25, Moore County—Mount-Maria, No. 27, Iredell County —St. Tammany, Wilmington—are of all the Lodges under the jurisdiction of this grand Lodge, most attentive to the business of the Craft, and Masonic communications; to wit, in sending their delegation to this Grand Lodge, and trans- mitting a list of their members annually with a transcript of their proceedings— as appears from the records of this Grand Lodge.” One of the original lists of the local membership is still in the archives of the Grand Lodge at Raleigh. Drafted November 4, 1789, this paper is signed by Master Isaac Guion, Secretary F. X. Martin, Edward Pasteur and Solomon Halling. Two original papers written and signed by Master Low- throp are also in the Grand Lodge files. One of these is the announcement that Benjamin Woods and Dr. William Mc- Clure had been elected local delegates to the Grand Lodge in 1796. A similar credentials letter for 1803 states that “our truly and well beloved brothers, John C. Osborn and Francis X. Martin,” were representatives to the Grand Lodge from New Bern in 1803. This latter document is signed by Lowthrop, Senior Warden Ellis, Junior Warden Stephens and Secretary John S. Pasteur. On April 14, 1798, there was a special communication of the Grand Lodge to lay the cornerstone at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Grand Secretary Robert Williams, long listed as a member of the local lodge, was among those present. c= 68 2 YEARS OF LIGHT Lowthrop took a prominent part then not only in local Masonic circles but also in State Masonic groups. He acted as Senior Deacon on December 30, 1797, at a Grand Lodge communication. In 1799 it was reported to the Grand Lodge that he had been appointed as “Vice Grand Master,” to visit several . lodges in behalf of the craft.’ He was allowed “reasonable expenses” for the visits he said he had made in this capacity as assistant to Grand Master Davie. Senior Warden George Ellis represented St. John’s Lodge at the Grand Lodge in 1800. He protested against a ruling that he could cast only one vote, though he represented three different lodges. Later this ruling was rescinded. Many delegates to the Grand Lodge represented more than one lodge in those days. Robert Williams often was dele- gate for several lodges. In 1822 Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr., represented St. John’s and King Solomon lodges. John C. Osborn, of New Bern, was elected Grand Marshal in 1802; and Lucas J. Benners was named Grand Pursuivant. XX CORNERSTONE LAID The planned Masonic building was started soon after the opening of the 19th century, and its foundation stone was laid on April 15, 1801, in the northeastern corner of the site. Unfortunately there are no minutes available for local reference to this important building period. All records of meetings from the end of 1799 to September 7, 1803, are missing from the second minute book. However, the lodge Register lists many new members. The Treasurer’s Ledger for the lodge, started by Treas- urer William Kean in 1802 and kept by other treasurers up to 1822, also is extant and contains much valuable infor- mation as to the construction of the building, as well as about various members of the organization. An individual financial account is kept for each member, and at the end of a number of these is found the date of his death. Many of them are marked “removed,” “dead,” or “lost at sea.” CORNERSTONE LAID 69 The exact date of the cornerstone laying is proved by a small, oblong, engraved silver plate now in the lodge archives. This plaque and three coins—a copper half-cent dated 1797, a copper cent dated 1798, and a silver dollar dated 1800—were taken from the cornerstone and carried North by a Union soldier stationed here during the War Between the States. In 1876 the plate and the three pieces of money were put into a special new case, appropriately inscribed, and were returned in 1878 to the local lodge by St. John’s Lodge No. 1 of Providence, R. I., into whose possession they had fallen through one of its members. There was no doubt as to their rightful owners, because the plate is engraved as follows: On one side—“‘Grand Lodge of North Carolina instituted Jan’y. 14, A.D. 1771, A. L. 5771. Present officers: William Polk, Esqr., G. Master; John Louis Taylor, Esqr., D. G. M. Thos. Jefferson, Pres’t. of the U. States. Aaron Burr, V. Pres’t. Benj. Williams, Governor, N. C. Bro. Johnston ulp.” : oes the other side—‘“St. John’s Lodge No. 3, New Bern, N.C. Instituted Jan’y. 10, A. D. 1772, A: L. 5772. Present officers: Francis Lowthrop, Esqr., M. George Ellis, Esqr., S. W. Edw. Kean, Esqr., J. W. Isaac Taylor, Esqr., Tr. Revd. Thos. P. Irving, Orator. “This Foundation Stone of Masons’ Hall laid April 15, A. D.-1801, by the D. G. Master, afsisted by the Officers & Members of this Lodge.” : Forty-two years after the return of the cornerstone arti- cles, Manager Oscar A. Kafer of the Masonic Theatre located the original cornerstone, hollow and empty, in the basement of the building. In 1934 he procured the aid of William B. Duncan, construction superintendent then here for the erection of the handsome new Federal building, and they placed the stone on an appropriate memorial foundation, with suitable inscription, in front of the Masonic Temple. Instead of being replaced in the foundation stone, the plate and the coins from it were kept in the lodge archives. Though accurate details are lacking, the conclusion may be gathered from this plate that an elaborate public ceremony was held for the cornerstone laying by Deputy Grand Master Taylor. It is a plausible surmise that the lodge Orator, the 70 YEARS OF LIGHT Rev. Mr. Irving, had a prominent part on the program, likely making the main address or at least offering a prayer, and that the Worshipful Master, Lowthrop, and other officers and members also participated in the exercises. When the cornerstone was laid the middle of April, 1801, the building’s foundations must have been well under way, so it may be presumed that construction work started dur- ing the first months of that year. In fact, an item in the Treasurer’s Ledger shows that on February 24, 1801, the sum of $250 was paid to John Dewey as a first installment payment on his contract for the construction of Masons’ Hall. XX! LODGE BUILDING PROGRESSES That the Masons lacked sufficient funds for the build- ing costs and that from almost its beginning they con- templated using part of the large structure for theatrical productions and public dances sponsored by other organi- zations in New Bern is known from the fact that they solicited public subscriptions and leased a lower portion of the building for fifty years to the local Theatrical Asso- ciation. ; In the second minute book is a heavy sheet of brown wrapping paper, with three simple line drawings, showing the general plan for the new lodge structure, 48 by 36 feet. This has an undated copy of the suggested notice for sub- scription pledges to be asked for the building: “St. John’s Lodge No. 8 propose to erect a Building which shall bec» i2U 262 length bys 28 =e feet breadth for the purpose of holding their meetings. As the funds are in- adequate to the erection & completion of such a building they have requested Subscriptions for the purpose of sup- plying its deficiency. Persons who are not Masons as well as Members of the Society are invited to lend their aid. It is proposed that the building shall contain six Rooms & it shall be so constructed as to answer the purpose of Dancing Assemblies & other public Associations. The Subscribers whose names are Undersigned promise to pay into the hands of the Master or Treasurer of the Lodge the sums suffixed | | | | | Sn SE LODGE BUILDING PROGRESSES 71 to their names in three equal payments, the first portion at the end of four months from the date hereof & the other part five and the other in 12 months.” The final document drafted to this effect and dated December 27, 1800, with the signatures of a number of members and other citizens and the amounts of money they promised to contribute, forms one of the most interesting of the original papers preserved in the lodge archives. One- third of the sums was to be paid April 1, 1801, another third on May 1, and the remainder when the building had been enclosed. These 150 donors promised $2,718. (See page 64 A-B.) ' The sum of $2,000 was also pledged, and was subsequently reported paid in full by December 3, 1808, according to the Treasurer’s Ledger. It was credited as payment by the local Theatrical Association on “their contract for a lease of fifty years” for the theatre portion of the new Masonic Hall. Names of these subscribers are listed in the Treasurer’s Ledger in an entry dated 1802. There were 21 contributors, each pledging $100, with the exception of John Sears and Richard D. Stanly, who promised $50 each and were bracketed together to make a $100 pledge. The $100 subscribers were John Devereux, John L. Taylor, John GC. Osborn, William Gaston, George Ellis, Robert Hunt, Francis Lowthrop, Edward Pasteur, James McKinlay, James Carney, Matthew Gleeson, William Kean, Edward Kean, Samuel Barron, John Dewey, Benners Vail, Isaac Taylor, Lucas J. Benners and Henry Bettner. ; All of these were lodge members, with the exception of Devereux, Gaston, Hunt and McKinlay. According to the treasurer’s accounts, some of the Masonic subscribers did not donate the full amounts themselves but secured contri- butions from Thomas McLin, William Shepard and William Ferrand to apply on their pledges. Apparently construction went forward slowly on the building. Varying amounts are shown on the treasury books to have been paid Contractor Dewey at intervals, until by September 26, 1803, a total of $5,327 .09 had been advanced on the contract price of $6,460. Despite the lapse in the minutes, it is known that Low- ' throp remained Worshipful Master during these construction 72 YEARS OF LIGHT years. When he was unanimously reelected in. December, 1799, the official record carries the following laudatory reso- lution: “That the Lodge, deeply impressed with a due sense of their W. Master’s Skill, Abilities & unremiting attention to the Interest & good Government of this Lodge—return him their unfeigned, Sincere & hearty thanks for his past Services—highly flattered with the pleasing hope that the same Harmony, good order & Brotherly love will prevail in this Lodge which has for the many years past while he Presided.” Upon his reelection in December, 1803, another resolution of praise was recorded: “That the thanks of this Lodge be presented to our Wors. Master Francis Lowthrop, for his watchful care of the interests of the Craft, and his. particu- lar exertions for the advancement of the respectability of this Lodge, during a Presidency of twelve years; and also to our Br. Treasurer, Wm. Kean, and the other officers, for their invariable attachment to, and their wishes to advance the honor of the fraternity. And further, that in con- sideration of the W. Master’s valuable services rendered to this body, by his unremitting attention to the Masonic Hall, since the commencement of its erection, the sum of his sub- scription to that building to be passed to his credit.” Apparently there had been difficulty in collecting some of the money pledged for the new structure, for a resolution was adopted September 7, 1803, when the minutes are re- sumed, authorizing the treasurer to “solicit the counsel of Bro. Woods, or some other gentleman of the bar, on the subject of debts due by individuals to the Lodge Building, by subscription—and that he prosecute, with the assistance of such Counsel a suit already commenced against Pierce Manning, for a donation promised to said building, on certain conditions.” i Thanks of the lodge was “bestowed on Brothers Carney and Stanly, for their exertions in favor of the Lodge in col- lecting money to satisfy the demands of Mr. Bryan ... and that they be requested to use their industry in the further- ance of this object.” After discussion, it was decided October 5 to give up a scheme for conducting a Grand Lottery to raise money for LODGE BUILDING PROGRESSES 73 the building. The committee was asked to “wait on the Managers and know if they will manage the Ponders of such inferior Lotteries as the Lodge may adopt. ‘ Three days later a plan was approved for “small Lotteries. The committee for superintending the erection of Mason s Hall was directed to wait on Mr. Dewey to ascertain the progress of the structure and the reasons for its tardiness. Dewey was evidently the architect and contractor in full charge of construction. He had been asked in March, 1799, to draw a plan and present an estimate as to the cost for its n. at of the committee requested to hurry up Dewey in his work on the building were also authorized to employ a carpenter to make a door and other wood necessary im- mediately for plastering, and to proceed at once thereafter with the plastering. The Worshipful Master was instructed to draw on the treasurer for the cost of 10,000 laths. it In the controversy as to whether progress on the building was too slow, William Shepard was chosen to represent the lodge, and John Stanly was chosen by Mr. Dewey to repre- sent him in acting as referees to arbitrate the differences wo parties. me sore serve as officers with Master Lowthrop were Ellis, Senior Warden; Stephens, Junior Warden; nao Kean, Treasurer. J. S. Pasteur was appointed sorely} John D. Friou, Senior Deacon; Jacob Bantz, Junior Deacon; Knowles, Tiler; and Irving, Orator. They were installed by the next month by the Grand Master, John Louis Taylor of New Bern, who was a guest speaker at the meeting. At a St. John’s Day observance service at the church December 27, the Rev. Mr. Irving delivered such a satis- factory discourse that it was voted to have it peecteus : Two nights later “the propriety of having a Masons’ Ball” was considered. It was agreed to give the ball. Osborn, F. Nash, Samuel Oliver, B. Vail and James Taylor were appointed managers, together with the Master, Wardens and Selene faceless Johnston and Dewey were added January 4, 1804, to the committee for superintending the Masonic building, “for the special purpose of adopting some plan for finishing the upper part of the building of 74 YEARS OF LIGHT ~ Masons Hall.” The result of their deliberations, it was voted, would be held decisive. 3 Lowthrop, Kean, Carney, E. Pasteur and Johnston were appointed on a committee to supervise “the laying of the Lodge Grounds.” : XXII MASONIC HALL IN USE The new lodge building was in use by the first part of the year 1804, though the upper part of the structure had not then been completed. Under the treasurer’s working account, it may be seen that 30 pounds was paid John Stanly “for Rent” on Novem- ber 29, 1802, and that in September, 1803, the sum of 30 pounds, two shillings and six pence was paid for rent; but that on May 5, 1804, the last rental payment was for only 18 pounds, six shillings and eight pence, seemingly pointing to the theory that only about half a year’s rent had to bé paid for Stanly’s building since by then the Masons were ‘meeting in their own new hall. Lodge minutes for June, 1804, specifically state that the meeting was held in “Masons Hall.” In March, 1804, Dewey presented two plans for finishing the top of the building. The lodge Master and Wardens were instructed to go with the building committee members to confer with the Theatrical Association as to what propor- tion of the remaining expense that organization might be willing to bear in order to hasten completion of the project. The committee was also requested to “wait on the man- agers of the Dancing Assembly and solicit from them con- tributions towards the expenses incurred in preparing the Masonic Hall for the accomodation of Dancing Parties this Season.” Still another use for the lodge building was started in April, 1804, when the minutes say that Irving was per- _ mitted to teach singing there. Again indicating that the structure was being used at the time, it was “motioned, seconded and agreed” on May 2 that the hall be insured for $10,000. : Ay MASONIC HALL IN USE 75 But the work was not all paid for, and the Masons ex- perienced difficulty from time to time in working out finan- cial arrangements for carrying the load of having erected such a large and handsome temple. The lodge record for July 4, 1804, states: “It was agreed, that in consequence of the embarrassment to which the fraternity is at present exposed, by the Execution that is hanging over their Building, Five Brothers should be ap- pointed to attend the collection of such debts as may appear to be due to the Lodge; and in the event of disappointment, that the members of this Committee, be authorized in the name of the Lodge, to obtain a sum sufficient to satisfy the said Execution on Loan.” . Named on this committee were Lowthrop, Ellis, Carney, Bantz and E. Pasteur. At the next meeting the Master announced that the balance due to James Bryan on the loan had been paid. : The Festival of St. John the Baptist was celebrated as usual that June 24, as well as the Festival of St. John the Evangelist the following December. Refreshments were almost always enjoyed after the church services and lodge gatherings on such occasions. An entry in the 1804 minutes tells of the appropriation of two dollars for brandy con- sumed at the June program. ; Large attendances were customarily reported in those days for these special events as well as for Masonic funerals. This was true for the last rites conducted for a distinguished member, Gen, William McClure, Revolutionary surgeon. The McClure funeral was held here November 18, 1804, from the residence of the Most Worshipful Grand Master J. L. Taylor of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. His house was on the northeast corner of New and Metcalf Streets on property he purchased in 1798 from Francis X. Martin and sold in 1812 to Asa Jones. Thus it may be seen that busy as the St. John’s Lodge members were with their building problems and financial difficulties they nevertheless continued their regular activi- ties and interests. Numerous references to various objects of charity and benevolence may also be found in their official records. 76 YEARS OF LIGHT The period constituted a high water mark of Freemasonry in New Bern, with some of the most outstanding New Bern- ians in the history of the section then included in the lodge membership and with other prominent citizens cooperating in the erection of a public theatre. XU THEATRE LEASE A special lodge meeting was called November 28, 1804, to consider “a mode for finishing the building in such manner, as to be able to deliver to the Theatrical association that part which is to be leased to them.” The following resolution was accordingly passed: “Resolved, That this Lodge will deliver that part of the Masonic Hall intended for a Theatre and constructed to be leased to the Subscribers or proprietors of the Theatre in its present condition, making an allowance to said proprietors for the differences between the condition in which it now is & that in which it was to be delivered by the contract. “And resolved further that the Master, Junior Warden & Treasurer be authorized in conjunction with the sd. proprie- tors or a Committee thereof to estimate that difference— taking care that Br. Dewey shall be present, or have notice to be present. “Resolved that Br. Wood be requested to prepare & report to the next meeting of this Lodge a lease or conveyance of that part of Masons Hall intended for the theatre to the proprietors or to their trustee according to the tenor of the articles of agreement made between the Lodge & proprietors June 29, 1802. “Resolved that this Lodge meet again on Friday next to take into consideration the unfinished business of this night.” The next Friday night, as scheduled, the committee to which had been “referred the examination of the lower part of Masons Hall intended for a Theatre laid before the Lodge the following agreement between them on the part of the Lodge & the proprietors of the Theatre: THEATRE LEASE 177 solitgl osed between the Committee on the part of the ce gem aan on the part of the Proprietors of the Theatre; that the Lodge shall deliver to said proprietors the premises to be demised as a Theatre in their present state and condition, including the sashes of the lower story, and two doors already made by Mr. Dewey, and that the Lodge shall give its Note to the said proprietors for $300 payable in six months, which sum shall be in full for the difference between the present condition of the said premises & aan in which they were to be delivered by existing contrac between the said parties. “Newbern, Nov. 29, 1804. Signed—by Wm. Shepard, Jas. McKinlay and Jno. Devereux, ‘committee for Proprietors ; and F. Lowthrop, M. C. Stephens and Wm. Kean, committee on part of the lodge. Mr. Dewey said he approved this settlement, and the lodge accepted its committee’s report. Accordingly, it lees that the Theatrical Association took possession of ine theatre portion of the building during the last part of 18 and finished its construction the next year. An entry in the treasurer’s reports is to phe; effect tbat on March 8, 1805, the Masons sold 500 feet of “plan _to the Theatrical Association for four pounds, or approximately $8.00. This lumber was probably some left over from the lodge’s building materials, and the Theatrical Association likely ‘used it to help complete the theatre. : Le i Jan to use the building par yas a } ose ae magia practically from the beginning of its construction and it has been proved that the structure was in use as early as 1804, with the unfinished theatre legally transferred to the Theatrical Association during the last part of that year, it might be accurately claimed that the present Masonic Theatre dates back to re Whether plays were actually presented in the incompleted theatre during 1804 is not definitely known. But there . every reason to assume that plays were certainly produce there the next year. The treasurer reports November 7, 1805, receiving from Tisdale and Company 25 pounds or about $50,” as “profits of a play.” 78 YEARS OF LIGHT To all lovers of Wit, Satire, Character and Sentiment. At the NEWBERN THEATRE. LLEWELLYN L. WALL, Mrs. DOUGLAS and Family, &c., will exhibit ‘ ON SATURDAY EVENING, THE 13th oF May, 1797: An ANTIDOTE FOR THE SPLEEN, For the purpofe of enticing the generous fpirits of Newbern, to indulge themfelves with an EVENING’s LOUNGE TO THEIR THEATRE. Where they will be regal’d with a Theatrical DISH OF ALL SORTS; calculated to diffipate care, raife drooping fpirits, and improve the morals. MERRY BOMBAST TRAGEDY AND SAD COMEDY Will be introduc’d by JULIO ANDREA, F. R. S. (i.e.) Fellow of the Refible Society, and felf created Doctor of Funn. ELEGANT SCENES SELECTED FROM THE DRAMATIC. POETS, For THE AMUSEMENT OF PERSONS OF TASTE. Mrs. DOUGLAS will fing fome Favourtre Sones. Mr. Watt will play b on the Guitar. To begin at 7 o’clock. Tickets may be had at the Eagle Tavern, of Mrs. Douglafs, at Mr. Lowthrop’s, at Mr. Oliver’s, at the Printing-Office, and of Mr. Wall for Half a-Dollar each. Children half price. The 1797 playbills on this page and the next page were copied from the original programs now in the possession of Paul Green, Pulitzer prizewinning dramatist of Chapel Hill, N. C., through whose courtesy they are reproduced here. Although these theatrical productions were staged in New Bern prior to the construction of the Masonic Temple, the interest of local Masons in dramas is proved by the fact that all those having tickets for sale—Messrs. Lowthrop, Oliver, Fellows, Fabre and Pasteur—were members of St. John’s Lodge. THEATRE LEASE 79 NEWBERN THEATRE. Dr. LLEWELLYN LECHMERE WALL, (of Orange county) Witt on WepnespAy EVENING, THE 16th or ee snk ne Phyfic to the mind, i the NewBerN THEATRE, wholefome Peete diffipate care, raife drooping fpirits, and PRR a morals. His prefcriptions will be Ea up Lan neh ates pee § e, Congreve, Farquhar, a 2 Sera by whom he has practifed for upwards of thirty years. First HE WILL PERFORM A SURPRISING CURE FOR S&C? O02? Le DAN“ Gs; hakefpeare’s Comedy of . DOUGLAS & Co. taken from 8S te ate igs the “TAMING or THE SHREW: PETRUCHIO, by ur Watts As GRUMIO, ” He Mr. LATHY, GRUMIO, x x ? And CATHERINE, (the feold) by Mrs. DOUGLAS. the liberal fpirits tharacters will be performed by The reft of the C rene ey i few Songs fadly, to Doctor of Funn) will fing a pga ore execrable tunes, viz. ; Tue LEARNED PIG, Tur UPS AND DOWN’S OF LIFE, And MURDER IN IRISH, Merchant of Venice, i iticifm on the plays of Tamerlane, Sai ear Othello, and Beggar’s Opera. ( Some fallies of W r, and Bombatt, will alfo be Di llies of it, Humour, tpontaneous The whole to conclude with a Dance call’d the COUNTRY WEDDING, AccompaNreD BY DARBY AND JOAN. 4. Mr. LATHY. Dine Hee Mr. WALL. i fter feven. To begin at half an hour a’ i i t Mr. Oliver’s, Mr. i d at Mr. Lowthrop’s ftore, a Pe eo toe at the Printing Vice xf pia and at th Hagle Tavern, for half a dollar each. C r Seis Beles Mr WALL moft humbly renee Wa inc eee ee Lenny aa , this Exhibition wi ny, f Fe eee and they fhall not wait. Remember: ’Tis his laft time of afking. | 80 YEARS OF LIGHT The Masonic Theatre now ranks as “‘the oldest theatre in America still in regular operation.” The Library of Con- gress has checked and approved this claim, reporting in- ability to find any reference to an American theatre built prior to the one here and still in constant use. The Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce points to the Walnut Street Theatre as the oldest theatre standing in the Quaker City, but says that it was not opened as the Olympic Theatre until January 1, 1812. The “old” theatres at Charleston and Williamsburg are restorations or repro- ductions. Of course, the Masonic building did not provide the first theatre in New Bern but it must have been by far the best one. In a letter to his wife, Judge James Iredell wrote of a performance of Fielding’s “The Miser,” presented in 1787 by the “American Company of Comedians” at New Bern and attended by Iredell with Samuel Johnston: “I never was so disgusted in my life. They are a most execrable set, infinitely worse than ours; and the great Mr. Smith appeared to me the greatest blockhead I ever saw. * This opinion was pretty general. The place was a most _ abominable one, and one-half the audience could neither hear nor see.” During the Spring of 1797 the actor and manager named Edgar toured through North Carolina with a company from Charleston and advertised the opening of a “New Theater” at New Bern, made available through the work of the local “Theatrical Society,” composed of “Gentlemen of the town.” In the North Carolina Gazette published March 18, 1797, at New Bern, was this notice: “Mr. Edgar respectfully informs the ladies and gentlemen of Newbern, that the NEW THEATRE, Mr. Turner’s still room, will open on Monday, March the 20th, with the PROVOK’D HUSBAND. Preceding the play, an OC- CASIONAL ADDRESS, by Mr. Edgar. Between the Play and Farce, a VARIETY OF SINGING. To which will be added Mr. Coleman’s celebrated Comic Opera of INKLE & YARICO, OR THE AMERICAN HEROINE. The price of admittance one dollar, children half price. At the Eagle Tavern. Doors to be opened at 7 o’clock and to begin at half THEATRE LEASE 81 past 7.”) Gallery seats at 25 cents were announced for “people of colour.” " No wonder New Bernians were so proud and pleased to have a new theatre, which was such an improvement on the 1787 one in which half the audience could not see or hear the performers and the 1797 theatre in the still room. There were many amateur actors in the city in those early years. Colonel Whitford lists some of them as Francis L. Hawks, Cicero Hawks, John Hawks, John H. Bryan, Hamil- ton Graham, James W. Bryan, Thomas and Richard Black- ledge, Charles B. Shepard, Edward Stanly, Thomas Carney, who is said to have made an admirable Falstaff, and James C. Stevenson, who often took female roles. Later actors mentioned by Colonel Whitford included C. C. Clark, Edwin Hunter, Thomas Ellis, William H. Mayhew, John C. Court, John M. Oliver and Col. John V. Jordon. Prior to the completion of the ballroom in the Masonic Temple, the members agreed early in 1805 to lend their lodge room for the use of dances. At a quarterly session January 2, after officers had been reelected the previous month, with John F. Templeton appointed Tiler, a resolution to that effect was adopted: “Resolved, That until the Ball room in the lower story of the Masonic building be finished, the inhabitants are per- ‘mitted to hold the Regular New Bern Dancing Assemblies in the Lodge Room, on a written application to the Master, Senior & Junior Wardens, or in their absence, to the next officers of the Lodge, provided they concur unanimously. The Managers of such Assemblies to pay Forty shillings for each night, for the purpose of employing some discreet per- son to superintend the safety of the Building. “Resolved, That the aforementioned officers shall not have power to grant permission to the Managers above mentioned on any night on which a Lodge is to be held. “Resolved, That the furniture of the Lodge shall on no account, be lent to the Managers of such Dancing Assem- blies ; except the Benches, Chairs, Tables & Chandileers.” However, unanimous consent was afterwards given to this proviso: “Resolved, That in future, permission will not be granted to any private party, to dance in the Lodge Room; and that 82 YEARS OF LIGHT the W. Master be authorized to refuse permission to any application for that purpose.” 4 Seventeen shillings and six pence was appropriated for andirons, shovel and tongs for the new lodge room; and thirty-one shillings and ten pence for knives and forks. Many other such purchases are reported from time to time in the minutes, and a number of gifts were also made to the organization. Still in possession of the lodge are six small silver salt spoons and six small silver knives with curved blades, handed down from days long past. St. John’s Lodge also owns tall brass andirons, said to have been used a century and a half ago in the Masonic rooms at Tryon’s Palace and saved by John Lane when the Palace was burned in 1798. The andirons are three feet high, and each top weighs four and a half pounds. The regular committee for superintending the completion of the new hall and theatre and communicating with the Theatrical Association was given power to act early in 1805 on questions which might arise, under instructions to report their decisions at lodge meetings. Matters relating to the theatre and its management are mentioned occasionally in the minutes. For some years the Theatrical Association had charge of the theatre, but well before the expiration of its 50-year lease the theatre re- verted to the lodge. XXIV CUPOLA FUND DONATED The Theatrical Association, composed of “Gentlemen of the Town,” was not the only dramatic organization assisting in the erection of the Masonic Theatre. A more youthful amateur theatrical group, composed of school boys—in those days women and girls rarely if ever appeared on the stage, female parts being played by men and boys—donated $139.50 from their treasury, suggesting that it be used towards the cost of erecting an ornamental dome, spire, cupola or other decoration on top of the new temple-theatre. CUPOLA FUND DONATED 83 The treasurer reports receipt of this gift on July 28, 1804. At a meeting the next February the Masons approved the boys’ recommendation that their contribution be used to start a fund for an ornament on the roof. On November 6, 1805, they ordered the work undertaken. According to an itemized report in the treasurer’s book, this “new roof” was completed in 1806, with B. C. Good as the contractor and Brothers Stephens and Kean as super- visors. The contract price for this project was $545, and other expenses brought the total cost to $606.45. Most of the accounts in this old financial ledger are figured in pounds, shillings and pence; but the bookkeeper kept an account in dollars and cents also for the expenditures on the cupola and the building in general. Colonel Whitford wrote later that the ornamental dome was found to be expensive to keep in repair, because of its exposure to the weather, so that when the roof was reno- vated some years later it was removed. Some modern Masons have expressed an opinion that it should now be replaced. Inspired by the Rev. Mr. Irving, their minister, teacher and dramatic coach, the school boys wrote such an excellent letter to the lodge in setting forth their recommendation for the roof ornament when they sent their contribution, that it was ordered to be recorded in full in the Masonic minutes. It follows: ~ “The Right Worshipful Master, Officers and Members of St. John’s Lodge No. 3, Newbern. “Gentlemen, “We are about to make a donation to your respectable body, and as we are, as yet, but children, perhaps it may be proper for us to acquaint you how we became possessed of the sum, which accompanies our compliments. “Our preceptor entertains an opinion that Theatrical exer- cises, of the unlicentious kind, occasionally attended to, im- proves our retentive faculties, polishes our manners, pre- pares our voices gradually for oratorical modulation, gives us confidence, and banishes that timidity so embarrassing to the youthful orator, enables us to read the world, and catch the manners of mankind, increases our abhorrence of vice, 84 YEARS OF. LIGHT and engages our tender minds at an important age, on the side of virtue. : “He has thot proper, therefore, to prepare us for an exhibition of that kind. We have performed, and have been honoured with the company of the liberal. Conscious from the gentlemenlike sentiments of honor, which he has taken pains to instil into our minds, that it would be improper and even disgraceful, to put into our own pockets, the money arising from such a performance, we cast our eyes around us, to discover to what purpose it might be usefully applied, and have come to the resolution, Gentlemen, to present it to your respectable fraternity. “The sum is one hundred and thirty-nine dollars and fifty cents, and we cordially wish it was ten fold. We beg, how- ever, as our wishes are in rather a greater ratio than our puerile abilities, that you will accept it, for the purpose of assisting you in erecting a Dome, Spire, Cupola, or any other ornament you may think proper on your elegant & useful building. “Altho’ we are as yet but boys, we are sensible how ornamental the Masonic Hall is to the town of Newbern, and we pleasingly anticipate the period, when we ourselves, ‘after our blossoms have ripened into manhood,’ shall be per- mitted to tread your consecrated floors and drink the waters of wisdom, from that pure fraternal fountain, which, if we are to credit your books, may one day, cause morality, con- cord, and amity, ‘to cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea.’ j “We are, Gentlemen, with sentiments of the profoundest respect, your most obedient and very humble Servants.” Signed, by George W. Cook, Thos. J. Singleton, Thos. J. Stanly, Jarvis B. Buxton, Wm. Tisdale, Jno. Daves, Jas. Tignor, Alfred Gatlin, Edw’d. Graham, Wm. Green, Jas. Carney, Jno. Witherspoon. The following answer was drafted by Grand Master J. L. Taylor, Worshipful Master Lowthrop and Editor Osborn and approved by the lodge: “Young Gentlemen, “The donation you have been pleased to bestow on our institution, to assist in the completion of the Masonic Hall, CUPOLA FUND DONATED 85 has been received, and shall be scrupulously devoted to the objects you have designated. “Tn returning you the thanks of the Lodge, for being thus distinguished as the object of your bounty, it would be doing injustice to the feelings of its members, not to express their admiration of the just and pertinent reflections, the refined sentiments, and the neat and appropriate terms which adorn the letter you have transmitted. “They derive peculiar pleasure, from the reflection, that while you perceive thus clearly the advantages conferred by education, a sure presage of future usefulness is afforded, and a pledge given, that the labours and anxieties of your parents, preceptor & friends will be amply rewarded, by the prudence and integrity of your conduct. “Persevere, ingenuous youths, in the cultivation of moral virtue, in the acquisition of useful knowledge, and in an exact conformity to the advice and instructions of your teacher. Reverence God, honour your parents, love one another, and do good to all mankind. “Accept our best wishes for your prosperity.” Signed, Francis Lowthrop, Master, St. John’s Lodge, No. 8. Jno. S. Pasteur, Sec’y. Thomas Pitt Irving was an exceptionally “liberal’’ edu- cator and minister of his era. When plays were presented by the two literary societies before the trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the com- mencement exercises there in 1796, General Davie, “Father of the University” and at that time Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, A. F. & A. M., objected to the dramas and banned them as part of the University curriculum. Davie wrote to James Hogg, a trustee, August 3, 1797, when he was still Grand Master: “As to acting plays at the University, I think they are by no means as well calculated for improvement in elocution as single speeches. Acting a whole play is absurd and improfitable from every point of view. If the faculty insists upon this kind of exhibition, the trustees must interfere. Our object is to make students men, not players.” On the other hand, Irving was particularly interested in dramatics, and encouraged plays at the New Bern Academy. 86 YEARS OF LIGHT He thus ranks as a pioneer amateur dramatist and producer in North Carolina, an able forerunner of the now-famed Carolina Playmakers at the State University. His school here was one of the first anywhere to present dramas on public occasions. New Bern students on Decem- ber 23, 1793, only little more than a month after his arrival to become the local principal, gave “a dramatic piece in ridicule of scholastic pedantry.” Commencement programs the next Spring included an original skit he wrote and pro- duced, and a play called “Mock Doctor or Dumb Lady Cured.” Thus it is likely that as a prominent Mason, Irving had a great deal to do with the lodge’s decision to adapt its new building for regular use also as a public theatre. He probably had much to do with the construction of the Masonic Hall, as well as the new brick school building, finished across the street in 1806 and now ranking as the oldest schoolhouse still in use in North Carolina. As writer and orator, poet and musician, Irving frequently participated in Masonic programs. He often composed, directed and accompanied special odes for Masonic funerals or church programs. For some time during the last part of his 20-year residence in New Bern, before moving to Hagers- town, Md., in 1813, he served for several years as Worshipful Master, including the time of completing and dedicating the local Masonic temple. In these various capacities, he was responsible for much of the outstanding history made during that period by St. John’s Lodge. Many of his pupils, perhaps due largely to his influence, became outstanding North Carolinians, as William Gaston, noted orator, State Supreme Court Justice and composer of the State anthem; Dr. Francis Lister Hawks, minister, edu- cator and historian, three times elected a Bishop; the Rt. Rey. Cicero S. Hawks, Bishop of Missouri; George E. Badger, Superior Court Judge, United States Senator and Secretary of the Navy; and Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr., Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M., 1830-31, who served as Governor of North Carolina, 1835-36, with his father being the only instance of father and son becoming governors of this State. WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS 87 During his 17 years as rector of Christ Church here Irving was considered an able preacher and lecturer, as he was later at Hagerstown until his death there in 1818. Illness prevented him from delivering his memorial sermon for Gov. Richard Dobbs Spaight the Elder, a communicant of his church, but it was printed in part in The Raleigh Register. Governor Spaight had been mortally wounded in a duel here on September 5, 1802, with John Stanly, son of John Wright Stanly and State legislator and Congressman of note. The duel between the 44-year-old former Governor, first native-born North Carolinian to become the State’s chief executive, and the 28-year-old rising Congressman, is re- ported to have taken place in the rear of the Masonic Temple lot. Dr. Edward Pasteur was Spaight’s second; and Edward Graham served as second for Stanly. William Gaston was active in securing a gubernatorial pardon for Stanly. A poem Irving adapted to close his eloquent tribute to Spaight was copied for the native New Bernian’s tombstone on his plantation, “Clermont,” across Trent River. XXV WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS Of special significance in St. John’s Lodge annals is the fact that it had a portrait of its Worshipful Master painted in 1805 by the noted artist, William Joseph Williams, who a decade earlier had painted a portrait of George Washington for the Masonic lodge at Alexandria, Va., of which the first President had served as first Worshipful Master. A painting of Worshipful Master Lowthrop by Williams, then residing in New Bern, was authorized by lodge action February 6, 1805, as follows: “Resolved, That in consideration of the high respect, in which this Lodge hold the character of their Master, and in gratitude for the many and important services which he has rendered this society, during his twelve years presidency over it, the Lodge appoint a committee to procure a Por- trait, drawn by Brother Williams, for the Worshipful 83 YEARS OF LIGHT Master, and that they procure an elegant & appropriate frame for the same, and hang it up in a conspicuous place in the Lodge Room, and that the said committee draw on the Treasurer for the sums necessary to defray the expences of this affectionate tribute of Respect to the merits, virtues and services of their Master, and that Brothers Osborn & Ellis be the ‘committee to carry into effect the foregoing Reso- lution.” : The portrait of Lowthrop, painted by Williams, was pre- sented to the lodge a month later, by John Osborn, then Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, at a meeting held here on March 6. Members voted to hang it in an appropriate spot in the lodge room. Today it hangs in Lowthrop Hall, named in honor of this prominent Masonic leader. In two different entries in the Treasurer’s Ledger, it is set forth that the lodge paid Williams 20 pounds, or about $40, for painting this portrait. One of these entries shows that on February 8, 1805, the sum of 20 pounds was credited to the cash account, “By Working Account for order to pay Br. Williams for a Portrait in Crayon of R. W. Master Fra’s. Lowthrop.” On the same date this amount was shown as having been paid out in cash to “Br. Williams.” Evidently the artist was paid in advance for his work, but delivery of the finished product came within a month. Two other entries, both dated February 22, show that a “Frame for R. W. M. Portrait” cost 10 pounds. Painted with his Masonic regalia, Lowthrop bears a strik- ing resemblance to the Masonic portrait of Washington by the same artist. As this picture was made little more than a year and a half before Lowthrop died, it does not resemble so much the painted medallion made during his young man- hood, now in the possession of the local lodge, to which it was presented by the late F. C. Roberts, to whom it had been given by the original’s daughter, Miss Sally Lowthrop. The artist, Williams, was reported as a visitor at the meetings of St. John’s Lodge when the Lowthrop painting was authorized and presented. At intervals during that period he is listed as a “visiting brother” at other local lodge sessions, as, on November 18, 1804; December 5, 1804; three WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS 89 meetings on St. John’s Day, December 27, 1804; January 2, 1805; February 28, 1805; March 2, 1805; and May 3, 1805. Whether he attended later meetings that year or the next is not known, as the minutes are missing from May 8, 1805, to December, 1807. A transcript of part of these missing minutes in the Grand Lodge files seems to indicate he may have been a member in 1806, as he was on a committee for a band at the funeral for Worshipful Master Lowthrop. The name of Williams does not appear on the New Bern lodge membership list, the extant local: minutes or the treasurer’s book as a member of the local organization. Since he is often reported as a “visiting brother,” he likely became a Mason before he moved to New Bern from Charles- ton, S. C., during the latter part of 1804. Returns to the Grand Lodge of Masons for the year 1806 are said to show Williams as a member of St. John’s lodge here, though the 1805 and 1807 proceedings do not show that name. Since the local minutes for that period are not extant, it is impossible to check definitely whether or not he actually transferred his membership here. In 1807 he moved to New York City. Williams is chiefly famous in the art world for his por- trait of Washington in Masonic regalia, the only authentic Masonic portrayal of the first president extant. It is a highly-colored pastel, and is believed to be the most accurate likeness of Washington in his advanced age. This valuable portrait of Washington was painted in 1794 while he was president of the United States, by order of the Masonic lodge at Alexandria, of which he had served as Worshipful Master for eight months during his presidency. There were thirteen sittings for the painting in Philadelphia, then the capital of the United States. Upon completion of the assignment and approval of the result by Washington, the picture was delivered to the Alexandria Masons by Williams, and “the same being ap- proved, received his compensation.” He asked for a larger amount of money but on December 20, 1794, the Alexandria lodge minutes show “Lodge of the opinion that in the sum of $50 paid him, he received full compensation.” This fee is of interest, when compared with the $100,000 offers re- portedly declined in recent years by the owners. 90 YEARS OF LIGHT The original Washington portrait is displayed as one of the main features of the museum kept open to the public in the old lodge room of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M., at Alexandria. It was planned to move it to the new Washington National Memorial erected by Masons at Alexandria, but last year it was still hanging in the historic lodge room. Even Washington’s facial blemishes are shown in Williams’ picture, as a mole under the right ear, a scar on the left cheek and pox-marks on the nose. A colored photo- graphic reproduction of the portrait was presented to St. John’s Lodge here in 1926 by the late Charles A. Williams, Sr., of Charlotte, grandson of the artist. It now hangs in the hall between the Blue Lodge Room and Lowthrop Hall. Washington’s Masonic birthday was on November 4, 1752, when he was almost 21 years of age. Paying the entrance fee of two pounds, three shillings, he became a member of Fredericksburg Lodge, No. 4, of Fredericksburg, Va. The next year he took the other two degrees there and became a Master Mason. When a charter was granted February 3, 1783, to Alexan- dria Lodge, No. 39, at Alexandria, Washington was elected to honorary membership on June 24, 1784. After it was chartered by the newly-formed Grand Lodge of Virginia April 28, 1788, Washington became the first Worshipful Master. } 1 Born in New York City November 17, 1759, of Welsh descent, Williams also lived in Philadelphia, Charleston and Georgetown, S. C., before coming to New Bern in 1804. For ten years from 1807 he resided again in New York, where he was listed as “a portrait painter.” During the first part of 1817 he returned to New Bern and made his home here until his death November 30, 1823. Masonic records show that on March 16, 1821, he was paid $10 for painting a Lodge table cloth. Williams joined the Catholic Church here, likely being a convert during a mission conducted in this city in 1821 by the Rt. Rev. John England, of Charleston, the Catholic bishop of the diocese containing the Carolinas and Georgia. Williams’ daughters were confirmed by Bishop England here on May 31, 1821, and he is mentioned as “‘a convert.” WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS 7 According to extensive research by Alexander B. Andrews, prominent attorney, Masonic leader and learned historian of Raleigh, there seems no foundation for an erroneous report that Williams had previously been an Episcopal minister. The name is thought to have been con- fused with the Rev. William Williams, a deacon in the Anglican Church who joined the Wesleyan movement. A monument was erected in 1923 at Williams’ grave in Cedar Grove cemetery here by his grandsons, Charles A. Williams and J. F. Williams, of Charlotte. More recently a book, “William J. Williams, Portrait Painter, and his Descendants,” has been published by a great-grandson, John F. Williams, Jr., of Buffalo, N. Y. On the 109th anniversary of the artist’s death in 1932, the bi-centennial year of Washington’s birth, a memorial wreath of lavender chrysanthemums was placed on the grave by Maj. Albert T. Willis, Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, and Mr. Andrews, Past Grand Master of North Carolina and Past Potentate of Sudan Shrine Temple, at the request of Walter L. Stockwell, of Fargo, N. D., Past Grand Master of North Dakota and a vice president of the Wash- ington National Memorial at Alexandria. It was pointed out that it was highly appropriate for Stockwell to send the wreath, not only because of the Masonic portrait connection between Williams and Wash- ington but also because of the fact that the North Dakota Grand Lodge traces its lineage back to North Carolina. For, the North Dakota Grand Lodge was formed by lodges authorized by the Iowa Grand Lodge, which in turn had been started by lodges chartered by Missouri, which traced its beginning back to Tennessee and through there to North Carolina. When John N. Sebrell, of Norfolk, Va., paid an official visit to New Bern as Imperial Potentate, A. A. O. N. M.S., he also placed a wreath on the Williams grave on March 28, 1934. Accompanying him were a number of officials and members of both Sudan and Khedive Shrine Temples of New Bern and Norfolk respectively. Recognition of the value of the Williams portrait of Washington was paid officially by the United States govern- ment in 1932, when it was used on the nine-cent postage 92 YEARS OF LIGHT stamp, after having been one of ten pictures of the first president selected for the stamp series issued in his honor during the bi-centennial anniversary celebration of his birth. XXVI MASONIC BOOK PUBLISHED HERE New Bern Masons have the right to be proud not only of the fact that the painter of the Masonic portrait of Wash- ington lived in New Bern and is buried here but also of the fact that early in the 19th century an important Masonic publication was printed here. The Ahiman Rezon and Masonic Ritual, already referred to in quoting from it Francis X. Martin’s account of the organization of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina,* was printed by John C. Sims and Edward G. Moss in 1805 at New Bern, by order of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina and Tennessee. Only a few copies of this priceless old book are still ex- tant. One is owned in this State by Judge Richard Dillard Dixon, Superior Court jurist and historian of note, who resides at Edenton. The volume is divided into two parts. The publication is dedicated “To the Most Worshipful and Honorable John Louis Taylor, Esquire, Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons in North Carolina and Tennessee. This Work is offered as a tribute of esteem for his amiable virtues, respect for his learning and talents, and fraternal gratitude for the zeal and fidelity with which he presides in the chair, to which the suffrage of his brethren elected inns Part II contains several different articles. The first con- sists of “A Declaration made by the convention of the lodges of the State of North-Carolina, met at Tarborough, Decem- ber 12th, 5787. To the GLORY of the GREAT ARCHI- TECT. WHEREAS the harmony and happiness of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons have been disturbed by the late revolution, and *Page 85. LOTTERIES AID BUILDING FUND 93 the free intercourse and correspondence between the Fra- ternity in America and G. Britain, thereby in a great measure broken off; whereby it has become necessary that the Brethren, in the state of North-Carolina, establish a certain mode or frame of constitution, for the well ordering and uniform government of the Society. . 2 Reports on the Tarboro convention follow, with the Con- stitution of 1797 adopted later under the administration of William Richardson Davie, then Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. Of special interest to New Bern Masons are four articles in the second part of the volume: a discourse on the history of Masonry delivered before St. John’s Lodge, New Bern, by Francois Xavier Martin, on the Festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1789; Martin’s funeral oration written in tribute to Major-General Richard Caswell, Grand Master, and delivered before the local lodge members Sunday, November 29, 1789, in Christ Church; a Masonic sermon preached at the church December 27, 1789, by Dr. Solomon Halling, in observance of St. John the Evangelist’s Day; and an address by Grand Master Taylor at the annual com- munication of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina in 1804 at Raleigh. XXVII LOTTERIES AID BUILDING FUND The series of small lotteries authorized by the lodge during the Fall of 1803 to help raise money for the building fund brought profits of $554.05 to the end of 1804, it may be seen from the books of Treasurer Kean. At first the plan was pushed enthusiastically by the members, and by November 24, 1803, Kean had received from Lottery Secretary William Shepard $251.20 as the net proceeds from “Class No. 1, 2 Foe” By the middle of the next month the fourth lottery had brought $35 to the treasury ; the fifth, $93.25; and the sixth, $94.75. But not until December 31, 1804, a year later, did the treasurer report $79.85 as having been collected on the seventh lottery. 94 YEARS OF LIGHT The lottery idea had been borrowed from other local groups. An entry in the treasurer’s records for July 23, 1802, indicates that the lodge purchased three:tickets in a lottery being conducted for the New Bern Academy, then planning to erect its school building. An entry of August 5 shows that six more tickets were then bought. Each ticket cost two pounds, or about $4. One of the tickets in the August contest held by the lodge brought a prize of $50, and two other tickets won prizes of $4 each, a total of $58, less a discount of $8.70, to leave a balance of $49.30 for the lodge from its prize awards. i In 1787 community leaders here had the State legislature pass legislation permitting Craven County to conduct a lottery in order to obtain funds for a County Home. Man- agers appointed for the lottery were Richard Dobbs Spaight, John Wright Stanly, John Hawks, Abner Neale and Spyers Singleton. Even before that, Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs reported May 18, 1759, in a letter written at New Bern to the Board of Trade in London that he had approved bills for a lottery to finish churches at Wilmington and Brunswick, similar to measures that had been passed in a number of other provinces. The early ardor displayed in the first Masonic lotteries wore off with time. In a lengthy message at a lodge meet- ing in May, 1805, Treasurer Kean reported that it had then been 15 months since the drawing of the last lottery, Class 7 in the series. Although tickets for Lottery No. 8 had been prepared, they had not been sold, he said, largely because the few individuals who had previously been giving their time gratuitously in efforts to dispose of the tickets had tired of their well-doing and were unable to devote so much free time to it. Kean therefore recommended that “this very necessary system of Finance” be kept going by allowing to ticket sellers a commission of four per cent and to the person who numbered and signed the tickets, prepared the numbers for the wheels and paid the prizes, a commission of four per cent. This would leave the lodge a clear profit of 12 per cent, he explained, and he ventured the opinion that more FRANCIS LOWTHROP 95 tickets would be sold under the commission plan and thus more money would be made for the lodge treasury. This new scheme was adopted by the members, and Kean was named secretary for the lotteries, a post he had held temporarily since Shepard’s resignation. However, there is no way of knowing how well his project succeeded, since the records are incomplete for some time thereafter. Additional construction work on Masonic Hall lagged dur- ing those years. The building committee was empowered March 6, 1805, to procure materials for laying the floor in the North room and to employ Dewey or some other work- man to attend to this as soon as possible. It was voted to have a door hung there. Since the lodge room was frequently utilized by the men working to complete other parts of the building, the mem- bers went on record in favor of requesting Dewey not to use the lodge room unless absolutely necessary. That the building was probably being used by other Masonic organizations here is evidenced by the treasurer’s entries on July 28, 1805, reporting receipt of ten pounds from “Royal Arch” and 25 pounds from “Knight Templars.” XXVIII FRANCIS LOWTHROP With the end of the second book of lodge minutes on May 8, 1805, more than two and a half years transpire before the first record in the third book, dated the first Wednesday in December, 1807. } Fortunately, however, abstracts of the proceedings in two different unbound manuscripts are filed with the Grand Lodge at Raleigh. Written by Secretary John S. Pasteur, the first year’s record starts December 4, 1805, and ends November 20, 1806; and the second annual report runs from December 3, 1806, to November, 1807. Officers were reelected December 11, 1805, at “Masons Hall,” as follows: Lowthrop, Master; Ellis, Senior Warden; Stephens, Junior Warden; Kean, Treasurer; Pasteur, Secre- tary; John F. Templeton, Tiler; John D. Friou and John R. 96 YEARS OF LIGHT Good, Deacons. They were installed on Christmas Eve, with 22 members present. John C. Osborn presided. Hardy Sanders and Stephen B. Forbes were appointed Stewards. Masons officiated at the funeral for James Bryan on January 26, 1806, when 49 members and nine visitors participated. The funeral for Silas W. Arnett was held May 31. When a fellow Mason, Bernard Bawattel of San Domingo asked for aid in September, “the members, with their accustomed liberality (knowing the inability of the Lodge to give effectual assistance) individually contributed a sum sufficient to relieve his necessities, and enable him to proceed to New York.” A third Masonic funeral was held that year, when Wor- shipful Master Lowthrop died, between the hours of 10 and 11 o’clock on the morning of October 28. . He had been elected Master 14 times, and is considered one of the most outstanding of all the Masonic leaders in the history of the lodge. That very day “a Lodge was called for the purpose of arranging the funeral of our late Most Worthy and lamented Master, Francis Lowthrop, Esq., whom it hath pleased the Almighty to call unto himself, and whose separation from us and from the Craft—yea! and from the Community of poverty and wretchedness, occasioned the Solemn Call. Present 48 members and five visitors.” As a small tribute to the deceased, it was decided that the corpse should be conveyed to the cemetery by the Masonic members “and by no other means.” Crape as a badge of mourning was prescribed for the left arms of the members for the next 30 days. James Taylor and William Johnston were named to super- intend the funeral. Adam Bantz and William Williams were requested “to form a Band of Music, in aid of their own exertions, and to perform such dirge or dirges as to them may seem suitable to the solemn occasion.” On October 29 the Masons met at the Lowthrop residence, carried the coffin to the Episcopal church and heard a dis- course by the Rev. Mr. Irving on the text: “And all Jerusalem and Judea mourned for the loss of Josiah.” This was reported to have been delivered “by the Orator, Mr. Irving, in a most eloquent and pathetic manner.” cabibbinhAicaniieiahihe Sida bisi lik a:-téslUoacasucenadanairccdaiienca FRANCIS LOWTHROP Worshipful Master for 14 Terms (This is a photograph of the painting of Francis Lowthrop by William J. Williams, noted artist who painted the famous Masonic portrait of George Washington. ) GRAND MASTER WILLIAM R. DAVIE Initiated in Masonry in New Bern ake “Ff Fs MASONIC TEMPLE COMPLETED 97 Evidently at the time of his demise Lowthrop must have been in straitened financial circumstances and the lodge bore the cost of the funeral. The burial expenses totalled $150.49, the treasurer’s reports state. Collections taken by Samuel Oliver amounted to $63.42 and Adam Bantz collected - $18, a total of $76.42. A note for the remaining half of the costs was given to the undertaker, Hinkley. This note was paid the following June. Martin, Benjamin Woods and John L. Taylor were elected delegates to the Grand Lodge on November 5. Grand Lodge records show that Martin and Gen. Durant Hatch attended the session. : Past Grand Master John Louis Taylor was elected the next month to succeed Lowthrop as Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge. He had been active in the local group for some time, and during his terms as Grand Master from 1802 to 1805 attended many meetings here, as had also Grand Marshal Osborn. Ellis was renamed Senior Warden; Stephens, Junior Warden; Kean, Treasurer; Irving, Orator; Templeton, Tiler; Friou and Good, Deacons. Adam Bantz was made Secre- tary; with Moses Jarvis and William Conway as Stewards. With Lowthrop’s death passed an important early era in lodge history. He had been active in the organization here since shortly after reorganization of the lodge in 1787. When Washington visited here in 1791 he was on the com- mittee to prepare the Masonic address of welcome. From 1792 until his death 14 years later he served continuously as Worshipful Master. During 1799 he acted as “Vice Grand Master,” to visit lodges through this region. XXxIxX MASONIC TEMPLE COMPLETED That a building boom was under way in New Bern during the early part of the 19th century, with many fine homes being erected as well as a new schoolhouse and other struc- tures, is indicated from a report in the Masonic minutes that Contractor Dewey had been repeatedly requested “to 98 WEARS OF LIGHT examine the roof of this Lodge, and render a bill of cost for the finishing of this room, passage, & Stair case, but the urgency of bro. Dewey’s business has prevented his punctual attendance to the business.” Although in use, the lodge room was still unfinished, and the roof leaked. On Feb. 8, 1808, Dewey and Johnston were asked to examine the roof, and, if repairs were deemed necéssary, for Dewey to proceed with them at once. Another motion passed by the lodge was to the effect that a com- mittee arrange with Brother Asiel Noble to make lightning rods for the building. It was voted to buy “as much aie as will lay the floor of the North room, the Theatrical Society offering to pay all expences except the plank.” Thus the members of the dramatic group were still aiding with the construction. Two coats of paint for the roof, with new paint for the outside window frames and sashes, were ordered April 5 from Edwin T. Hazlewood, a member. For his services his account due the lodge was ordered balanced. Trouble was experienced in collecting pledges for the building fund, for the Committee on Accounts was requested to report “all arrearages on the Subscription paper to Mason Hall.” A new subscription campaign was opened during the Spring of 1808 to raise money to finish the lodge room. Should the pledges be insufficient for the purpose, the Rev. Mr. Irving was empowered to draw enough-money from the bank to complete the work. Named on a committee to supervise the project were Irving, Ellis and Benners. Irving had been unanimously elected as Worshipful Master of the lodge the preceding December and was in- stalled in the office December 30, 1807, at a regular lodge meeting held “at Masons Hall.” He succeeded Past Grand Master John Louis Taylor as head of the local group. For the preceding decade Irving had served the lodge as Chaplain and Orator. Ellis was again Senior Warden, with Benners, Junior Warden, Kean, renamed Treasurer, and John Templeton, Tiler. Adam Bantz was later made Secretary; William Con- way, Senior Deacon; and Lott Battle, Junior Deacon. MASONIC TEMPLE COMPLETED 99 Worshipful Master Irving was authorized by the lodge to appoint a member to “cultivate the ground belonging to this Lodge, on conditions that the said Brother keep it so securely inclosed as to prevent the entrance of Cattle, horses, etc., etc.” Early in 1808 the Masons were informed that the man- agers of the New Bern Dancing Assembly had applied for use of the hall during the season. This request was granted, provided a fee of $10 be paid to the lodge fund and $5 to Masons Templeton and Philip Ryal for their attendance and aid each time the room was used for dances. Use of all furnishings. was permitted, except those with Masoni¢ emblems. However, this decision was reconsidered the next night. The dance managers thought the room should be lent free. Lodge members agreed to try to have a resolution passed at their next regular meeting whereby the Dancing Assembly might use the room gratis on condition they employ Tiler Templeton to take care of the furniture and “guard the house from accidents.” Not until June was Irving able to report that Dewey had at last examined the roof and had been unable to find a leak there unless in a split shingle which he had discovered. It was his opinion that a coat of paint would make the roof “perfectly secure.” The Masons met on Seithat Hee 7 to attend the funeral for “our much beloved Senior Warden, George Ellis, who was mortally wounded by an explosion of gunpowder, in attempt- ing to extinguish a fire, which broke out on the evening of Monday, the 5th. Instant.” His death is also recorded in Treasurer Kean’s book: ‘Died the 6th September, 5808 from a wound received the 5th Inst. by the blowing up a House to stop the ravages of a Fire in Craven Street.” For 14 years Ellis had served as Senior Warden, and the year prior as Junior Warden. High tribute to him is paid in the lodge minutes. After listing the members attending his Masonic funeral, the Secretary reported: “The R. W. Master (Irving) after a few pathetic reflec- tions on the melancholy accident which had robbed us of so worthy and affectionate a brother, and called us together, 100 YEARS OF LIGHT for the purpose of paying the last tribute of respect to his memory, directed the procession. . . “An impressive service, which drew from many an eye the glittering pearl of fraternal sympathy. . . His talents and virtues, as a Mason, will be held, by the surviving brethren. . . The Lodge was closed with a solemnity that fully evinced the sincerity of the regret of every brother, for the mournful task, which an unfortunate accident had imposed upon the fraternity. Memento mori.” In handwriting among the best of any of the secretaries, these minutes for the first meetings recorded in the third large book of proceedings contain Latin or English quota- tions at the end of most of the lodge sessions, apparently added by Secretary Bantz: “Pax et Concordia.” “Vide, Audi, Tace!” “Gloria Fabricatori Naturae.” ‘Poxit Fraternitas.” ‘Peace be Multiplied—Happiness Divided.” “So Mote It Be.” “So Mote It Be, Now, Henceforth, and Forevermore.” ‘Peace and Harmony let for ever rain.” Another coat of paint was voted for the building in Sep- tember, 1808. A bill for five pounds, two shillings, for paint was ordered paid in November to Dr. Edward Pasteur. With the lodge furnishing the materials, Edwin Hazlewood was reported to be responsible for paying the labor. Irving was instructed to employ some person to paint the roof, and to have the new lightning rods installed. Apparently the organization still had difficulty from time to time with unruly members. On October 5 William Lockart was suspended for six months, after he had inter- rupted Worshipful Master Irving’s lecture, with “insulting language from Mr. Lockart to the R. W. M., and behavior repugnent to decency and inconsistent with that decorum, which ought never to be dispensed with in the Lodge.” Later Lockart expressed regret at the incident and offered apologies to Irving, with the result that he was permitted to attend a meeting the next February. Irving was reelected Master in December, 1808. Benners was renamed Senior Warden, after having succeeded the late Mr. Ellis in that post. John Dewey, then back in high favor with the lodge as the temple neared completion, was made Junior Warden; Bantz, Secretary; Charles G. Ridgeley, co ne IE SE Le RRC CONSECRATION OF “‘MASONS’ HALL” 101 Treasurer; David B. Mintz, Senior Deacon; John Latham, Junior Deacon; and Templeton, Tiler. Early in April, 1809, Ridgeley and Dewey were appointed to assist the special committee then beginning to prepare plans for the consecration of the lodge room. On the first Wednesday in May a committee reported that the task of finishing the lodge room had been completed except for painting and other work delayed by damp weather. It was then voted to hold the dedication ceremony June 10. Graham, Stanly and Pasteur were named man- agers for the day’s programs; and Benners and Stephens, managers for the evening’s ball. Irving told the lodge June 7 that the room had been entirely finished and all bills had been paid except the cost of painting. He was requested to write to New York to ascertain at what premium the Masonic interests in the building could be insured and also to ask the theatre pro- prietors if they would be willing to insure their part of the house. Five months afterwards he reported he had taken out insurance of $400 at a premium of one and a half per cent in Philadelphia. XXX CONSECRATION OF “MASONS” HALL” Masons’ Hall, as it was called through the minutes and treasurer’s accounts of that period, was perhaps the largest and most elaborate building ever built in New Bern up to its time, with the exception of Tryon’s Palace. Both its exterior form and its interior hand-carved wood- work are still highly praised by leading architects and architectural students, who say it ranks as one of the finest structures of the early 19th century anywhere in America. Detailed studies of the doorways, cornices, mantel and general room plan of the lodge room appeared in The White Pine Series of Architectural Monographs published in 1927 in New York. Mural paintings still in the Blue Lodge room were added during the middle of the 19th century. 102 YEARS OF LIGHT Original plans for the structure were greatly expanded, with the result that the temple was much larger than first envisioned. The contract made with John Dewey at the outset of construction early in 1801 was for $6,460. But a special account for the building program kept by Treasurer _ Kean shows that by February 7, 1804, a total of $6,769.89 had been paid him. The aggregate amounts spent on the temple by November, 1808, when it was almost completed, came to $8,228.46, according to Kean’s records. Since the Theatrical Associa- tion expended additional sums and the lodge had finishing touches put on the structure during the first part of 1809, it is likely that the building cost around $10,000. It was re- ported to the Grand Lodge in 1807 that the New Bern Masons owned property worth $10,000. Methods of financing have been seen from the minutes kept during the eight and a half years of construction. Profits from lotteries and contributions from the Theatrical Association added considerably to the regular fees and extra donations paid by members and their friends. On May 5, 1806, the lodge was allowed by arbitrators the sum of $553.81 from Dewey’s contract for unfinished work. Despite these amounts raised or credited, it was necessary to borrow money from the Bank of New Bern. An entry in the treasurer’s ledger mentions a loan from this institu- tion, “Secured to them, the President and Directors, by Mortgage on Masons’ Hall, dated 11th November, 1805. It is interesting to note here that the completion of the Masonic Temple was thus perhaps made possible by the opening of this new banking institution here, as one of the first two banks chartered in North Carolina. The local bank and the Bank of Cape Fear at Wilmington were both in- corporated by the General Assembly in 1804. William Gaston served for some time as president of the Bank of New Bern, which was long quartered in an attractive brick building which stood for years at 54 Craven Street, on the site of the former Gaston home in which he had been born. Masons were likely among the organizers, officers and di- rectors of the bank. Though set for June 10, 1809, the consecration of Masons’ Hall was postponed to St. John’s Day, June 24, with the ball ; : : ; i Secchi et cli le lca asate ia CONSECRATION OF ‘MASONS’ HALL” 103 planned for the night of June 27. It was not considered exactly proper to hold the dance on the night of the dedi- cation. The following account of the consecration was presented to the lodge on July 5 by Senior Warden Benners and ordered to be recorded in the minutes: CEREMONY OF FREE MASON HALL On Saturday the 24th June being the festival of St. John the Baptist, agreeably to previous notice the W. Master, officers and members of St. John’s Lodge, together with a number of respectable Brethren from Sister Lodges, as- sembled in the Court house in the grand hall of Justice, where the Lodge was opened in due form, and the Master & Wardens of Lodges, and private Brethren arranged in Seats Set apart for them for their particular reception. About half past 11 O’clock the procession was formed and moved in the inverted order of gradation, Accompanied with a Band of Music which continued to play, untill the pro- cession had entered Masons Hall, and marched three times around the Lodge room. The Brethren then took their Seats. The Lodge was deposited on a pedestal, in the center of the Hall; and three lights and three Pitchers Containing Corn, Wine & Oil were placed thereon. The Bible, Square & Compasses and book of constitutions resting on Velvet Cushion, were laid upon the altar. The Foundation Stone anthem was then sung, with grate solemnity, accompanied with instruments, after which an Exodium on Masonry was then delivered by the Senior Warden concluding with an entimation of the Architect desire to return the implements entrusted to his care, at laying the Foundation Stone; on which the architect (Dewey) addressed the Master in an appropriate speech, who expressed his approbation of the architect’s conduct, and requested the Senior Warden to receive the Implements and deposit them among the paraphernalia of the Lodge. A Solemn piece of Music was now performed, during which the Ladies, and such of the musical performers & other gentlemen as were not Masons, withdrew, to the ad- jacent apartments, and regaled themselves during the Hi SST 104 YEARS OF LIGHT Mystic ceremonys of the Lodge, with refreshments prepared for their accomodation. \ The Master then ordered the Hall to be tiled, on which the Lodge was uncovered, and the Senior Warden informed the Master that it was the desire of the Society to have the Hall Dedicated to Masonry. The Master in consequence of this intimation, commanded the Officers & Brethren to assist in the ceremony. The imprisive grandure of which was not a little increased by the solemnity of instrumental Music. A procession being formed circumambulated the Hall thrice in Masonic form, for the ceremony of Dedication. At the close of the first mystic ceremony the Music was silent, and the Master in Solemn form proclaimed the Hall Dedi- cated to Masonry. Upon which the grand honors were given. | At the close of the second ceremony, the music again was silent, and the Master in Solemn form proclaim’d the Hall Dedicated to Virtue. The grand honors were repeated. At the close of the third ceremony the Music again paused & the Master in Expression, grand, Solemn & impressive, pro- claimed the Hall Dedicated to Charity and universal benevolence, and the Mystic rites were terminated with a three fold repetition of the grand honors. The Lodge being then covered and the doors opened, the Ladies were again introduced, amidst the aclamation of the Brethren. An anthem insued, composed & set to Music by the Reverend Mr. Irving, the Master, who then delivered an Oration prepared for the Occasion, which gave Universal Satisfaction. The whole was concluded by an excelent anthem entitled Urania, also set to Music by the Rev’d. Mr. Irving for the occasion. In order to close the Lodge agreeable to the ancient es- tablished Masonic rules, the procession was formed & accompanied by the music, moved thrice around the room, proceeded back in the same order to the Hall of Justice, where an unanimous Vote of thanks was ordered to be re- corded, to those Ladies and gentlemen who had so cheer- fully & politely assisted in the Music which so eminently contributed to the Splender of the whole Ceremony. The unremitted zeal of our Master without whose aid & exertions the business of the day could not have been accomplished, MANY PROMINENT MEMBERS 105 next claimed and received the Suitable acknoledgements, after which the Lodge closed in due form. The Monday evening following as had been previously announced a Ball was given by the fraternity, which in consequence of the unusual pleasantries of the weather for the Season of the Year, was attended by a brilliant as- samblage of Ladies who participated in the amusement, and entertainment of the evening with much apparrent gaity & gratification. XXXI MANY PROMINENT MEMBERS Numerous prominent men of the day were members of St. John’s Lodge during the first part of the 19th century. Many of these names have already been evident in the build- ing and meeting reports, and others will be mentioned in later records. Jonathan Price, who completed a map of New Bern in 1810, frequently attended local lodge gatherings about that time. Frederick Nash, who represented the lodge at the Grand Lodge communication in 1804, moved from here in 1807. He was appointed Deputy Grand Master in 1820. Given the fourth and fifth degrees of Masonry September 14, 1809, was the Rev. Jonathan Otis Freeman, a Presby- terian minister and physician, who became principal of the New Bern Academy, after having been in charge of the Edenton Academy. Assisting him here at the school several years later were two brothers, the Rev. Frederick Freeman, an Episcopal minister, and the Rev. George W. Freeman, who became the Episcopal Bishop of Arkansas. In 1819 he was elected Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge, and later that year was appointed a Grand Chaplain for the Grand Lodge. As one of the many instances of Charity extended to the unfortunate, a small, suitable building “for the accommo- dation of the distressed Widow of our late Worthy Master Francis Lowthrop,” was sought by the lodge, under action taken August 3, 1809. Irving and John S. Pasteur were 106 YEARS OF LIGHT named to seek such a place. Lowthrop had then been dead for almost three years. For a third consecutive term, Irving was reelected Master on December 6, 1809. Benners and Dewey were renamed Wardens; and Ridgeley, Treasurer. Templeton was re- appointed Tiler, with Bantz again Secretary, Mintz and Latham as Deacons, and Philip Ryal and Redmond Joyce as Stewards. St. John the Evangelist’s Day was celebrated as usual ‘that month, at “the house of divine Worship, accompanied with Solemn Music, and after hearing a most eloquent dis- course, Suitable on this Occasion, delivered by the Rev’d. Thomas P. Irving, our W. M. and Orator, the procession again formed, and returned to the Lodge room. The Lodge then closed with the usual Ceremoneys, after which the Breathren regailed themselves with a sumptiouse dinner, and each Brother returned to his home in peace & good will to all man Kind,—So mote it be.” Another long lapse without minutes transpires in the records soon after this time, no entry being extant from January 3, 1810, to December 7, 1814, almost five years. Nor was any official representative from the lodge reported at Grand Lodge communications for 1811, 1812 or 1818. Benners Vail is listed as a visitor at the Grand Lodge in 18138. By the date that the minutes are resumed in 1814 Irving had left New Bern for Hagerstown, and Lucas Benners is listed as the Worshipful Master. At a meeting recorded for December 7 Benners was reelected to the office. He was a prominent New Bernian, long Secretary of the Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church. Jonathan Price was elected Senior Warden; with Edward C. King, Junior Warden, and Asa Jones, Treasurer. Mintz was named Senior Deacon; F. George, Junior Deacon; and James Kennedy, Tiler. Thomas Watson was appointed Secretary. Members delinquent in dues were voted the next May to be regarded as having withdrawn from the rolls until they might become reinstated by paying up the amounts owed. As another way to increase the funds in the treasury, Price and M. Huntington were named on a committee to submit MANY PROMINENT MEMBERS 107 a lottery scheme, “in pursuance of the Act of the General Assembly, authorizing a Lottery for the benefit of St. John’s Lodge.” In a desire to have non-resident members of the lodge participate in the meetings, it was voted May 3, 1815, to have quarterly sessions during the week of the quarterly County Court terms here. There were many Masons belong- ing to the lodge who resided outside of New Bern. Among these men from out of the city joining St. John’s Lodge was Otway Burns, who petitioned for membership January 3, 1810, and as his was regarded as “a case of immergency he was balloted for and approved.” His being a member of the Masonic lodge here may help explain the fact that his privateer, “Snap Dragon,” during the War of 1812, was paid for and equipped by a stock com- pany formed at New Bern, including such stockholders as Isaac Taylor, John Harvey, Dr. Edward Pasteur, John H. Bryan, William Shepard, James McKinlay and others. Sailing the seas from Newfoundland to South America, this craft during the first seven months of 1814 captured ten British vessels with cargoes valued at $1,000,000 and took 250 prisoners. For some time he was “a terror to the British Merchant Marine.” Grandson of Francis Burns, who came to North Carolina jn 1734 from Scotland, Otway Burns was born in 1775 on Queen’s Creek near Swansboro in Onslow County. After amassing a large fortune, he settled in Beaufort following his war service. For a number of terms he was a member of the State House and the State Senate from Carteret County. While he was a Senator, Yancey County was formed, and its county seat was named Burnsville in his honor. When he died, his body was interred at Beaufort. On the monument now over his grave is one of the cannon from the Snap Dragon. Of particular interest in this connection is an account in the treasurer’s book under the name, “Captain Graham of the Snapdragon,” showing that this sea captain was given the first, second and third degrees by St. John’s Lodge during the war year of 1814, for which he was charged $31. The amount is credited in this ambiguous way: “This sum et 108 YEARS OF LIGHT rec’d. by Jno. Dewey, acting Master, which he never would pay over.” During the first years of the century St. John’s Lodge ranked as the largest in North Carolina. This was true in 1807, when 100 local members are listed in Grand Lodge reports ; and it also held true in 1812, when its 103 members far outnumbered those in any other of the 28 lodges then included in the Grand Lodge reports. The membership here incorporated so many prominent personages that it is interesting to print in full the list reported by the Grand Lodge for 1812, as follows: Thomas P. Irving, Worshipful Master. Lucas J. Benners, Senior Warden; John Dewey, Junior Warden. Thomas Wat- son, Secretary. Charles G. Ridgeley, Treasurer and Steward. James Tignor, Senior Deacon. Redmond Joyce, Junior Deacon. Lott Battle, Steward. John Templeton, Tiler. Robert Williams, Grand Master. Thomas Craig, Edwin T. Hazelwood. William Gatlin. Benjamin Ellis. Uriah Sherwood. Charles Saunders. David B. Mintz. John Washington. Enos Williams. George Dudley. Oliver Dewey. Henry Pettis. Robert Johnston. Jacob Henry. Nathaniel L. Terry. Timothy Savage. Lazarus Pierce. William Bell. Richard Cahill. David Melvin. Robert Guttry. Philo Andrews. ; Moses Jarvis. William Kean. Elisha Harrington. Robert Ogden. David Wallace. James Taylor. Frederick Lindner. William Large. James Kennedy. Abraham Simmons. Thomas Grace. William Tolson. John Vail. William D. Bryan. Richard Fisher. Daniel Carthy. Robert Pettet. William Lockart. John Gettig. John Oliver. Samuel Oliver. Asa Jones. John Real. Durant Hatch. Edward C. King. James C. Bryan. Matthias Atterson. William Nichols. John §. Nelson. D. S. Orme. Thomas I. Fuet. Abram Mitchell. Joseph Oliver. Isaac Wingate. Simeon Pendle- ton. Caleb Wilber. Frederick Blount. James Pittman. Burton Allen. Shubael R. Brainard. Russell McKee. W. B. Perkins. David Knapp. Charles Jones. Jesse Godley. Silas S. Stephenson. William Holland. Henry Tillman. Otway Burns. John Wooten. Jesse P. Mooreing. Barnum Lincoln. Samuel Freeman. Jacob Cook. Edward Pasteur. TWO GRAND MASTERS 109 William Mitchell. Frederick Foy. Charles Churchill. Fred- erick Divoux. William Lawrence. John Harvey. John C. Osborn. Andrew Richardson. Elias Hawes. Jonathan Fellowes. Joseph Masters. Allen Backhouse. George Kinns. Thomas P. Ives. John Jones. Hardy Sanders. XXXII TWO GRAND MASTERS Although the lodge minutes are missing for almost five years between 1810 and 1814, it is fairly certain that New Bern Masons were active and interested in organization work at that time because St. John’s Lodge furnished two Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina during that period. Four of the 19 Grand Masters of North Carolina between 1787 and 1840 were members of the New Bern lodge: Richard Caswell, Grand Master in 1788, belonged to the local lodge for some time; John Louis Taylor, who was Grand Master from 1802 to 1805 and again from 1814 to 1817; Robert Williams, who served as Grand Master from 1811 to 1814; and Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr., Grand Master from 1830 to 1832. : Very little is known of the life of Williams, the eighth Grand Master of North Carolina Masons. Born in Surry County, North Carolina, July 12, 1778, he probably first became a Mason in Royal White Hart Lodge, No. 2, at Halifax. He was passed and raised by St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, in New Bern on July 17, 1794. Elected a member of the Grand Lodge on December 3, 1795, he became Grand Secretary three days later. This position he held until December 16, 1808, when he was named Deputy Grand Master by Grand Master Benjamin Smith. Listing himself as an attorney-at-law, Williams was on a committee with General Smith in 1807, recommending that the North Carolina and Tennessee Grand Lodge send dele- gates to a Grand National Convention in Washington to consider the advisability of constituting a superintending Grand Lodge of America. He was also on a committee at & 110 YEARS OF LIGHT : that North Carolina Grand Lodge communication to pro- cure Grand Lodge jewels. ] Declaring himself the sole representative from St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, New Bern, as well as of four lodges in Ten- nessee, he filed at that time a lengthy brief in protest to a resolution under which the possessions of the former Democratic Lodge were to be turned over to Hiram Lodge, some of whose members had previously belonged to the disbanded group. Williams was elected Grand Master November 29, 1811, and served three years. He wrote the only document chartering a Grand Lodge which has ever been issued in the United States. He drafted the decree which separated Tennessee from the Grand Lodge of North Carolina and established a Grand Lodge of Tennessee. In 1812 he is still listed as a member of the New Bern lodge, and in 1814 he and Judge Taylor represented the local lodge at the Grand Lodge. It was at that gathering that Williams retired as Grand Master and Taylor was renamed to the post for a second series of terms. These two also - were named delegates to the Grand Lodge from here in 1818. As the fifth Grand Master of Masons in this State, Taylor was one of the most prominent Masons for many years in New Bern and North Carolina. He served as Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge in 1806-07. Immediately after this service, which came between his two different periods as Grand Master, he was appointed as Grand Marshal by Judge John Hall, then also one of the State Supreme Court Judges. Born in London March 1, 1769, of Irish parentage, Taylor lost his father at an early age, and came to America at the age of 12 with an older brother. Unable to finish his studies at William and Mary College, because of lack of money, he came to North Carolina and prepared himself for the bar without the aid of any tutor. When just 19 years old, he became a practicing lawyer in Fayetteville. At 23 he was elected to the House of Com- mons, and reelected two years later. In 1796 he moved to New Bern, and in 1798 was named by the General Assembly as a Superior Court Judge, an office he held with distinction TWO GRAND MASTERS 1 until January 1, 1819, when he became the first Chief Justice of the first Supreme Court of North Carolina, a high position he kept until he died January 29, 1829, in Raleigh. Not only was Taylor the first Chief Justice of this State but he was also the first Reporter of the State Supreme Court, and published several volumes of its decisions. He was the author of textbooks and other works, and was a member of a commission to revise the statute laws of the State. Georgetown University conferred on him a degree of Doctor of Laws, in tribute to his outstanding ability. Taylor probably became a Mason first in Fayetteville. He was one of two delegates to the Grand Lodge from Phoenix Chapter, of Fayetteville, December 14, 1793, at Fayetteville. He was then elected Junior Grand Warden, and the next year advanced to Senior Grand Warden. Though he held this office several years, likely because of professional duties, he did not attend Grand Lodge again until 1799, when William Polk, the new Grand Master, appointed him Deputy Grand Master, an office held for two years. When he was only 33 years old, he was elected Grand Master, an office he kept for three years, being succeeded by a fellow justice, John Hall. His second terms came from 1814 to 1817. When he then retired from the post, two lodges were named for him. Throughout the minutes of St. John’s Lodge during the years he was in this section he was active in Masonic leadership, and elsewhere through the State he often worked and spoke in behalf of the organization’s principles. A letter he wrote while Grand Master in December, 1816, to the Rev. Jesse Reed, bears repeating here: “Respected Brother:- I do myself the pleasure to acknowl- edge that the Grand Lodge of North Carolina have received an application from you for procuring aid in supporting missionaries for the purpose of translating the Scriptures, preaching the Gospel and gathering Churches in heathen and idolatrous parts of the world, and that they have considered the subject with all the attention due to its intrinsic im- portance, to your own long tried worth, and attachment to our Order; and let me here be permitted to add, with an anxious wish that they might perceive a solid and satis- factory ground, on which they could reconcile a compliance & 112 YEARS OF LIGHT with your application to the immutable principles of their society. “But, sir, they find it inscribed in the institute of their Order, that, as a collective lodge, they are to believe in the Eternal God, to adhere to these grand essentials of religion, in which all men agree, and leave each brother to his own private judgment as to particular modes and forms. They need not inform that a lodge is, perhaps, the only asylum - upon earth where the benevolent feelings serve as a prin- ciple of union among men of different religions and politics; and that if contests upon these subjects, which more than all others sharpen the mind of man against his brother, were introduced, it would cease to be a refuge from those painful conflicts which agitate the world. “The Grand Lodge could not promote the laudable design, in which you are engaged, in behalf of one sect of Christians, without endangering the harmony of the Craft and removing the ancient land-marks of their Order. “To a brother less enlightened than yourself, it might be necessary to enter more particularly into an explication of the principles on which they feel they cannot accede to your wishes, in order to guard against any inference that Masonry and religion are incompatible with each other. On such an oceasion, I should feel it my duty to say, that the indis- putable obligations of Free Masons, are to cultivate good will towards men, to improve their condition, and to worship the only true and living God, in fervency and truth; that, as humanity springs from true religion, every religious sect, who acknowledge the Supreme Being, are equally respected by the Order; that the great work of nature is revealed to our eyes, and the universal religion of her God is what we profess as Free Masons. I beg leave here to add, in con- firmation of the purity of the motives which governed the deliberations of the Grand Lodge upon this subject, that the individuals composing it, spontaneously contributed the sum which you will herewith receive, that each person might thereby mark his high sense of the benevolent cause in which you are engaged. (Signed) John L. Taylor “$27.00 inclosed.” Grand Master Sie elder XXXII afl THREE LOTS SOLD Another lapse in the lodge minutes as well as in the treasurer’s books occurs between May 3, 1815, and October 27, 1818, almost three and a half years. Apparently the lodge seemed to have become somewhat inactive and dis- organized during that period, for in 1819 the Grand Lodge reported it with other lodges in the state then three years or more in arrears on dues. When the minutes are resumed, they show that on October 27, 1818, officers were appointed as follows to serve until the next annual election, most of them being the ones who had served previously: : Lucas Jacob Benners, Master; John Dewey, Senior Warden; Edward C. King, Junior Warden; Asa Jones, Treasurer; Thomas Watson, Secretary; John Templeton, Senior Deacon; Thomas Sparrow, Junior Deacon; and James Kennedy, Tiler. Benners, Dewey, Jones, John Harvey and Marcus C. Stephens were named to lay off “such part of the ground belonging to this Lodge, as when sold may be sufficient to discharge the debt now due to the Bank of New Bern.” Dewey was requested to ascertain the cost of repairing the windows of the lodge rooms. Another entry for the evening read: “It appearing that the Hall of this Lodge has been forcibly entered by some person or persons unknown, and various articles of Furni- ture taken therefrom, a committee consisting of Edward C. King, John Templeton and Thomas Watson was appointed for the purpose of recovering such articles, or enquiring where they may be obtained.” : ; At the regular time for the election of officers in Decem- ber, Benners was renamed Master; Dewey, Senior Warden; King, Junior Warden; James G. Tignor, Treasurer. Watson was reappointed Secretary; and Kennedy, Tiler. The special committee for the purpose displayed a plot of the lodge property, laid off in four lots. The Master and Wardens were instructed to sell on the third Wednesday in January, if a fair day, otherwise on the next favorable day. = SS SSS 114 YEARS OF LIGHT A resolution was adopted that night, as follows: “That hereafter the Hall of this Lodge, shall not, on any occasion be opened for the use of the Dancing Assembly’s of the ~ Town.” On St. John’s Day that December 27 the Masonic service was held at “the Baptist Meeting House, where an impres- sive and appropriate Discourse was delivered to the Brethren arid a large concourse of citizens of the Town, by Brother the Rev’d. Doctor Freeman.” The thanks of the lodge was voted formally for Dr. Free- man, and he was requested to provide the organization with a copy of his address for publication. A Baptist congregation had been organized here by three persons in March, 1809. With the aid of various volunteers, a new church building, 36 feet wide, 40 feet long and 22 feet from floor to ceiling, was built on Johnson and Metcalf Streets, now the site of St. Cyprian’s Colored Episcopal Church. The Baptist meeting house had been opened during the Summer of 1811 and since then had been available for the use of Presbyterians and other denominations without a church edifice of their own. This is borne out by the fact that Dr. Freeman, a Presbyterian minister, preached the Masonic sermon there. The steeple-less Baptist meeting house and its use by the local Presbyterians, who by the way started soon on a church of their own and dedicated it January 6, 1822, were humorously described in 1818 by Stephen M. Chester, a local Presbyterian poet: “The Baptist barn comes next to view Where winter winds turn noses blue, And shivering devotees retire Right glad from worship to the fire; But Presbyterians in the lurch, Too poor or mean to build a church, Are glad to find admittance here When its own priests don’t interfere.” On February 19, 1819, Benners reported to St. John’s Lodge that three of the organization’s four lots had been sold: one to James G. Cuthbert for $651; one to John R. a PRESIDENT MONROE WELCOMED 115 Donnell, for $390; and the third to Gabriel M. Rains, for $390. Notes for the transfers were applied to the note that the lodge owed at the Bank of New Bern, leaving a balance of $85 for the Masons. A The Rains family lived for some time in a house on the lot they purchased from the lodge. Gabriel Manigault Rains, a French Huguenot, had two sons born there who became important inventors of war equipment. Their residence stood on Johnson Street, next to the Masonic Temple lot, where the Presbyterian Manse now stands. Gabriel J. Rains, born March 1, 1800, became’ an Army officer after graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1824. During the War Between the States he joined the Confederate Army, and became head of the torpedo and harbor defense bureau of the Con- federacy. He invented the submarine explosives which long locked Southern harbors and held Federal fleets at bay. Thus he is recognized as the father of modern torpedoes and depth bombs. His brother, George Washington Rains, also an Army general, made these torpedoes and sub-terra bombs effective through his development of fuse priming. He built and equipped at Augusta, Ga., the powder mills and munitions or explosives factories for the Confederate States of America. After the close of the War Between the States he patented many improvements of the steam engine and wrote a number of scientific works as professor of chemistry and later dean of the faculty of the University of Georgia. XXXIV PRESIDENT MONROE WELCOMED President James Monroe visited New Bern in April, 1819. St. John’s Lodge presented to him a formal address of welcome, just as it had 28 years previously to President George Washington. While in the city, President Monroe and his party, in- cluding Mr. and Mrs. John C. Calhoun and two children, were entertained at the home of “Sir” George Pollock, one of the wealthiest men of the State. Now modernized, the house on East Front and New Streets, formerly owned by 116 YEARS OF LIGHT James Coor and Thomas J. Emery, has long since been the property of E. K. Bishop. When here, Calhoun was Secre- tary of War. Later he became Vice President of the United States. A copy of the lodge’s address and President Monroe’s reply appear in the Masonic minutes, under the date of April 14,1819. They follow: ‘ “Sir, “In behalf of the Masonic Fraternity of the Town of Newbern, we have the honor to congratulate you, not only on your arrival among us, but also on the present un- exampled State of National happiness, prosperity and glory which distinguish our Country; and which, we have reason to believe, has emanated from a faithful adherence to the invaluable institutions of our government, and a wise and equitable administration of its laws and ordinances. “And we have further cause to felicitate you, on the Prospect, that the concord of sentiment which has taken place of party rancour since your appointment to the Chief Magistracy of the Union, will form a prominent and brilliant feature in the history of our Republic. “As members of a society whose duty it is to cultivate the arts of Peace, and to whom this union of sentiment is peculiarly gratifying, as calculated to promote social inter- course, benevolence and brotherly affection (the foundation, . cement and cap stone of an Institution, at the head of which we are proud to see recorded the names of the Father of his Country, of a Frederick, a Warren, and a Franklin) we can- not withhold our approbation of the course hitherto pursued by the Executive, for maintaining that harmony which the people of this country are so desirous of cultivating with all nations. “To our present anticipations that the result of your present journey will be highly beneficial to the United States, we have the honor to add our fervent wishes for your future Prosperity. { “We are very respectfully Your Most Obedient Servants. “Lucas J. Benners, M. St. John’s Lodge, No. 3. “Thomas Watson, Secretary. “To James Monroe “President of the United States.” FRANCIS L: HAWKS 117 To this address the President returned the following answer: “To the Committee in behalf of the Masonic Fraternity of the Town of New Bern: “In visiting this City, it is very gratifying to me to re- ceive a friendly welcome from the Society of Free Masons residing in it. “Deriving as we do, all the blessings which a kind Pro- vidence has bestowed on us, from our republican Institu- tions, we should forfeit all claims to the continuance of the Divine favor, if we did not zealously cherish, and steadily adhere to those institutions. “Having a common interest, and bound together as the American people are, by all the ties which can cement their Union, I see with great satisfaction the increasing harmony, in the public opinion, proceeding from those great causes, which you have noticed, and which it is so consistent with the benevolent Principles of your Society to cherish. “The example of the Father of his Country, and of the other illustrious citizens who were members of your Society, cannot fail to promote this desirable tendency. “James Monroe. “Newbern, April 12th, 1819.” XXXV FRANCIS L. HAWKS Due to Benners’ death, reported in the Masonic minutes July 7, 1819, Dr. Freeman was unanimously elected Worship- ful Master. The next December Dr. Freeman was appointed a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge. No minutes are extant for the 16 months from July 14, 1819, to November 15, 1820. On this latter daté the Treas- urer was authorized to draw funds needed to pay the lodge dues for three years and Moses Jarvis, Edward King and Thomas Watson were instructed to send the money to the Grand Lodge, with a letter of explanation. Benjamin Ellis was reported as a Grand Lodge visitor that year, and acted as Grand Tiler pro tempore. 118 YEARS OF LIGHT a King was elected Master December 13, 1820; with Jarvis, Senior Warden; Augustus Barker, Junior. Warden; Thomas Sparrow, Treasurer; Watson, Secretary; and Templeton, Tiler. At the next meeting Major Cook was listed as Senior Deacon, and Frederick Blount as Junior Deacon. These officers were installed February 5, 1821, by the Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge, who had been invested by Grand Master John A. Cameron with authority to visit the lodges through the State. Another endeavor to protect the lodge room and its furni- ture was shown in a motion passed September 12, 1821, instructing Treasurer Sparrow to “cause a sufficient door to be placed at the second square of the stairs, in order that disorderly boys who have lately intruded on the building, may be prevented from ascending the same.” Two months later Francis L. Hawks, 23-year-old native New Bernian then representing this borough town in the General Assembly, was appointed to represent the local lodge at the approaching communication of the Grand Lodge, though he was a member of another Masonic lodge. The second degree of Masonry had been conferred’ upon him here the previous July. Another prominent churchman, the Rev. William P. Biddle, is shown by Treasurer Sparrow’s accounts to have become a member of the lodge early in the year 1821, paying $5 on deposit and $8 for the conferring of the third degree. Born in 1787 in Princess Anne County, Va., Biddle came to North Carolina as an itinerant preacher and in 1810 married the only surviving child of General Samuel Simpson, a wealthy Baptist layman residing at Fort Barnwell. In 1818 Biddle is reported as an ordained minister and a member of the New Bern church. He was perhaps the first pastor to serve the new Baptist church here regularly after the Rev. John “Daddy” McCabe. Several years later his health failed. Of Biddle it has been written: “Being a man of large wealth he preached gratuitously. He was eminent for a devout spirit, a godly walk, and a large measure of influence in his day.” Treasurer Sparrow’s books also show that on March 16, 1821, the sum of $10 was paid to “Wm. Williams for paint- ing.” According to the minute books, this sum was voted FRANCIS L. HAWKS 119 for the noted artist who had painted the Masonic portraits of George Washington and Francis Lowthrop, for painting a “Lodge Table Cloth.” — Hawks reported on the-Grand Lodge convention at a lodge meeting held January 9, 1822, and expressed a desire to join the local organization. He was requested to retire from the room, and in his absence a motion was carried to admit him as a member without the customary fee, ‘in consideration of his zeal in the cause of Masonry, and his particular at- tachment to this lodge.” At the same meeting Hawks was named on a committee with King, who had been reelected Master, and Senior Warden Jarvis and Secretary Watson to revise the by-laws of the lodge. James Cushman, Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge, by special invitation, visited the lodge March 18, 1822, and gave lectures on Masonic degrees. He acted as presiding officer for a session March 23, when new members were Thomas J. Emery and Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr., who later became Governor of North Carolina and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. Cushman also presided when Emery and Spaight two nights later received the second and third degrees of Masonry. On March 27 Cushman was voted the thanks of the lodge, with the sum of $7 a day in addition to his ex- penses while in New Bern. An entry in the treasurer’s records shows that he was paid $75 that night. Active in Masonic work, Hawks seems responsible for improving the furnishings of the lodge room. By his sug- gestion, “two suitable pillars” to be used in degree work were procured. A notation in the minutes shows that $4.10 was paid to him for furniture. Another appropriation of $15 was passed for a carpet. Charges against John Dewey, chief builder of the Masonic Temple and long a lodge office-holder, were preferred in May, 1822, and he was expelled from lodge membership. It was alleged that he had kept for some months in his possession the keys to the hall and that they were recovered from him only by forcing the doors; that during this period he had permitted the hall be used for “base and dishonorable pur- poses, and coloured women of a lewd character introduced 120 | YEARS OF LIGHT therein”; that when some of the members remonstrated with him on the impropriety of his conduct, he was “un- gentlemanly, unmasonic, and insulting”; and that he had purloined some of the lodge furniture, in particular, a pair of double-barrel pistols. The vacant lot owned by the lodge adjoining its hall was leased in November to a member, A. Barker, for ten years, at $30 a year. A new set of steps, with a suitable railing, was voted for the south door of the Masonic building. After serving temporarily as Senior Deacon and Worship- ful Master at different times for lodge meetings, Hawks was unanimously chosen Orator for St. John’s Day on June 24 that year and the next December was unanimously elected Worshipful Master. He was asked to deliver the sermon that December for St. John the Evangelist’s Day. Barker was again elected Senior Warden; William S. Webb, Junior Warden; Major Cook, Treasurer; and Emery, Tiler. Spaight was elected delegate to the Grand Lodge meeting. While attending the Grand Lodge, Spaight was appointed chairman of two committees, one of which reported that it was deemed “inexpedient to form a General Grand Lodge of the United States.” Grand lodge members concurred in this recommendation. Then a member of the State Senate, Spaight served as Senior Grand Warden pro tem for the Grand Lodge, and was elected as Junior Grand Warden. As authorized by the General Assembly, a lottery was planned in December, 1822, for the benefit of the lodge. Stephens, Spaight, Hawks, Webb, Thomas A. Pasteur and Lewis Foscue were named managers, with Stephens to pay out the prize money. The lottery scheme was to be devised by Spaight, Webb, King, Pasteur and Watson. At the next meeting a new member, James C. Cole, was added to the board of managers. Later Nathaniel Smith and Thomas Sparrow were named in the places of Hawks, Stephens and Spaight, ‘who decline acting.” Although doubts were expressed as to whether the lottery would be called, one was held in 1824-25, and Treasurer Cook was appointed agent in September, 1825, to settle all lottery accounts and reports. FRANCIS L. HAWKS 121 Hawks acted as Worshipful Master of the lodge for a year after his election, and took an active role in Masonic, church and civic affairs. He is not listed as being present at lodge meetings after March, 1824. However, he served from 1824 to 1827 as Deputy Grand Master and in 1825 presided at most of the Grand Lodge sessions. One of the five sons of Francis Hawks, a member of St. John’s Lodge and the only son of John Hawks, who had built Tryon’s Palace, Francis Lister Hawks studied law here under William Gaston and John Stanly, after his graduation from the University of North Carolina in 1815 when he was 17 years old. He also studied in a law school at Litchfield, Conn. As Reporter to the State Supreme Court, he com- piled four volumes of North Carolina Court Records. While practicing law in New Bern during his young man- hood, at the time he served as Worshipful Master for the local Masons, he often read sermons at church services in the absence of the rector of Christ Episcopal Church. In 1827 he was ordained a deacon here, and later became a priest. After serving as assistant rector at New Haven, Conn., and then as assistant minister to Bishop William White in Philadelphia, he became rector of St. Stephens Church in New York City. Within a few months he transferred to St. Thomas Church, New York, where he served ably for 12 years. In 1836 he was elected historiographer of the Episcopal Church in the United States. He wrote many church and secular histories, including histories of his native North Carolina, and he aided with many historical and literary organizations and publications. Appointment as Missionary Bishop of the Southwest came to him in 1835, but there was no endowment for the position, so he declined it. In 1844 he became rector of Christ Church at New Orleans. Besides rebuilding that church, where he served five years, he helped establish the University of Louisiana and was its first president. Declining appointments as Bishop of Mississippi and Bishop of Rhode Island, he became rector of the Church of the Mediation in New York, which was soon merged with Calvary Church. At the outbreak of the War Between the 122 YEARS OF LIGHT States, he resigned this post in the North, and for more than two years served at Christ Church in Baltimore. Then he returned to New York to be associated with the Church of _ the Annunciation. In 1865 friends organized a new parish for him, the Church of the Holy Saviour. He died Septem- ber 27, 1866. The funeral was held from Calvary Church, and the body was interred at Greenwich, Conn. Regarded as one of the most eloquent preachers in the country, Dr. Hawks often drew theologians all the way from Europe to hear his sermons and lectures. Stephen F. Miller wrote of him later in his “Recollections of New Bern Fifty Years Ago”: “His gifts and labors considered together, the ancient town of New Bern has never produced another son of such literary accomplishments to adorn the age of her Gaston and Stanlys.” XXXVI NEW MASONIC GROUPS When Grand Lecturer Cushman returned to New Bern in April, 1828, by invitation of the lodge, the sum of $100 was lent by the organization, upon pledge of the underwriting of the amount by Pasteur and Watson, for the establishment of a new Masonic chapter here through a dispensation from the Grand Lodge. The new group was named Eureka Chapter. Later formal action was taken by St. John’s Lodge to permit the chapter to meet in its lodge room. This was about all known of the early chapter of Royal Arch Masons here until a few years ago when Charles H. Johnson, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York and the General Grand Master of the General Grand Chapter of the United States, returned to North Carolina an original copy of the ancient by-laws of the local chapter. Printed in New Bern during the year 1823 by Pasteur and Watson, the small, unbound pamphlet contains some by-laws and officers no longer provided for in Royal Arch chapters. The old rules are signed by “T. A. Pasteur, chairman of committee,” and ‘Henry Dewey, secretary.” NEW MASONIC GROUPS 123 The book was likely taken away from New Bern when the city was occupied by Federal forces during the War Between the States. The Eureka Chapter had ceased to exist long before that time, being later succeeded by another chapter and afterwards by the New Bern Chapter, No. 46, Royal Arch Masons. On November 10, 1824, St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M., recommended to the Grand Lodge the petition signed by C. Dudley and nine other Master Masons for a dispen- sation for a new Masonic lodge at the Court House in Onslow County. The new lodge was to be called the Lafayette Lodge, in honor of the Marquis de LaFayette, Revolutionary War hero, who that year had arrived in America and that month accepted the official invitation of Governor Gabriel Holmes to visit North Carolina within a few months. After working under dispensation, this lodge was granted a charter by the Grand Lodge in 1825. During July, 1823, when plays were evidently being given in the Masonic theatre, the lodge voted to suspend the by- laws so as to dispense with meetings “during the continuance of Plays at the Theatre, brothers, T. A. Pasteur and I. Mc- Master voting in the negative.” There is no indication whether the members desired to attend the plays or objected to the noise made in the theatre during their lodge meetings. Their regular sessions were resumed in August. Cole made rapid progress in Masonry, for he was elected Worshipful Master the following December. Charles Stewart was named Senior Warden; Nathaniel Waples, Junior Warden; Cook Treasurer; and William G. Taylor, Tiler. Nathaniel Smith was appointed Senior Deacon; Benjamin B. Hawks, Junior Deacon; and Henry Dewey, Secretary. After voting to allow citizens to hold a dance in the lodge room, the Masons rescinded the action at their next meet- ing, on the grounds that regardless of what claims the public had on the rest of the building it had no claim on the lodge room. The next December, in 1824, Cole was again named Master. Other officers installed by “Past Master” Charles Stewart, who had joined the local lodge in 1822, were Waples, Senior Warden; Harris Loomis, Junior Warden; 124 YEARS OF LIGHT Cook, Treasurer; Henry Dewey, Secretary ; Nathaniel Smith, Senior Deacon; Spence P. Willis, Junior Deacon; Stewart and William 8. Webb, Stewards; and William G. Taylor, Tiler. The Rey. Mr. Biddle was requested to deliver an oration on St. John’s Day in December, 1825. Neighboring lodges were invited through a public notice inserted in the Carolina Sentinel. The service was held at the new First Presby- terian Church, which had then been open several years. Another Baptist minister, the Rev. Samuel Carpenter, visited the lodge in January, 1826, and declared that he had been discharged as pastor of a church in Camden, S. C., because he had joined a Masonic lodge. His family was said to be ill up north, and he asked financial assistance in reach- ing them. He was allowed “between $10 and $20.”’ Many such calls for brethren and widows of brethren in distress are found repeatedly in the minutes, and the treasurer’s accounts show numbers of donations for “charity.” Waples was installed in January as Worshipful Master; with John S. Hawks, Senior Warden; P. L. Wicks, Junior Warden; Stewart, Treasurer; Dewey, Secretary ; James Hay- ward, Senior Deacon; M. A. Outten, Junior Deacon; and Taylor, Tiler. Hayward had been received as a lodge member the previous month without any fee, “in consequence of his Services in this Lodge.” XXXVII RICHARD DOBBS SPAIGHT, JR. A long break in the minutes occurs from March 8, 1826, to March 25, 1835, and apparently the lodge was inactive during this nine-year period, though a few new members were received and several New Bernians were named to Grand Lodge offices. Richard Dobbs Spaight the younger represented the lodge at the Grand Lodge Communication in 1826. He was then Grand Sword Bearer, and Past Grand Junior Warden. This is the only instance during the nine years that he is listed as representing New Bern, although he attended almost all RICHARD DOBBS SPAIGHT, JR. 125 the Grand Lodge sessions and served as a Grand Lodge officer during most of the time. After having been a Grand Lecturer for three consecutive years, he was elected Grand Master in 1830 and reelected in 1831. During his first term he appointed John S. Hawks of New Bern as a Grand Lecturer. His next year he named both Hawks and W. N. Waples as Grand Lecturers. Both were reappointed the following year by his successor, Grand Master Simmons J. Baker. In 1833, when Spaight acted temporarily as Grand Master and was again named a Grand Lecturer, it was reported to the Grand Lodge that St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, of New Bern, owed $58 in back dues to the Grand Lodge. The Zion Lodge of Jones County owed $38; and the Lafayette Lodge of Onslow Court House, $28. Many of the lodges were in arrears, a total of $799, exclusive of 1833 dues. The financial situation was so serious that a resolution was passed whereby all subordinate lodges in arrears were required to make adjustments by the next Grand Lodge communication, and if they failed or refused to do so they would be given three months’ notice to appear at the 1835 communication to show cause why their charter, jewels and property should not be forfeited to the Grand Lodge, and, if they then failed to be thus represented, their charter, jewels and property would be held and deemed to be forfeited. Spaight, attending the 1834 Grand Lodge communication as a Grand Lecturer, and not as a representative of the New Bern lodge, introduced that year the following resolution, which was adopted: “Resolved, That St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, New Bern, be discharged from all arrearages of dues now owing to this Grand Lodge, and the said lodge be permitted to prosecute its labors as though it had been punctual and regular in the payment of the same.” Later at the same communication a committee reported that “It would be inexpedient to remit the dues of any Subordinate Lodge which may be in arrears to this Grand Lodge, without some good and substantial reason should be shown. In that case, we hesitate not to say, no such appli- cation would be refused.” a a A 126 YEARS OF LIGHT Evidently Spaight had shown good cause for New Bern’s delinquency, for his resolution had been passed. Accord- ingly, following the nine-year lapse here, St. John’s Lodge met on March 25, 1835, at the Masonic Temple. Thomas Carney was elected Worshipful Master of the lodge on that date, according to the minutes now extant. Webb was made Senior Warden; George W. Dixon, Junior Warden; Henry Dewey, Secretary; Robert G. Moore, Treas- urer; J. Harvey, Senior Deacon; A. H. Richardson, Junior Deacon; and Taylor, Tiler. In an effort not to let debts and high dues stand in the way of the lodge’s membership, it was voted to reduce the initia- tion fee to $20; to dispense with fees for visiting brethren; to examine legislative acts relative to lotteries; and to agree “that all debts now due the Lodge be forgiven.” Planning thus to start over again with a clean sheet, a committee was appointed to revise the by-laws. Renewal of interest in the lodge may have been partly due to L. L. Stevenson, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, who acted as Master Pro Tempore at the local meeting on March 28. He was thanked “for his_ kind and brotherly services in the Lodge.” For some time he remained in the city, being reported at meetings on April 18, 14, 16 and 17. But the revival of work was short-lived. Apparently it was difficult to arouse sufficient interest to keep going suc- cessfully during those depression years, for the same trouble was experienced in other towns. Still another decade is missing from the local records, from May 26, 1835, to February 20, 1846. Spaight represented St. John’s Lodge in 1835 at the Grand Lodge sessions, the first time the lodge had had official representation listed for some years; but in 1836 the lodge was reported delinquent. It was recommended at this com- munication that the threatened suspension of delinquent lodges be postponed until December 25, 1837. Though Spaight still served as Grand Lecturer, an office he held from 1833 through 1838, he is not listed in the last three years as representing St. John’s Lodge. In 1837 this lodge was again reported to be still in arrears. A resolution was passed providing that all subordinate lodges delinquent RICHARD DOBBS SPAIGHT, JR. 127 for two years should be liable to have to surrender charters, jewels and property. Again in 1839 the local lodge. was reported to be in arrears “for 1839 and former years.” The same report was made for the Lafayette Lodge at Onslow Court House. In that year John S. Hawks of New Bern was appointed Grand Lecturer for the Second District. He was reappointed the next year for the “2d Judicial District.”” This was a brother of Francis L. Hawks. No reports or representatives were sent to the Grand Lodge during this period, just as they had failed to be sent during the preceding lapse. The lodge became completely disorganized during this latter decade, but it is listed year after year in the “List of Lodges under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina.” State officials seemed confident that it would come back to life sooner or later. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr., who remained active in Masonic circles even when the local lodge failed to function, was perhaps the outstanding New Bern Mason during the third and fourth decades of the 19th century in North Carolina. Born at New Bern in 1796, he was the son of the elder Governor Spaight, a great-great-great-nephew of Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs and a grandson of Colonel Joseph Leech. After studying at the New Bern Academy under Thomas P. Irving, he was graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1815, the same year as Francis L. Hawks. From 1821 to his death in 1850 he served as a University trustee. His father was Governor when the University had been opened, and his mother, Mary Leech Spaight, is said to have been the first lady to attend a University commence- ment. During the year 1819 when the younger Spaight was practicing law here, he represented Craven County in the State House of Commons. For the next three years he was a State Senator. Following one term in Congress, he served eleven terms in the State Senate, In 1835 he and William Gaston were delegates to the State Constitutional Conven- tion, and he served as chairman of a committee to draft rules for the government of the convention. 128 ' YEARS OF ‘LIGHT On December 10, 1835, he was. inaugurated as Governor for a one-year term, upon his election to the office by the General Assembly. He was defeated for reelection by the Whig candidate, Edward B. Dudley of Wilmington, in the first direct vote of the populace for governor under the new constitution. During his residence in Raleigh for legislative duties from Craven County, Spaight attended many Grand Lodge com- munications. He served as Junior Warden of the Grand. Lodge, Grand Sword Bearer and many years as Grand Lecturer, besides being named to numerous committees, and then acted as Grand Master for the two terms from 1830 to 1832. , ; Upon retiring as Governor, Spaight did not seek any other political offices. In 1842 he was named a Councilor of State, but declined to serve. After practicing law for some time, he moved to his plantation, “Clermont,” across Trent River, where he died unmarried November 24, 1850. Buried in the family cemetery on this plantation are both the Spaight governors; the former governor’s wife, who had danced with President Washington here; her father, Colonel Leech; the elder Spaight’s parents, Richard Spaight and Elizabeth Wilson Spaight; the latter’s mother, Madame Mary Vail Jones Wilson Moore; the elder Governor Spaight’s other son, Charles Leech Spaight, who served in the House of Commons from the Borough of New Bern in 1829 and 1830; the elder Governor’s daughter, Margaret Elizabeth Spaight, who married Judge John R. Donnell of New Bern; and their little girl, Margaret Donnell. Madame Moore was a great social leader of the old days. Her plantation at Clermont included 2,500 acres. Three times she married—for position, for money, and for love. She owned a stall in Christ Episcopal Church twice as large as the other stalls. Presidents Washington and Monroe are said to have worshipped there in the colonial edifice. When she came to New Bern from her estate, she is reported to have traveled in a large, elegantly-equipped rowboat, manned by six oarsmen in handsome liveries. It is still rumored that some of her money is buried at Clermont. The brick mansion built at Clermont by Mrs. Moore, in which Governor Spaight the younger spent his last years, ’ aie ve " RAO brits CoE A i - i RAR AEN STENT Ca THE EAST, BLUE LODGE kK0OM, MASONIC TEMPLE REORGANIZATION OF LODGE 129 was burned by Federal troops during the War Between the States. At that time the body of the elder Governor was § | taken from his casket, the skull was set jauntily on a gate- post and the metallic coffin was used to send north the body {| of a Union soldier. | XXXVI REORGANIZATION OF LODGE } { | } With the thread of minutes again resumed here February } 20, 1846, it was reported on that date by Grand Lecturer Hi Jacob Frieze that a dispensation for reorganization would Hh be granted by the Grand Lodge. This dispensation is dated | | February 21, 1846, and a copy-in the lodge minutes is at- tested by Frieze as being correct. He remained in town for special lectures, apparently eager to get the lodge started off again on a firm foundation. John Harvey was elected Master; Webb, Senior Warden; Outten, Junior Warden; F. J. Prentiss, Treasurer; William GE,RooM, MASONIC TEMPLE és G. Hall, Secretary ; Hayward, Senior Deacon; Carney, acting ~ Junior Deacon, then Henry D. Machen; and Luther R. Clark, i Tiler. The 1835 by-laws were adopted. i A committee was named to confer with the Society of Odd Fellows concerning the purchase of the North Room of i the Masonic building, but they brought back an unfavorable } } ' } i wh ad THE WEST, BLUE report. The members, however, were reappointed to meet again with the Odd Fellows, and they were given power to act. During the period of lodge inactivity, it was revealed, Outten had paid claims against the lodge for taxes and rent. These sums were voted to be repaid to him. The Masons’ 1 property had been sold by the Craven County Sheriff for ee | | 1 taxes. It was redeemed by Robert G. Moore, a Mason, who E conveyed it to Outten. The latter relinquished all title to the property, and turned it back to the lodge. Matthew A. Outten, who had thus saved the Masonic Temple and later served as Master of the lodge, was a highly- respected citizen of the community. He was a vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church. When he died in 1857, the 130 : YEARS OF LIGHT church vestry passed a resolution in tribute to him as “Citizen, Friend and Christian.” ; Grand Lecturer Frieze delivered a public lecture April 23, 1846, before a large assemblage of Masons and visitors in the Masonic theatre. He acted as presiding officer at a number of lodge meetings, gave special lectures for the members, and installed the new officers. The petition of Alonzo T. Jerkins for membership in the Iddge was accepted in April. His father, Thomas Jerkins, had also belonged to the order, being elected to local mem- bership January 16, 1804. The son became one of the most active Masons in the State, later serving as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. According to the minutes of St. John’s Lodge, refresh- ments were often served before the lodge meetings, as well as afterwards, likely as an inducement for large attendance. The reports frequently open with a call “from Refreshment to Labour,” and end with a call “from Labour to Refresh- ment.” One record reads: “Lodge was then called off from labour to refreshment, indefinately.” 3 Many new members were received, and meetings were held very often, following the reorganization. Not all petitions for memberships were approved. James Hayward was installed by Past Master Carney as the Worshipful Master of the lodge on St. John’s Day, June 24. Other new officers were Matthew Outten, Senior Warden; Jerkins, Junior Warden; Truman Stow, who had previously been serving as Secretary, as Treasurer; Machen, Secretary; Harvey, Senior Deacon; Clark, Junior Deacon; and Lovick Jones, Tiler. A committee was named to obtain from stockholders of the theatre a release of al! their rights in the theatre portion of the Masonic Temple, in consideration of repairs that were about to be made on the building, with the condition that the release would not debar them from attending theatre programs. On the committee were George W. Howard, Outten and Jerkins. Edward R. Stanly was initiated into the first degree of Masonry in September. At that time he had served in Congress from 1837 to 1848, and later served from 1849 to 1853. From 1844 to 1847 he was Speaker of the State House | REORGANIZATION OF LODGE 131 of Commons, and in 1847 and 1848 was State Attorney- General. During the War Between the States he sided with the Union, and was named Governor of the Federal Department of North Carolina, following the capture of some of the eastern sections by the Northern soldiers. He narrowly missed election as Governor of California. Like his father, John Stanly, who had fought a duel with Richard Dobbs Spaight the Elder, mortally wounding the former Governor, Edward Stanly fought a duel. However, his was bloodless. While he was a Member of Congress, he had an “acrimonious colloquy” with Representative Samuel W. Inge of Alabama over a so-called “sectional” River and Harbor Bill in 1851: Stanly is alleged to have charged that Inge had “little sense and less charity.” Then they “fell to and called each other blackguards.” After one exchange of pistol shots at eight paces, their difficulty was settled amicably. Congressman Inge’s second was Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, who later became Presi- dent of the Confederacy. This was the last of the Con- gressional duels. Likely because of his stand against North Carolina and the Confederacy during the War Between the States, St. John’s Register shows that Stanly was “excluded” from local lodge membership on June 12, 1867. Two other members of the local Stanly family were also involved in duels. Richard Stanly, who was a member of St. John’s Lodge, being marked as “removed” from the city in 1806, perished by the “code of honor” in the West Indies. Thomas Stanly, brother of John, was killed by Louis D. Henry, who lost a finger of his left hand in a duel in 1812. Both were popular young beaux of New Bern. At a dinner party at the Gaston home Stanly playfully tossed a piece of cake across the table. It fell into a cup of tea, splashing some of the liquid on Henry’s vest. The girl at Henry’s side made a thoughtless remark about his honor which ag- gravated the occurrence and led to, the duel. In St. John’s lodge minutes for 1846 occurs a notation - that under ancient custom the usual fees for degrees would not be required for ministers of the gospel. 132 YEARS OF LIGHT During October of that year it was recorded: “Bro. Outten proposed that William Martin, a man of colour, who has given satisfactory evidence of his being a Mason, be ad- mitted as a visitor. After some debate on this proposition, pro and con, between Brothers Outten and Jerkins, it was moved by H. D. Machen and seconded by Bro. L. R. Clark, that this subject be indefinitely postponed, which was agreed Oss James W. Howard, then of the Trenton Lodge, was in ‘November elected to represent the New Bern lodge at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge in Raleigh. He was instructed to vote “for the establishment of a Grand Lodge of the United States.” He was also requested to in- vite the Grand Lodge of North Carolina to hold its next session in New Bern, and to seek passage of a rule to the effect, “that the Grand Lodge of the State meet biennially at Raleigh and alternately at New Bern, Wilmington and Fayetteville.” XXXIX TEMPLE RENOVATED The Masonic Temple was extensively repaired and reno- vated after the reorganization of St. John’s Lodge. It was reported to the members during the Fall of 1847 that a total of $1,222.10 had been spent on the building. To pay this indebtedness, a decision was reached to sell the lot adjoining the building and, if necessary, to dispose of some of the lodge furniture. Many different uses were permitted for the structure. In June of that year it was voted to allow the “Democratic Convention” to use the “Theatre in the day time only for their sittings.” But not all requests for use of the building were granted. A petition for a “Mr. Lumsden to use the Theatre of evenings for the purpose of Lecturing on Phrenology’’ was denied. Hayward was reelected Master that June. Jerkins was promoted to Senior Warden; with John Harvey, Junior Warden; Machen renamed Secretary; and E. R. Stanly ae TEMPLE RENOVATED 133 elected Treasurer. Outten was appointed Senior Deacon; Clark, Junior Deacon; and Emanuel Certain, Tiler. The annual St. John’s Day program took place June 24 at “the new Methodist Episcopal Church, where an address was delivered by Bro. S. S. Bryant, to a crowded audience, after which the officers Elect was publickly Enstalled.” Four nights later the lodge went on record that “a vote of thanks be tendered to Bro. S. S. Bryant for his services, to the Trustees of the Church for the use of it, and to the Choir of the Church, and New Berne Brass Band for their services at the celebration of the Festival of St. John the Baptist.” This new Methodist church building had been erected in 1843-44 on New Street, and it was named “Centenary.” Previously the Methodists had worshipped at Andrew Chapel on Hancock Street, the second church structure to be erected in the city, only the first Episcopal edifice antedating it. The present Centenary Methodist Church building on Middle and New Streets was completed in 1904 when the congregation outgrew their second church. In those days it seemed hard for the Masons to get a Secretary. Machen declined the post, and Stephen D. Spar- row was named to the office. After lengthy consideration and many votes during the previous eight months, the required two-thirds majority had finally been obtained in May to allow the Secretary five per cent for his services. Despite this percentage fee, Sparrow resigned the post in September. Machen was again nominated, but refused to accept. “Several other Brethren were nominated, all of whom refused to accept,” the minutes state. “After a recess for a few minutes, the Lodge was called to labour, and a balloting took place for Secretary; which resulted in the election of H. D. Machen, by a unanimous vote, who under existing circumstances, consented to serve.” New Bern had a brass band during the middle of the century, as has already been noted from the Masonic records. This band was given permission to hold a public concert in the Masonic theatre during November, 1847, with the pro- vision that D. S. Willis, a Mason and a band member, “superintend the building to prevent fire, and have all the rubbish removed.” 134 YEARS OF LIGHT There was also a Negro brass band here. Its request for use of the hall for a concert was refused by the lodge in December, 1848. : Emanuel Certain resigned the office of Tiler, and H. P. Whitehurst was named to succeed him. Peter Custis was later elected Secretary, succeeding Machen. Many pages of the minutes are decorated with his drawings of Masonic symbols. Peter Barton Custis was a physician, born in New Bern June 1, 1823, the son of Dr. Peter Custis, of a distinguished Virginia family. An alumnus of the University of Pennsyl- vania like his father, the son became Surgeon of the 31st North Carolina Regiment of the Confederate Army during the War Between the States. Serving in this capacity in 1861-62, he took charge of the hospital in Wilmington in 1862 and remained there until his death March 27, 18638, in Wilmington. He is buried here in Cedar Grove cemetery. Dr. Custis was an ardent Mason, and was particularly interested in Royal Arch Masonry. He acted as Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of North Carolina in 1855, 1856, 1857 and 1858. Evidently it was due largely to his efforts that another Royal Arch Masonic Chapter was formed in New Bern during the middle of the 19th century. Apparently the Royal Arch Masons had become dis- organized here about the same time as St. John’s Lodge, for some of the leaders undoubtedly belonged to both groups. In January, 1848, the minutes of St. John’s Lodge show that its members voted to lend their lodge room in the Masonic Temple to Royal Arch Masons for a few nights for the pur- pose of organizing a Royal Arch Chapter in New Bern. Jerkins was elected Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge in June, 1848; with Hayward, Senior Warden; Willis, Junior Warden; E. R. Stanly, Treasurer; Custis, Secretary ; and William H. Hancock, Tiler. Outten was renamed Senior Deacon; and Lacy Phillips, Junior Deacon. They were in- stalled on St. John’s Day by Grand Chaplain A. P. Repiton. The Rev. William N. Hawks, rector of Christ Episcopal ’ Church, was made Chaplain of the lodge the following November, and he probably conducted special services at the church for St. John the Evangelist’s Day. TEMPLE RENOVATED 135 Hawks, a brother of Francis L. Hawks, had become a Mason the previous August. He served as the Episcopal rector here from 1847 to 1853. Prior to that, he had been a professor at the Moses Griffin school, which had been estab- lished here for poor girls, as one of the first institutions of the kind, through bequests left by Griffin, eccentric local miser, who had died in 1816. The school was incorporated in 1838, and located on George Street across from the northern end of Cedar Grove cemetery. f Worshipful Master Jerkins was reelected to the office in June, 1849. Edward F. Smallwood was elected Senior Warden; Custis, Junior Warden; John M. F. Harrison, Treas- urer; Stanly, Secretary; and Hancock, Tiler. Later Willis was appointed Senior Deacon, and T. R. Wilson, Junior Deacon. On July 18, 1849, the lodge formed a procession and marched to the Baptist Church to pay last tribute of respect to a deceased brother, the late James Knox Polk, ex-president of the United States. The eulogy was delivered by George S. Stevenson. For 30 days members wore a piece of blue ribbon in their button hole in the place of crape, as a badge of mourning. Use of the North upper room of the Masonic building was tendered the next November to the Grand Lodge for the use of a “seminary of learning, on condition that it should revert back to the Lodge after the school should be broken up and on condition that they should put the same in good order.” ; Jerkins was named trustee for the purpose. The report of Smallwood, a delegate to the Grand Lodge meeting in- Raleigh, shows the next month that the proposed Masonic school had been voted for Greensboro but that the vote had been reconsidered and laid upon the table. The third book of lodge minutes ends with records as of December 12, 1849. XL LISTS OF OFFICERS Unfortunately the fourth book of lodge minutes is miss- ing, so it is impossible to trace the history of the organi- zation during the important era from 1850 through the War Between the States and the Reconstruction period. Grand Lodge records do not give detailed accounts of Masonic activities in New Bern, but they do include official returns for most of the years during the 25-year lapse in local reports. Accordingly, about the only phase of St. John’s work which can be given here is a list of the officers elected from year to year as sent to the Grand Lodge. - No reports can be located at the Grand Lodge office for the election of a Worshipful Master for St. John’s Lodge in 1850, but it is logical to assume that Jerkins was renamed to the office in June of that year, for the next December he became the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. All the reports available for the local lodge officers follow for the years of this period as sent to the Grand Lodge. 1852 Edward F. Smallwood, Master David S. Willis, Senior Warden John D. Flanner, Junior Warden Charles S. Allen, Treasurer J. A. Hodge, Secretary Charles C. Clark, Senior Deacon J. W. Jones, Junior Deacon The Rev. J. M. C. Breaker, Chaplain W. H. Hancock, Tiler 1853-54 Willis, Master Flanner, Senior Warden J. M. F. Harrison, Junior Warden William G. Singleton, Secretary Allen, Treasurer D. W. Hurtt, Senior Deacon S. Attmore, Junior Deacon T. P. Ricaud, Chaplain William H. Jones, Tiler LISTS OF OFFICERS 137 Among the 85 members listed in 1854 as active in the lodge, five were marked as Past Masters—Jerkins, Hay- ward, Harvey, M. A. Outten and Smallwood. So these are obviously the ones who held the office of Worshipful Master during the preceding years, including the years for which local reports are missing. 1855 Willis, Master Flanner, Senior Warden Harrison, Junior Warden J. F. Jones, Secretary Allen, Treasurer Hurtt, Senior Deacon Attmore, Junior Deacon W. H. Jones, Tiler. 1856 Flanner, Master Hurtt, Senior Warden Clark, Junior Warden Daniel T. Carraway, Senior Deacon Attmore, Junior Deacon John F. Jones, Secretary William H. Oliver, Treasurer W. H. Jones, Tiler 1857 Jerkins, Past Grand Master, Master Harrison, Senior Warden Carraway, Junior Warden Clark, Senior Deacon John A. Simpson, Junior Deacon J. F. Jones, Secretary Flanner, Treasurer W. H. Jones, Tiler 1858 Clark, Master Harrison, Senior Warden Carraway, Junior Warden Edward K. Bryan, Senior Deacon Simpson, Junior Deacon . 138 YEARS OF LIGHT J. F. Jones, Secretary Flanner, Treasurer W. H. Jones, Tiler 1859 Clark, Master Harrison, Senior Warden Carraway, Junior Warden ‘ Z. Brown, Treasurer Bryan, Secretary J. V. Jordan, Senior Deacon Simpson, Junior Deacon James G. Arthur, Tiler 1860 Harrison,, Master Carraway, Senior Warden J. E. Amyett, Junior Warden J. P. Dillingham, Secretary Brown, Treasurer Hurtt, Senior Deacon , J. Brookfield, Junior Deacon Arthur, Tiler A break in the returns then occurs, disruption of regular meetings and org: War Between the States. members became officers a Army. presumably for the anization during the Many of the lodge officers and nd privates in the Confederate XLI JOHN D. WHITFORD A number of distinguished New Bernians b lodge during the decade prior to the war, and Laan ae the local Masons accomplished many different things This was an outstanding period in the history of the city. ae) it is logical to assume that Masons played prominent roles : For instance, the Atlantic and North Carolina Radrona Company was organized here, with the first general meet: ings of stockholders held July 20-21, 1854, in New Bern of the eight first directors then elected, a majority Hts nese JOHN D. WHITFORD 139 Masons. These directors were John D. Whitford, A. T. Jerkins, E. R. Stanly, R. N. Taylor, F. P. Latham, William P. Moore, George Green and George S. Stevenson. Whitford, who had joined St. John’s Lodge on November 17, 1849, when he was 24 years old, was made president of the railroad company, a position he held for the next ten years with gratifying success. At the early age of 21, he had been elected Mayor, or Intendant, of New Bern. Under his administration local ponds were drained, old creek bot- toms filled in, streets improved and brick sewers or aque- ducts constructed. These old sewers were among the first, if not the first, underground brick aqueducts ever built in North Carolina. At his instigation was erected the shellrock wall which still protects Cedar Grove cemetery. In his time it was even “more necessary than at present, for in those days hogs, goats and cattle were allowed to roam at will through city streets. : For more than 50 years Whitford was a member of St. John’s Lodge, and his name will be read frequently in the records of the last quarter of the 19th century. It was through his encouragement and financial loan that the Blue Lodge Room of the Masonic Temple was decorated so elaborately and beautifully. When the New Bern Light Infantry, a military company, was organized here, he became a member. On July 4, 1859, he was publicly presented with a punch pitcher cast from silver dollars donated by members of the company, “as a token of respect and esteem.” From this company he and Jacob Brookfield became the first two volunteers for Confederate service during the War Between the States. He had been a member of the State convention which passed the Ordinance of Secession. First he was commissioned a captain, then a major, and later a colonel. He served with General L. O. B. Branch and participated in the Battle of New Bern during March, 1862, and in the fighting around Kinston and other places. On account of his railroad experience, he was put in charge of the trans- portation of troops and munitions of war through North Carolina. He was also State agent for the purchase of 140 YEARS OF LIGHT calvary equipment and other war materials. His work was so important and successful that he received a compli- mentary letter from General Robert E. Lee. Before the war Colonel Whitford was also a director of the North Carolina Railroad Company which operated trains between Goldsboro and Charlotte. He was a member of the State Commission for the improvement of the Neuse River. In 1884 he was a delegate to the River and Harbor Con- vention held at Savannah, Ga., and for a period thereafter was superintendent of certain river improvements in North Carolina made by the National government. His presidency of the A. and N. C. Railroad was inter- rupted by the war and also by his election in 1866 to the State Senate from Craven County, at which time he received a larger number of votes than any man up to that time had ever been given for public office in this county. In June, 1866, he was again chosen president of the rail- road company, and at the stockholders’ meeting in 1867 a resolution was adopted, thanking him for his “able arid efficient administration of the affairs of this company dur- ing the last year. More especially does this company owe to his untiring energy the funding of the remainder of the debt due to the State, and thereby rendering it possible for the stockholders to realize within a reasonable time some return for their investments.” Several times afterwards he was reelected railroad presi- dent, then a position of much honor. Immediately after his war service he was instrumental in establishing here the firm of Whitford, Dill and Company, shipping and commis- sion merchants and agents for Murry, Ferris & Co., owners of the first line of steamers operated successfully between New Bern and New York. According to Judge Romulus A. Nunn, of New Bern, who wrote of Colonel Whitford after his death: “Probably no man has ever lived in New Bern who was more useful in developing certain features of our commercial life. He provided transportation by land and water. Un- doubtedly the people of the east who now enjoy the fruits of his labor owe to him a debt of gratitude, which should never be forgotten. ALONZO T. JERKINS 141 “He lived to see the great celebration which was held in 1910 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the town. Asa courtesy to him, the parade was arranged to pass his house and he was visibly affected as he witnessed from his window the floats depicting the events in our tory in which he had had so large a share aud which he ha I written up in his admirable manuscript, De haus A few months later, on September 13, 1910, he died an closed a long life of honor and usefulness, in the 86th year of his age.” XLil ALONZO T. JERKINS The New Bern Mason during the middle of the 19th century who took the most active part in Grand siete activities was Alonzo Thomas Jerkins, who served as Nort Carolina’s 24th Grand Master, elected in 1850, 1851 and 1852, the fifth member of St. John’s Lodge to hold this exalted position and a worthy successor to the first four— Richard Caswell, Judge John Louis Taylor, Robert Williams Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. sie June 2, 1807, in the brick house at 39 Johnson i his father, he was the son of Thomas Jerkins, Spans A sea captain who operated ships between New Bern and the West Indies. A native of Beaufort County, the father had settled here in 1804. While he was away on ans of his long voyages, his wife ie pis that he stoppe i ili ips and remained in New Bern. et the tombstone at the wife’s grave in Cedar Grove cemetery, erected in 1824, reads: “Look where the silent marble weeps A friend, a wife, a mother sleeps. j i ho was a sister At the time of the death of his mother, w of Captain George Sears, Alonzo Jerkins was a student at i i i hapel Hill. But for he University of North Carolina at C } ie death he would probably have remained there to graduate. For some time he taught school at his local home, assisted by his wife. 142 ‘ " @ YEARS OF LIGHT The young man became an active merchant, shipper, banker and business man in general here, long recognized as one of the community’s outstanding citizens. In 1850 he represented his section in the State House of Commons. He served as president of the Bank of Commerce here, and was a prominent official of the First Baptist Church. As previously noted, he joined St. John’s Lodge in April, 1846. His advance in the order was rapid. The next June he was named Junior Warden; the following year was pro- moted to Senior Warden; and the next two years was elected Worshipful Master; then for three years was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. In 1857 he was again elected Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge. After the War Between the States he did not hold Masonic office again, but he must have remained active in the fraternity for some time, because he was an organiz- ing member, a temporary chairman and a permanent director of the North Carolina Masonic Mutual Life Insurance Company. After an active career in business and civic life, he died here on April 7, 1895. He is buried in Cedar Grove ceme- tery in a family lot near the Confederate Monument. Near him are the graves of his two wives: Sarah, born July 28, 1809, who died September 13, 1874; and Susan Carr, who survived him, having been born March 14, 1836, and dying February 19, 1911. XL POST-WAR RECORD During the early days of the War Between the States the Masonic Temple was used as a Confederate arsenal. Before her death, Mrs. L. S. Wood recalled that young women volun- teered their services in making cartridges there for the Confederate soldiers. , After the capture of the town by Northern troops under Gen. Ambrose E, Burnside in March, 1862, the building was used by the Unionists as a hospital. Mrs. Wood said that the Federal soldiers also made coffins there. She added that coffins were stored in the temple basement, after having POST-WAR RECORD 143 been made in quantities in George Bishop’s furniture fac- tory, which was diagonally across the street. Later minutes of the Masonic lodge show that coffins were still stored in the basement in 1882, and from time to time some were sold to the county. Evidently no organization claimed them. After planning to try to sell the remaining coffins, the Masons in 1890 voted to give them to Mr. Bishop. It will also be seen from later lodge minutes that St. John’s Lodge was allowed a cash claim by the Federal government, after repeated reqnea for damage done to the ‘ing the Federal occupation. hee re, long been a tradition that soldiers of the Northern Army here formed a secret military Masonic lodge in this city during the war days, but no records or proofs r nt. : = ae to the Lodge Register, initiations for St. J oe 8 Lodge were resumed soon after the close of the war, pe ing the temporary disbanding of the lodge. Some see ions are reported as early as April 26, 1865. But no list of o ee is available for that year, either locally or in Grand Lodge files. If the local lodge was operating then, it is likely that Charles C. Clark was Worshipful Master. He is listed in the Grand Lodge files as the local Master in 1866. : Although it is impossible to trace accurately in detail the history of the lodge during the early Reconstruction he “A the South, because minutes are not available until 187 yi is known that the lodge and its members were active during the decade following the close of the war. For, the Lodge Register records new members, the Grand Lodge Se list the local officers annually after 1866, and the Nort Carolina Masonic Mutual Life Insurance Company was nized here. Hea sAge officers for the various years after the war, from 1866 to 1875 when the local minutes are resumed, follow, as taken from the Grand Lodge reports, many being the same officers who had served before the war: 1866 Charles C. Clark, Master Senior Warden, office vacant J. W. Baxter, Junior Warden 144 YEARS OF LIGHT John D. Flanner, Treasurer J. P. Dillingham, Secretary Frederick C. Roberts, Senior Deacon Thomas Gates, Junior Deacon William H. Jones, Tiler Protem 1867 Clark, Master F. C. Roberts, Senior Warden J. E. Amyett, Junior Warden Flanner, Treasurer ; Dillingham, Secretary J. V. Jordan, Senior Deacon Gates, Junior Deacon Jones, Tiler 1868 F. C. Roberts, Master Amyett, Senior Warden W. H. Jones, Junior Warden D. T. Carraway, Treasurer George H. Roberts, Secretary S. I. Hunter, Senior Deacon T. A. Green, Junior Deacon Thomas Parsons, Tiler 1869 J. W. Baxter, Master William Dunn, Senior Warden J. J. Howard, Junior Warden Carraway, Treasurer W. B. Boyd, Secretary Green, Senior Deacon E. B. Roberts, Junior Deacon Parsons, Tiler 1870 D. T. Carraway, Master Dunn, Senior Warden Green, Junior Warden G. H. Roberts, Treasurer E. B. Roberts, Secretary W. M. Watson, Senior Deacon POST-WAR RECORD G. E. Pittman, Junior Deacon Parsons, Tiler 1871 Roberts, Master ¥ WoC: W. H. Jones, Senior Warden J. A. Simpson, Junior Warden G. H. Roberts, Treasurer William Dunn, Secretary Max Reis, Senior Deacon N. Case, Junior Deacon George Henderson, Steward W. S. Styron, Steward Parsons, Tiler 1872 William Dunn, Master Simpson, Senior Warden Reis, Junior Warden G. H. Roberts, Treasurer Pittman, Secretary Joseph Weinstein, Senior Deacon Samuel M. Hargett, Junior Deacon Samuel W. Howard, Steward Styron, Steward William H. Jones, Tiler 1873 Dunn, Master Jordan, Senior Warden T. A. Green, Junior Warden G. H. Roberts, Treasurer Pittman, Secretary E. B. Roberts, Senior Deacon Samuel R. Street, Jr., Junior Deacon William R. Warters, Steward Case, Steward Jones, Tiler 1874 Clark, Master Green, Senior Warden Ferdinand Ulrich, Junior Warden 145" 146 YEARS OF LIGHT Jordan, Treasurer Pittman, Secretary F. C. Roberts, Senior Deacon D. E. Everitt, Junior Deacon Case, Steward Thomas Wilson, Steward John L. Albertson, Tiler Warters, Inner Guard Past Master Dunn, Marshal XLIV MASONIC INSURANCE COMPANY Throwing light on the personnel of St. John’s Masonic lodge during the Reconstruction Period just after the War Between the States as well as providing information on an important activity sponsored by the local Masons during that critical era are original records still extant here of the North .Carolina Masonic Mutual Life Insurance Company. They were brought to light in 1936, when found in the base- ment of the former National Bank of New Berne. For a time after the war this concern formed by local Masons had a promising business among the organization members not only in many parts of this State but also in Georgia, Alabama, and elsewhere. The first meeting of the charter members, all of whom must have been Masons, was held in the Odd’ Fellows Hall here on the night of September 19, 1867. The list of those attending and the ones for whom they held proxies will show the names of many of the Masons at that time in this section. It follows: R. H. Rountree, proxy for A. T. Jerkins, W. W. Dunn, James H. Dibble, J. F. I. Sutton, William C. Brown, B. F. Parrott, L. J. Mewborn, S. E. Hodges, Warren Kilpatrick, T. J. Pearson, Thomas A. Harvey, Lemuel Harvey, S. H. Rountree, William Sutton, James Williams and John A. ‘Richardson; J. P. Dillingham, proxy for J. E. Amyett, W. G. Singleton, George W. Dill, D. W. Hurtt, W. N. Jones, T. Gates, George W. Wallace, William Murdoch, J. G. Hester, Joseph W. Jones MASONIC INSURANCE COMPANY 147 and R. W. Best; S. Blagg, proxy for W. L. Palmer, J. H. Porter and P. L. Cooper; F. C. Roberts, S. D. Pool, J. A. Simpson, D. T. Carraway, J. Disosway, T. Powers, G. W. Young, F. M. Harper, L. Phillips, R. S. Primrose, J. E. Nash, George H. Roberts and J. V. Jordan. “The meeting was called to order by “Bro. F. C. Roberts, on whose motion Bro. J. P. Dillingham was called to the chair,” the minutes of the organization gathering read. “On motion of Bro. I. Disosway, Bro. H. H. Hitchcock was requested to act as Secretary. “The Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was for the organization of the Company, the election of a Board of Directors, and the drafting of a Code of By-Laws for the government of the Company. On motion the Secretary called the roll of subscribers and it was found that there was fifty-eight brethren present or represented. “On motion of Bro. S. D. Pool a committee of three were appointed to draft a Code of By-Laws for the government of the Company and to report at this meeting. The Chair appointed Bros. S. D. Pool, S. Blagg and J. V. Jordan that Committee who retired and afterwards presented the fol- lowing as the result of their labors.” A copy of the by-laws was then given in the minutes, but a page is now missing from the unbound, ledger sheets containing the company records so the full set of rules and regulations is not available, nor is the report of the meeting at which 15 directors were elected. The first meeting of the newly-elected directors was held September 24 “at the rooms of G. W. Dill, Esq.” After the appointment of Blagg as chairman for the gathering, Major Carraway was unanimously elected President of the com pany. “Bro. Carraway was then conducted to the chair, the minutes show, and presided during the remainder of the meeting. Dillingham was unanimously elected Secretary and Treas- urer for the ensuing year, and he was instructed to “corre- spond with the Governor of the State on the subject of a Charter for the Company.” His bond was set at $2,500. He was allowed “5 per cent on all receipts except the assessment 148 YEARS OF LIGHT of one dollar from each member to be paid to the family of a deceased member.” : At the second meeting of the directors October 16, T. M. Gardner of Wilmington was elected to the board, in the place of Alfred Martin of Wilmington, who had declined to serve. Letters of acceptance as board members were read from William G. Hill of Raleigh and T. W. Dewey of Charlotte. Decision was reached January 18, in response to a query from Thomas Thompson of Edenton, that a Mason becoming a member of the insurance company and afterwards being expelled from the fraternity would forfeit all claim upon the company. The following May the President was authorized to ap- point a traveling agent for the company “upon the best terms that he can arrange.” But the next August he an- nounced that though he had been in correspondence with various prospects he had not been able to make any final contract for a traveling agent. For the annual meeting of the members held August 13, 1868, Jerkins was named to act as temporary chairman, with George H. Roberts as secretary. Dill and Roberts, as the proxy committee, reported 51 present in person or by proxy. Jordan, J. L. Watkins and William P. Metts were appointed to audit the accounts of the Secretary-Treasurer. 4 In his report, President Carraway said that there had been 112 certificates issued during the year, with two deaths of members. He reported his appointment of agents in Beaufort, Kinston, Raleigh, Concord, Clinton, Edenton and Goldsboro in North Carolina; Macon and Rome, Ga.; and Eufaula, Ala. “Our Company has not increased in members as rapidly as we hoped it would, but when we consider the stringency of the times thro’ which we have passed and are now passing, I think our success has been both gratifying and encourag- ing,” he declared. “The principle of our organization is right and will claim the attention and support of all good Masons when correctly understood. “Our future success depends greatly upon the exertions of each and every member of the Company in his individual capacity. Let us therefore resolve that from this time for- MASONIC INSURANCE COMPANY 149 ward we will use our best endeavors to build up this insti- tution so that we may not only leave our certificate of mem- bership as a pecuniary inheritance to our families but as a badge more honorable than the ‘Star and Garter’ in being numbered among the founders of an institution fraught with so many blessings to suffering humanity.” According to the report of Secretary-Treasurer Dilling- ham, the 112 certificates issued had brought in $672. Under Assessment No. 1 $93 had been collected, which had been paid out on the first loss. Elected as directors for the next year were Jerkins, Roun- tree, Roberts, Carraway, Dill, Blagg, Amyett, Watkins, E. Hubbs and D. W. Hurtt, of New Bern; S. H. Rountree of Kinston; T. M. Gardner of Wilmington; L. Blackmer, Salis- bury; T. W. Dewey, Charlotte; and William G. Hill, Raleigh. At their first meeting, with Jerkins acting as temporary chairman, Carraway was reelected President and Dillingham was renamed Secretary-Treasurer. One of the charter members, F. M. Harper, died that Fall, and Major Carraway read resolutions of “deep sorrow” that “this Company has lost one of its most zealous and earnest advocates, the Fraternity a worthy brother and the Com- munity an upright Citizen.” Major Hurtt offered a resolution, which was adopted: “Resolved: That Directors of this Company who may be present at the approaching Communication of the Grand Lodge of N. C. be requested to co-operate with the repre- sentative of the Company who will be present and use all means in their power with the members of the Fraternity there assembled.” Twenty directors were elected at the second annual meet- ing of members on August 19, 1869, as follows: Jerkins, Rountree, Watkins, Carraway, Hurtt, Blagg, Hubbs, Dill, Roberts, Amyett, G. H. Roberts, L. Phillips and P. L. Cooper of New Bern; J. D. Whitford, New York; S. H. Rountree, Kinston; E. J. Blount, Pitt County; N. Edwards, Snow Hill; L. Blackmer, Salisbury ; Hill and D. W. Bain, Raleigh. Secretary-Treasurer Dillingham reported 356 certificates issued since the organization of the company, with total receipts of $2,188.53. Nine losses, or payments to the widows and orphans of Masons, were reported by President 150 YEARS OF LIGHT Carraway, who said that the aggregate sum of $2,150 constituted “a much larger sum undoubtedly than was ever contributed by a like number of Masons in North Carolina for similar purposes.” Under amendments to the by-laws, a Master Mason’s eligibility to membership in the company was stated as follows: “In good standing and not exceeding 60 years of age, possessing such physical ability as to enable him to make a support for himself and family, and a member of a Lodge, except those who have been non-affiliated for five years preceding the date of this company’s organization and those who have become Master Masons after attaining the ages of 45 years and have been admitted since the 17th day of September, 1867. For these excepted classes a member- ship of 10 years shall be required before they can become members of this Company.” The same officers were renamed at a meeting of the new directors. Towards the end of April in 1870 Hubbs was named Secretary-Treasurer pro tempore, and the next night George H. Roberts was elected as Secretary-Treasurer, with bond set at $2,500. Roberts resigned as a director, to take the office, and William H. Oliver was elected in his place on the board of directors. The last entry still extant from the handwritten notes of this early mutual life insurance company is dated September 21, 1870, when Carraway was still serving as President and Roberts as Secretary-Treasurer. In that year Major Carra- way was elected Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge, and Roberts was Treasurer. What happened afterwards to the insurance company can only be surmised, no records being available, but it ig likely that despite its high purpose and zealous work the company in those depression years of Reconstruction could not get enough members from Masonic lodges throughout other parts of North Carolina to justify its successful continuance. Today it stands as a pioneer forerunner of Masonic in- surance and burial companies and Widows’ funds. XLY LODGE MINUTES RESUMED The fourth lodge minute book here begins with September 8, 1875, at which time C. C. Clark is listed as Master; T. A. Green, Senior Warden; F. Ulrich, Junior Warden; J. V. Jordan, Treasurer; George E. Pittman, Secretary; and F. C. Roberts, Senior Deacon. At that meeting officers were installed for another year. The main officials were retained in their respective posts. John C. Green became Senior Deacon; Thomas Wilson, Junior Deacon; William H. Jones, Tiler; J. B. Ernul and S. Howard, Stewards; and W. Hancock, Inner Guard. Masons were then reported to be raising money for their Orphan Asylum, the lodge indebtedness and distressed widows of their former members. Mr. Jones died in November, and W. B. Boyd was named to serve in his place as Tiler. Strong efforts were made to collect overdue fees from members, and some were even tried for non-payment and failure to answer charges against them. Next June Mr. Roberts was elected Worshipful Master ; with Needham Case, Senior Warden; Thomas Wilson, Junior Warden; Mr. Jordan, Treasurer; and Mr. Pittman, Secre- tary. J. C. Green was renamed Senior Deacon; Mr. Ernul, Junior Deacon; Samuel Howard, Inner Guard; Thomas Parsons, Tiler; W. R. Warters, Marshal; O. Marks and L. Silberstein, Stewards; and G. W. Neal, Chaplain. The following June, 1877, Mr. Jordan was named Worship- ful Master; Thomas Daniels, Senior Warden; Washington Bryan, Junior Warden; Lewis Silberstein, Treasurer; and Mr. Pittman, Secretary. Upon installation, S. R. Street was named Senior Deacon; Mr. Marks, Junior Deacon; and Mr. Warters, Tiler. : In those years the theatre was still being used for public entertainments, and the minutes show that concerts of the Masonic orphanage at Oxford were given there. During October, 1877, it was voted that the New Bern Grays, a local military company, be informed that Lowthrop Hall would no longer be rented to them for military purposes. 152 YEARS OF LIGHT On February 13, 1878, the petition of Furnifold M. Sim- mons for admission into the lodge was presented. It was reported favorably at the next meeting just a month later. The first degree of Masonry was conferred upon him April 3. For many years Simmons was active in Masonry, and was always proud of his Masonic membership. Later he served in Congress for a term, then for 30 years represented North Carolina in the United States Senate from 1901 to 1931. On March 18, 1878, Mr. Roberts read the following letter to the lodge: “To the W. Master, Wardens and Brethren St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, Newbern, N. C.: “About the close of the late civil war, a returned soldier was offering for sale in our streets a silver plate and some coins, which were said to be of interest to the Masons. This coming to my knowledge, I found the man and purchased from him a silver plate, which he said ‘was taken from under the corner stone of the Masonic Hall at Newbern,’ and three coins which were all he had left, as he said, ‘of a number that were taken from the same place.’ “These articles were given into the possession of St. John’s Lodge, No. 1, in this city, Sept. 14, 1864, and April 5, 1876, the Lodge appointed me a committee to arrange the articles in proper form, to be returned to your Lodge. I at once caused a suitable case to be made, and then, in the press of official duties the matter was forgotten until the Wor- shipful Master called my attention thereto, a few days since. “T now transmit, by express, to the care of R. W. D. W. * Bain, Grand Secretary at Raleigh, the case containing the silver plate, a silver dollar, a copper cent, and a copper half- cent, which were purchased, as above stated. “In forwarding these articles I assure you that with them goes also the most kind and fraternal feelings of the mem- bers of St. John’s Lodge, No. 1, of Providence, the Mother Lodge of this city, to you as a Lodge, and as brethren, with the earnest hope that these relics may cement more strongly the kind feelings now existing between the Masons and citizens of both sections of our country. “Sincerely and Fraternally, “Thomas A. Doyle, P. G. M. “Committee.” MANY USES FOR TEMPLE ~ 153 Mr. Clark was appointed to reply to this communication, and Mr. Roberts was requested to prepare an account for publication in the local newspaper, “The Nut Shell.” It was voted to exhibit the relics at the store of B. A. Bell. XLVI MANY USES FOR TEMPLE A benefit musical and dramatic entertainment in the Masonic theatre under the direction of Miss Ella E. Ives in November that year netted $142.74, which Miss Ives do- nated for renovating the theatre, particularly for improving the stage and scenery. Later a full report of expenditures from this sum con- tained items for painting, plastering, lambrequins, lumber and lights. The theatre was then declared to have been “greatly improved.” Thomas Daniels had been elected Worshipful Master that July; with John C. Green, Senior Warden; Wilson, Junior Warden; Silberstein, Treasurer; Pittman, Secretary; W. M. Watson, Senior Deacon; Marks, Junior Deacon; Ernul and E. G. Newbegin, Stewards; and Warters, Tiler. “Wishing to see the only Hall for Amusements in the city placed in a condition suited to the wants of a respectable Theatrical Company,” a Musical and Dramatic Association proposed to take over the theatre for a series of frequent public programs, paying 25 per cent of the net proceeds to the Masons and using the other 75 per cent for the improve- ment of the auditorium and the stage scenery. Matthias E. Manly, of this city, prominent in New Bern annals as a Superior Court Judge and Supreme Court Justice, signed the petition to this effect as Managing Director of the new association; and E. P. Lorch signed it as the association’s Secretary. Daniels, Street, Roberts and Silberstein were named ona lodge committee to ascertain the best contract that might be obtained with the organization. The suggested percentage basis of payment was approved, the plan to “remain in force so long as both parties are satisfied.” & 154 YEARS OF LIGHT i) | i In January, 1879, a committee of five Masons was ap- HH i pointed to inquire into the expediency and propriety of sell- ill ing the temple to the county commissioners for a court HI) house. On this committee were named Messrs. Roberts, I Whitford, Street, T. A. Green and J. A. Simpson. James A. Bryan, then chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, wrote in June that he had been instructed ; by the commissioners to ask the lowest price at which the Masonic Temple could be purchased by the county. The lodge committee recommended a proposition to offer to sell the property to the county for $8,000, payable in non- taxable county bonds, bearing six per cent interest for 30 years. This report was accepted by the lodge. Members voted that if the county turned down the proposal, the com- mittee was empowered to try to negotiate the sale of the temple with the exception of the lodge room. Daniels was again elected Worshipful Master that June. Green was renamed Senior Warden; Street was elected Junior Warden. Pittman remained Secretary. Newbegin was made Treasurer. J. W. Moore was appointed Senior Deacon; L. W. Hancock, Junior Deacon; Wilson and Ernul, Stewards; and Warters, Tiler. As agent for the many uses to which the temple was put in those years, John Green was instructed in August to rent Lowthrop Hall for school purposes. In October he was have free of charge for one session the room below Masonic Hall for a school room, provided she have necessary repairs made there. The Lodge of Good Samaritans was requested to vacate Lowthrop Hall, but offered $75 instead of $50 a year for its use. The lodge agreed to let them keep it for $100. The Samaritans agreed to this amount, promising not to use the festivals or entertainments in it. = Lowthrop Hall was rented the following January 14 to the New Bern Athletic Club, “for the purpose of giving a ’ Terpsicorian entertainment.” A communication was considered from the New Berne Lodge, No. 245, offering to pay St. John’s Lodge $20 per annum for use of the lodge room for four regular and four authorized to let Mrs. Ferebee, a Master Mason’s daughter, _ hall on Monday or Wednesday nights and not to hold ~ MANY USES FOR TEMPLE 155 i eetings. But the Secretary was told to reply that Ee aan ore could not be reduced. Later he was instructed to offer the room for $25, the other new local Masonic lodge to pay its own gas bills. John C. Green was elected Worshipful Master in June, 1880; with Street, Senior Warden; James Redmond, Junior Warden; Thomas A. Green, Treasurer ; and Pittman, Secre- tary. When these officers were installed, Daniels was added as Senior Deacon; Marks, Junior Deacon; C. H. Blank and Hancock, Stewards; and Thomas Parsons, Tiler. Mr. Roberts was named Worshipful Master the next June. Mr. Redmond was elevated to Senior Warden. A. M. Baker was made Junior Warden. Mr. Hancock was named Secre- tary; and T. A. Green was reelected Treasurer. The retiring Master, John Green, was appointed Senior Deacon; John B. Ernul, Junior Deacon; W. B. Boyd and C. H. Blank, Stewards; and Needham Case, Tiler. A wit newly-organized Ladies Memorial Association was ade if hey Hides the coffins stored in the temple base- ment. A Masonic committee was authorized in March, eee: to turn the coffins over to the women should they want them; otherwise, to sell them. Previously a bill for coffins furnished had been presented to Chairman Bryan of the County Commissioners. Evidently no agency or organiza- tion claimed the coffins. Hight years later the Masons voted to give them to George Bishop, who had just built a fence around the temple lot. C. GC. Clark was elected Worshipful Master in June, ASERs with Redmond, Senior Warden; A. W. Wood, Junior Warden ; T. A. Green, Treasurer; and L. W. Hancock, Sa ae Joseph H. Hackburn was later named Senior Deacon; ee 3 Duffy, Junior Deacon; W. B. Boyd and S. R. Street, Jr., Stewards; and Needham Case, Tiler. - John C. Green, agent, in September of that year was told to eject the Good Samaritans and Odd Fellows from Low- throp Hall. Mr. Green resigned in October, and the lodge went on record “to thank Bro. Green for his very efficient management of the Lodge property, & request him peta tinue his present agency and associate with him Bro. S. R. Street, Jr.” 156 YEARS OF LIGHT Lowthrop Hall was rented to the New Bern Athletic Club in 1883 for skating and other purposes. The theatre was rented that year for three performances by the Patience Opera Troupe. Gas bills mentioned that year show that the temple was lighted by gas. A. W. Wood was elected Worshipful Master; J. H. Hack- burn, Senior Warden; E. B. Hackburn, Junior Warden; T. A. Green, Treasurer; and E. G. Hill, Secretary. John Green was made Senior Deacon; Street, Junior Deacon; Hancock and Boyd, Stewards; and Case, Tiler. Another Masonic lodge, New Berne Lodge, No. 245, was chartered for New Bern just after the close of the War Between the States, and remained organized for 17 years. _Some of the Northern men who settled here are said to have formed the group, which was chartered December 5, 1866, by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. James O. Whittemore was the first Worshipful Master of the lodge, which had 41 members in the first year. Its meetings on each Friday night were apparently held in the Masonic Temple. The respective Tilers for St. John’s Lodge evidently acted also for the New Berne Lodge. John Farr, Jr., was elected Master in 1868; Thomas Powers, 1869; T. M. Cowles, 1870; E. P. Lorch, 1871, 1872 and 1873; Manwell James, 1874 and 1875; Cyrus C. Holmes, 1876; and Thomas A. Henry, from 1877 to 1883, when the lodge was evidently disbanded. It had grown slowly and no new members had been received or raised for some time during its last days. Some of its 21 last members joined St. John’s Lodge. XLVI CORNERSTONE LAYINGS St. John’s Lodge was convened in special session during October, 1883, “for the purpose of taking some action in regard to laying the corner stone of the new Court House.” - Craven county commissioners had decided not to purchase the Masonic Temple for a court house, but instead to erect a more suitable new building. The Masons were invited to direct the ritual for the laying of the cornerstone. CORNERSTONE LAYINGS TS7 Worshipful Master Wood was authorized by the lodge members to invite the Grand Master and other officers of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina to attend the local program on November 14. Masons from neighboring towns were also invited. The Master and Wardens J. H. Hackburn and E. B. Hackburn were named on a committee for general arrange- ments. ‘ In the lodge archives is a copy of the “Masonic Ode sung at the Laying of the Corner Stone of the our’ House, Craven Co. at New-Berne, N. C., Nov. 14th, 1883. Printed copies of this song, on slips of paper 8 7/16 long by 3 11/16 inches wide, were distributed during the public program. To the tune of “Rule Britannia,” the ode was sung, as follows: . When earth’s foundation first was laid, By the Almighty Artist’s hand ; *Twas then our perfect, our perfect laws were made, Established by his strict command. Hail! mysterious, Hail, glorious Masonry! That makes us ever great and free. In vain mankind for shelter sought, In vain from place to place did roam, Until from heaven, from heaven he was taught To plan, to build, to fix his home. Hail! mysterious, &c. Illustrious hence we date our Art, Which now in beauteous piles appear, ‘And shall to endless, to endless time impart, How worthy and how great we are. Hail! mysterious, &c. Nor we less fam’d for every tie, By which the human thought is bound ; Love, truth and friendship, and friendship socially, Unite our hearts and hands around. Hail! mysterious, &c. 158 YEARS OF LIGHT Our actions still by Virtue blest, And to our precepts ever true, The world admiring, admiring shall request To learn, and our bright paths pursue. Hail! mysterious, &c. St. John’s Lodge was also requested to lay the cornerstone of the new school building erected in 1884 across Hancock Street from the temple. The invitation was accepted. Worshipful Master Wood was selected to act as Deputy Grand Master in laying this cornerstone on the afternoon of June 17. Neighboring Masons were invited to attend, and school trustees, city and county officials were asked to participate. . Thomas A. Green, who had served four years as lodge Treasurer and had been a Mason ever since the extant post- war minutes begin, then being listed in 1875 as Senior Warden, was elevated to the post of Worshipful Master in 1884. J. H. Hackburn was elected Senior Warden; S. B. Waters, Junior Warden; Isaac Patterson, Treasurer; and Hill, Secretary. Deacons appointed were E. B. Hackburn and William Gaskins; Stewards, Wilson and Ernul; and Tiler, Case. : The theatre was lent free to the “Neuse Street Methodist _ Episcopal Church South” while their church was being re- paired in 1884. Thanks of the church was conveyed to the lodge in a letter which was ordered spread upon the minutes. Next year Thomas Daniels was elected Worshipful Master, for a third term; and Green again became Treasurer. J. H. Hackburn was reelected Senior Warden; Patterson, Junior Warden; and Hill, Secretary. The new Master appointed John Green, Senior Deacon; and Wilson, Junior Deacon. George Howard and H. B. Duffy were named Stewards; and Case, Tiler. On the committee for the Orphans’ Asylum, for which the : lodge worked diligently, were named A. M. Baker, Duffy and Howard. The orphanage singing class gave concerts here from time to time. During the Fall of 1885 the sum of $135 was cleared from their entertainment in the theatre. is pao * aes ee ee nana XLVI MANY WORTHY OFFICERS A succession of numerous outstanding Masons held the lodge offices during the years of that period. J. H. Hackburn was elected Master in 1886; with W. B. Boyd, Senior Warden; Samuel B. Waters, Junior Warden; T. A. Green, Treasurer; and E. G. Hill, Secretary. John Green ene Wilson were appointed Deacons; Case was renamed Tiler; Howard and Duffy, Stewards. John Green was reelected agent for the building. i ie Oe anne . Boyd succeeded Mr. Hackburn the nex 5 S. ete tat installed as Senior Warden; O. Marks, Junior Warden; Green and Hill, Treasurer and Secretary ZeSDEy tively. John Green was again appointed Senior Diese E. F. Rowe, Junior Deacon; Wilson and Ernul, Stewards; and Case, Tiler. During November, 1887, it was voted to lease Lowthrop Hall to the Elm City Rifles. This was a local military oe pany, with a distinguished record. The previous year t 1e sum of $25 had been appropriated to advertise the Masonic theatre in New York City. T. A. Green again transferred from the job of Treasurer to that of Worshipful Master in 1888. He was succeeded nu Thomas Daniels as Treasurer for that year. J. H. Hee ; burn served as Senior Warden; O. Marks, Junior War ou Hill, Secretary ;Case, Tiler ; J ohn Green and Rowe, Deacons; Boyd and Thomas Williams, Stewards. Mr. Hill was raised to the office of Worshipful Master the following year, after having served six years as Ser Mr. Green resumed his treasury assignment, and Mr. oy became Secretary. Hackburn and Rowe peers: pace Wardens; John Green and Wilson became Deacons ; . W. Atwell and J. A. Simpson, Stewards; and Case, Tiler. Officers were reelected in June, 1890, except that sec tee nand Ulrich succeeded Rowe as Junior Deacon. ce 4 ments included John Green and Wilson, Deacons ; gee Tiler; S. R. Street, Marshal; J. A. Simpson and S. S. Duffy, Stewards. 160 YEARS OF LIGHT Having served continuously since 1881 as Tiler, Case was thanked for his “long and faithful services,” and regret was expressed that he had to decline reappointment because of his advancing years. Hill started a third term as Master in 1891. Hackburn and T. A. Green were also renamed to their respective posts. I. L. Chestnutt became Junior Warden, and J. S. Basnight, Secretary. The same Deacons Were renominated. W. S. Gaskins was appointed Tiler ;M. H. Sultan and J. E. Arthur, Stewards; and Street, Marshal. In June, 1892, J. H. Hackburn was again elected Master. Chestnutt was named Senior Warden; with H. J. Lovick, Junior Warden; T, A. Green, reelected Treasurer; and J. S. Basnight, renamed Secretary. Basnight was also made agent for the lodge property, and was authorized to have repairs made on the temple. John Green was appointed Senior Deacon; W. S. Gaskins, Junior Deacon; W. R. Warters, Tiler; and S. R. Street, Marshal. The following October L. J. Taylor was elected to succeed. Basnight as agent, following the latter’s resignation. For the donation of a carpet and “in consideration and recognition of his good standing and faithful membership to _the lodge,” the dues of James Redmond were voted dis- charged for his entire lifetime. ; During March, 1898, the committee of Messrs. Marks, Lovick and John Green, named to lease or rent the theatre, reported they had leased it to Misses Borden, Nunn and Whitford for one year, with the privilege of two years’ rental at $250 per year from March 1. The first year’s rent was paid in advance. The proposal of Edward Clark to rent Lowthrop Hall for a skating rink was declined “on the ground that the lodge did not think it expedient to rent it for such a purpose.” As another sign of ‘the times, among the purchases authorized at that period were a dozen spittoons. | _ Daniels was again elected Master that year; with Lovick, Senior Warden; Owen H. Guion, Junior Warden; and Green and Basnight retained as Treasurer and Secretary respec- tively. Taylor was renamed agent. John Green was ap- pointed Senior Deacon; Dr. Robert S. Primrose, Junior Deacon; and Warters, Tiler, MASONIC TEMPLE, 1905 MASonic TEMPLE, 1944 MANY WORTHY OFFICERS 161 Lovick was elected Worshipful Master in 1894. T. F. McCarthy was named Senior Warden; Primrose, Junior Warden; J. H. Hackburn, Secretary; and Green, Treasurer. John Green and J. B. Clark were named Deacons; B. Hahn and Taylor, Stewards; and Warters, Tiler. These officers were followed the next year by T. A. Green as Master; Primrose and Clark, Wardens; T. G. Hyman, Secretary; Redmond, Treasurer; and J ohn C. Green, Agent. The new chief executive announced the appointment of John Green and B. B. Neal as Deacons; C. B. Foy and C. D. Bradham as Stewards; Warters, Tiler; and A. D. Betts, Chaplain. Soon after the installation of Mr. Green on July 17, 1895, plans were set in motion to repair and renovate the opera house. An application was again filed to rent Lowthrop Hall as a skating rink. That Masons endeavored to live upright lives and see that their Masonic brethren did likewise is evident from a nota- tion in the minutes that a special communication was held to hear charges against a member charged with selling a horse under false pretenses, “in violation of his duty as a Mason.” Mr Ba: 7 io) . in, Secre. tar y; Mr. Gr een, Treasur er. Messrs. Cook and Osear A Kafer were appointed Deacons 3J.J. Stewards; and Mr. Gaskins, Tiler, Rhodes and J. A. Street, DORIC LODGE FORMED 173 On April 22, 1914, it was voted-at a special communication of St. John’s Lodge to accept the proposition of the New Bern Consistory No. 3 to buy three-fourths’ interest in all property owned by the lodge at a price of $8,300. Needed extensions to the building were planned on that propor- - tionate basis. Moderate rentals would be paid by the various organizations using it. After paying all expenses of main- taining the structure, it was proposed to divide remaining funds between the two owners on the same proportionate basis. Next August the lodge agreed to transfer all its rights in the property to the New Bern Consistory for $8,300, and the official transfer was made November 1, 1914. Under this scheme, still in vogue, if the consistory should ever disband, the property will revert to St. John’s Lodge. Meanwhile, the temple is used by the various Masonic bodies. St. John’s Lodge does not have to pay rent, but the other groups are charged nominal rental fees. This disposal of lodge property took place during the administration of Mr. Dawson, who was elected Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge in 1914. John H. Parker became Senior Warden; Harry T. Paterson, Junior Warden; and W. H. Newell, Jr., Secretary. Again elected Treasurer, Mr. Green resigned in July before the installation of the new officers, after having served 23 terms as Treasurer, besides nine terms as Worshipful Master. He was given a rising vote of thanks for his “faith- ful and efficient services.” W. P. Jones was elected to suc- ceed him as Treasurer. Messrs. Cook and Parsons were appointed Deacons; Thomas McGinn and J. T. Beard, Stewards; Mr. Gaskins, Tiler; and Dr. Z. V. Parker, Chaplain. Mr. Beard was elected in October to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Newell as Secretary. The following month O. A. Kafer was asked to act as Tiler upon the death of W. S. Gaskins. B. H. Gowen and H. P. Goss were thanked that year for the return of old jewels of the lodge. The Grand Lodge was requested to assist local members through the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in getting back the original copy of the letter written them here by President Washington. Lovick and Taylor were given 4 lease for the theatre. Lit CHARLES C. CLARK The sixth member of St. John’ 5 s Lodge to become Grand cee of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina was Charles authorn Clark, a native New Bernian, who held the high State Masonic office in 1870-71 of North Carolina Masons. bigest gs nerctipiae at ae Willis Clark and Martha Stevenson Clark an x a December 8, 1829. His grandfather ma is re eaNeiae) cere = ates County and one of the three a ‘ e Hirst Baptist Church of New Bern. H Tote ae we Ceeoeem was an earnest Ghinistians ilar with the Scriptures and a most emi Baptist, often occupying the pulpit of the local aifust las His elementary schooling was at the old New B pene ! From there he went to Wake Forest College a Hf en fe Princeton University, where he was graduated with 2 mane He read law under William Washington and was a mitted to the bar. Some years later he formed a 1: partnership with Frederick C, Roberts, also a local Ms ie and their firm became one of the most successful itt ‘the State, dissolving onl H ly because each to accept positions of public trust. tee want aco a . ce jue ening Craven County in the State Senate me 2 pa eg ie Congress during the Reconstruction od, € of his political affiliation with th cratic Party was not permitted te HR as not to serve, since R i then had a majority in the lawmaking body. Sea ae sae eee deed St. worn Masonic Lodge, and held a ; Oage offices until he became W i Master in 1858. -After two terms in this pos ete Ane a ote eee more years upon lodge reorgani- 4 close o e War Between the State ion gs. I aly as a Past Junior Warden of the Grand ue ing service as Grand Master, he acai 1 AYE ; gain headed th E as ne three additional terms, 1874, 1875 and cap uring the war, while a refugee u hed i : : : pstate, he is said to h organized a Masonic chapter iat Thomasville. His Hew) t, he again CHARLES C. CLARK 175 sive rendition of the ritualistic work was highly praised by his contemporaries. Advanced to the degree of Mark Master, he was inducted into the Oriental Chair of King Solomon, acknowledged a Most Excellent Master, and exalted to the sublime degree of a Royal Arch Mason, in Eureka Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M., of New Bern. Due to the interruption of the War Between the States, the charter of this lodge was surrendered, and New Bern Chapter, No. 46, R.A.M., was later formed. He joined this new chapter, and acted as its Excellent High Priest from 1877 to 1880. : During 1854 he married Miss Fannie Howard of New Bern. Four sons and four daughters lived to adulthood, including Edward Clark, who served as Mayor and Tax Collector of the City of New Bern and William Willis Clark, a lawyer, who was given the presidential nomination for the Federal judgeship of the Eastern District of North Carolina, though this was not confirmed by the Senate which then included a majority of members of the opposition political party. Both he and Charles Clark, Jr., held lodge offices. Grand Master Richard V. Hackett announced his death in a circular dated December 1, 1911, as follows: “It was the end of the Sabbath, at the dawn of Monday, October 30, 1911, the soul of Brother Charles Cauthorn Clark, winged its flight to the mansions of bliss, coming to the grave in full age, like a shock of corn ascendeth in his season.” He was buried with Masonic honors, in which Grand Lodge officials participated, in Cedar Grove cemetery at New Bern. Harry T. Paterson, later a member of St. John’s Lodge and a Grand Master, wrote: “In the death of Brother Clark the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, and the community in which he lived, lost a truly good man, one respected ‘and loved by all classes, and Masonry lost one who truly exempli- fied the great principles of our order... . “He was a born orator, polished with, a liberal education, a lover of letters and literature, and had a mind stored with a varied knowledge. Possessing a deep and earnest faith, a nature positive and assertive, and a courtly manner, he was well qualified for leadership in any walk of life.” Lith SUDAN SHRINE TEMPLE Sudan Shrine Temple was organized here during the two- term regime of John H. Parker as Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge from 1915 to 1917. Mr. Paterson was elected Senior Warden in 1915; with Be Mr. Cook, Junior Warden; Oscar W. Lane, Treasurer; and T. H. Bennett, Secretary. Mr. Jones had stated upon in- quiry that he did not care to continue as Treasurer. Past Grand Master J. T. Alderman of Henderson installed these officers; along with Messrs. Newell and C. Hines as Deacons; Mr. McGinn and E. B. Hackburn, Stewards; Dr. Parker, Chaplain; A. J. Gaskins, Tiler; and Mr. Kafer, Marshal. A banquet followed the induction ceremony. C. Whit Gaskins was elected Secretary in September, suc- ceeding Mr. Bennett. ; The Worshipful Master was appointed to represent the lodge on the Associated Board of Charities and the sum of $25 was donated for the board, as requested by the Rev. W. B. Everett, Free Will Baptist minister, then serving as : field secretary. Pledging $75 to the Masonic and Eastern Star Home at Greensboro, the members appointed a committee of Messrs. Paterson, Rhem and Hines to investigate the advisability of organizing an Eastern Star Chapter here, as requested by the Grand Chapter of North Carolina, Order of the Eastern Star. The committee reported that the time was not con- sidered opportune for this purpose. : The same elective officers were renamed in 1916. In- stalled with them were Mr. Newell and LeRoy Tucker, Deacons; Albert R. Marks and Mr. McGinn, Stewards; Dr. Parker, Chaplain; Mr. Gaskins, Tiler; and Mr. Kafer, | ~ Marshal. | De These men and other members of St. John’s Lodge as- ION INVITATION sisted valuably in working out plans for the formation of the SESQUI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRAT Sudan Shrine Temple. The sum of $25 was donated by the lodge at the outset for securing the Temple. One of the lodge’s outstanding members and a Past Worshipful Master, ee SHRINE Homr, NEw BERN SUDAN SHRINE TEMPLE 177 Dr. Rhem, is generally reccgnized as being the “Daddy” of the Temple. According to a history of Sudan Temple compiled by Alexander B. Andrews, of Raleigh, who was its first Tllus- trious Potentate, Dr. Rhem was “9 min of vision and action who, in 1915, sensed the fact that the ime was opportune and the situation ripe for the formation .< a Shrine Temple in Eastern North Carolina.” Oasis Temple in this State at that time had approximately 2,500 members. Many of these lived in the eastern part of the State, but those in the western areas naturally objected to the formation of a new Temple in the east. Dr. Rhem had served as Potentate of Oasis Temple and for two years as a representative in the Imperial Council. He and his assistants worked diligently until they obtained 478 signatures on the petition for a charter. Of these half a hundred were stricken out by Oasis officers, leaving 427 names, above the 400 minimum required for the purpose. _ At the Buffalo meeting of the Imperial Council in 1916 Dr. Rhem, Mr. Andrews and others presented the merits of the petition. Congressman S. M. Brinson, a candidate in the first class, is said to have accomplished notable results through a friend who was on the Committee on Charters and Dispensations. The dispensation was granted July 13, 1916, at Buffalo, conditioned upon Oasis Temple keeping exclusive jurisdic- tion in Mecklenburg County and Sudan Temple having ex- clusive jurisdiction in Craven County and the other 98 counties of North Carolina being concurrent jurisdictions. The name, “Sudan,” was suggested by Mrs. C. Whit Gaskins, wife of the Secretary of St. John’s Lodge. In accordance with this dispensation, Sudan Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in the Oasis of New Bern, Desert of North Carolina, was instituted here at 2:30 p. m. on November 22, 1916, at the Masonic building. Past Potentate Walter S. Liddell of Oasis Temple, Special Deputy of the Imperial Potentate, administered the oath of office to the first divan of Sudan Temple, as named in the dispensation. The Commission of the Imperial Potentate was read by Past Potentate G. T. Bryan of Oasis Temple. : 178 YEARS OF LIGHT ' Mr. Andrews was in talled tate s as the first Ilustri ae = Pe Temple. Mr. Bradham, of ace eatens St. John’s L rst Treasurer of the Temple; and D 8 Lodge, - John’s Lodge, became its first Resardck r. Rhem, of At thi i is first meeting or ceremonial 106 petitions for membership were received, and at the next ceremonial in ‘ i Temple. Instituti ae Hi et a Hara under this charter took place at ae 1€ Opera house on L when Past Potentate Reinhardt of Onna E ia le de- anne eet: mstituted organization. Immediately at the rear of th THO. e stage an electric sign. al flashe on gn, Sud. is z 4 7 d ’ and the Nobles At this gatherin f ig W. T. Hill w: Z as n. i He pipes ue of the en es i ths ; ction of having b ; : j a n g been Worshipf eee ees in New Bern. Joinine” a Tee epee e beginning of the century, he ee nae a 5 after- Ss ions befor ein: 1907. Then he was tatio e bei g& Named Master In instrumental in the formation of Doric Lodge served as its 2 first Secretar i Mastae y, and in 1910 was elected its Worshipful January. In 1919, h ‘ , ho x ofa Shrine Home wever, plans were laid for the purchase The h : : Strocis pone Sa residence on Fast Front and B 1920. New ide rice ee D. Nelson was Balhae aes angements ne wer w furnishings were added. The eo yee use or the post until h succeeded the two St. John’s members preferring to leave city. Charles E. Wethington, long a me St. John’s Lodge, but then a resident of Goldsboro, Potentate in 1935-36. posts and who WORLD WAR PERIOD 179 offices and reception rooms, the second floor became sleeping quarters for visiting Nobles. Dr. Rhem continued as Sudan’s Recorder until his death in 1924, when he was sueceeded by Mr. Bradham, who held e died in 1932. A member of Doric Lodge as Recorder. : No New Bernian has been elected Potentate of the Temple, this honor to leaders from outside the mber and officer of served as Dr. Hubert M. Poteat, of Wake Forest, who was elevated here to the office of Potentate after serving in other divan was endorsed here for a place on the Imperial Council, was elected Outer Guard of the Imperial Council in 1948. New Bern still r world to confer all Masonic degrees cluding the Shrine. anks today as the smallest city in the except the 33rd., in- LIV WORLD WAR PERIOD After the entrance of the United States in the World War in 1917, it was voted by St. John’s Lodge in July that all members in good standing called to duty in the military service should have their dues remitted after June 30, 1917, for the entire period they remained in war roles. Mr. Paterson was then Worshipful Master; with Messrs. Cook and Newell as Wardens ; and Messrs. Gaskins and Lane reelected Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Appointed for the year were Dr. Parker, Chaplain; S. M. Brinson and J. T. Mallard, Deacons; T. Bayard Whitehurst and C. T. Pumphrey, Stewards. A. J. Gaskins was retained as Tiler. A public installation program was held in the Masonic opera house, with Grand Master C. L. Pridgen in charge of the ceremonies. Mr. Pridgen gave “an interesting and eloquent address,” and short talks were made by several members. ee YEARS OF LIGHT It is interesting to note here that Mr. Brinson later became Representative in Congress from this Third District, serving in the office until his death in 1922, and that Mr. Pumphrey died of pneumonia in a Paris hospital while serving with the American Red Cross in France. The latter officer frequently sang tenor solos for Masonic, church and civic programs during his residence in New Bern. During September, 1917, it was voted to send to Past. Master R. D. V. Jones, then in hospital service for the A. E. F, in France, a Past Master’s jewel, “in appreciation of past services and as a loving memento.” The committee named for this purpose reported later that the gift had been forwarded to Dr. Jones. As an important innovation during that war year. the showing of moving pictures was begun October 12, 1917, in ’ the Masonic theatre. Since then the movies have been featured regularly there in public shows, under the owner- ship and management of Scottish Rite Masons. The only times when the house is closed to moviegoers are during the semi-annual Scottish Rite reunions in April and November, when the auditorium is needed for those Masonic programs. Profits are used for educational and charitable causes, except that bonds are algo being bought to finance later enlarge- ments of the building. 5 A moving picture screen had been presented to St. J ohn’s Lodge in 1915 by F. M. Hahn, a member who had operated the Star theatre here for Some time. His dues were re- mitted for three years in return for the gift. But this screen was used in lodge work, not in the new Masonic moving picture theatre. Oscar A. Kafer and Mr. Hahn were named as co-managers of the Masonic moving picture theatre at its opening. After about five months, Mr. Hahn resigned, and ever since then Mr. Kafer has continued in his position as manager of the theatre for more than quarter of a century. The Grand Master’s proclamation urging the purchase of War Savings Stamps and suggesting that the National flag he displayed in the lodge room was read in February, 1918, at a lodge meeting. A motion was passed to buy $50 worth of War Savings Stamps. Another motion authorized the purchase of a Service Flag for the lodge room and instructed Worshipfu 181 EASTERN STAR CHAPTER 1 Master Paterson to confer with the Worshipful ae ea Master of Doric Lodge in regard to the joint purchase o United States flag. Members of a licit contribution building and Masonic clubhouse at Ca S. C., as requested in a communicat : Master. A substantial sum was rals' ae was promoted to the office of Worshipful Master, i ; Mr. ith Dr. Parker and William W. Griffin as guceee ua Me Cl Mr. Gaskins reelected Treasurer and se sit spaiienvanid Mr. Bennett were ey ait e ‘sale iler ; ev. A. A. Walker, a3 Saat gos rap oe e! Stewards. A Master’s vi on was presented to the lodge by Mr. Parker. core Sine terms were served by Mr. Cook. For oe Be pee Dr. Parker and Deane F. Bell were named bs e ee = ; and Gaskins remained in their posts. wp ie Ba son and C. T. Hellinger were appointed Deac ud S TL A. Humble, Chaplain; D. W. Hanks and J. M. ; Stewards; and O. A. Kafer, Tiler. committee were named during May to to erect an Army Lodge Se nea mp Sevier, Greenville, tion from the Grand d among the local LY EASTERN STAR CHAPTER t ini tion plans were worked ou ae ff i local chapter of the £ the Masonic ir wives, During Mr. Cook’ nistr fully for the organization 0. eae fee ihe Eastern Star, the sister group 0 tee fraternity. Many of St. John’s Lodge pric ode ae hters and sisters were especially active along er mee J. F. Rhem and her husband, Dr. Rhem, on WwW mshiptul Master of St. John’s Lodge and tadarn’ oo ] % Recorder of Sudan Shrine Temple, are a Re ait as founders of the Spd here. They la kk and stirred up interest. i pair invitation, four State sp eae peas seo ize the Craven chapter on ovem ; ® = He anne Room of the Masonic Temple, where the in women still hold their regular gatherings. EASTERN STAR CHAPTER 183 nee YEARS OF LIGHT These four visiting offi : Grand Patron; C. W. Fowler he z e M. Setzer, of Charlotte, The list of Worthy Matrons and Patrons who have served Fowler, District Deputy Grand sree ak eet et: the local Eastern Star Chapter follow: on; and John: F. ‘Wood; Leonore A. Gaskins, worthy matron, and J. H. Parker, Gaskins and Allie Cook, worthy patron, 1919-21; Lenore A. 1921-22; Minnie Lee Williams and Allie Cook, 1922-23; Sara L. Stewart and W. P. Jones, 1923-24; Mamie G. Parker and W. P. Jones, 1924-25; Minnie C. Brooks and W. P. Jones, 1925-26; Charity Bradham and Harry T. Paterson, 1926-27 ; Estella F. Lewis and W. P. Jones, 1927-28; Blanche H. Williams and W. P. Jones, 1928-29 ; Hazel S. Howell and W. P. Jones, 1929-30; Beulah A. Edmunds and R. L. Stallings, 1930-31; Erma M. Pittman -32: Myrtle M. Stephens and R. C. field and Thomas McGinn, W. P. Jones, 1934-35; Vera -36; Laura E. Williams and Grand Chaplain. Acco i and i mpa: ee in the Charlotte shit taeee eo Sea an ee. Gaskins, wife of C. Whit Gaskins, Secretar i ee ; odge, was named as the first Worthy Mnieen Sie se chapter. John H. Parker, Past Worshi ful ? tees bie zee was the first Worthy Eade - Cl . Bradham, wife ‘ oe Worshipful Master of St. John’s ee anaes ssociate Matron. in dae Gee i Others on the list of fir i | Sst officials w Mi inni | a one tq ere Miss Minnie Lee rs, R. B. Williams), Secretary; Mrs. Clyde Whitley, | 1822-98) Marion ee Eby, Treas : urer; Mrs. C. B. Foy, Conductress; Mrs. S. W. 1933-34; Lula M. Disosway and Sutton and Thomas McGinn, 1985: WW Hi] i Brown, Associate Conductress; Mrs. A. A. Kafer Ada; Mi z ’ > iss Sara Louise Stewart, Ruth: Mi ‘ ; ; Miss Myrtle Pope, EB F Bae ae Whitehurst, Martha; Mrs. W. P. ie. fuera 7 em, Marshal; Mrs. Garrason A. Farrow, Genie Mr. Cook, Warden; S. W. Brown, Sentinel; and W. P. Jones Chaplain. Minutes of the first sessi sessions of the order sh i Bk ee the following other charter Hisabere tale a ae 85 charter members: Mrs. Cook, G. A "Par oe a and sae a D. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Hoary! vats ee Le S . J. Carpenter, Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Henry, De ae aie 7 Behe ine Mrs. Oscar A. Kafer, I. df : Cn ee » Mrs. R. S. Primrose and Mrs. = eee ee is now kept in the Blue Lodge Room Leia ks ee 1920. The Craven Chapter received ie es ee , rs. Gaskins was named as Worthy Matron; ee ee a as ee Patron; and Mrs. Bradham as ASSO: mn. e document is signed b A ; ore Master; Mr. Setzer, Grand Rabe ue i me Grand Secretary. oe ae. astern Star members have ‘ always worked h i eee nee Frequently they serve Treen ee or the various Masonic bodies. The chapter has ae So been active in m ivi any civic and co: i mmunity m to be for the general welfare. Meee ELS W. P. Jones, 1936-37 ; Laura E. Williams and W. P. Jones, 1987-38; Nettie O. d Thomas McGinn, 1988-39; Myrtle T. Carr and J.R. Carr, 1939-40; Julia M. Everhart and Stamey Everhart, 1940-41; Adolia Everhart and J. R. Carr, 1941-42; Mattie C. Benton and J. R. Carr, 1942-43; Eva F. Bray and J. R. Carr, 1943; Anna Orringer and J. R. Carr. An unusual communication was held November 10, 1919, by St. John’s Lodge, when the third degree was conferred upon five candidates. All the stations were filled by Past Masters. A large number of out-of-town visitors attended. After interesting talks by the new Master Masons and several guests, a banquet was enjoyed. W. P. Jones was again elected Master the following June. Mr. Parker and C. Whit Gaskins were named Wardens; Sol Lipman, Treasurer; and-R. B. Williams, Secretary. S. W. Brown and Mr. Batson were appointed Deacons; S. L. Harrison and J. L. Cason, Stewards; the Rev. W. A. Ayres, Chaplain; and Mr. Kafer was reappointed Tiler. Taylor an LVI SESQUI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Plans were initiated during the Fall of 1920 for the sesqui- - centennial celebration of the institution of the lodge. Worshipful Master Jones and Wardens Parker and Gas- kins were requested to procure antique relics and infor- mation about the lodge. It was voted to present a picture of Martin Howard, first Master of this lodge, to the Grand Lodge of North Carolina and to invite Grand Lodge officials - to attend the historical celebration programs contemplated for 1922. Tn order to stir up more interest in the outstanding history of the lodge, it was decided to procure the old minute books from the vault of the New Bern Banking and Trust Company and read excerpts at each regular communication. Another decision was reached to try to collect the photographs of all the Past Masters of the lodge. Following an interesting and instructive talk on the past history of the lodge, Mr. Bradham offered a motion, which was carried, that a committee get up a booklet containing lodge data as a Sesqui-centennial souvenir. On the com- mittee were named Messrs. Bradham, Rhem and Parker, Mr. Parker reported the next February that he had pre- sented the Howard portrait to the Grand Lodge and had invited the Grand Lodge to meet here in January, 1922, which invitation was accepted. Named in March as a celebration committee were Messrs. Bradham, Rhem, Parker, Gaskins, Williams, Jones and Paterson. Every Mason was asked to render all aid and cooperation possible to make the occasion a great success. It was suggested that invitations be sent to President Warren Harding and Governor Cameron Morrison. With this revival of interest in history, it was decided, upon recommendation of Senior Warden Parker, to see if something could not be done to preserve the old vault con- taining the remains of Gov. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Gov. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr., and other outstanding local leaders. Dr. Rhem and T. A. Green were appointed on a committee for this purpose, and were also requested to 185 SESQUI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION ndeavor to ascertain whether the elder governor had been , Mason and a member of St. John s Lodge. baka e aie 5 Mr. Gaskins was elected pe ears a2 me perer es ell and J. M. Batson as Wardens; Mr. =e He it retained as Treasurer and Seununalapr en's : and Albert L. Hibbard were appoin epee te M. Bryan and T. Doe Street, Ba ee r. Ay i Tiler. d Chaplain, and Mr. Kafer, Net : a5 rieiibdce viedoed the hearty and enthusiastic seg eee ee its officers and members for the ise Niger cad OT tien The Eastern Star chapter also promise 0 ssful. i ired to make the programs succe' ‘ es Auber bee was paid to cover the expenses of a repre Srigae cai sentative to go to Washington to invite Mrs. Harding to + Harding to New Bern for the event. accompany Presiden ete eats i ble to ident and Mrs. Harding were una ‘ ue ae programs, but many other national and State ders accepted the elaborate invitations for pers a a coon The front page of the eight-page booklet invita Pe pet in colors of red, white and blue, topped by a minia portrait of George Washington. The invitation proper read as follows: St. John’s Lodge, A. F. & A. M. New Bern, North Carolina : i Brother: scabies Seater S extends you a most cordial oa pela bs be present at the celebration of its one hundre SRate tte Wal ale ‘Gonmanmorate the one ae an fein anniversary of the visit of pase a a ington, the first President of the United States. Fraternally yours, C. Whit Gaskins Worshipful Master Invitation Committee: C.D. Bradham, P. M. Jos. F. Rhem, P. M. F. M. Simmons S. M. Brinson Harry T. Paterson, P.M. cd 186 YEARS OF LIGHT Not si : ae ee 1910 when the city was bedecked for the 200th ie sary of the founding of the town had New B en more gaily decorated that it was for the itstic Pome portrayal of Masonic history. ey gai o James H. Webb and other Grand Lodge Ponerentie oe the thousands of persons participating a sa a ieee. parts of North Carolina and ‘ir a other States M: oe came to join in the notable Biel ae ghia Sone sia nian of the celebration took place in the ue - te ae Pre of Ceremonies, Mr. Bradham S f a.m. Selections by th : seen es soa by B. D. Wilson were siccal ae Picecieey: Gen y Mr. Ayers, pastor of the First Baptist Pa ya ce ms Chaplain, Attorney Larry I. Moore intro- awe e: a fe rote Ee hennelenee the Grand Lodge . Hu Me iets er . Poteat, of Wake Forest, A . : x ane New Bernian and veteran Mason, Professor ae we informative resume of Masonry in New Bern ae ee Nes signal tribute to St. John’s is tre dete eas inction of a century and a half of P : F ei res ee ithe presentation of the first a - Judge Francis D. Wi Fon cae ibe role of Joseph Montfort, Beco ee i | ae ivering the early charter to Martin How d ae ae orshipful Master, a part taken by T. A Gree : es ee teen eens the other nceh Gere ee zi : i ee costumes and Botileha ied opus c ne ante iographical sketches were the ; é rr N nm read, Mr. Bradh Se uae Howard, First Master and Jurist,” ane ee relating the story of “Joseph Montfo fp ee rovincial Grand Master.” Le The afternoon phase of J 1 the program began eae ae Selections. Charles L. Me cae seth ay ae ee Grand Lodge of North Ganong ah fie ig of St. John’s Lodge. He reviewed briefly the part played by Mas . ‘ Bistony. onry in North Carolina and American for many years Senior Warden of the Lod: second charter, James H. Webb, who represente Davie. Grand Historian Marsh a graphic account of the parts played in local and SESQUI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 187 Gaskins, in the role of George Ellis, , ge, received the dated January 26, 1795, from Grand Master d Grand Master William R. all DeLancey Haywood gave State history by Past Grand Masters Spaight, Jerkins and Clark, all members of St. John’s Lodge. f A barbecue dinner was served at the Farmers’ Warehouse, under the direction of J. B. Dawson and his aides, assisted by members of the Eastern Star. About 1,500 persons were guests. The arrival of Presi was then depicted, as Col. P. M. Pearsa first president, rode with two attendants, W. P. Jones and J. E. Boswell, in an antique coach drawn by white horses down Broad Street towards Neuse River. An escort of composed of a troop of Colonial horsemen, under Gen. y William MacMillan, ac- Worshipful Master dent Washington in New Bern in 1791 ll in the role of the honor, Samuel Simpson, represented b companied the coach. : This procession passed down the Court of Honor to a stand in front of the Shrine Home. There Congressman Samuel M. Brinson, acting as Mayor Joseph Leech, delivered the civic welcome to Washington, and Judge Owen H. Guion, impersonating his great-grandfather, Isaac Guion, then Master of St. John’s, welcomed President Washington for the lodge. His address and the President’s response were in the same words used 130 years earlier. When Washington left the coach, his escort dismounted from their horses, and with other citizens in Colonial attire stepped forward to greet him, forming a striking scene of colorful beauty and historical significance. The day’s program came to a close with a dinner served Grand Lodge officers at the Shrine Home. Covers were laid for 50. There, as at a Colonial breakfast for the dis- tinguished guests that morning, the Colonial motif was carried out in detail. Colonial china, silver and other articles of the period were used, and members of the Eastern Star, headed by Mrs. Gaskins, Worthy Matron, who planned and _ served both meals, were dressed in beautiful Colonial costumes. 188 YEARS OF LIGHT Wide publicity was given to the celebration, which was universally conceded to be an outstandi and: Judge Shepard Bryan of Atlanta, Ga, alway erected here to commemorate the 150th visit of President Washington. aunivershry: and the LVII EDUCATIONAL WORK Educational studies were 4 1 stressed by memb rte s Lodge during the Mastership of J. E Boswell, Hae 0 office in 1922. ; Park Read at meetings durin i \ g that period were ed i oe ie lodges each month by the Math heseenice on. Among these subjects were Paul is aus vf bed Re eee and the Spirit of Masonry. seaNeaLioaihd seth ere ae ails re Nese Educational Field Secretary 3 or arolina; and a: che ey his recent trip to the Holy ed cha ng wi r. Bo i ‘ se tenet swell were A. L. Hibbard and W. H. tinued in their respective 4 r posts. Henry P. i aaa Senior Deacon sels bs Biiiwoil ae zs e . Wagner, Senior Steward; H. C. Armstrong, J ion Aes and Mr. Kafer, Tiler. elt oint installation services w i n a ere held with Dori i a nn, Rite Hall, with Past Master TDA eae ia oe oe officer and Past Master W. T. Hill iia Mavahalr : hn le e request of the Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter Be ee of the American Revolution, which had bedh yes Fe ee March 29, 1921, the lodge voted $100 towards ree a erecting a granite boulder on the Court House Gone e€ memory of the three Governors of North es as New Bern—Richard Dobbs Spaight, Abner Siar eng ichard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. The chair ‘offidiald ee a as a lodge committee for this purpose. Rete aoe fire destroyed 40 blocks of buildings and did enn S elo at $1,000,000 in the northwestern part of a abe Ps ecember 1, 1922, and Masons were among the perty losers. One of the offers of aid received from out- had a memorial and Messrs. Lipman and Williams con- - EDUCATIONAL WORK 189 side New Bern came from Perquimans Lodge, No. 300, of Hertford, N. C., which offered to assist any Mason in need of financial aid, but there being none, the lodge was written to that effect, with thanks for its offer. A check for $200 was returned to the Corinthian Lodge, No. 230, Rocky Mount, N. C., this having been sent for the relief of any Masonic fire sufferers. Past Master Paterson, then District Deputy Grand Master, reported in February on the proposed memorial building to be erected at Alexandria, Va., at a cost of $2,000,000, as a shrine in memory of President Washington. He suggested that the Worshipful Master appoint a committee to seek donations of $1 from local members for this memorial fund. On the committee were named W. P. Jones, A. L. Hibbard and W. C. Chadwick. In going through records in the lodge archives, war sav- ings stamps in the amount of $60 were found. These were sold, and the cash was added to the treasury. Mr. Hibbard was the next Worshipful Master; with Messrs. Purser and Lipman as Wardens; H. Cc. Armstrong elected to succeed Mr. Lipman as Treasurer; and Mr. Williams renamed Secretary. Another joint installation of officers was held with Doric Lodge. District Deputy D. H. Stallings of Doric Lodge was installation officer, with Past Master W. P. Jones, of St. John’s, as marshal. The new Master appointed Carl F. Bunting and W. B. Hanff as Deacons; Hardy Whitford and A. Block, Stewards ; Mr. Kafer, Tiler; and W. P. Jones, Chaplain. Secretary Williams soon moved from the city, and F. M. Hahn was elected to succeed him. Among resolutions adopted in August were those upon the death of President Warren G. Harding, a brother Mason. Upon removal of Junior Warden Sol Lipman to Baltimore, Harry Lipman was elected in his place. D. L. Latta was named Secretary. A successful district meeting was held here in November, 1928, with the two local lodges as hosts to Masons from many parts of this section. In order to increase the attendance at Lodge meetings, Manager Kafer of the Masonic Theatre, suggested in January, 1924, that Worshipful Master Hibbard invite all members present to remain after the lodge sessions to 190 YEARS OF LIGHT attend the moving picture shows then being given regularly in the theatre. As a further stimulus for the lodge’s educational activi- ties, Past Master Boswell was appointed in February, 1924, Educational Secretary for the lodge. LVI} JOSEPH F. RHEM Dr. Rhem died March 21, 1924, and resolutions drafted by a lodge committee composed of Past Masters Bradham, W. P. Jones and Dr. RB. D. V. Jones paid high tribute to his Masonic record and work. He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in St. John’s Lodge, of which he was a Past Master; exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason in New Bern Chapter, No. 46, of which he was High Priest; created and knighted a Knight Templar in St. John’s Commandery, No. 10, New Bern, of which he became the Eminent Commander. Among his offices were Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch of North Carolina; Past Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of North Carolina; Past Thrice Illustrious Master of the Grand Council of North Carolina; Past Potentate of Oasis Temple, A. A. O. N. M.S.; Founder and Recorder of Sudan Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; Imperial Representative of Sudan Temple to the Imperial Council, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Past Worthy Patron, Order of the Eastern Star; Grand Junior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina; Secretary of Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of New Bern; and Honorary Thirty-Third Degree Mason, Southern Jurisdiction, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry. Besides being the “Daddy” of Sudan Temple, Dr. Rhem and his wife founded Craven Chapter, No. 129, Order of the Eastern Star. He also organized the Widows’ Fund of Sudan Temple. Though a native New Bernian, born here October 1, 1870, and a lifelong resident of this city, he was popularly known in Masonic circles throughout North Carolina and many other States. Wy: JOSEPH F. RHEM 191 His funeral was one of the largest ever held in sey ieee Pallbearers were Masonic Dana es ope a Pe i S. ig her fraternal groups attended in bodie 1 soawe were paid the deceased in committal rites at Cedar cemetery. : ; oa Purser was elected Worshipful Master of St. John 8 Tudee in June, 1924. Harry Lipman succeeded me a Senior Warden; J. L. Cason was made Junior si ares i] ee Armstrong was retained as Treasurer ; and L. L. Brins named Secretary. ; : : ak joint installation ceremonies with Doric Lodge, these officers assumed their respective roles; with T. Doe ae and Albert W. Brinson as Deacons; Hardy Whitford a: L. R. Tucker Stewards; and Mr. Kafer, Tiler. sit ae A committee was authorized to try to get jewels ae Past Masters of the lodge. The chair officers were named 0 i mmittee. : ae ° Wicker gave other educational a ee ee ime i large group of local memb« time through the section. A ! ee isiting brothers heard him here at a dis : elas, 1925. He was introduced by spe sh erm Charles L. "Abernethy. Also on the program was Distric ks. uty Grand Master A. D. Broo ray eee lecturer before the lodge was Jfeake preneel who was presented with a fountain pen in appreciation @) i vices. ; a eG was again elected Master of ee aoe i den ; er 3 - . Lipman was reelected Senior War i ae ore made Junior Warden; and peta Armstrong and lie Brinson were renamed to their posts. j : aad aiston again took place in na ee re ing i led as Worshipfu Lodge, E. W. Paul being instal the Tate organization. Past Master W. P. J perae a - Smaw were appointed Deacons for St. John’s Lo ae ia 2 Caroon and Mr. Tucker, Stewards; and Thomas Mc! ; Tiler. LIX JOINT BIRTHDAY PARTY Sea parennon again became Worshipful Master in 1926 ai ee and A. W. Brinson were Wardens; Mr. ‘Anins dee ae pore Brinson kept their offices. All micmibens 0 sign a pledge of support to the ne ig] w Officers. sepa Willis and Arnold R. Gehrkin were eigen ae *) ta ee and A. A. Kafer, Stewards; W. W. F ( omas McGinn, Tiler; he Rey, N. H. D. Wilson ee a Ge oie , pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, Past Master Dawson Pa f presented to the lodge i Shee portrait of President George Wahi eioh coe e ee aes cr by William Williams, who later lived aia es ew jenn, The colored print was given to the lodge e artist’s grandsons, Charles A. Williams and ad: r ‘Williams, of Charlotte. The secretary was instructed to ae them a letter of thanks. ce reat SLI was again elected Master the next June eae Ibert W. Brinson were named Wardens; Mr. ae sear re gees eee remained in their BGaitionat g . Suskin were made D. inn was reappointed Tiler; and W. H. ae repens Educational Secretary. ps eT jen ee Purser began a second term as Master; with neers son and A. T. Willis, Wardens; J. C. Barker wee hy and Past Master and Treasurer T. A. Green pean ous reasurer. J. E. Wetherington and R. R. White ui named Deacons; Mr. Tucker and W. C F lf sees and Mr. McGinn, Tiler. peers jae i aise oe of Christ Episcopal 5 ome ountain Lake L fone a e Lodge, A. F. & Fe ee ig yi an invitation to the Ae services at his church on St. John’ . ys re he voted to meet at the church and Ce are aa eee ee seat Paterson, Purser ar W. P 8 W ested to notify the membershi ame meagre | Deputy Grand Master John H. Pa was re- grand honors at a meeting September 12, 1928 JOINT BIRTHDAY PARTY 193 He reported what had been accomplished at a meeting of district deputies held at Waynesville, and told of the Grand Master’s plea for the Oxford Orphanage. Cooperation was voted for the committees in charge of the historical celebration planned for June 11, 1929, in New Bern, especially in regard to sending eight members to participate as Colonial gentlemen to welcome President Washington to the city in the pageant, as members of the lodge had done in 1791. Later it was reported that the lodge did assist in every way possible, and that the pageant was a huge success. Special Masonic servi Day that year by Mr. members met at the ch morning, June 23. ces were again held for St. John’s Madara at Christ Church. Lodge urch to attend in a body on Sunday Mr. Parker again was elected Master in that Summer’s Willis and White were election, for a third time. Messrs. elected Wardens; Mr. Green and Mr. Barker were reelected. Past Grand Master and Grand Secretary John H. Anderson of Raleigh installed these officers, along with Doric Lodge officials. Mr. Anderson spoke on Masonry, and Mr. Green told of the history of the lodge. L. W. Hartsell and Mr. Bunting were named St. John’s Deacons; Messrs. Fulford and Tucker, Stewards; and Mr. McGinn, Tiler. D. L. Latta was appointed Educational Secretary; and W. P. Jones, Chaplain. For two weeks that Fall K. W. Winstead, Grand Lecturer, gave lectures here, particularly coaching the lodge officials. He was warmly praised for his aid. A letter of appreciation was written to him by Secretary Barker, at request of the lodge. Members attended a birthday party given on January 10, 1930, by Doric Lodge, in honor of the 20th anniversary of Doric Lodge and the 158th anniversary of St. John’s Lodge. A silver cup was given to the latter organization by the Doric members. ’ Secretary Barker was ai tion to the Doric Lodge. to purchase a large metal container other relics and records owned by the lo the Masonic Temple. sked to write a letter of apprecia- Tt was voted by St. John’s Lodge to keep the cup and all dge in the vault at 194 YEARS OF LIGHT PAST MASTERS HONORED 195 ho ee engraving with suitable inscription ing cup was presented to St. John’s Li iif 1 3 od: April by Garrason A. Farrow, Worshipful Master of ers as a trustee. J.C. Davis, Master of Doric Lodge, and other visitors also spoke briefly. : A joint meeting of the two lodges was called for the night Lodge, who also made a short talk on Masonry. LX PAST MASTERS HONORED Mr. Willis was elected Worshi : ipful Master in 1930. ay Bis made Senior Warden; L. W. Hartsell i wee en; J. E. Boswell is : ee ell, Treasurer; and J. C. Barker, renamed Following a district meetin g that June 21, with a 1 ee Peet Mesto Paterson, then honored as a ee r, these new officers were installed by Distri ne Grand Master Parker. Carl F. Bunting ee ve eee Deacon; W. C. Fulford, Junior Deacon; W. H. Purser aoe a Ses Stewards; and McGinn, Tiler Z i e closing of the local banks th : at Au eae Ae Ly $235.54 were tied up. The eae Hy © write to the Grand Secretary i ) y in re ii means of paying the per capita tax. signee ene of the few times, no collection for the Oxford nae age was taken at the communication held August 13 e€ next meeting, however, the regular offering aan taken, and several members made talks for the good of the order, emphasizing wh ler, p y Masonry should united during such times of dephosaiins pads ote suggestion of the Grand Master and the Grand nee er ee Gaede on the per capita tax the difference 2 the amount i Gouna ies in the bank and the sum owed to the - eee re eon Night was held that October 24, odge’s oldest living Past Master, Thom: ‘ ee ee ey pee as the presiding oss oe é urne e gavel over to M: ‘ * ‘ r. Green. Oth Mele filled other stations, and all made short rate ie a sie ig ‘ of his Masonic experiences, and of the foande : e Oxford Orphanage, of which he had long served after Christmas to pay tribute to Mr. Madara, who had resigned his local rectorate and was planning to take up new. work in New York State. Mr. Farrow spoke for Doric Lodge, and Mr. Willis for St. John’s Lodge. Mr. Madara responded. Others making remarks were District Deputy Grand Master Parker, Mr. Paterson of the Grand Lodge, R. C. Whitley and Mr. Davis of Dorie Lodge. A committee consisting of Mr. Parker as Chairman, W. P. Jones, Messrs. Hartsell and Willis was named to organize a degree team. About 15 members met in April for this pur- pose, and took steps in that direction. Grand Lecturer XK. W. Winstead was engaged for Jectures here during the _ first week of June. Honor was paid on St. John’s Day in 1931 to the three oldest lodge members: Past Master T, A. Green, admitted January 1, 1868, or 63 years previously ; George Henderson, initiated January 6, 1869, or 62 years earlier; and U. S. Senator Furnifold M. Simmons, admitted in 1878, or 53 years previously. Past Master R. D. V. Jones spoke of the long and honor- able lives, both secular and Masonic, of the three members who had followed the plumb, square and level for so many years. Messrs. Green and Simmons told of their Masonic careers and the great part Masonry played in their lives. Mr. Willis was installed for another year as Worshipful Master; with L. W. Hartsell and Carl F. Bunting, Wardens ; J. E. Boswell and J. C. Barker reelected Treasurer and Secretary. W. C. Fulford and BE. W. Summerell were named Deacons; W. H. Purser and O. A. Kafer, Stewards; and Mr. McGinn, Tiler. The District Deputy Grand Master, J. H. Parker, had charge of the installation ceremony, and made an interesting talk on the duties of the officers. Worshipful Master Willis thanked the lodge for honoring him again with the office. Another special meeting was held in October, with wives and friends of the members invited to enjoy an educational program. Music was arranged by Elmer F. Prunier, and included several selections by a local chorus. | | 196 : YEARS OF LIGHT Henry Forrest spoke on Cooperative Farming in Den- mark. Larry I. Moore, local attorney and a member of Greenville Masonic Lodge No. 284, who had been instru- mental in the founding of Sudan Shrine Temple and who three years later affiliated with the local lodge, made the principal address. He explained Masonry’s relation to the church. This was described as a very interesting program, much enjoyed by all. A barbecue dinner was then served in Lowthrop Hall. The Master read several excerpts from the lodge’s first minute book. Besides lodge members, there were 30 visiting Brothers and 33 women in attendance. Again emphasizing educational and historical programs, - in order to stimulate membership and attendance, Mr. Willis read an informative paper on Martin Howard, first Worship- ful Master of the lodge, at a meeting in November. At a later meeting Graham A. Barden introduced a new member, E. F. C. Metz, for a talk. The next February a joint meeting was held with Doric Lodge members to pay tribute to George Washington, whose birthday bi-centennial was being celebrated during 1932. T. A. Green died the following July 7. He had been a member of St. John’s Lodge for 64 years, probably a record never surpassed before or since, particularly when his services are counted. George Henderson died that Fall, after a 63-year membership. Mr. Green was named Junior Deacon the first year of his membership, Senior Deacon the second year. In 1870 he was elected Junior Warden, and three years later held the same office again. During 1874 he was elected Senior Warden. In 1880 he was made Lodge Treasurer, and was reelected to this office 24 times, holding it for 25 different years. For nine different terms he was Worshipful Master of the Lodge, including the years when the Masonic Temple was ex- tensively remodeled. Mr. Green used to say that his 28rd. year was his most important, for he then entered business for himself, got married and joined the Masonic lodge. He had been born in New Bern in June of 1846 and resided here all his life to his death at the age of 86. MEMORIAL TABLET ERECTED 197 interested in the Masonic orphanage at Oxford, he hae director of the institution for about 30 bis For a number of years he was president of the New ie Library Association, and for more than 35 years eerene member of the local school board of trustees, 25 0 ving as chairman. j ee ek of the Atlantic fire company and nuit of phe New Bern fire department, he served as second presi ip sa the North Carolina State Firemen’s Association a 0 eleven years was the State Treasurer of this organiza on ' For 40 years he was chairman of the board of stewards of Centenary Methodist Church, and for a score of ae superintendent of the Sunday school. While elie (o} oF John’s Lodge, at about the same time he was direc fede remodeling of the Masonic Temple, he aided with the ee tion of the new Centenary Methodist Church, and was sie 0 four men who personally assumed the remaining obligations on the edifice when it was dedicated October 22, 1905. LX! MEMORIAL TABLET ERECTED iod of the industrial depression was a difficult time a ae However, Worshipful Master Willis and sane officers labored earnestly to hold the interest of the mem rae and attract new members to the organization. The se of $5 was donated to Craven Chapter, Order of the ne erm Star, for the organization of a Rainbow Division for oat Si L. W. Hartsell was elected the next Worshipful Mas 4 December, 1932, Mr. Willis having served several jo $s longer than the usual year’s term, in order to nae officers elected thereafter during the last month of the calen a ee rather than during June. Carl F. Bunting and W. C. a or’ were named Wardens; J. Ebero Boswell was reelected re urer; and Albert L. Hibbard was made Secretary. T ey were installed December 28, a J. C. Barker as Senior Thomas McGinn as Tiler. et coe meeting was held April 4, 1933. District Deputy Grand Master J. E. English made a talk at the meeting here on April 12. 198 YEARS OF LIGHT The sum of $250 was presented to the lodge that June by Mrs. Bertha Sloan of Boston, as provided in the will of her husband, the late Dr. Earl S. Sloan, manufacturer of Sloan’ Liniment, who had resided near New Bern for some time. In turning over the sum to the lodge, officers stated it was to be used in the care of children of indigent members. The Secretary was instructed to write a letter of thanks to Mrs. Sloan. A trust fund was set up with the money. Another $250 was received from Mrs. Sloan in 1934 and added to the fund. Mr. Bunting was elected Master of the lodge in December, 1933. Past Master Purser became Senior Warden, and Elisha H. Bunting, brother of the new Master and a new lodge member, was elected Junior Warden. Messrs. Boswell and Hibbard were retained in their respective posts. Dr. Charles B. Johnson and L. R. Orringer were appointed Deacons; L. R. Tucker and Thomas O. Moore, Stewards; and Mr. McGinn, Tiler. Caleb Davis Bradham, who served three terms as Lodge Master, died in February, the funeral being held here February 20. He had filled with distinction almost every chair in the Scottish and York Bodies of Masonry, attaining the 32nd. degree of Scottish Rite and acting as Grand Com- mander in the York Rite. He had served as Provincial Grand Master of the Order of Colonial Masters of North America, Recorder of Sudan Shrine Temple, Eminent Com- mander of St. John’s Commandery, and Master Kadosh of Carolina Consistory No. 3. Of Welsh and Scotch-Irish descent, his Bradham and McCann ancestors were among the early settlers in North Carolina. He was born May 27, 1867, at Chinquapin in Duplin County. After attending the University of North Carolina and the University of Maryland, he came to New Bern in 1890 as a public school teacher, then entered the drug business. He was the originator and manufacturer of Pepsi-Cola, and served as president of the Pepsi-Cola manufacturing company here, as well as president of the Bradham Drug Company and the Peoples Bank. For a time he was chairman of the Craven County Board of Commis- sioners, and was even suggested for the Governorship of North Carolina. He was a member of the Society of MEMORIAL TABLET ERECTED 199 Cincinnati, and served as exalted ruler of the New Bern Lodge. nai omit he was in the Naval Reserve. In 1898 he was named a Lieutenant in the North Carolina Naval Militia, advanced to Commander in 1904, and in 1918 to Captain. During 1914 he was appointed by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to the General Naval Militia Board. When he retired, he had the rank of Rear Admiral. ; The funeral was held from the First Presbyterian Church, of which he was long an active member. Masonic rites were administered at the graveside in Cedar Grove cemetery. Pallbearers were from St. John’s Lodge, with which Mr. Bradham had affiliated in 1892. During the year 1934 Judge Shepard Bryan of Atlanta, Ga., who had been a member of the local lodge, presented a handsome bronze tablet commemorating the 150th anni- versary of the lodge. Past Master John H. Parker was named chairman of a committee, with the assistance of D. L. Latta, to place the marker. 4 f ar A. Kafer reported soon afterwards on progress of etic the cornerstone taken from the old Masonic build- ing, and he was asked to continue his work along that line. W. B. Duncan of the Murch Construction Company, engaged here then in constructing the new Federal building and post- office, donated the stone for the purpose. ; Robert F. Smallwood, local architect, who was architect for the Federal building, designed the attractive base of granite, concrete and limestone for the original marble cornerstone. : When placed at the entrance of the Masonic Theatre, the cornerstone was given this inscription: “This original corner stone was laid in the Northeast Corner of This Masonic Temple April 15th, 1801, By St. John’s Lodge No. 3, First Chartered January 10th, 1772.” Interest of the lodge and its members in education was retained, as proved by the fact that Past Master Purser represented the organization at a meeting held in Griffin Auditorium of the New Bern schools in November for the purpose of arousing more local interest in education. Mr. Purser made a talk in behalf of educational progress. 200 YEARS OF/LIGHT Mr. Bunting was reelected Master that December; with Elisha Bunting elevated to the post of Senior Warden and Dr. Johnson to that of Junior Warden. Messrs. Boswell and Hibbard were reelected. These were installed January 9, 1935, with E. W. Summerell and W. C. Fulford, Deacons; Past Master Cook and O. A. Kafer, Stewards; and Mr. McGinn, Tiler. Worshipful Master E. F. Menius of Doric Lodge and others made talks at the installation ceremony. After the business and program, the members and their guests re- paired to Lowthrop Hall for refreshments. The memorial tablet given by Judge Bryan was presented to the lodge by Past Master Parker. Master Bunting ap- pointed Messrs. Kafer, Cook and Parker on a committee to have the marker suitably erected. After due consideration it was decided by the committee to place the marker at the outside entrance of the Masonic Theatre. A. T. Willis and Messrs. Purser and Hibbard were named on a committee to write a letter of thanks to Judge Bryan for his gift. This marker bears this inscription, with the Masonic symbol: A..F. & A.M. 1772 1922 As a Memorial of the One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the Founding of St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, on January 10, 1772. Also to Commemorate the Reception by the Members of this Lodge of Worshipful Brother ' George Washington With Masonic Honors on his Visit to New Bern in 1791. Officers 1772 Martin Howard, Master Joseph Leech, Sr. Warden Richard Cogdell, Jr. Warden Thomas Haslen, Treas. William Brimage, Sec. 1922 C. Whit Gaskins, Master J. E. Boswell, Sr. Warden DISTRICT MEETINGS 201 J. M. Batson, Jr. Warden R. B. Williams, Sec. T. A. Green, Treas.* J. L. Cason, Sr. Deacon A. L. Hibbard, Jr. Deacon 1934 Carl F. Bunting, Master H. Purser, Sr. Warden H. Bunting, Jr. Warden E. Boswell, P. M., Treas. A. L. Hibbard, P. M., Sec. C. B. Johnson, Sr. Deacon Leon R. Orringer, Jr. Deacon This Tablet is the Gift of Shepard Bryan of Atlanta, Ga. Erected 5934 A. L. W E. J. LXil DISTRICT MEETINGS A special joint communication of the two local lodges was held June 27, with a large attendance at a district meeting. At the invitation of District Deputy Grand Master Frank R. Sutton of New Bern, Grand Master Charles Newcombe and Grand Secretary John H. Anderson made talks. A musical program with refreshments was enjoyed afterwards. , Elisha H. Bunting was the next Worshipful Master, with Dr. Johnson and Mr. Summerell as Wardens. Mr. Purser became Treasurer, and Mr. Hibbard was renamed Secretary. Alfred A. Kafer, Jr., was made Senior Deacon; J. T. Beards Junior Deacon; Messrs. Cook and O. A. Kafer, Stewards; Mr. McGinn, Tiler; W. P. Jones, Chaplain ; Mr. Parker, Educational Secretary; and H. J. Carpenter, Auditing Com- i hairman. ayes meeting of the Seventh District was held here July 28, 1936. The Grand Secretary, Mr. Anderson, was introduced by District Deputy Grand Master Sutton. i fter serving eh had resigned in 1914 as Lodge Treasurer, a 23 ENE Tn the position, but accepted the office again in 1928 and 1929. Sol Lipman was Lodge Treasurer in 1922. 202 YEARS OF LIGHT. Mr. Hibbard brought to a meeting the next November an old record book found in the basement of the former National Bank of New Berne, showing the organization of the North Carolina Masonic Mutual Life Insurance Compan: in New Bern. These handwritten minutes were turned ae to eee to be placed in the lodge files. Dr. Johnson succeeded Mr. Bunting as j ; with Messrs. Summerell and A. 7 He ae: Messrs. Purser and Hibbard were reelected. Messrs Beard and W. B. Hanff were made Deacons; O. A. Kafer al Mr. Cook, Stewards; McGinn, Tiler; Mr. Jones, Chaplain; Mr. Carpenter, Auditor; Mr. Parker, Educational Secretar a a raed Chairman of the Orphanage Committee; ed pies ee Chairman of the Sick and Visiting Later Harry Lipman and John B. Green Deacons, to fill the places vacated by oe Hanff. A publicity committee was named composed of George D. Vick, Mr. Hibbard and Otis M. Banks Past Grand Steward Harry Linney of the Grand Lodge of Canada visited the lodge that Winter and gave anberests ing talks on Masonry. During subsequent Winters he also visited the city and attended communications of the local group. A joint meeting of the two New Bern lod: i September 16, 1937, paid tribute to the ate age of the adoption of the Federal Constitution. Representative vale A. Barden of Doric Lodge was the chief speaker, Ss aie of the Constitution and the influence of Masonry Another special joint communication wa 23 in the form of a district meeting. Bt eee sao Overman of Doric Lodge presented Grand Master Wiataee N. Sherrod of Enfield and Past Grand Master Anderson then Grand Secretary, of the Grand Lodge. Talks mene made by the two visiting officers, the Grand Master speak- ing on Masonry in North Carolina and the Grand Secretary on Masonry in Europe. Also on the program was Grand Lecturer P. C. Stott, who made a short talk of instruction Mr. Summerell was elevated to the office of Master of vie lodge for the following year. Alfred A. Kafer, Jr., was DISTRICT MEETINGS 203 elected Senior Warden; Harry Lipman, Junior Warden; Messrs. Purser and Hibbard were renamed to their posts. J. B. Green and J. A. Gaskins were appointed Deacons; Morris 8. Bray and L. F. Wetherington, Stewards; Mr. McGinn was renamed Tiler, and Mr. Jones, Chaplain. One of the largest attended meetings in years was held that January 12, when 15 Past Masters were honored. | Among the honor guests. were Grand Master Sherrod and Deputy Grand Master Harry T. Paterson of the Grand Lodge, District Deputy Grand Master Sutton of the Seventh District and District Deputy Grand Master R. T. Daniel of the Fourth District. New officers were installed for the ensuing year, with Messrs. Sherrod and Paterson in charge of the installation ceremonies. Past Master’s jewels were presented to George Green, Dr. R. D. V. Jones, W. P. Jones, J. B. Dawson, J. H. Parker, H. T. Paterson, Allie Cook, J. E. Boswell, A. L. Hibbard, W. H. Purser, Albert T. Willis, L. W. Hartsell, Carl F. Bunting, E. H. Bunting and Dr. Cc. B. Johnson. Mr. Parker spoke for the Past Masters, and George Green and others also made brief remarks. A supper was served by members of the Eastern Star Chapter. Extensive improvements at the Masonic Temple were then being completed, at cost of approximately $6,000. Pavement for parking spaces was laid on the outside of the building, and an Egyptian motif was carried out effectively in interior redecorations to be in keeping with the age of the theatre and to harmonize with Masonic rituals there. Raleigh T. Daniel, of Weldon and New Bern, a prominent Mason and Shriner, who frequently had charge of class lectures at the semi-annual Scottish Rite reunions, super- vised the work on both the exterior and interior. Started the second week of October, 1937, the projects took more than three months. Caligari and Son, of Norfolk and Richmond, held the con- tract for murals and other interior decorations. Mural paintings represented an extensive excavation of a religious civilization in ancient Egypt. Below the wainscot cap, along the walls of the theatre auditorium, were portrayals of an old tomb interior, with ancient idols and statues. Wy, 204 YEARS OF LIGHT Rocks were painted realistically, with suggested entrances to other tombs. Above the wainscot cap was depicted a variety of typical Egyptian scenes above the ground level—pyramids, sphinx obelisks, temples, ruins, columns and palm trees. These were in numerous colors, painted on canvas arranged with textone effect on Masonite boards. They were recessed at- tractively, with three shaped columns standing in front. Indirect lighting was used. In the main part of the audi- torium white and blue lights were installed, with rose walls. As a gift from the Caligari Studios, a huge portrait of a venerable patriarch, signifying the Masonic principle of “Silence,” was hung over the stairway to be seen when members of the fraternity left their lodge rooms th third floor of the temple. ete LXIil MASONIC SHRINE STONE. When it was brought to the attention of St. John’s mem- bers in 1938 that some person or organization had supplied a piece of marble designated as “Stone No. 315” for the Masonic Memorial Shrine at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and said it was from the original steps of the local Masonic Temple, the three chair officers were requested to investigate. f Master Summerell, Senior Warden Kafer and Junior Warden Lipman conducted an investigation. They found that no marble had ever been used at any time in the orig- inal temple with the exception of the corner stone, that the original steps were of red sand stone, later replaced with granite. And they learned that the marble “Stone No. 315” had been purchased from stock of the New Bern Monu- mental Works. Under resolutions passed that October, as offered by the officers, it was agreed that since the marble had no actual historical value and was in no way connected with the Masonic temple, | “Now therefore be it resolved, that St. John’s Lodge No. oe A. F. & A. M., of New Bern, North Carolina, truly realiz- MASONIC SHRINE STONE 205 ing the tremendous historical significance of this Masonic Memorial at the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and realizing the great amount of sincere thought and effort to build it, as well as its meritorious motive, St. John’s Lodge No. 3, with all of its authentic history behind it, cannot and does not desire to become a party to this misrepresentation, as this one spurious ‘Stone No. 315’ would destroy the entire Masonic historical value and significance of all of the stones embodied in this great Masonic Shrine. “And be it further resolved, that St. John’s Lodge No. 3 petition Past Grand Master T. Troy Wyche, of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of North Carolina, and the authorities having the care of the Masonic Shrine at the entrance to Great Smoky National Park, to allow St. John’s Lodge No. 3 to furnish a block of red sand stone taken from the original steps at St. John’s Lodge Building, which are still in use on the building, to be installed in place and stead of the said unauthentic Stone No. 315.” Upon receiving Mr. Wyche’s approval for this plan, the lodge the next month appointed a committee consisting of OQ. A. Kafer as chairman and the three chair officers to carry out the proposal to send the red stone marker from the local temple steps for use in the Masonic shrine. Collections for the Oxford Orphanage taken at each meet- ing amounted to substantial sums during the year. Receipt of another $250 from the Sloan estate was reported to raise this fund to $1,500. The amount of $20 from the trust fund’s interest was spent that Christmas to bring Christmas cheer to a New Bern family. The Lodge Secretary’s salary was restored to $100 per year. To aid in outfitting.a room, $25 was contributed to the Good Shepherd Hospital for Negroes here. The Worshipful Master, Senior Warden and Secretary Hibbard were named on a committee to draft plans with the aid of a similar committee from Doric Lodge for a district meeting called for June 24 by District Deputy Grand Master Sutton. On a committee to work with a sim- ilar group from the other local lodge were appointed Master Summerell, Morris S. Bray and Paul B. Ellis to arrange for 206 YEARS OF LIGHT a picnic August 24 at Atlantic Beach for all Masons and their families. An unusually well-attended meeting was held October 21 when St. John’s and Doric Lodges met in special joint ses- sion to raise F. C. William J. Arthur of St. John’s Lodge. The lecture was delivered by Judge Henry A. Grady, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in 1919-20, “who in his usual very effective and dramatic manner kept the more than 200 brethren most interested. Short talks were made by sev- eral of the brethren and all were of the opinion that this meeting had been very beneficial to the Craft.” A barbecue supper was served at Lowthrop Hall. Many Masons from nearby towns were among those present. On December 14 A. A. Kafer, Jr., was elected Worshipful - Master. Mr. Lipman was advanced to the office of Senior Warden. James A. Gaskins was made Junior Warden. Past Masters Purser and Hibbard were reelected Treasurer and Secretary. Morris Bray, chairman of the Orphanage Committee, reported a total of $83 donated by the lodge as its Thanks- giving offering. A letter of appreciation was read from the Rev. C. K. Proctor, orphanage superintendent, especially thanking Mr. Bray for his personal work in raising this money. The new officers were installed January 11, 1939, by Past Master J. H. Parker. Also installed were G. N. Mitchell, Senior Deacon; Laurence A. Stith, Junior Deacon; Louis N. Howard and R. R. White, Stewards; and Mr. McGinn, Tiler. Past Master W. P. Jones was appointed Chaplain, and Mr. Captenter, Auditor. O. A. Kafer was named chairman of the Orphanage Committee, and Mr. Summerell, chairman of the Sick and Visiting Committee. A Past Master’s jewel was presented to the retiring Master by Mr. Parker. LXIV HARRY T. PATERSON Harry Thomas Paterson, Past Master and still a member of St. John’s Lodge, who had ascended to the office of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina in HARRY T. PATERSON 207 1988 after moving his residence from New Bern to Wil- mington, was the principal speaker at a meeting of the local lodge April 12, 1939. In an interesting and instructive talk on the history of Masonry in North Carolina, during which he specifically called attention to leading parts played by New Bernians, he read an article which was ordered attached to the lodge minutes, copied from the North Carolina Magazine or Universal Intelligencer published here December 21-28, 1764, showing that a Masonic lodge existed in New Bern during that year, probably being held under “immemorial custom” and being “healed” by Joseph Montfort’s warrant in 1772. Mr. Paterson was the seventh member of St. John’s Lodge to serve this State as Grand Master. He had been active in local Masonic circles since May 14, 1914. Three years later he was elected Worshipful Master. In 1926 he was elected for a second term. While a member of this Lodge, he was named to the Grand Lodge roster in 1929 and he retained his local membership while serving in the various Grand Lodge offices. Not until February 28, 1940, did he receive a demit from the local group to join St. John’s Lodge, No. 1, of Wilmington. Born at Newport, Ky., on September 7, 1874, son of William Alexander Paterson and Alice Clemens Paterson, he studied engineering at Rose Polytechnic Institute at Terre Haute, Ind., from 1892 to 1895, and two years later took a special course at the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla, Mo. After residing at Colorado Springs, Col., where he was employed by the City and County Engineers and by the Street Railway Company, he served during the early part of 1902 with a location party on the Denver and Rio Grande Railway. In October of that year he entered the service of the Federal Government as an assistant engineer in the Reclamation Service. While he was in this service he was engaged in surveys along the Colorado River, traveling more than 200 miles on that river in a rowboat from a point near the present 208 YEARS OF LIGHT Boulder Dam. He also participated in other surveys and construction projects in the western part of the country. In July, 1907, he obtained a transfer to the U. S. Engineer Department, with headquarters at Wilmington, N. C. His first assignment was the survey and construction of the Inland Waterway from Neuse River to Beaufort Harbor. He then resided at Beaufort. He joined Franklin Masonic Lodge, No. 109, obtaining a demit from El Paso Lodge, No. 18, which he had joined in 1900 at Colorado Springs. Upon finishing his Inland Waterway assignment in 1910, he was put in charge of all river and harbor works in the northern part of the Wilmington engineering district, with New Bern as his residence and headquarters. When the New Bern office was closed in 1932 he was recalled to the office of the District Army Engineer at Wilmington. A charter member of the New Bern Lodge of Perfection, No. 6, he served as principal officer in all the New Bern Scottish Rite Bodies, and acted as Director of Work during the entire time he lived in this city. He was made Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 1915 and an Inspector General Honorary of the Thirty-third degree in 1923. During 1930 and 1931 he served as Marshal of the Camp of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scot- tish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States. Becoming a member of Oasis Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., in 1911, he was a leading spirit in the establishment of Sudan Temple, of which he became a charter member. For five years he served as Director on the Sudan divan, and for ten years he was a member of the Patrol. In 1930 and 1931 he was Assistant Recorder. After first becoming a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Colorado Springs, he became Exalted Ruler of New Bern Lodge, No. 764, and President of the North Carolina State Elks Association. In the Grand Lodge of Elks he served as District Deputy Grand Exalted _ Ruler in 1928 and 1929, and as a member of the Ritualistic Committee in 1930. The next year he was elected Grand Inner Guard. : For Capitular Masonry, Mr. Paterson was High Priest of Concord Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, at Wil- pe | OUTSTANDING LODGE LEADERS A. T. JERKINS H. T. PATERSON J. F. RHEM 33RD DEGREE SCOTTISH RITE MASONS THOMAS A. HENRY JOHN H. PARKER WILLIAM P. JONES ALLIE Cook Dr. J. F:Rhem and H. T. Paterson, local Lodge members, were also 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Masons. HARRY T. PATERSON 209 mington in 1939. Having received the degrees of Cryptic Masonry in Munson Council, No. 4, Royal and Select Masters, at Wilmington, on March 14, 1938, he was its Thrice Illustrious Master in 1940. He was knighted in Plantagenet Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar, at Wilmington, and in 1940 served as its Eminent Commander. The local lodge passed a resolution of respect to its former member and Master upon his death January 1, 1943, of a heart attack. Of him it was written by a Masonic brother for the Grand Lodge proceedings: “His passing has caused distinct loss to all branches of our order. He was a loving husband, a kind father, a con- scientious man possessing high ideals and sincere purposes, a man of deep religious convictions, sincere in his beliefs, devoted to his church, and interested in those movements which are for the elevation of his fellow men. Charting the course of his life with wisdom, he pressed with un- swerving determination to serve his fellows. We have never known a man who was more warmly attached to his real friends or who would make greater efforts to serve their best interest.” After serving during the year as Worshipful Master and cooperating in the holding of a district meeting here on November 3, Mr. Kafer retired from the office in December and was followed by Harry Lipman. Installed with Mr. Lipman December 27 were Mr. Mitchell, Senior Warden; Mr. Stith, Junior Warden; J. M. Spivey, Senior Deacon; Rembert R. Rivenbark, Junior Deacon; and Mr. McGinn, Tiler. Past Master Summerell was installed as Secretary, succeeding Past Master Hibbard, and Past Master Purser was kept as Treasurer. Mr. Hibbard acted as the Installing Officer, and John B. Green as Marshal. Short talks were made by the new officers, all of whom promised their best efforts for the year. A brief address was also made by District Deputy Grand Master James Ipock, of Ionic Lodge, No. 583, of Cove City, who com- , mended the lodges of the seventh district for their coopera- tion. The new Worshipful Master, Mr. Lipman, announced the appointment of Past Master W. P. Jones as Chaplain; 210 YEARS OF LIGHT Past Master J. B. Dawson as Educational Secretary; and Morris Bray as Chairman of the Oxford Orphanage Com- mittee. : At the first meeting in January Worshipful Master Lipman named William J. Ipock and Dr. William I. Gause as Stewards for the year. Past Master Purser presented a Past Master’s jewel to Past Master Kafer. A talk was made by Mr. Dawson, the Educational Secretary. Mr. Lipman and several members assisted with the con- ferring of the Fellow Craft degree on January 15 at Franklin Lodge, No. 109, at Beaufort. LXV TWENTY-FIVE YEAR CERTIFICATES At a meeting dedicated to Past Masters on November 20, 1940, with Worshipful Master Lipman in charge, certifi- cates were presented to members who had been affiliated with the fraternity for 25 years or more. These certificates were awarded to ten members in person by Past Master Parker, and Secretary Summerell was in- structed to mail similar certificates to 11 members unable to be present that evening. All those in attendance made interesting talks on their experiences in the order. In the various stations for this program were the fol- lowing Past Masters: Mr. Parker, Master; Mr. Boswell, Senior Warden; Mr. Cook, Junior Warden; Mr. Purser, Treasurer; Mr. Summerell, Secretary; C. F. Bunting, Senior Deacon; E. H. Bunting, Junior Deacon; Mr. Hibbard, Chaplain; Dr. Johnson and Mr. Kafer, Stewards. During the annual district meeting, attended by many members from a number of neighboring lodges, on the pre- ceding October 29, with District Deputy Grand Master Ipock presiding and Assistant Grand Secretary William R. Smith as chief speaker, a 50-year button was presented to L. G. Hinnant of Doric Lodge and 25-year certificates were given to 41 members of Doric Lodge. Earlier in the year a tribute was paid to Past Master George Green, then the oldest member of St. John’s Lodge. TWENTY-FIVE YEAR CERTIFICATES 211 Past Master Parker spoke highly of Mr. Green in a talk on the progress being made by the lodge along various lines. Secretary Summerell was requested to send a box of cigars to Mr. Green as a gift from the organization. One of the oldest lodge members, Former U. S. Senator Furnifold McLendel Simmons, died that year, and the fol- lowing resolution of respect was adopted by the lodge, upon presentation of a special committee consisting of L. A. Stith and Past Masters Purser and Summerell: “That whereas, at a regular communication of St. John’s Lodge, Number Three, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Lowthrop Hall, New Bern, North Carolina, on the 8th day of May, 1940, expressions of sorrow at the passing of our brother, Furnifold McLendel Simmons, were heard from the Worshipful Master and members of the Lodge and the undersigned were appointed a committee to pre- pare a resolution expressing the same in order that it might be spread upon the permanent records of the Lodge and a copy sent to the family of our deceased brother. “And whereas, said Furnifold McLendel Simmons was initiated an entered apprentice in St. John’s Lodge, Number Three, on April 3, 1878, and was passed to the degree of Felloweraft on May 28, 1878, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on July 15, 1878, and was for many years thereafter an active and devoted member of St. John’s Lodge, as was evidenced by his active service to the Lodge in the years of his younger manhood and his retention of membership therein during the latter years of his life. “And whereas, he not only won the devotion of the mem- bership of St. John’s Lodge throughout the long period from his initiation therein until his departure from earthly existence because he was a true and faithful brother among us, because of his untiring and conscientious service to our community, our State and our Nation as a public servant in many high offices that were conferred upon him by an appreciative citizenry; and because during the performance of his duties he consistently held before him the ideal of complete service to those who had reposed in him their greatest trust and confidence and never surrendered his principles in order to purchase popular approval, but from 212 YEARS OF LIGHT the beginning of his career until its end won and justly deserved the commendation of all who knew him that there was a man who abided in the faith that his convictions were right and lived and died a just and upright man and Mason. “Now, therefore, the members of St. John’s Lodge, Number Three, do by these presents express their deep and profound regret at the passing of our distinguished brother in full realization that we, together with our community, the State of North Carolina and our great nation, have been thereby deprived of a faithful member, a great man and citizen and an honorable and able public servant, the record of whose service will be to us an ever present re- minder of a great and noble life spent in the service of principles which we cherish. “Let this resolution be recorded and a copy thereof sent to the family of our departed brother in token of sympathy for the great loss that is theirs. “This May 22, 1940. “St. John’s Lodge No. 3, A. F. & A. M. “By L. A. Stith W. H. Purser, P. M. E. W. Summerell, P. M. Committee.” LXVI MEMORIAL PROGRAM , At a special communication of St. John’s Lodge on December 8, 1941, tribute was paid to three outstanding members who had passed away during the year: Past Master W. P. Jones, Past Master George Green and Dr. Z. V. Parker. i The meeting was opened in due form by Past Master J. H. Parker in the East. Other Past Masters occupied the other stations, as follows: Mr. Boswell as Senior Warden; Mr. Cook, Junior Warden; Mr. Purser, Treasurer; Mr. Kafer , Secretary; C. F. Bunting and E. H. Bunting, Deacons; Mr. Hibbard, Chaplain; and Dr. Johnson and Mr. Summerell, Stewards. MEMORIAL PROGRAM 213 Mr. Parker spoke in eulogy of the three departed brethren. Mr. Hibbard added words of tribute for Past Master Jones, and presented a picture of him to be placed in Lowthrop Hall, in accordance with a recent lodge decision to try to obtain framed photographs of all Past Masters of the lodge. Past Masters J. B. Dawson, Hibbard and Kafer had been appointed on a committee to obtain these pictures. William Powell Jones, long a local furniture dealer, was initiated in Masonry October 22, 1906, passed November 16, 1906, and raised to the degree of Master Mason January 11, 1907. For two years he served as Junior Warden, in 1911 was elected Senior Warden, and the next year was named Worshipful Master. For 16 years he served as Chaplain. In 1919 he was honored by being named Knight Com- mander of the Court of Honor of Scottish Rite Masonry, and in 1923 received the highest degree any Mason can obtain, the coveted 33rd degree. He was also a member of the York Rite bodies, and a member of the Eastern Star, serving for nine years as Worthy Patron. He was buried with Masonic honors. Mr. Green was the oldest surviving Past Master when he died June 17. He was also interred with Masonic honors. Initiated March 29, 1895, he was passed April 10 and raised May 22 of that year. Two years afterwards he was elected Junior Warden, the following year was named Senior Warden, and the next year became Worshipful Master. For more than 40 years Mr. Green was Deputy Clerk of Federal Court here. He was the first secretary of the New Bern Chamber of Commerce, for many years was secretary of the East Carolina Fair Association, and for more than 85 years served as secretary of the annual meeting of stockholders of the Atlantic and: North Carolina Railroad Company. In 1881 he was a member of the State House of Representatives, and during 1887 and 1889 was a member of the State Senate. Besides serving as a member of the Board of City Alder- men and secretary-treasurer of the New Bern Mutual Fire Insurance Company, he was a Past Exalted Ruler of the New Bern Lodge, No. 764, Benevolent and Protective 214 YEARS OF LIGHT Order of Elks, and Past Grand Patriarch of the Odd Fellows in North Carolina. Dr. Parker, who passed away October 18, had been a lodge member 30 years, having joined in 1911. Born in 1878 in Jones County, he long served professionally in New Bern as a prominent dentist. An active officer of the First Bap- tist Church, he was highly regarded for his civic enterprise and religious leadership. During the year of 1941 Gerald N. Mitchell was Worship- ful Master of the Lodge; with Mr. Stith as Senior Warden; J. M. Spivey, Jr., Junior Warden; Past Master Purser, Treasurer; and Past Master Kafer, Secretary. When they were installed January 8 by Past Master Purser with Past Master Boswell as Marshal, Mr. Riven- bark was installed as Senior Deacon; Dr. Gause, Junior Deacon; William J. Ipock, Senior Steward ; and Mr. Mc- Ginn, Tiler. ‘ Dr. William Hollister was unable to serve as Junior Steward because of the pressing duties of his medical pro- fession, and John T. Hollister, Jr., was later appointed to fill out his unexpired term. Past Master J. H. Parker was named Chaplain. Lodge members cooperated that May when five State organizations of York Rite Masons met here May 11-13. A most successful gathering was held. Mr. Farrow acted as general chairman of arrangements, and was named Herald of the Order of High Priesthood. Mr. Farrow, Past Master of Doric Lodge, was endorsed by St. John’s Lodge as District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, and was duly ap- pointed to this position in the seventh district, He held a district meeting August 20 with Franklin Lodge, No. 109, as host at Beaufort. The thanks of the lodge was voted in September to the Jewel Box, a new local business establishment, which gave an American flag to the organization. When Scottish Rite Masons in the Valley of New Bern assembled for their Fall reunion during the last part of November three new sets of scenery, made and installed by Louis Volland and his brother, of St. Louis, specialists +) WORLD WAR 11 215 in the painting and use of such scenery, were used for the first time, together with reconditioned older scenery and equipment. This scenery and new lighting effects occa- sioned many favorable comments. LXVII WORLD WAR II Laurence A. Stith was elevated from the post of Senior Warden to the office of Worshipful Master in December, 1941, and was installed the following month. Past Master Summerell was elected Senior Warden; and Dr. Gause, Junior Warden. Past Master Kafer was re- tained as Secretary, and Past Master Purser as Treasurer. District Deputy Grand Master Farrow installed the new officers, and the retiring Master, Mr. Mitchell, served as Marshal. Myer Hahn was appointed Senior Deacon; Mr. Ipock, Junior Deacon; R. R. White and Mr. Hollister, Stewards. A Past Master’s jewel was presented to the retiring Master by Mr. Spivey, the retiring Junior Warden. Secre- tary Kafer was instructed to invest $675 of lodge funds to purchase $900 worth of War Savings Bonds. An educational committee was appointed, consisting of Past Master Mitchell, chairman, John G. Dunn, Jr., and Mr. Hollister. O. A. Kafer was requested to confer with Dorie Lodge representatives in regard to a program here by the singing class of Oxford Orphanage. ‘ At a regular communication March 11 Junior Grand Deacon William J. Bundy of Greenville was introduced and accorded the Grand Honors. An invitation was received from the Eastern Star to attend the chapter’s public in- stallation of officers. Assistant Grand Lecturer P. C. Stott, of Wendell, was a visitor in April. Messrs. Stith, Sum- merell and Gause were named representatives to the Grand Lodge meeting that month in Raleigh. District Deputy Grand Master Farrow was elected an honorary member of St. John’s Lodge May 27. He had often attended the meetings of the organization. Present also 216 ; YEARS OF LIGHT at that time was another frequent visitor, Mr. Bundy, of Greenville Lodge, No. 284, then Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge. At a meeting June 10 Mr. Farrow was given a certificate of his honorary membership in the lodge. : Because of business duties, Past Master Summerell re- signed as Senior Warden, and by special dispensation from the Grand Master a special election was held, resulting in the election of Mr. Spivey to the office. He was installed at the next regular meeting July 8 by District Deputy Grand Master Farrow. On December 9 Mr. Spivey was elected Worshipful Master, to succeed Mr. Stith. Dr. Gause was promoted to Senior Warden. Mr. Hahn was elected Junior Warden. Past Masters Purser and Kafer were renamed to their re- spective positions. These officers were installed at a Past Masters’ Night program December 30. Past Master Parker acted as Master and Installing Officer, and Past Master E. H. Bunting as Marshal. Mr. Ipock and Mr. White were installed as Deacons; Past Master Stith, Chaplain; Mr. Hollister and John B. Derrickson, Stewards; and Mr. McGinn, Tiler. The Past Master’s jewel was presented to Mr. Stith by Past Master Mitchell. The new Master appointed Dr. Gause as a news reporter for the lodge. Several officers made short talks, and refreshments were served in Low- throp Hall after the business. Because the Oxford Orphanage singing class was unable to give concerts that year due to war conditions, a special committee was named to solicit funds for the institution. Past Master Lipman was appointed chairman, and other committee members were Past Master E. H. Bunting, R. R. White, J. B. Derrickson and W. E. Carawan. Worshipful Master Spivey, Senior Warden Gause and Junior Warden Hahn were elected representatives to the Grand Lodge. At a meeting April 28 Mr. Hahn reported on the Grand Lodge meeting. 4 That July Past Master Boswell presented the lodge with two $25 war bonds, donated by A. Block, a lodge member. OUTSTANDING LODGE RECORD 217 This gift was accepted, and Mr. Boswell was asked to write Mr. Block a note of thanks. A visitor during August was Sol Lipman, a Past Master of a Masonic Lodge, who had served as Treasurer of St. John’s Lodge in 1920, 1921 and 1922. He said it had been 18 years since he had attended a local lodge meeting, and expressed pleasure at being able to be present. During this World War II period a number of Masons and members of their families joined America’s armed forces or civilian defense rolls, patriotically buying bonds and otherwise supporting their government in many ways in their desire to help bring an Allied victory as soon as pos- sible, just as other Masons had likewise aided their country win earlier wars. Signal honors for two members of the lodge came during October, 1943. The thirty-third degree was conferred upon Past Master Allie Cook, and the degree of Knight Com- mander of the Court of Honor was conferred upon Past’ Master Alfred A. Kafer, lodge Secretary. Dr. Gause was elevated to the office of Worshipful Master of the lodge at a regular meeting of the organization here on the night of December 8. Myer Hahn was elected Senior Warden, and William J. Ipock, Junior Warden. Past Master Kafer was reelected Secretary, and Past Master Purser, Treasurer. At the last meeting of the lodge during the year 1943 plans were made for these new leaders and the appointive officers to be installed in their respective positions on Wed- nesday night, January 5, 1944, with Past Master J. B. Dawson as the installing officer and Past Master J. E. Bos- well as the Marshal. LXVIII OUTSTANDING LODGE RECORD Probably no Masonic Lodge in the entire world has a more outstanding record of long and distinguished service than has St. John’s Lodge, No. 3, of New Bern. For 172 years, almost a century and three-quarters, its leaders have been important in the religious, educational, 218 YEARS OF LIGHT patriotic, military, fraternal, and industrial history of their town, State and nation. And their collective accomplish- ments through organization endeavors are worthy of justi- fiable pride on the part of members today. Two Presidents of the United States have honored the Lodge with personal messages in response to Masonic addresses of welcome extended them upon visits to this city. President George Washington offered “a sincere prayer for your present and future happiness”; and President James Monroe praised “the increasing harmony, in the public opinion, proceeding from those great causes, which you have noticed, and which it is so consistent with the benevolent principles of your society to cherish.” Three Governors of North Carolina have been affiliated with the local Lodge: Richard Caswell, Abner Nash and Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. Seven members of the Lodge have risen to the high office of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina: Caswell, Spaight, Judge John Louis Taylor, Robert Williams, Alonzo T. Jerkins, Charles C. Clark and Harry T. Paterson. Not many lodges can claim the honor of including a nobleman on its rolls. Marquis De Bretigney, French noble- man who commanded North Carolina Cavalry at the Battle of Guilford Court House during the last part of the Revo- lutionary War, attended most of the lodge meetings here during 1787. With the distinction of having been chartered by Col. Joseph Montfort, “the first and only Grand Master of America” and “the highest Masonic official ever reigning on this continent,” the Lodge had as its first Worshipful Master Martin Howard, Chief Justice of the Royal Colony of North Carolina. santa The first Secretary of the Lodge, William Brimage, served also as the first Provincial Grand Secretary. Other first officers of the Lodge were among the region’s main leaders and Revolutionary heroes, as Col. Joseph Leech and Col. Richard Cogdell, who became State Treasurers. _ Judge John Louis Taylor and Judge Frederick Nash, members of this lodge, became Chief Justices of the State of North Carolina. Francis Xavier Martin, long an active OUTSTANDING LODGE RECORD PO lodge leader, was named a Federal Judge for the Territory of Mississippi, then served as the first Attorney General and afterwards as Chief Justice of Louisiana. Furnifold M. Simmons represented this State for 30 years in the United States Senate. Among the local Masons who went to Congress were Simmons, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr., Edward Stanly and Samuel M. Brinson. Among the numerous educators and ministers who played major roles in lodge and civic advancement were the Rev. Solomon Halling, M.D., the Rev. Thomas P. Irving and the Rev. Jonathan Otis Freeman, local ministers and school principals who became Worshipful Masters of the Lodge; _and the Rev. Francis L. Hawks, D.D., also a Worshipful Master, who was three times elected an Episcopal Bishop and who served as President of the University of Louisiana. Affiliated with St. John’s Lodge was the noted artist, William J. Williams, who painted the Masonic portrait of George Washington as well as a Masonic portrait of Francis Lowthrop, Worshipful Master of the local Lodge, and Vice Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, this latter painting now being in the possession of the local organization. Although not a member locally, William R. Davie, who became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge and President of the University of North Carolina, was initiated in Masonry at New Bern during a Grand Lodge meeting here. The Grand Lodge frequently met here in its early days, and local Masons were prominent in its organization and history. Six members of the local Lodge have had the honorary thirty-third degree conferred upon them by the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Masonry for meritorious service. These were the late Thomas A. Henry, the late Dr. Joseph F. Rhem, the late Harry T. Paterson, the late William P. Jones, John H. Parker, and Allie Cook, all of whom had served as Worshipful Masters of the lodge. Four members of the lodge in 1943 held the degree of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, these being Past Masters John H. Parker, Allie Cook, Oscar A. Kafer and Alfred A. Kafer, Jr. Mother Lodge for chapters of Masons in various parts of North Carolina and Tennessee, and even in other sections 220 YEARS OF LIGHT of the country as distant as the west coast, St. John’s mem- bers were directly responsible for ‘such organizations as the North Carolina Masonic Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany; Doric Lodge, No. 568, A. F. & A. M., New Bern; the Craven Chapter, No. 129, Order of the asters Star; and Sudan Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. A member of St. John’s Lodge, C. E. Wethington: now of Goldsboro, has served as Illustrious Potentate of Sudan Shrine Temple. Dr. J. F. Rhem, Past Master of the Lodge, was the first Recorder of the Temple, and Past Master C. D. Bradham was the Temple’s second Recorder. The Lodge is perhaps the only one in the country to have been numbered 1, 2 and 8 at different times. It is also likely the only one to have held its meetings for some years in a Palace, local meetings having been held in Tryon’s Palace, first State capitol, until its destruction by fire in 1798. Since 1804 the Masonic Temple built by St. John’s Lodge has served the fraternity and the community in general as a civic center for educational, patriotic, political, religious and recreational programs. Impressive in design, it was planned for use by a growing city population, when about 100 Masons erected it as one of the finest buildings then in America. The old ivy clinging to the exterior indicates its age. The theatre pit and unique boxes have disappeared from the interior, removed during renovations of more recent years. But, inside and out, the temple, one of the oldest Masonic Lodge halls now in use, still ranks as an architectural showplace. Its upstairs woodwork is regarded as being among the best specimens of hand carving in America. Two New York architects a few years ago spent two days copying its exact details for reproduction in a national publication. The Masonic Theatre on the first floor is the oldest theatre still operating in the United States. After serving as the town’s chief place for dramatic entertainments for years, it was converted into a moving picture theatre in 1917 and since then has been operated regularly by Scottish Rite Masons, with all profits set aside for educational and benev- olent purposes. OUTSTANDING LODGE RECORD 221 Internationally-known opera stars and legitimate stage actors have treaded the boards at the old Opera House. Home-talent shows galore have been produced there. Fed- eral soldiers have been treated there for wounds and diseases during its hospital usage of the War Between the States. Political rallies, organization conventions, community gatherings and school commencements have taken place frequently in the huge auditorium. Gay dances, elaborate banquets and gala socials have been often held in Lowthrop Hall on the second floor. A full record of the programs in the building would form a veritable history of the city of New Bern. In the Temple vault are kept St. John’s priceless old relics and original documents. Its minute books are proba- bly more complete for a longer period of time than many other Masonic lodges anywhere in the country. Its charters are in excellent state of preservation. Prized possessions include original cornerstone relics, valuable lodge jewels, portraits of Past Masters and tall brass andirons which were used a century and half ago by the Masons when they held their meetings at Tryon’s Palace. There is an ancient Bible so old that its contains “A Table of Kindred and Affinity Wherein Whofoever are re- lated are forbidden in Scripture and Our Laws to Marry Together.” For instance, it is set forth, “A man may not marry his Grandmother, Grandfather’s Wife, Wife’s Grand- mother, Sister’s Son’s Wife.’ And, “A woman may not marry with her Grandfather, Grandmother’s Husband, Husband’s Grandfather, Son, Son’s Son, ete.” Thus, the records and the relics of St. John’s Lodge are unsurpassed. They form an illustrious heritage, of interest and inspiration not only to all modern members but to non- Masons as well throughout this section. The past may be pointed to proudly as an incentive towards a progressive present and greater future. we Martin Howard Joseph Leech «Richard Cogdell Thomas Haslen William Brimage Richard Ellis John Richardson Bart Rooke John Burnside Richard Graham David Barron James Parrott He James McConnell } Hh William Bryan } Ha Alexander McAuslan } il | Andrew Mack EAA Josiah Holt Edward Winslow } Peleg Green } Duncan Fergus Joseph Down William Cannon Henry Vipon Hii Simon Alderson } Jacob Milligan | John Patten John McKay Moses Almond Richard Caswell | Thomas Wood William Brown \ Hl James Ince Hi B. Bennerson Benjamin Manchester Francis Stringer Peter B. Oram Henry Machen | ; James Arantz i Marquis De Bretigney { Robert Cotter Lewis Heros John Craddock S. Pendleton James Carney John Green . David Witherspoon Edward Pasteur James Ellis Abraham Hodge William Johnston Jacob Cook Martin de Fongatte Joseph Shute LXIX MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN‘S LODGE 1772 TO 1798 John Morrison Thomas W. Pearson Richard Grubbs Joseph Wallace Francis X. Martin Thomas Crew Frederick Foy Charles Churchill John Kennedy John Sheffield N. Trianingham Abraham Common William T. Gardner Edward Whitty Richard Nixon Samuel Chapman Thomas Haskin Francis Lowthrop . Robert Fisher Solomon Halling Charles Markland, Jr. John Cuyler M. Gillies Abraham Outten Thomas Whalley John Sears Lewis McPherson John Gray, Jr. Southey Reed George Ellis John Bradish Jeremiah Reading George Duffy W. Dewling John Munn Wallace Stiron B. Hudson John Waite B. Moodis Asa Hosmer O. Gadney Frederick Divoux William Lawrence William McClure Silas Cooke William Slade I. Tagert Phillip Grim John Harvey John C. Osborn George Vultus J. Brickell John Robinson Joseph Masters Allen Backhouse Jacob Peterson P. Elgilbert Philip Chase John S. Barnes John Clark Joseph Oliver John Bryan David Lewis Charles Williams T. Smith Benjamin Woods Wallace Willis William G. Berry W. M. Parks Edward Warren E. Chamberlain James Moore Joseph Hern John Williams William Cox J. Earle David Williams D. P. Whitney Joseph Green William Holland James Hyman H. Willard Julius Elmour N. Baymore Henry Tillman George Kinns Benjamin Williams Reuben Burnard James Wilson , Alexander Duguid Francis Lamotte Thomas Marshall Hardy Bush Wearne Coffin ‘John Parker F, A. Fox Burwell Mooring Edward White James Much E. W. Montfort John Brown Isaac Mather John Dewey E. McFarlin Jacob Warren Thomas P. Ives MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE 223 William Mitchell Thomas Kelly Richard Hunley John Adams William Grainger Abner Neale Isaac Guion Abiah H. Adams John Frink Smith T. Rogers ‘John Ingraham James Robinson Adam Tooley Thomas Curtis Silas W. Arnett Thomas McLin Benjamin Northam Jacob Burney Bartholomew Clinch William Bartlett Samuel Gerock Levi Dawson E. Peters William Murphy Thomas Williams Isaac Blanchard William Henry William Hawley Oliver Dewey Thomas Thompson Henry Pettis N. T. Hardenbrock J. James Christopher: Gall Galt Gall William Bell Richard Cahill Samuel Barron David Melvin Robert Guttry S. P. Johnston Lemuel Holmes Philo Andrews William Kyle Samuel Annesly J. P. Caswell David Wallace, Jr. William Wyatt James Blunk Zebedee Perry Edward Simpson John Goulding Armistead Hatsell James Clark James Sandy William Ferrand M. Goulding William Duffy John Howard Samuel Young James McMaines Thomas Hyman Thomas Wilson Archibald McCalop William Ross Thomas Ellis Andrew Richardson S. Pratt James Bryan Elias Hawes Thomas P. Irving James Green Isaac Taylor Robert Williams Levi Fulsher Jonathan Fellowes 1798 Sylvanus Snow Francis Rodriges Robert Johnston George Duncan Gabriel Sabuka Jacob Henry Peter Fabre, Jr. James Wallace 1799 Abel Ketcham 1800 H. Dolliver James Harker Stephen Minor James Bathley Thomas Finley John S. Pasteur Moses Jarvis 1801 William Tolson Richard D. Stanly J. J. B. Gibbons Lucas J. Benners Thomas Holding John Jones F. H. Alden James Cutting Hardy Sanders Jonathan Price Marcus C. Stephens John R. Good Thomas Sparrow Francis Hawks W. Williard John Hill N. Humphrey Stephen West William C. Good John Knowles John Reed Peter Chase © John Washington M. Outray Enos Williams John Louis Taylor George Dudley Jacob Johnston Ezekiel Delastatius Joseph Griffin Philip Bragg Edward Jones J. F. Goodfellow Abram Hunt Daniel Hunter Nathaniel L. Terry Timothy Savage D. Sabiston Lazarus Pierce George Gardner George Linguist William Kean Elisha Harrington Edward Kean J. O. Meatu Robert Ogden, Jr. A. McKinney Claborne Ivey M. Gleeson J. Wiggins Gilbert Bradley Harry Butler Joseph Tripp 224 James Taylor Samuel Dewhurst Frederick Lindner William Large James Kennedy Abraham Simmons Thomas Grace , John Gettig J. H. Meriam Thomas Hunly Frederick Nash John Oliver Samuel Oliver John D. Friou Thomas Jerkins James Ellis Joshua Sturtevant Thomas Jones Edward C. King William Conway William S. Sparrow Thomas Sparrow, Jr. Philip Ryal John Hurst Edwin T. Hazlewood William Gatlin Thomas Turner David B. Mintz Charles G. Ridgeley James Orr William Russell Isaac Wingate Simeon Pendleton Otway Burns Russell McKee YEARS OF LIGHT. T. G. Vipon Thomas Barclay Henry Bettner John Vail Benjamin Tilton Robert Sparrow 1802 Jacob Bantz William Lamberts 1803 Charles Hardy Stephen B. Forbes A. Holbrook E. Lewis Samuel Hart J. W. Merrill 1804 Caleb Ballance John Real Joseph Fremare Thomas Cusack 1805 Matthias Atterson 1806 Elijah Willis John Shaw 1807 William Tignor Benjamin Ellis John Latham _ Uriah Sherwood 1808 John Jones D. S. Orme James C. Bryan Thomas I. Fuet 1809 Caleb Wilber Frederick Blount James Pittman 1810 W. B. Perkins David Knapp William D. Bryan Richard Fisher Charles Bates Daniel Carthy Robert Pettet William Lockart Benners Vail Dempsey Wade John Tooker Asa Jones John F, Templeton H. Fatheru John Mayo Adam Bantz Durant Hatch M. Rodriguey Antonio Maria Diaz William Nichols Hugh Nickel James Lewis Joseph Mares Thomas Craig Redmond Joyce Charles Sanders Lott Battle A. O. Frazer John §S. Nelson Thomas Watson Abram Mitchell Joseph Oliver, Jr. Burton Allen Jonathan O. Freeman Shubael R. Brainard Charles Jones Jesse Godley James G. Tignor Silas S. Stevenson J. S. Fowle BE. Nickell William Edes R. Holbrook A. F. Grigg Andrew Clark W. K. Graham John Quirk James Latem L. N. Hatch R. F. Durand W. P. Biddle Augustus Barker R. Snow R. Jordan William S. Webb Nathaniel Smith W. T. Sparrow F. L. Hawks T. J. Emery Cc. M. Churchill D. W. Willis T. A. Pasteur Charles W. Baker James Wallace D. del Puerto I. McMaster 1811 John Wooten Jesse P. Mooreing 1812 BE. B. Mann 1813 J. Fairbanks, Jr. Horatio Dade James Smith J. Physiott H. Myrick 1814 H. Hutch William Earbe M. W. Huntington 1815 MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE Barnum Lincoln Samuel Freeman J. F. Anthony James Sampson Thomas Barker F. G. George Charles D. Barbour Ezra Parker S. Bowers 1818 George Cooper 1819 William Andrews William H. Wallace 1821 M. B. Davis - H. F. Haskell J. B. Osborn J. S. Kinman J. Perkins 1822 S. C. Fisher Henry Dewey Sylvester Hunt Thomas Carney Charles Mitchell ' J. M. Master J. A. Brookfield William G. Taylor Lewis Foscue 1823 Nathaniel Waples R. B. Hatch P, Darling Henry A. Jones P. H. Siles Alden Delano Major Cook F. J. W. Nelson J. Willis George Seey J. W. Smith P. L. Wicks J. O. Ivey Charles Stewart Spence P. Willis George W. Dixon Harris Loomis James C. Cole Benjamin B. Hawks J. S. Hunter J. Harvey, Jr. R. J. Sewell 226 J. D. Ward W. C. Hunter Alex Masory C. D. Shackleford “George A. Hall Henry D. Machen D. H. Lane F. D. Fisher J. A. Warne Robert G. Moore 8. Oliver, Jr. Francis J. Prentiss Bryan Jones I, G. Granby A. S. Emmett John Harvey J. M. Williams William M. Herritage William B. Perkins Jonathan Wood Benjamin J. Perkins George EH. Carraway David S. Willis Henry P. Whitehurst T. R. Wilson S. D. Sparrow L. Phillips Peter Custis A. J. Willis J. Blackwell S. Bishop A. H. Stanley W. McCoy YEARS OF LIGHT 1824 J. A. Douglass J. S. Doty B. Robinson John S. Hawks H. Farrier 1825 R. H. Carr Charles A. Bettner Thomas Kent H. Stacpool A. H. Richardson W. W. White D. P. Hurtt Matthew A. Outten J. Cameron James Hayward 1826 T. Hunter J. Howard A. Feely 1827 W. L. B. Pearce 1833 O. W. Land 1835 R. Hanrahan Cc. C. Bell J. N. C, Robertson P. C. MceNettay James Jones 1846 Joseph S. Fowler Edward W. Montfort Thomas G. S. Ellis Francis R. Vincent John N. Benners Edward R. Stanly Jacob Utley. Joseph Carter 1847 . B. Watson . J. Emery . Matthews S. Bryant . F. Borden . M. Cook . S. Andrews . W. Yarrell 4 PoOmwney as) 1848 William N. Hawks Emanuel M. Certain J. Hutchinson William G. Hall Jesse G. Mumford Samuel W. Chadwick Lovick Jones Alonzo T. Jerkins Luther R. Clark Truman Stow G. W. Willis 0. S. Dewey William H. Hancock G. W. Howard J. W. Baxter W. S. Delamar William Brewer C. Gardner HE. F. Smallwood J. M. F. Harrison William J. Parks Guion Scott W. W. Ormsbee MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE \ 227 1849, George Green J. H. Lane L. Sterne W. C. Hunter W. C. French James. Daniels W. C. Pittman John D. Whitford : 1850 J. M. C. Breaker Henry Beaufort D. W. Hurtt Charles S. Allen J. W. Jones William G. Singleton John D. Flanner George Lane 1851 W. Kilpatrick A A. R. A. Russell {Ab E. F. C. Metts C. S. Primrose T. Page Ricaud John A. Gray W. F. Witherington D. D. Sermond < A. Lowenstein N. Jackson B. A. Oglesby Joseph L. Rhem Needham Case C. Lowenberg G. W. Wallace Alexander Mason S. B. Fletcher Levin Lee P. C. Ferrell Edward K. Bryan D. O’Leary J. V. Jordan James M. Harrison Joseph Whitty John A. Hodge John A. Simpson J. Littleton 1852 John L. Gardner William H. Jones R. S. Primrose S. Attmore 1853 A. F. McRolfe J. W. Moore I. Disosway H. C. Wood J. B. Stanley 1854 W. Wilson Thomas C. Wallace John Blackwell H. 0. Wood Daniel T. Carraway Samuel Oliver 1855 J. A. Davis George Goodall 1856 Cc. B. Wood 1858 C. S. Hoskins BE. C. Ruminger H. R. Ferrell 1859 J. N. Whitford J. P. Dillingham James G. Arthur J. A. Harkey Charles C. Clark Stillman W. Mildrum Alex Miller William H. Marshall R. B. Smith Augustus Latham Z. Brown W. Weinstein William H. Oliver John F. Jones Francis T. Hawks S. F. Fulford I. C. Cole H. H. Brinson Samuel W. Howard Charles A. Hart H. S. Lee John BH. Amyett John Beveridge W. English A. M. Noble A. C. Lactum J. Brookfield Dan W. Haines 228 James Redmond — John W. Primrose Thomas Gates D. T. Taylor Jos. J. Howard Frederick C. Roberts T. B. Henderson F, M. Harper W. D. Ponder Thomas Parsons Charles M. Fields Thomas A. Green R. A. Willis J. A. Richardson S. Bangert George Henderson William Dunn George C. Boesfer Joseph Weinstein Henry T. Foscue Samuel R. Street, Jr. Jonathan Whaley John B, Ernul Samuel D. Rumley L. W. Hancock Thomas Daniels William H. Ernul YEARS OF LIGHT © 1865 George Mills Joy George W. Nason, Jr. - W. I. Vestal Charles S. Bartlett 1866 H. H. Brown S. I. Hunter William M. Watson 1867 BR. B. Roberts G. W. Hurst Matthew Woods G. W. Jetter T. BH. Affren George H. Roberts 1868 James S. Fields George W. Dill A. B. Powell _W. S. Styron 1869. George H. Pittman T. R. Adams 1870 Max Reis 1872 E. G. 1873 Thomas Wilson John L. Albertson Ferdinand Ulrich 1874 John 1875 G. W. Neal A. R. Fulford 1877 William H. Hill I. D. Myers ‘W. P. Robinson G. W. Perry I. C. Justice James Maglern Joseph N. White I. B. Henry W. B. Boyd P. Holland John Hardison V. T. Midgett S. G. Barrington T. R. Spence J. L. Watkins c. J. Bryan S. S. Biddle E. G. Bowen Samuel M. Hargett Samuel C. Roberts Hill William R. Warters | D. E. Everitt C. Green ‘L. Silberstein O. Marks Washington Bryan I, R. Miller MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE E. G. Newbegin Elijah G. Dixon E. F. Rowe . John Detrick A. W. Wood ‘Sam B. Waters George Howard Walter H. Cohen S. W. Brooks James BH. Arthur J. S. Basnight L. J. Taylor Cc. D. Bradham Shepard Bryan Joseph B. Clark T. G. Hyman T. W. Dewey William W. Clark William J. Pitts J. F, Rhem 1878 F. M. Simmons 1880 ), James W. Moore “. Ci H Blank 1881 A. M. Baker Joseph H. Hackburn - BE. B. Hackburn 1884 » William S. Gaskins Hervey B. Duffy Isaac Patterson William EH. Clarke 1885 David Styron 1887 J. W. Atwell John W. Stewart 1891 T. H. Abbott M. H. Sultan Hugh J. Lovick 1892 Robert S. Primrose Owen H. Guion 1893 Stephen C. Bragaw L. H. Ervin 1894 C. B. Foy B. B. Neal James E. Warren 4% 1895 Cc. E. Foy F. M. Hahn 1896 W. B. Swindell 1897 George M. Crapon 1899 Thomas Williams S. S. Duffy B. Hahn I. L. Chestnutt Thomas F. McCarthy J. W. Etheridge L. R. Bacon J. L. Fowler George Green Claude M. Benton F. A. Bishop J. H. Benton ~ E. W. Rosenthal C. R. Edwards 230 William T. Hill W. E. Smith R. F. Butler be J. E. Latham Benjamin B. Hurst M. Suskin A. J. Gaskins L. L. Brinson L. 8. Grant G. W. Swinson E. H. Wood J. E. Boswell Jesse J. Rhodes G. H. Mackelcan N. E. Mohn O. A. Kafer H. C. McKeel A. R. Willis T. A. Henry William Dunn, Jr. F J. E. Wetherington YEARS OF LIGHT ‘1900 H. W. Simpson 1901 W. R. Hinnant 1902 H. B. Smith George E. Charlton 1903 D. 1904 Cc. W. Munger C. HE. Wethington 1905 James B. Dawson 1906 George A. Barefoot H. 8. Hancock 1907 Edward LeGallais Robert D. V. Jones 1908 George B. Pendleton Louis D. Sutherland 1909 A. W. Hawkins F, M. Roberts A. F. Bunting Charles C, Kirkpatrick 1910 Allie 1911 * Z. V. Parker W. H. Bain Jesse S. Claypoole 1912 J. H. Sawyer 1913 John P. Taylor John Crabtree M. B. Smith . Ward W. A. McIntosh Raymond B. Smith Albert H. Bangert W. P. Jones Anchie W. Bryant Robert H. Wilson M. L. Price Claude C. Jones C. C. Clark, Jr. S. L. Sammons F. H. Sawyer H. A. Merfeld Cook Richard N. Duffy William S. Parsons J. A. Street John H. Parker \ MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE J. T. Beard Clarence Hines ‘R.A. Cherry C. Whit Gaskins T. H. Bennett O. W. Lane T. J. W. Crowder John Dunn Harry Lipman Alfred A. Kafer R. Hunter Smith William M. Bryan Samuel W. Brown James L. Cason Harlowe C. Waldrop W. H. Sultan H. Whitford J. N. Wade William H. Purser Hugh C. Armstrong Fred Brown Fred R. W. Reh 1914 Thomas McGinn 1915 Cc. T. Pumphrey George A. Nicoll Charles Coplon W. W. Gaskins S. M. Brinson H. F. Hanks 1916 I. N. Mitchell Solomon Lipman 1917 Oswald O. Kafer A. M. Rountree H. J. Southwell 1918 T. Warren A. Walker Ww. A. 1919 J. M. Batson . Harry Smith H. L. Harrison C. T. Hellinger H. J. Carpenter 1920 Luther White William C. Fulford C. E. Wilhalf H. D. Travis J. C. Barker A. T. Willis 1921 F. C. King W. B. Hanff Leslie L. Brinson 1922 William C. Chadwick H. P. Whitehurst 1923 'D. L. Latta G. S. Sasser E. Ellis Williams \ T. J. Marriner W. H. Newell, Jr. '. Bayard Whitehurst Ernest C. Armstrong L. C. Tripp L. L. Wallnau H. C. Harrison Deane F. Bell R. B. Williams George A. Holland T. Doe Street Carl. F. Bunting John B. Green J. H. Davis F. E. Wagner L. G. Gaskins A. L. Hibbard D. G. Smaw Jonas Levinson William J. Caroon William F. MacMillan R. BE. Heidt A. Block W. B. Harris Elmer E. Prunier Albert W. Brinson Owen G. Dunn _§. IL. Basnight Romey R. White Robert EH. Cook John C. %. Koonce E. F. C. Metz Harl W. Lewis T. O. Moore BE. H. Burting A. R. Willis Louis N. Howard George D. Vick, Jr. Otis M. Banks, Jr. S. L. Dill, 111. YEARS OF LIGHT © 1924 1925 G. L. Horne 1926 D. H. Booth N. D. H. Wilson 1927 David H. Willis 1928 George B. Whitehurst - Charles Shepard Bryan A. R. Gehrkin L. W. Hartsell 1929 B. H. Kline 1930 Kenneth R. Jones 1931 BE. W. Summerell 1932 R. E. Bengel Leon Orringer 1933 Cc. B. Johnson Harold Orringer _J. B. Canady 1935 Alfred A. Kafer, Jr. 1936 M. B. Fergusson Rufus B. Brinson 1937 Laurence A. Stith William I. Gause L. F. Wetherington Morris S. Bray Henry Forrest E. L. Willis cE L. oore John C. Smith Henry G. Tyson James A. Gaskins D. C. McCotter, Jr. George W. Ball a 3 ers boon 2 ar wi ee RE See ee eee a tO He teh ize - eae q MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN’S LODGE Gerald N. Mitchell Paul B. Ellis James R. Newton William J. Ipock J. M. Spivey, Jr. ' William Hollister Al C. Laughinghouse H. H. Vendric Cc. F. Smith J. E. Sullivan William A. Keel George J. Studdert Harvey J. Daniels John Thomas Boyd B. G. Hines Charles T. Midyette, Jr. Frank F. Clarke George C. Holcomb 1938 Nick Komatas W. H. Simons, Jr. Oscar A. Kafer, II. 1939 Ernest R. Johnson 1940 Herman T. Diehl 1941 Myer Hahn Homer T. Meaders 1942 Robert C. Slater Ernest E. Fisher Vernon Goodwin Clifford S. Durham Ray F. Collins 1943 Edgar R. Bowlin George W. Calvert Frank L. James Charles B. Hart, Jr. Herman F. Davis William Joseph Arthur Rembert R. Rivenbark _ J. R. Carr A. BE. Pfaff John T, Hollister, Jr. Richard B. Fulford John Guion Dunn, Jr. Carl L. Brasington John B. Derrickson Irving Poliakoff William Elmer Carawan John L, Riggs Irving Grodstein George L. Brockway Woods L, Wallace William C. Moore James M. Harriett INDEX A A.A. O. N. M. S., 91; see also Shriners; Sudan Shrine Temple Abbott, T. H., 229 Abernethy, Charles L., 186, 191 Adams, Abiah H., 58, 59, 223 Adams, John, 51, 223 Adams, T. R., 228 Adultery, 33, 119-20 Affren, T. E., 228 Ahiman Rezon, 35, 92-93 Alabama, 131, 146 Alamance, 40 Albany, N. Y., 22 Albertson, John L., 146, 228 Alden, F. H., 223 Alderman, J. T., 176 Alderson, Simon, 27, 222 Alexandria, Va., 87, 89, 90, 91, 189 Alexandria-Washington Lodge, 87, 89, 90, 189 Allen, Burton, 108, 224 ‘Allen, Charles S., 136, 187, 227 Allen, Ethan, 12 Allen, John, 12, 48 Almond, Moses, 28, 222 Alves, Walter, 56 American George Lodge, 46 American Red Cross, 180 Amyett, John B., 138, 144, 146, 149, 227 Anderson, John H., 193, 201, 202 Andirons, 82, 221 Andrea, Julio, 78, 79 Andrew Chapel, 133 Andrews, Alex B., 91, 177, 178 Andrews, A. S., 226 Andrews, Philo, 108, 223 Andrews, William, 225 Annesly, Samuel, 223 Anniversary of Lodge, 158th, 193; see also Sesqui-Centennial Anthony, J. F., 225 Arab Patrol, 178, 191, 208 Arantz, James, 31, 222 Arkansas, 105 Armstrong, Ernest C., 231 Armstrong, Hugh C., 188, 189, 191, 192, 231 Army, 51, 115; see also World War I; "World War II Army Lodge, 181 Arnett, Silas W., 39, 43, 44, 644, 96, 223 Arrant, James, 27 Arthur, James E., 160, 229 Arthur, James G., 188, 227 Arthur, William J., 206, 233 Ashe, S. A., 13 Associated Board of Charities, 176 Atlantic and North Carolina Rail- road, 138-39, 140, 213 Atlantic Beach, 206 Atlantic Fire Company, 197 Atterson, Matthias, 108, 224 Attmore, S., 136, 137, 227 Atwell, J. W., 159, 229 Augusta, Ga., 115 Ayres, W. A., 188, 185, 186 Backhouse, Allen, 64A, 109, 222 Bacon, L. R., 229 Badger, George E., 86 Bain, D. W., 149, 152 Bain, W. H., 172, 230 Baker, A. M., 155, 158, 229 Baker, Charles W., 225 Baker, Simmons J., 125 Ball, George W., 232 Ballence, Caleb, 224 Baltimore, Md., 122, 167 Bangert, Albert H., 170, 172, 230 Bangert, S., 228 Bank closing, 194 Bank of Cape Fear, 102 Bank of Commerce, 142 Bank of New Bern, 102 Banks, Otis M., Jr., 202, 232 Banner Warehouse, 186 Bantz, Adam, 96, 97, 98, 100, 106, 224, Bantz, Jacob, 73, 75, 224 Baptists, 114, 118, 124, 185, 142, 165, 174 Barbour, Charles D., 225 Barclay, Thomas, 224 Barden, Graham A., 196, 202 Barefoot, George A., 169, 230 Barfield, Marion, 183 Barge’s Tavern, 38, 41 Barker, Augustus, 118, 120, 225 Barker, J. C., 192, 193, 194, 195, 197, 231 Barker, Thomas, 225 “i Barnes, John §S., 222 Barrington, S. G., 228 . \ Barron, David, 25, 26, 28, 222 Barron, Samuel G., 64A, 71, 223 Bartlett, Charles S., 228 Bartlett, William, 66, 223 Basnight, J. S., 160, 169, 229 Basnight, S. H., 232 Bates, Charles, 64A, 224 = 236 YEARS OF LIGHT Bathley, James, 223 . Batson, J. M., 181, 183, 185, 201, 231 Battle, Lott, 98, 108, 224 Battle of New Bern, 139, 142 Bawattel, Bernard, 96 Baxter, J. J., 182 Baxter, J. W., 8, 143, 144, 226 Baymore, N., 222 Beard, J. T., 173, 201, 202, 231 Beaufort, 61, 107, 148, 208, 210, 214 Beaufort County, 46, 141 Beaufort, Duke of, 11, 14, 16, 17 Beaufort Harbour, 208 Beaufort, Henry, 227 Bedell, Gregory T., 118 Bell, B. A., 153 Bell, C. C., 226 Bell, Deane F., 181, 231 Bell, William, 64A, 108, 223 Benevolences, 29, 55, 57, 75, 96, 105, 124, 162, 176, 180, 198, 205, 220 Bengel, R. E., 232 Benners, John N., 226 Benners, Lucas J., 8, 64A, 68, 71, 98, 100, 101, 103, 106, 108, 113, 114, 116, 117, 223 Bennerson, B., 222 Bennett, T. H., 176, 181, 231 Benton, Claude M., 229 Benton, J. H., 229 Benton, Mattie C., 183 Bern, 172 Berry, William G., 64A, 222 Best, R. W., 147 Bettner, Charles A., 226 Bettner, Henry, 71, 224 Betts, A. D., 161, 229 Beveridge, John, 227 Bible, 221 Bi-Centennial of New Bern, 141, 172, 186 Biddle, S. S., 228 Biddle, William P., 118, 124, 225 Bill for Relief of Lodge, 163-64 Bishop, EH. K., 116 Bishop, F. A., 161, 229 Bishop, George, 143, 155 Bishop, S., 226 Blackledge, Richard, 81 Blackledge, Thomas, 81 Blackmer, L., 149 Blackstone’s Commentaries, 40 Blackwell, J., 226 Blackwell, John, 227 Blagg, S., 147, 149 Blanchard, Isaac, 223 Blanchard, Editor, 34 Blandford-Bute (Johnston-Cas- well) Lodge, 13, 46 Blank, C. H., 155, 229 Blanks, James, 64A Block, A., 189, 216-17, 231 Bloodsow, John, 64A Blount, HE. J., 149 Blount, Frederick, 108, 118, 224 Blount, William, 39 Blue Lodge Room, 90, 101, 139, 162, 170, 171, 181, 182; see also Masonic Temple Blunk, James 223 Board of City Aldermen, 213 Board of County Commissioners, 154, 155, 156, 198 Boesfer, George C., 228 Bonds, 167-68; see also War Stamps and Bonds Boon, Joseph, 64A Booth, D. H., 232 Borden, B. F., 226 Borden, Nunn and Whitford, Misses, 160 Boston, 17 Boston Teaparty, 17 Boswell, J. H., 1, 9, 185, 187, 188, 189, 194, 195, 197, 198, 200, 201, 203, 210, 212, 214, 216, 217, 230 Boulder Dam, 208 Boulder Memorial to Governors, 188 Bowen, E. G., 228 Bowers, S., 225 Bowlin, Edgar R., 233 Boyd, John Thomas, 233 Boyd, W. B., 9, 144, 151, 155, 156, 159, 228 Boylan, William, 34 Bradham, C. D., 9, 161, 162, 164, 178, 179, 182, 184, 185, 186, 190, 192, 198-99, 220, 229 Bradham Drug Company, 198 Bradham, Mrs. C. D., 182, 183 Bradish, John, 222 Bradley, Gilbert, 223 Bragaw, Stephen C., 229 Bragg, Philip, 223 Brainard, Shubael R., 108, 224 Branch, L. O. B., 139 Brasington, Carl L., 233 Brass Band, 133 Bray, Eva F., 183 Bray, Morris S., 203, 205, 206, 210, 233 ° Breaker, J. M. C., 136, 227 Brenton, Ebenezer, 22 Brewer, William, 226 Brickell, J., 222 Bright, Simon, 25 Brimage, William, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 26, 28, 200, 218, 222 me INDEX 237 Brinson, Albert W., 191, 192, 194, 232 Brinson, H. H., 227 Brinson, L. L., 230 Brinson, Leslie L., Jr., 188, 191, 192, 231 Brinson, Rufus B., 232 Brinson, S. M., 53, 177, 179, 180, 185, 187, 219, 231 British, 107 British Merchant Marine, 107 Brockway, George L., 233 Brookfield, J. A., 225 Brookfield, Jacob, 138, 139, 227 Brooks, A. D., 191 Brooks, Minnie C., 183 Brooks, S. W., 229 Brown, Fred, 231 Brown, H. H., 228 Brown, John, 64A, 222 Brown, Mrs. S. W., 182 Brown, S. W., 182, 183, 231 Brown, Watson, 64A Brown, William, 222 Brown, William C., 146 Brown, Z., 138, 227 Brunswick, 94 Bryan, C. J., 228 Bryan, Charles §., 232 Bryan, Edward K., 137, 138, 227 Bryan, G. T., 177 Bryan, James, 59, 64A, 72, 75, 96, 223 Bryan, James A., 154, 155 Bryan, James C., 108, 224 Bryan, James W., 81 Bryan, John, 59, 222 Bryan, John H., 81, 107 Bryan, Shepard, 188, 199-201, 229 Bryan, Washington, 151, 228 Bryan, William, 25, 30, 222 Bryan, William D., 64A, 108, 224 Bryan, William M., 185, 231 Bryant, Archie W., 170, 230 Bryant, S. S., 133, 134, 226 Buckner, Clem, 182 Buffalo, N. Y., 91, 177 Bundy, William J., 215, 216 Bunting, A. F., 230 Bunting, Carl F., 9, 189, 192, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 200, 201, 202, 208, 210, 212, 231 Bunting, EH. H., 9, 198, 200, 201, 202, 208, 210, 212, 216, 232 Burnard, Reuben, 222 Burney, Jacob, 223 Burns, Francis, 107 Burns, Otway, 107, 108, 224 Burnside, Ambrose E., 142 Burnside, John, 20, 25, 26, 28, 222 Burnsville, 107 : Burr, Aaron, 69 Bush, Hardy, 222 Bute County, 13 Butler, Harry, 223 Butler, Marion, 164 Butler, R. F., 230 Buxton, Jarvis, 37, 55, 64, 64A Buxton, Jarvis B., 84 By-Laws, 20, 25, 27, 31, 32, 37, 44, 62, 106, 126, 133 Byrne, Maithew, 66 c Cabarrus County, 58 Cabarrus, Stephen, 41, 58 Cahill, Richard, 108, 223 Caldwell, Joseph, 34 Calhoun, John C., 115, 116; Mrs. Calhoun, 115; children, 115 California, 131 Caligari and Son, 203-4 Calvary Church, 121, 122 Calvert, George W., 233 Camden, S. C., 124 Cameron, J., 226 Cameron, John A., 118 Camp Sevier, 181 Canady, J. B., 232 Cannon, William, 27, 222 Canterbury, Archbishop of, 21 Cape Fear, 11, 102 Carawan, W. E., 216, 233 Carney, James, 38, 44, 48, 64A, 71, 72, 74, 75, 222 Carney, James, Jr., 84 Carney, Thomas, 8, 81, 126, 129, 130, 225 Carolina Consistory, 198 Carolina Playmakers, 86 Carolina Sentinel, 124 Caroon, William J., 191, 231 Carpenter, H. J., 182, 201, 202, 206, 231 Carpenter, Mrs. H. J., 182 Carpenter, Samuel, 124 Carr, John R., 183, 233 Carr, Myrtle T. (Mrs. J. R.), 183 Carr, R. H., 226 Carraway, Daniel T., 8, 137, 138, 144, 147-50, 227 Carraway, George E., 226 Carter, Joseph, 226 Carteret County, 107 Carthy, Daniel, 108, 224 Case, Needham, 145, 146, 151, 155, 156, 158, 159, 160, 161, 165, 169, 227; monument to, 169 Cason, James L., 183, 185, 191, 201, 231 Caswell Brotherhood, 46 Caswell County, 46 238 YEARS OF LIGHT Caswell, J. P., 223 4 Caswell, Richard, 13, 17, 28, 30, 33, 35, 38,.39, 48, 44, 98, 109, 141, 218, 222 Catholic Church, 90 Cedar Grove Cemetery, 65, 134, 135, 189, 141, 142, 175, 191, 199. Centenary Methodist Church, 133, 192, 197 Certain, Emanuel M., 133, 134, 226 Chadwick, Samuel W., 226 Chadwick, William C., 189, 231 Chamber of Commerce, 213 Chamberlain, E., 222 Chapel Hill, 51, 67, 78, 85, 141 Chapman, Samuel, 48, 64A, 222 Charity (Royal Edwin) Lodge, 46 Charleston, S. C., 11, 80, 89, 90 : Charlotte, 140, 148, 182, 192 Charlton, George B., 230 Charters of Lodge: first, 16A, 17- 19, 26, 186, 221; second, 46, 48A, 56-57, 187, 221 Chase, Peter, 64A, 223 Chase, Philip, 222 Chatham County, 46 Cherry, R. A., 231 Cheshire, J. B., 60 Chester, Bishop of, 21 Chester, Stephen M., 114 Chestnutt, I. L., 160, 229 Chicago, 165 Chicago Fire, 165 Chief Justice, 15, 21, 23, 24, 111, 219 Chinquapin, 198 Christ Church, Baltimore, 121 Christ Church, New Bern, 21, 29, 30, 37, 41, 42, 48, 44, 45, 49, 54, 55, 57, 59, 63, 64, 65, 73, 87, 93, 96, 106, 121, 128, 129, 130, 183, 134, 135, 192, 193 Christ Church, New Orleans, 121 Christianity, 111-12 Church of Mediation, 121 Church of the Annunciation, 121 Church of the Holy Saviour, 121 Churchill, Charles, 64A, 109, 222 Churchill, C. M., 225 Clermont, 87, 128 Clark, Andrew, 225 Clark, Charles C., 8, 81, 136, 137, 138, 143, 144, 145, 151, 153, 155, 164, 172, 174-75, 187, 208A, 218, 227 Clark, Charles C., Jr., 170, 175, 230 Clark, Edward, 160, 175 Clark, Elijah, 174 Clark, Fannie Howard, 175 Clark, James, 223 Clark, John, 222 Clark, Joseph B., 9, 161, 229 Clark, Luther R., 129, 130, 132, 133, 226 Clark, Martha Stevenson, 174 Clark, William W., 174 Clark, William W., Jr., 161, 163, 166, 175, 229 Clarke, Frank F., 233 Clarke, William, 229 Claypoole, Jesse S., 230 Clinch, Bartholomew, 38, 44, 223 Clinton, 148 Coart, John, Jr., 64A Cobb, Jelsey, 64A Coffin, Wearne, 222 Coffins, 129, 155 Cogdell, Richard, 8, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 644, 200, 218, 222 Cohen, Walter, 229 Cole, I. C., 227 Cole, James C., 8, 120, 123, 225 Collector of Customs, 62 Collier, Probit, 64A Collins, Joseph, 64A Collins, Ray F., 233 Colonel Allen’s Inn, 12 Colorado, 207 Colorado River, 207-8 Colorado Springs, 207, 208 Common, Abraham, 222 Concord, 148 Concord Chapter, 208-9 Confederacy, 115, 131, 134, 138, 139, 142 Congress, 51, 86, 87, 127, 130, 131, 152, 163, 164, 166, 175, 180, 211, 219 Conklin, Ann, 22 Connecticut, 121, 122 Constitution of North Carolina, 41 Constitution of United States, 38, 39, 40, 41, 51; lodge celebration of 150th anniversary, 202 Constitutional Convention, State, 127 Continental Congress, 39, 40 Conway, William, 97, 98, 224 Cook, Allie, 9, 172, 173, 176, 179, 181, 182, 183, 192, 200, 201, 202, 203, 208B, 210, 212, 217, 219, 230 Cook, B. M., 226 Cook, George W., 84 Cook, Jacob, 64A, 66, 108, 222 Cook, Major, 118, 120, 123, 124, 225 Cook, Mrs. Allie, 182 Cook, Robert B., 232 Cooke, Silas, 55, 222 Cooper, George, 225 Cooper, P. L., 147, 149 Cooper, Thomas, 12 INDEX 239 Coor, James, 116 Coplon, Charles, 231 Corinthian Lodge, 189 Cornerstones: of Masonic Temple, 68-70, 152, 204; articles in, 69; monument erected for, 69, 199; courthouse cornerstone, 156; school cornerstone, 158 Corps of Artillery, 66 Cotter, Robert, 222 - Council of Royal and Select Mas- ters, 171; see also Royal Arch Masons and Grand Council of North Carolina County Home, 94 Court, 44, 107 Court House, 103, 104, 156, 157, 188 Court, John C., 81 Court of Honor, 208, 213, 217 Cove City, 209 Cowan Bros., 168, 170, 171 Cowles, T. M., 156 Cox, Longfield, 644 Cox, William, 222 Crabtree, John, 170, 230 Craddock, John, 37, 38, 44, 54, 59, 61, 66, 222 Craig, Thomas, 108, 224 Crapon, George M., 229 Craven Chapter, O. H, S., 181-83, 185, 187, 190, 197, 203, 213, 215, 220 Craven County Commissioners, 154, 155, 156, 198 Crawford, Charles, 25, 27 Cray, William R., 644A Crew, Thomas, 43, 54, 55, 59, 65, 222 Crowder, T. J. W., 231 Crown Point, 12 Crown Point Inn, 12 Cupola, 82-85 Curtis, Thomas, 64A, 223 Cusack, Thomas, 224 Cushman, James, 119, 122 Custis, Peter, 134 Custis, Peter B., 134, 135, 226 Cuthbert, James G., 114 : Cutting, James, 223 Cutting, Leonidas, 37, 38, 42, 465, 54, 55 Cuyler, John, 222 Cypress Tree, 49 D Dade, Horatio, 225 Dancing Assembly, 70, 74, 81, 99, 114, 123 Daniel, Raleigh T., 203 Daniels, Harvey J., 233 Daniels, James, 227 Daniels, Josephus, 199 Daniels, Thomas, 8, 151, 153, 154, 155, 158, 159, 160, 162, 168, 169, 228 Darling, P., 225 Daughters of the American Revo- lution, 188 Daves, John, 84 Davie, W. R., 13, 34, 45, 51, 56, 64, 85, 98, 96B, 187, 219 Davis, Herman F., 233 Davis, J. A., 227 Davis, James, 14, 34, 42 Davis, J. C., 195 Davis, J. H., 231 Davis, Jefferson, 131 Davis, M. B., 225 Dawson, J. B., 9, 169, 172, 173, 187, 191, 192, 203; 210, 213, 217, 230 Dawson, Levi, 64A, 223 DeBretigney, Marquis, 33, 34, 218, 222 DeBruhl, Engraver, 25, 26 DeBruhl, Michael, 29 DeFongatte, Martin, 35, 222 DeGraffenried, Christopher, 172 Degree Team, 195 Delamar, W. S., 226 Delano, Alden, 225 Delastatius, Hzekiel, 223 Del Puerto, D., 225 Democratic Convention, 132 Democratic Lodge, 110 Denver and Rio Grande Railway, 207 Depth Bombs, 115 Derrickson, John B., 216, 233 Detrick, John, 229 Devereux, John, 64A, 71, 77 Dewey, Henry, 122, 123, 124, 126, 225 Dewey, John, 64A, 65, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 108, 113, 119, 222 Dewey, Oliver, 108, 223 Dewey, O. S., 226 Dewey, Thomas W., 9, 161, 229 Dewey, T. W., 148, 149 Dewhurst, Samuel, 64A, 224 Dewling, W., 222 Diaz, Antonio Maria, 224 Dibble, James H., 146 Diehl, Herman T., 233 Dill, George W., 146, 147, 148, 149, 228 Dill, S. L., III, 232 Dillingham, J. P., 188, 144, 146, 147, 149, 227 Diocese of South Carolina, 60 Disosway, I., 147, 227 6 240 YEARS. OF LIGHT Disosway, Lula M., 183 ef Nee Frederick, 54, 64A, 109, Dixon, Elijah G., 229 Dixon, George W., 126, 225 Dixon, Richard D., 92 Dobbs, Arthur, 14, 94, 127 Dolliver, H., 223 Donnell, John R., 114-15, 128 ° Donnell, Margaret, 128 Doric Lodge, 170-71, 178, 179, 181, 185, 188, 189, 191, 193, 194, 195, 196, 200, 201, 202, 205, 206, 210, 214, 215, 220; charter, 171 Dornock Lodge, 13 Doty, J. S., 226 Douglas, Mrs. and Co., 78, 79 Douglass, J. A., 226 Down, Joseph, 27, 28, 222 Doyle, Thomas A., 152 Drewry, John C., 171 Dudley, C., 123 Dudley, Edward B., 128 Dudley, George, 108, 223 Duels, 87, 131 Duffy, George, 47, 222 Duffy, H. B., 155, 158, 159, 229 Duffy, Richard N., 230 Duffy, S. S., 159, 229 Duffy, William, 56, 223 Duguid, Alexander, 64A, 222 Duncan, George, 223 Duncan, William B., 69, 199 Dunn, Hardy, 64A Dunn, John, 231 Dunn, John G., Jr., 215, 233 Dunn, Owen G., 232 Pony William, 8, 144, 145, 146, Dunn, William, Jr., 230 Dunn, W. W., 146 Duplin County, 46, 198 Durand, R. F., 225 Durham, Clifford S., 233 = Eagle, R. R., 231 Eagle Tavern, 78, 79, 80 Earbe, William, 225 Earle, J., 222 eek Carolina Fair Association, Hastern Star, 176, 181-83, 185, 187, 190, 197, 208, 218, 215, 220 Eby, Mrs.. Clyde, 182 Edenton, 13, 14, 15, 34, 36, 39, 46, 92, 148 Edenton Academy, 105 Edenton Gazette, 34 Edes, William, 225 Edgar, Actor, 80 Edmunds, Beulah A., 183 Educational Programs, 189-90, 191, 195, 196, 199, 210, 215 Edwards, C. R., 229 Edwards, N., 149 Egypt, 203-4 Electricity, 167 Elgilbert, P., 222 Elks, 165, 171-72, 199, 208, 213-14; moral service, 165; Temple, Ellis, Benjamin, 108, 117, 224 Ellis, George, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 63, 64, 64A, 67, 68, 69, 71, 73, 75, 88, 95, 97, 98, 99-100, 187, 222 Ellis, James, 35, 38, 44, 45, 222 Ellis, James, 224 Ellis, Paul B., 205, 233 Ellis, Richard, 8, 15, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, 222 Ellis, Thomas, 81, 223 Ellis, Thomas G. S., 226 Ellison, Mrs. C. F., 182 Elm City Rifles, 159 Elmour, Julius, 222 El Paso Lodge, 208 Emery, Thomas J., 116, 119, 120, 225, 226 Emmett, A. S., 226 Enfield, 202 England, 11, 12, 14, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 30, 40, 61 England, John, 90 England, King of, 26 English, J. E., 197 English, W., 227 Episcopal, 91, 105, 121; see also Christ Church Ernul, John B., 151, 158, 154, 155, 158, 159, 228 Ernul, William H., 228 Ervin, L. H., 161, 229 Etheridge, J. W., 229 Euen, Bro., 25 Eufaula, Ala., 148 Eureka Chapter, 122-23, 175 Burope, 122 Everett, W. B., 176 Everhart, Adolia, 183 Everhart, Julia M., 183 Everhart, Stamey, 183 Everitt, D. E., 146, 228 F Fabre, Peter, 78, 79, 223 Fairbanks, J., Jr., 225 Farmers Warehouse, 187 Farr, John, Jr., 156 Farrier, H., 226 Farrow, G. A., 182, 194, 195, 214, 215, 216; elected honorary mem- INDEX 241 -ber of St, John’s Lodge, 215-16 Farrow, Mrs. G. A., 182 Fatheru, H,, 224 Fayetteville, 13, 31, 34, 35, 36, 38, 41, 46, 55, 56, 67, 110, 111, 182 Federal Appropriation, 148, 163-64, 166 Federal Building, 199 Federal Court, 213 Federal Department of. North Car- olina, 131 Federal Fleet, 115 Federal Forces, 123, 163 Feely, A., 226 Fellowes, Jonathan, 64, 64A, 78, 79, 109, 223 Ferebee, Mrs., 154 Fergus, Duncan, 27, 28, 222 Fergusson, M. B., 232 Ferrand, William, 64A, 71, 223 Ferrell, H. R., 227 Ferrell, P. C., 227 Fields, Charles M., 228 Fields, James §., 228 Financial Difficulties, see Lodge Financial. Difficulties and Ma-; sonic Temple Finances Finley, Thomas, 223 Fire Department, 197 Fire of 1922, 188-89 First Baptist Church, 114, 118, 135, 142, 165, 174, 186, 214 First Free School, 57-58 First Lodge in Pitt County, 12 First Presbyterian Church, 57, 114, 124, 199 Fisher, Ernest H., 233 Fisher, F. D., 226 los Fisher, Richard, 108, 224 Fisher, Robert, 222 Fisher, 8.\C. 225 Fisher, William, 64A Fite, P, N.,; 644: Flag, 181, 214 ‘ Flanner, John D., 8, 186, 137, 138, 144, 227 Fletcher, S. B., 227 Forbes, Stephen B., 64A, 96, 224 Forrest, Henry, 196, 232 Fort Barnwell, 118 Fort Barnwell Lodge, 54 Fort George, 22 Foscue, Henry T., 228 Foscue, Lewis, 120, 225 § Foster General Hospital, 166 Fowle, J. S.; 225... f Fowler, Bro., 25 Fowler, C. W., 182 Fowler, J. L.,) 229) Fowler, Joseph S., 226 Fowler, Mrs. C. W., 182 Fox, F. A., 222 Foy, C. B., 161, 229 Foy, ©. E., 164, 229 Foy, Frederick, 109, 222 Foy, Mrs. C. B., 182 Franklin, 36 Franklin, Benjamin, 17 Franklin Lodge, 208, 210, 214 Fray, L., 644 Frazer, A. O., 224 Fredericksburg Lodge, 90 Fredericksburg, Va., 90 Freeman, F. F., 105 Freeman, George W., 105 Freeman, J. O., 8, 105, 114, 117, 219, 224 Freeman, Samuel, 108, 225 Freer, Richard, 56 Free Will Baptists, 176 Fremare, Joseph, 224 French and Indian Wars, 12 French, W. C., 227 F Frieze, Jacob, 129, 130 Frilick’s Hotel, 51 Friou, John D., 64A, 73, 95, 97, 224 Fuet, Thomas I., 108, 224 Fulford, A. R., 228 Fulford, Richard B., 233 Fulford, S. F., 227 Fulford, William C., 192, 193, 194, 195, 197, 200, 231. Fulsher (Fulcher), Levi, 64A, 223 G Gadney, O., 222. - Gall, Christopher, 223 Gall, Galt, 223 Gardner, C., 226 Gardner, George, 64A, 223 Gardner, John L., 227 Gardner, T. M., 148, 149. Gardner, William T., 50, 222 Gas, 155, 156 Gaskins, A. J., 176, 179, 181, 230 Gaskins, C. Whit, 9, 176, 179, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, 200, 231 Gaskins, James A., 203, 206, 232 Gaskins, L. G., 281 Gaskins, Mrs,C.. Whit, 177, 182, 188, 187 Gaskins, William S., 158, 159, 160, 164, 169, 170, 172, 173, 229 Gaskins, W...W., 181, 192, 231 s Gaston, William, 48, 52, 53, 59, 64A, 71,, 86, 87, 102, 121,, 122, 127,131 ,. Gates, Thomas, 144, 146, 228 Gatlin, Alfred, 84 > Gatlin, William, 108, 224 .. .- Gause, William I., 1,9, 210, 214, 242 YEARS OF LIGHT 215, 216, 217, 232 Gehrkin, Arnold R., 192, 232 General Assembly, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 58, 61, 65, 87, 94, 102, 107, 110, 118, 120, 127, 128, 131, 140, 174, 213 George, F. G., 106, 225 Georgetown, S. C., 90 Georgetown University, 111 Georgia, 90, 140, 146 Germans, 172 Gerock, Samuel, 38, 48, 54, 223 Gettig, John, 108, 224 Gibbons, J. J. B., 223 Gill, Levi, 27 Gillies, M., 222 Glasgow, James, 37, 38, 39, 45 Gleeson, Matthew, 64A, 71, 223 Godley, Jesse, 108, 224 Goldsboro, 140, 148, 179, 220 Good, B. C., 83 Good, John R., 64, 64A, 95-96, 97, 223 Good Samaritans, 154, 155 Good Shepherd Hospital, 205 Good, William C., 65, 223 Goodall, George, 227 Goodfellow, J. F., 223 Goodwin, Vernon, 233 Goss, H. P., 173 Goulding, John, 223 Goulding, M., 223 Gould’s History, 15 Governor’s Council, 34 Gowen, B. H., 173 Grace, Thomas, 108, 224 Grady, Henry A., 206 Graham, Captain, 107 Graham, Edward, 64A, 87, 101 Graham, Edward, Jr., 84 Graham, Hamilton, 81 Graham, Richard, 20, 25, 26, 222 Graham, W. K., 225 Grainger, William, 223 Granby, I. G., 226 Grand Chapter of North Carolina, O. BE. S., 176 Grand Commandery of North Car- olina, 190 Grand Council of North Carolina, 190, 205 Grand Lodge of America (United States), 109, 120, 122, 132 Grand Lodge of Canada, 202 Grand Lodge of Iowa, 91 Grand Lodge of New York, 122 Grand Lodge of North Carolina, 14, 15, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 44- 46, 55, 56, 57, 59, 62, 67, 68, 69, 85, 86, 88, 89, 92-93, 95, 97, 102, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 135, 136, 141, 142, 143, 149, 156, 157, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 184, 186, 187, 190, 194, 195, 202, 206, 207-8, 214, 215, 216, 218, 219 Grand Lodge of North Dakota, 91 Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 173 Grand Lodge of Tennessee, 92, 109, 110 Grand Lodge of Virginia, 90, 126 Grand Masters, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 26, 35, 36, 38, 39-42, 44, 45, 56, 64, 68, 69, 75, 85, 86,’ 91, 92, 93, 97, 109-12, 119, 122, 124-29, 130, 136, 141, 142, 157, 158, 161, 162, 171, 172, 173-74, 179, 180, 181, 186, 187, 193, 194, 201, 202, 206-9, 216, 218, 219 Granger, Caleb, 12 Grant, L. S., 170, 230 Gray, John A., 227 Gray, John, Jr., 222 Great Britain, 35, 93 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 204, 205 Green, F., 64A Green, George, 227 Green, George, 9, 139, 161, 162, 203, 210-11, 212-14, 229 Green, James, 64A, 223 Green, John, 222 Green, John B., 202, 203, 209, 231 Green, John C., 8, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 164, 165, 167, 228 Green, Joseph, 222 Green, Paul, 78 Green, Peleg, 27, 222 Green, Thomas A., 8, 114, 145, 151, 154, 155, 156, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 167, 168, 169, 170, 172, 173, 184, 186, 188, 192, 198, 194, 195, 196-97, 201, 228 Green, William, 84 Greene, Nathanael, 30, 49 Greenleaf, Abigail, 22 Greenleaf, Stephen, 22 Greensboro, 135, 176 Greenville, 12, 48, 49, 215, 216 Greenville Lodge, 196, 216 Greenville, S. C., 181 Greenwich, Conn., 122 Gridley, Jeremy, 12 Griffin Auditorium, 199 Griffin, Joseph, 223 Griffin, Moses, 135 Griffin, Moses, School, 135 Griffin, W. W., 181, 231 Grigg, A. F., 225 INDEX Grim, Philip, 222 Grodstein, Irving, 233 Grubbs, Richard, 222 Guilford Court House, 34, 218 Guion, Isaac, 8, 31, 35, 36, 38, 41, 43, 44, 47, 48, 53, 54, 59, 67, 187, 223 Guion, Isaac Lee, 644A Guion, Owen H., 53, 160, 161, 163, 168, 169, 187, 229 Guttry, Robert, 108, 223 H Hackburn, BH. B., 156, 157, 158, 168, 176, 229 Hackburn, Joseph H., 9, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 229 Hackett, R. V., 171, 175 Hagerstown, Md., 87, 106 Hahn, B.,; 161, 229 Hahn, F. M., 162, 164, 165, 169, 180, 189, 229 Hahn, Myer, 215, 216, 217, 233 Haines, Dan W., 227 | Halifax, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 34, 36, i 46, 48, 109 i Halifax, Nova Scotia, 23 Hall, Geo. A., 226 Hall, John, 13, 110, 111 Hall, Wm. G., 129, 226 Halling, Solomon, 8, 42, 43, 45, 47, 48, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 67, 93, 219, 222 Hammerton John, 11 Hampton, William, 644A Hancock, H. S., 230 Hancock, L. W., 151, 154, 155, 156, 228 Hancock, William H., 134, 135, 136, 226 Handy, Mathias, 644A Hanff, W. B., 189, 202, 231 Hanks, D. W., 181, 231 Hanks, Hubert F., 231 ; Hanley, 0. H., 64A ; Hanover Lodge, 12 Hanrahan, J. R., 226 Hardenbrock, N. T., 223 Harding, Henry, 12 Harding, Mrs. Warren G., 185 Harding, Warren G., 184, 185, 189 Hardison, John, 228 Hardy, Charles, 224 Hargett, Samuel M., 145, 228 Harker, James, 64A, 223 Harkey, J. A., 227 Harnett, Cornelius, 12, 14, 16 Harper, F. M., 147, 149, 228 Harriett, James M., 233 Harrington, Elisha, 108, 223 Harris, Thomas, 64A - Harris, W. B., 231 243 Harrison, H. C., 231 Harrison, H. L., 231 Harrison, James F., 227 Harrison, J. M. F., 8, 135, 186, 137, 138, 226 Harrison, S. L., 183 Hart, Charles A., 227 Hart, Charles B., Jr., 233 Hart, Minnie Lee (Mrs. R. B. Wil- liams), 182, 183 Hart, Samuel, 224 Hartsell, L. W., 9, 193, 194, 195, 197, 203, 232 Harvey, John, 64A, 222 Harvey, John, 8, 107, 109, 113, 126, 129, 130, 132, 137, 226 Harvey, J., Jr., 225 Harvey, Lemuel, 146 Harvey, Thomas A., 146 Haskell, H. F., 225 Haskin, Thomas, 222 Haslen, Mrs. Elizabeth, 63 Haslen, Thomas, 15, 18, 19, 21, 26, 200, 222 i Haslen-West House, 21 Hatch, Charles, 644 Hatch, Durant, 97, 108, 224 Hatch, L. N., 225 Hatch, R. B., 225 Hatsell, Armistead, 223 Hawes, Hlias, 57-58, 109, 223 Hawkins, A. W., 230 Hawks, Benjamin B., 123, 225 Hawks, Cicero S., 81, 86 Hawks, Francis, 61, 62, 63, 64, 64A, 65, 121, 223 Hawks, Francis L., 8, 59, 62, 81, 86, 117-22, 127, 135, 219, 225 Hawks, Francis T., 227 Hawks, John, 61-62, 94, 121 Hawks, John S., 81, 124, 125, 127, 226 Hawks, Julie, 62 Hawks, William N., 134, 135, 226 Hawley, William, 223 Hayes, 40 Hayward, James, 8, 124, 129, 130, 132, 134, 137, 226 Haywood, Marshall DeLancey, 11, 14, 23, 187 Hazlewood, Edwin T., 98, 100, 108, 224 Heidt, R. E., 231 Hellinger, C. T., 181, 231 Henderson, Archibald, 24 Henderson, George, 145, 195, 196, 228 Henderson, T. B., 228 Henry, D. P., 182 Henry, I. B., 228 Henry, Jacob, 108, 223 Henry, Louis D., 131 244 YEARS OF LIGHT Henry, Mrs. D. P., 182 : Henry, Thomas A., 156, 164, 165, 172, 208B, 219, 230 5 Heéury, William, 223 Hern (Hearn), Joseph, 64A, 222 Heros, Lewis, 31,'33, 222 Herritage, William, 40 Herritage, William M., 54, 64A Herritage, William M., 226 Hertford, 189 Hertford County, 46 Hester, J. G., 146 Hibbard, Albert L., 9, 185, 188, 189, 197, 198, 200, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 209, 210, 212, 213, 231 Hill, E. G., 9, 156, 158, 159, 160, 228 Hill, John, 64A, 223 Hill, William G., 148, 149 Hill, William H., 228 l Hill, William T., 9, 165, 169, 170, 178, 188, 230 Hillsboro, 12, 38, 44 Hines, B. G., 233 Hines, Clarence, 176, 231 Hinkley, Undertaker, 97 Hinnant, L. G., 210 Hinnant, W. R., 230 Hiram Lodge, 110 Hispaniola, 59. Historical Pageant of 1929, 193 Historical Programs, 184-88, sue 202° Hitchcock, H. H., 147 Hodge, Abraham, 33, 34, 222 Hodge, John A., 136, 227 Hodges, S. E., 146 Hogg, James, 85 Holbrook, A., 224 Holbrook, R., 225 Holcomb, George C., 233 Holding, Thomas, 223 Holland, George A.; 231° { Holland, P., 228 b Holland, William, 64A, 108, 222 Hollister, John T., Jr., 214, 215, 216, 233 Hollister, William, 214, 233 Holmes, Cyrus Ci, 156 Holmes, Gabriel, 123 Holmes, Lemuel, 64A, 223 Holt, Josiah, 26, 28, 222 Holy Land, 188 Honyman, Jamés, Jr, 22 Hooker, C. E., 231 : Horne, G. L., 232 Hoskins, C. S., 227 Hosmer, Asa, 222 Hough, J. G., 231 Howard, Fannie, 175 Howard, George W., 180, 226 Howard, George, 158, 159; 164, 169, 229 Howard, J., 226 Howard, James W., 132 Howard, John, 55, 223 Howard, Joseph J., 144, 228 Howard, Louis N., 206, 232 Howard, Martin, 8, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 28, 24, 25, 184, 186, 196, 200, 218, 222 Howard, Samuel W., 145, 151, 227 Howell, Hazel S., 183 Hubbs, E., 149, 150 Hudson, B., 222 Humble, H. A., 181 Humphrey, N., 223 Hunley, Richard, 38, 45, 61, 63, 65, 223 Hunly, Thomas, 224 Hunt, Abraham, 64A, 223 Hunt, Robert, 64A, 71 Hunt, Sylvester, 225 Hunter, Daniel, 223 Hunter, Edwin, 81 Hunter, BH. 8., 227 Hunter, J. S., 225 Hunter, S. 1., 144, 228 Hunter, T., 226 Hunter, W. C., 226 Hunter, W. C., 227 Huntington, M. W., 106, 225 Hurst, Benjamin B., 230 Hurst, G. W., 228 Hurst, John, 224 °° Hurtt, D. P., 226 Hurtt, D. W., 136, 137, 138, 146, 149, 227° Hutch, H., 225 Hutchinson, J., 226 Hyman, James, 222 Hyman, T. G., 161, 229 Hyman, Thomas, 59, 64A, 223 Imperial Council, A. A. 0. N.M. S., 177, 178, 179 Ince, James, 25, 28, 29, 222 Independence Lodge, 46 Inge, S. W., 131 Ingles, John, 56 Ingraham, John, 38, 223 Inland Waterway, 208 Ionic Lodge, 209 Iowa, 91 Ipock, James, 209, 210 Ipock, William J.,,.210, 214, 215, 216, 217, 233 Iredell County, 67 Tredell, James, 24, 80 Irish, 110 INDEX Irving, Thomas P., 8, 57-60, 68, 64, 64A, 65, 66, 69, 70,°73, 74, 83-87, '96,.97, 98, 99, 100, 104, 105, 106, 108, 127, 219, 223 Ives, Ella E., 153 Ives, Thomas P., 109,222) Ivey, Claborne, 64A, 223 Ivey, J. O., 225) J Jackson, N., 227 Jamaica, 59 James, Frank L., 233 James, J., 223 James, Manwell, 156 Jarvis, Moses, 97, 108, 117, 118, 119, 223 Jefferson, Thomas, 69 Jennings, Richard, 644A Jerkins, Alonzo T., 8, 1380, 182, 134, 135, 136, 137, 189, 141-42, 146, 148, 149, 164, 187, 208A, 218, 226 Jerkins, Mrs. Thomas, 141 Jerkins, Sarah, 141, 142 Jerkins, Susan C., 142 Jerkins, Thomas, 130, 141, 224 Jetter, G. W., 228 Jewel Box, 214 Jewels of Lodge, see Lodge Treas- ures Jewish Synagogue, 171 Johnson, Charles B., 9, 198, 200, 201, 202, 208, 210, 212, 232 Johnson, Charles H., 122 Johnson, Ernest R., 233 Johnston, Augustus, 22 Johnston-Caswell (Blandford- Bute) Lodge, 46, 67 Johnston, Jacob, 61, 223 Johnston, Robert, 108, 223 Johnston, Samuel, 13, 35, 38, 39, 80, 171 Johnston, Sculptor, 69 Johnston, Samuel P., 64A, 223 Johnston, William, 25, 88, 44, 45, a 55, 61, 63, 64A, 73, 74, 96, 98, 22 Jones, Asa, 75, 106, 108, 118, 224 Jones, Bryan, 226 Jones, Charles, 108, 224 Jones, Claude C., 170, 230 Jones County, 46, 214 Jones, Edward, 59, 223 Jones, Frederick, 64A Jones, Henry A., 225 Jones, James, 226 Jones, John, 64A, 109, 223 Jones, John F., 137, 138, 227 Jones, John Paul, 17 Jones, J. W., 136, 227 245 Jones, Lovick, 130, 226 Jones, Joseph W., 146 Jones, Kenneth R., 232 Jones, Morgan, 644 Jones, Mrs. W. P., 182. : Jones, R. D.. V., ‘9, 170, 172, 180, 188; 190, 195, 203, 230 Jones, Reuben P., 644. Jones, S. A., 231 Jones, Thomas, 224 Jones, William H., 136, 137, 138, 144, 145, 151, 227 Jones, W. N., 146 Jones, W. P., 9, 170, 172, 178, 176, 182, 183, 184, 187, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 195, 201, 202, 203,..206, 208B, 209, 212, 218, 219, 2380. Jordan, J. V., 8, 81, 138, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151, 227 Jordan, R., 225 Joy, George Mills, 228 Joyce, Redmond, 106, 108, 224 . Justice, I. C., 228 Justice, John, 644A K Kafer, Alfred A., 181, 182, 192, 231 Kafer, Alfred A., Jr., 1, 9, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 209, 210, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 219, 232 Kafer, Mrs. A. A., 182 Kafer, Oscar A., 1, 69, 172, 173, 176, 180, 181, 182, 183, 185, 188, 189, 191, 194, 195, 199, 200, 201, 202, 205, 206,215, 219, 230 Kafer, Oscar A., II., 233 Kafer, Oswald O., 231 Kean, Edward, 64A, 69, 71, 223 Kean, William, 64A, 68, 71, 72, 73, 74, 77, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 102, 108, 223 Keel, William A., 233 Kehoe, Thomas B., 171 Keith, R., 60 Kelly, Thomas, 223 Kennedy, James, 64A, 106, 108, 113, 224 Kennedy, John, 222 Kent, Thomas, 226 Ketchum, Abel, 223 Khedive Shrine Temple, 91 Kilpatrick, A. W., 227 Kilpatrick, Warren, 146 King, Edward C., 8, 106, 108, 113, 117, 118, 119, 120, 224 XN King, F. C., 231 King, Joseph, 64A King’s Arms Tavern, 29 King Solomon Lodge, 46, 50, 68 Kinman, J. S., 225 Kinns, George, 64A, 109, 222 246 YEARS OF LIGHT Kinston, 13, 36, 41, 46, 139, 148 Kinston Lodge, 13 Kirkpatrick, Charles C., 230 Kline, B. H., 232 Knapp, David, 108, 224 Knight Commanders, 208, 213, 217 Knight Templar, 95, 190, 209 Knowles, John, 64, 64A, 73, 223 Komatas, Nick, 233 Koonce, John C. B., 232 Kyle, William, 64A, 223 L Lactum, A. C., 227 Ladies Memorial Association, 155 Lafayette Lodge, 123, 125, 127 LaFayette, Marquis de, 123 Lamberts, William, 224 Lamotte, Francis, 64A, 222 Land, O. W., 226 Lane, D. H., 226 Lane, George, 227 Lane, J. H., 227 Lane, John, 82 Lane, O. W., 176, 179, 181, 231 Large, William, 108, 224 Latem, James, 225 Latham, Augustus, 227 Latham, F. P., 139 Latham, J. E., 169, 230 Latham, John, 101, 106, 224 Latin quotations, 100 Latta, D. L., 189, 193, 199, 231 Laughinghouse, Al C., 233 Lawrence, William, 54, 64A, 109, 222 Learmond, Bro., 25 Lectures, 119, 129, 130, 191, 193, 195, 202, 203 Lee, H. S., 227 Lee, Levin, 227 Lee, Robert E., 140 Leech, Joseph, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 30, 31, 38, 39, 44, 49, 53, 127, 128, 187, 200, 218, 222 LeGallais, Edward, 170, 171, 230 Levinson, Jones, 231 Lewis, David, 222 Lewis, E., 224 Lewis, Earl W., 232 Lewis, Estella F., 183 Lewis, James, 224 Library, 49 Library of Congress, 80 Liddell, Walter S., 177 - Light Dragoons, 66 Light Infantry, 66 Lightning Rods, 98, 100 Lincoln, Barnum, 108, 225 Lindner, Frederick, 108, 224 Linguist, George, 64A, 223 Linney, Harry, 202 Lipman, Harry, 1, 9, 189, 191, 192, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 209, 210, 216, 231 Lipman, Sol, 183, 185, 188, 189, 201, 217, 231 Liquor, 27, 29, 32, 62 Litchfield, Conn., 121 Littleton, J., 227 Lockhart (Lockart), William, 69, 64A, 100, 108, 224 Lodge Financial Difficulties, 31, 57, 102, 106-7, 118, 117, 125-27, 129, 151, 162; see also Masonic Tem- ple Finances Lodge of Good Samaritans, 154, 155 Lodge of Perfection, 171 Lodge Table Cloth, 90 Lodge Treasures, 61, 69, 82, 152, 164, 173, 181, 184, 193, 194, 204, 214, 221 Lodge Trial, 161 London, 22, 94 London Board of Trade, 94 Loomis, Harris, 123, 225 Lorch, B. P., 153, 156 Lotteries, 72-73, 93-95, 102, 107, 120, 126 Loudoun, Earl of, 11 Louisiana, 43, 121, 219 Lovick, Hugh J., 9, 160, 161, 173, 229 Lowenberg, C., 227 Lowenstein, A., 227 Lowthrop, Francis, 8, 44, 45, 48, 54, 55, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 64A, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 84, 85, 87, 95-97, 105, 106, 119, 164, 219, 222 Lowthrop Hall, 54, 88, 90, 151, 154, 155, 156, 159, 160, 161, 165, 196, 200, 206, 211, 213, 216, 221 Lowthrop, Sally, 88, 164 Lumsden, Lecturer, 132 M Machen, Henry, 31, 35, 38, 222 Machen, Henry D., 129, 130, 132, 133, 134, 226 Mack, Andrew, 26, 222 Mackelcan, G. H., 230 MacMillan, William F., 187, 231 Macon, Ga., 148 Madara, Guy H., 192, 193, 195 Maglern, James, 228 Mallard, J. T., 179, 231 Manchester, Benjamin, 31, 37, 38, 44, 222 Manly, M. E., 153 Mann, EH. B., 225 assem INDEX 247 Manning, Pierce, 72 Mares, Joseph, 224 Mark, Master, 175 Markland, Charles J., 222 Marks, Albert R., 176, 231 Marks, O., 151, 153, 155, 159, 160, 162, 164, 169, 228 Marauette, J. F., 191 Marriner, T. J., 231 Marshall, Thomas, 64A, 222 Marshall, William H., 227 Martin, Alexander, 38 Martin, Alfred, 148 Martin, B. H., 64A Martin County, 46 Martin, Francis X., 11, 34, 35, 42, 43, 47, 50, 54, 55, 56, 64A, 67, 73, 75, 92, 93, 97, 218-19, 222 Martin, Josiah, 61 Martin, William, 132 Maryland, 40 Mason, Alexander, 227 Masonboro, 12 Masonboro Sound, 12 Masonic-Hastern Star Home, 176 Masonic School, 135 Masonic Service Association, 188 Masonic Shrine Stone, 204-5 Masonic Temple, 4, 52, 53, 54, 95, 128A, 128B, 160A, 160B, 204, 220; architecture, 101, 168, 203-4, 220; advertisement of theatre, 159, 164; building plans, 64, 65, 101, 102; building progress, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 82, 83, 86, 95, 97-99, 100, 101; contract, 65, 70-71, 73, 83, 102; cornerstone, 68-70, 152, 199, 204; consecra- tion, 101-5; decorations, 139, 162, 203-4; extensions, 173, 180; fed- eral appropriation, 143, 163-64, 166; federal claim, 143, 163-64; federal occupation, 143; fence, 155; finances, 65, 70-71, 72, 73, 74, 75-77, 93-95, 98, 102, 107, 113, 115, 139, 162, 167-69, 170, 173; fire escape, 171; first use of, 74; furnishings, 81, 82, 88, 99, 113, 118, 119, 120, 182, 160, 180-81, 214-15; grounds, 74, 87, 99, 113; insurance, 74, 101; leases, 71, 76- 77, 82, 120, 180, 160, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173; moving pictures, 180; new scenery, 214-15; other changes, 95, 98, 118, 119, 120, 139, 167-69, 203-4; proposals to sell, 154, 156, 173; remodeled, 167-69, 196, 197; renovations, 132, 153, 161, 162, 170; repairs, 99, 100, 130, 132, 154, 160, 161; Scottish Rite hall, 188; site, 61, 63, 64; site lots sold, 113, 114-15; sold for taxes, 129; steps, 204-5; storage of coffins, 142, 143; transfer of property to New Bern Consistory, 173; theatre, 70-71, 76, 77, 80, 82, 86, 101, 123, 130, 132, 133, 151, 158, 156, 158, 161, 162, 164, 165, 167, 168, 170, 173, 178, 189-90, 200, 203-4, 220, . 221; theatre receipts, 165, 171, 172, 180, 220; uses, 74, 81, 82, 95, 99, 122, 123, 132, 133, 134, 135, 142, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163-64, 165, 166, 168, 171, 172, 173, 177, 178, 179, 189-90, 220, 221; woodwork, 220; also see Blue Lodge Room Masonry, Alex, 226 Masons, other local chapters, 122- 23, 143; see also Doric Lodge and Royal Arch Masons Massachusetts, 12 Master, J. M., 225 Masters, Joseph, 64A, 109, 222 Mather, Isaac, 222 Matthews, M., 226 Mayhew, William H., 81 Mayo, John, 224 McAuslan, Alexander, 25, 26, 222 McCabe, John, 118 McCall, C., 644A McCalop, Archibald, 59, 64, 223 McCann Family, 198 McCarthy, T. F., 161, 229 McClure, Gilbert, 64A McClure, William, 45, 61, 62, 64A, 67, 75, 222 McConnell, James, 25, 26, 222 McCotter, D. C., Jr., 232 McCoy, W., 226 McFarlin, E., 222 McGinn, Thomas, 173, 176, 183, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 200, 201, 202, 203, 206, 209, 214, 216, 231 McGrath, Sexton, 37 Mcllwean, F., 64A McIntosh, W. A., 169, 230 McKay, John, 27, 222 McKee, Russell, 108, 224 McKeel, H. C., 230 McKinlay, James, 64A, 71, 77, 107 McKinney, A., 223 McLin, Thomas, 27, 71, 223 McMaines, James, 61, 223 McMaster, I., 123, 225 MecNetty, P. C., 226 McPherson, Lewis, 222 McRee, G. J., 24 McRolfe, A. F., 227 Meaders, Homer T., 233 248 YEARS OF LIGHT ‘Meatu, J. 0., 223 Mecklenburg County, 177 ‘Melvin, David, 108, 223 Memorial Boulder of Governors, “188 Memorial for Lodge Sesqui-Cen- tennial, 188, 199-201 Menius, H. F., 200 Merfeld, H. A., 172, 230 Meriam, J. H., 224 Merrill, J. W., 224 Methodist Church, 133, 158 Metts, F. C., 227 Metts, W. P., 148 Metz, B. F. C., 196, 232 Mewborn, L. J., 146 Middlesex County, England, 24 Midgett, V. T., 228 Midyette, Charles T., Jr., 233 Mildrum, Stillman W., 227 Miller, Alex, 227 Miller, I. R., 228 Miller, Stephen F., 122 Milligan, Jacob, 27, 28, 222 Milner, James, 14, 18, 19 Minor, S., 64A, 223 Mintz, David B., 100, ae 106, 108, 224 Missionaries, 111 Mississippi, 48, 121, 131, 219 Missouri, 86, 91, 207 Missouri School of Mines, 207 Mitchell, Abram, 108, 224 Mitchell, Charles, 225 Mitchell, Gerald N., 1, 9, 206, 209, 214, 215, 216, 233 . Mitchell, I. N., 231 Mitchell, Joseph, 644A Mitchell, William, 109, 223 Moffatt, Thomas, 22, 23 Mohn, N. E., 9, 170, 172, 230 Monroe, James, 115-117, 128, 218 Montfort, Edward W., 226 Montfort, H. W., 222 Montfort, Joseph, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 25, 26, 171, 186, 207, 218 Montfort, Joseph, Memorial Asso- ciation, 171 Moodis, B., 222 Moore County, 67 Moore, James, 222 Moore, James W., 154; 169, 229 Moore, J. W., 227 Moore, Larry I., 186, 196, 232 Moore, Mary Vail Jones Wilson, 128 Moore, Robert G., 126, 129, 226 Moore, Thomas O., 198, 232 Moore, Walter E., 161 Moore, William C., 233 Moore, William P., 139 Mooreing, Jesse P., 108, 225 Moore’s Creek Bridge, 30, 40 : Mooring (Moring), Burwell, MES 222 Morrison, Cameron, 184 Morrison, John, 222 Moss, Edward G., 92 Mountain Lake Lodge, 192 Mountain Lake; N. J., 192 Mount-Maria Lodge, 67 Moye, Francis M., 172 Much, James, 222 Mumford, Jesse G., 226 Munger, C. W., 230 Munn, John, 222 Munson Council, 209 Murals, 162 Murch Construction Co., 199 Murdoch, William, 146 Murphy, Archibald, 34 Murphy, William, 223 Murry, Ferris & Co., 140 Musical and Dramatic Association, 153 Myers, I. D., 228 Myrick, H., 225 N Nash, Abner, 53, 54, 188, 218 Nash, Frederick, 78, 105, 218, 224 Nash, J. E., 147 Nason, George W., Tr., 228 National Bank of New Berne, 146, 202 Naval Militia, 199 Naval Reserve, 199 Navy, 51, 86 Neal, B: B., 161, 229 — Neal, G. Ww. 151, 228 Neale, ‘Apner, 35, 36, 37, 44, 94, 223 Negro Brass Band, 133 Negroes, 81, 132° Nelson, F. J. W., 225 Nelson, John S., 108, 224 Nelson, Margaret D., 178 Neuse River, 49, 140, 187, 208 Newbegin, HE. G., 153, 154, 229 New Bern Academy, 30, 42, 57, 58, 59; 63, 85, 86, 94, 97, 105, 127, 174 : New Bern Athletic Club, 154, 156 New Bern Banking and Trust Co., 184 New Bern Brass Band, 133 New Bern Chapter No. 46, 123, 175 New Bern Consistory No. 3, 173 New Bern Elks Lodge, 165, 199, 208, 213-14 New Bern Gazette, 64 New Bern Grays, 161 INDEX* 249 New Bern Library Association, 197 New Bern Light Infantry, 139 New Bern Lodge of Perfection, 208 New Bern Monumental Works, 204 New Bern Mutual Life Insurance Co., 213 New Bern Theatre, 78, 79 New Bern Volunteers, 49 New Berne Lodge No. 245, 154-55, 156 Newcombe, Charles, 201 Newell, W. H., 173,176, 179, 231 New England, 39 Newfoundland, 107 New Hanover County, 12 New Haven, Conn., 121 New Orleans, 121 Newport, Ky., 207 Newport, R. 1, New Theatre, 80 Newton, James R., 233 Newton, Thomas D., 27 New York, 34, 89, 90, 96, 101, 121, 122, 140, 167, 195 Nichols, William, 108, 224 Nickel, Hugh, 224 Nickell, E., 225 Nicoll, George A., 231 Nixon, Richard, 222 Noble, A. M., 227 Noble, Asiel, 98 Noble, M. C. S., 186 Noble, R. J., 162 Norfolk, 91, 167, 203 Northam, Benjamin, 223 North Carolina Gazette, 50, 51, 60, 80 North Carolina Journal, 34 North Carolina Magazine or Uni- versal Intelligencer, 14, 207 North Carolina Masonic Mutual Life Insurance Co., 142, 143, 146- 50, 202, 220 North Carolina Minerva, 34 North Carolina Railroad, 140 North Carolina State Elks Asso- ciation, 208 North Carolina State Firemen’s Association, 197 North Dakota, 91 Nunn, R. A., 140 Nut Shell, 153 ° Oasis Shrine Temple, 177, 178, 208 Odd Fellows, 129, 155, 214 Odd Fellows Hall, 146 ara ta courthouse cornerstone, Ogden, Robert, Jr., 64A, 108, 223 Oglesby, B. A., 227 Old Cone Lodge, 13, 46, 66 O’Leary, D.;°227 Oliver, John, 108, 224 Oliver, John M., 81 Oliver, Joseph, 108, 222 Oliver, Joseph, Jr., 224 Oliver Room, 63 Oliver, Samuel, 64A, 73, 78, 79, 97, £7108, 224 Oliver, Samuel, 227. Oliver, S., Jr., 226 Oliver, William H., 137, 150, 227 Olympic Theatre, 80 Onslow County, 107, 123, 127 Opera House, see Masonic Temple Theatre Oram, Peter B., 31, 32, 33, 222 Orange County, 40 Order of Colonial Masters, 198 Order of High Priesthood, 214 Pepe Chair of King Solomon, Orme, D. S., 208, 224 Ormsbee, W. W., 226 Orphanage, 151, 158, 171, 193, 194, 197, 205, 206, 210 Orphanage Singing Class, 158, 171, 215, 216 Orr, James, 224 Orringer, Anna, 183 Orringer, Harold, 232 Orringer, Leon R., 198, 201, 232 Osborn, J. B., 225 Osborn, John G., 54, 55, 64, 64A, 65, 67, 68, 71, 73, 84, 88, 96, 97, 109, 222 Outray, M., 223 Outten, Abraham, 54, 222 Outten, Matthew A., 8, 124, 129, 180, 132, 133, 134, 137, 226 Overman, John W., 202 Oxford, 151, 171,193, 194, 197 P Palmer, W. L., 147 Pansophia Lodge, 67 Paris, 180 Parker, Ezra, 225 Parker, John, 222 Parker, John H., 1, 9, 173, 176, 181, ' 182, 183, 184, "192, 193, 194, 195, /198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 206, 208B, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 216, 219, 230 Parker, Mamie G., 183 Parker, Z. V., 172, 178, 176, 179, 181, 212, 214, 230 Parks, William, 222 Parks, William J., 226 A Parrott, B. F., 146 250 YEARS OF LIGHT Parrott, James, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 222 Parsons, Thomas, 144, 145, 151, 155, 228 Parsons, William S., 172, 178, 230 Pasteur, Abner, 644 Pasteur, Edward, 38, 44, 48, 64, 64A, 67, 71, 74, 75, 87, 100, 101, 107, 108, 222 Pasteur, John S., 64A, 67, 73, 78, 79, 85, 95, 105, 223 Pasteur, Thomas A., 120, 122, 123, 225 Paterson, Alice C., 207 Paterson, Harry T., 9, 173, 175, 176, 179, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 189, 192, 194, 195, 203, 206-9, 208A, 218, 219 Paterson, Mrs. H. T., 182 Paterson, William A., 207 Patience Opera Troupe, 156 Patten, John, 27, 222 Patterson, Albert F., 181, 231 Patterson, Isaac, 158, 229 Paul, HE. W., 191 Pearce, W. L. B., 226 Pearsall, P. M., 53, 187 Pearson, Thomas W., 222 Pearson, T. J., 146 Pembroke, 54 Pendleton, George B., 230 Pendleton, S., 31, 222 Pendleton, Simeon, 108, 224 Pennsylvania, 42 People’s Bank, 198 Pepsi-Cola, 198 Perkins, Benjamin J., 226 Perkins, J., 225 Perkins, W. B., 108, 224 Perkins, William B., 226 Perquimans Lodge, 189 Perry, G. W., 228 Perry, Zebedee, 223 Peters, H., 223 Peterson, Jacob, 222 Pettet, Robert, 64A, 108, 224 Pettis, Henry, 108, 223 Pfaff, A. E., 233 Philadelphia, 48, 89, 90, 101, 121 Philadelphia Chamber of Com- merce, 80 Phillips, Lacy, 134, 147, 149, 226 Phoenix (Union) Lodge, 38, 41, 46, 67, 111 Phrenology, 132 Physiott, J., 225 Pickering, Thomas, 51 Pierce, Lazarus, 108, 223 Pigott, J. R., 162 Pitch Kettle, 48 Pitt County, 12, 172 Pittman, Erma M., 183 Pittman, George H., 145, 146, 151, 153, 154, 155, 228 Pittman, James, 108, 224 Pittman, W. C., 227 Pitts, William J., 161, 162, 229 Plantagenet Commandery, 209 Poliakoff, Irving, 233 Polk, James K., 135 Polk, William, 13, 69, 111 Pollock, George, 115 Ponder, W. D., 228 Pool, S. D., 147 Pope, Myrtle, 182 Porter, G., 225 Porter, J. H., 147 Postage Stamps, 91-92 Postoffice, 49, 69 Poteat, Hubert M., 179, 186 Pothier’s Textbook, 43 Powell, A. B., 228 Powers, T., 147 Powers, Thomas, 156 Pratt, S., 223 Prentiss, Francis J., 129, 226 Presbyterian, 105, 114, 115, 124 Price, Jonathan, 105, 106, 223 Price, M. L., 230 Pridgen, C. L., 179 Primrose, C. S., 227 Primrose, John W., 228 Primrose, Mrs. Robert S., 182 Primrose, Robert S., 9, 160, 161, 162, 229 Primrose, R. S., 147, 227 Princess Anne County, Va., 118 Princeton University, 57, 174 Pritchard, J. C., 164 Proctor, C. K., 206 Providence, R. I., 69, 152 Prunier, Elmer F., 195, 231 Pumphrey, C. T., 179, 180, 231 Purser, William H., 1, 9, 188, 189, 191, 192, 194, 195, 199, 200, 201, 202, 208, 206, 209, 210, 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 231 Q Queen’s Creek, 107 Quirk, John, 225 R Rainbow Division, 0. E. S., 197 Rains, Gabriel J., 115 Rains, Gabriel M., 115 Rains, George W., 115 Raleigh, 56, 67, 91, 93, 95, 111, 128, 182, 185, 148, 152, 171, 193, 215 Raleigh Register, 87 Raleigh Star, 34 Reading, Jeremiah, 62, 222 INDEX 251 Real, John, 108, 224 Reclamation Service, 207 “Recollections of New Bern,” 122 Redmond, James, 155, 160, 161, 162, 164, 165, 166, 168, 169, 170, 228 Reed, James, 29 Reed, Jesse, 111-12 Reed, John, 223 Reed, Southey, 222 Reh, Fred R. W., 231 Reinhardt, Potentate, 178 Reis, Max, 145, 228 Relics, 69, 82, 152, 164, 178, 193, 221 Reorganizations of Lodge, 31, 129, 143, 163, 174, 186 Repiton, A. P., 134 Revere, Paul, 188 Rhem, J. F., 9, 164, 165, 170, 171, 172, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 184, 185, 190-91, 208A, 208B, 219, 220, 229 Rhem, Joseph L., 227 Rhem, Mrs. J. F., 181, 182 Rhode Island, 15, 22, 23, 121, 152 Rhodes, James, 644A Rhodes, Jesse P., 170, 172, 230 Ricaud, T. Page, 136, 227 Rich, W. H., 165 Richardson, A. H., 126, 226 Richardson, Andrew, 109, 223 Richardson, John, 19, 222 Richardson, John A., 146, 228 Richardson, R. A., Jr., 231 Richmond Plantation, 15, 23, 24 Richmond, Va., 203 Ridgeley, Charles G., 100, 101, 106, 108, 224 Riggs, John L., 233 Rivenbark, R. R., 209, 214, 233 Roberts, E. B., 144, 145, 228 Roberts, F. M., 230 Roberts, Frederick C., 8, 88, 144, 145, 146, 147, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 164, 174, 288 Roberts, George H., 144, 145, 147, 148, 149, 150, 228 Roberts, Samuel C., 228 Roberts, W. C., 171 Robertson, N. C., 226 Robinson, B., 226 Robinson, James, 223 Robinson, John, 54, 222 Robinson, W. P., 228 Rockingham, 36 Rocky Mount, 178, 189 Rodriges, Francis, 223 Rodriguey, M., 224 5 Roe, William, 644 Rogers, T., 223 | Boe Rolla, Mo., 207 Rome, Ga., 148 Rooke, Bart, 19, 20, 222 Rose Polytechnic Institute, 207 Rosenthal, EH. W., 164, 165, 229 Ross, William, 223 Rountree, A. M., 231 Rountree, R. H., 146, 149 Rountree, S. H., 146, 149 Rowe, E. F., 159, 229 Royal and Select Masters, 190, 209 Royal Arch Masons, 55, 95, 122-23, 134, 175, 190, 208, 209 Royal Edwin (Charity) Lodge, 13, 39, 46 Royal White Hart Lodge, 12, 46, 109 Royal William Lodge, 13, 46 Rujisell, Thomas, 64A Rules of Lodge, 20, 25, 27, 28, 31, 32 Ruminger, E. C., 227 Rumley, Samuel D., 228 Russell, R. A., 227 Russell, William, 224 Rutherford County, 46 Rutherford Fellowship Lodge, 46 Ryal, Philip, 99, 106, 224 s Sabiston, David, 64A, 223 Sabuka, Gabriel, 223 St. Andrews Lodge, 17 St. James Church, 16, 60 St. John’s Commandery, 190, 198 St. John’s Lodge No. 1, Provi- dence, R. I., 69, 152 St. John’s Lodge No. 1, Wilming- ton, 46, 207 St. John’s Lodge No. 4, (No. 96), Kinston, 13, 46 St. John’s Lodge No. 13, Duplin County, 46 St. Louis, 214 St. Mary’s Free Will Baptist Church, 171 St. Stephen’s Church, 121 St. Tammany Lodge, 46, 67 St. Thomas Church, 121 Salisbury, 18, 36, 46, 67 Salter, John, 12 Sammons, S. L., 230 Sampson, James, 225 San Domingo, 96 Sanders, Hardy, 96, 109, 223 Sandy, James, 223 Sasser, G. S., 231 Saunders (Sanders), Charles, 108, 224 Savage, Timothy, 108, 223 Savannah, Ga., 140 252 YEARS OF LIGHT Sawyer, F. H., 230 Sawyer, J. H., 230 School, New Bern, 21, 30, 42, 165, 197, 199; -see also New Bern Academy and, Moses Griffiin School Scotland, 39, 66, 107 Scott, Guion, 226 ‘ Scottish Rite, 180, 190, 198, 203, 208, 218, 214; 219, 220 Seal for Lodge, 26, 27 Sears, George, 141 Sears, John, 64A, 71, 222 Sebrell, John N., 91 Secession, 139 Seey, George, 225 Sermond, D. D., 227 Service Flag, 180 Sesqui-Centennial, Founding of Lodge, 53, 176A, 184-88 Setzer, C. M., 182 Sewell, R. J., 225 Sewers, 139 Shackleford, C. D., 226 Shanansolf, S. B., 644 Shaw, John, 224 Sheffield, John, 64A, 222 Shellrock wall, 139 Shepard, Charles B., 81 Shepard, William, 71, 73, 77, 93, 95, 107 Sherrod, Watson N., 202, 203 Sherwood, Uriah, 108, 224 Shine, James, 50 Shrine Home, 178-79, 176B, 187 Shriners, 172, 176-79, 181, 190, 191, 208, 208; see also Sudan Shrine Temple, Sudan Shrine Band and Shrine Home Shute, Joseph, 45, 54, 222 Silberstein, Lewis, 151, 153, 228 Siles, P. H., 225 Simmons, Abraham, 108, 224 Simmons, Furnifold M., 152, 185, 195, 211-12, 219, 229 Simons, W. H., Jr., 233 Simpson, Edward, 54, 223 Simpson, H. W., 164, 165, 167, 168, 169, 172, 230 Simpson, John A., 137, 188, 144, 147, 154, 159, 227 Simpson, Samuel, 49, 118, 187 Sims, John C., 92 Singleton, Spyers, 94 Singleton; Thomas J., 84 Singleton, William G., 136, 146, 227 Sitgreaves, John, 49 Slade, William, 222 Slater, Robert C., 233 -Sloan, Bertha, 198 Sloan, Earl S.; 198, 205 Sloan’s Liniment, 198 Slocumb, David, 644A Smallwood, Edward F., 8, 135, 136, 187, 226 Smallwood, Robert F., 199 Smaw, D. G., 191, 231 Smith, Actor, 80 Smith, Benjamin, 13, 109 Smith, C. F., 233 Smith, Harry, 231 Smith, H. B., 9, 165, 169, 170, 230 Smith, James, 225 Smith, John C., 232 Smith, John Frink, 33, 54, 55, 223 Smith, J. W., 225 Smith, M. B., 230 Smith, Nathaniel, 120, 123, 124, 225 Smith, Ralph Hunter, 192, 231 Smith, Raymond B., 230 Smith, R. B., 227 Smith, Samuel, 64A Smith, T., 222 Smith, William E., 165, 169, 230 Smith, William R., 210 Smythe, Samuel, 25, 27 Snap Dragon, privateer, 107 Snow, R., 225 Snow, Sylvanus, 223 Society for Propagation’ of the Gospel, 30 ] Society of Cincinnati, 198-99 Solomon Lodge, (Cape Fear), 11 Somerset County, Md., 57 Somerset, Henry, 17; see also Duke of Beaufort South America, 107 Southwell, H. J., 231 Spaight, Charles Leech, 128. Spaight, Elizabeth Wilson, 128 Spaight, Margaret Elizabeth, 128 Spaight, Mary Leech, 127, 128 Spaight, Richard, 128 Spaight, Richard Dobbs, 89, 49, 59, 87, 94, 127, 128, 129, 131, 184, 188 Spaight, Richard Dobbs, Jr., 68, 86, 109, 119, 120, 124-29, 141, 184, 187, 188, 218, 219 Spaight, Richard Dobbs, EINE) D. A. R., 188 Sparrow, Robert, 224 Sparrow, Samuel, 644 Sparrow, Stephen D., 133, 226 Sparrow, Thomas, 113, 118, 120, 223 Sparrow, Thomas, Jr., 224 Sparrow, William S., 224 Sparrow, W. T., 225 Spence, T. R., 228 INDEX 9° asa Spittoons, 160 Spivey, J. M., 1, 9, 209) 214, 2165, 216, 233 Stacpool, H.; 226 Stage and scenery, 153, 167, 214-15 Stallings, D. H., 189 Stallings, R. L., 183 Stamp Act, 22 Stanley, A. H., 226 Stanley, J. B.; 227 Stanly-Dill House, 58 Stanly, Edward R., 81, 130, 131, 132-33, 134, 135,139, 219, 226 Stanly, John, 59, 64A, 78, 74, 87, 121, 122, 131 Stanly, John ‘Wright, 27, 29, .30, 49, 87, 94 Stanly, Richard 'D., 64A, 71, 72, 101, 131, 223 Stanly, Thomas J.; 84, 1381 Star Theatre, 180 State Anthem, 86 State Auditor, first, 61-62 State Capitol, 171, 220 State Gazette, 34 State Supreme Court, 52, 86, 110, 111, 121,153, 218 Steamers, 140 Stephens, Marcus G., 64, 64A, 67, ie 77, 83, 95, 97, ‘101, 118, eu Stephens, Myrtle M., 183 Stephenson, Silas 8, 108, 225 Sterne, L., 227 g Stevenson, George 'S., 135, 139 Stevenson, James C,, 81 Stevenson, L. L., 126 ‘ Stewart, Charles, 123, 124, 225 Stewart, John W., 167-68, 229 Stewart, Sara Louise, 182, 183 Stiron, Wallace, 222 Stith, Laurence \A., 1; 9, 206, 209, 212, 214, 215," 216, 232 Stockwell, Ww. Li, 91 Stokes, Montfort, AL Stott, P. C., 202, 215 Stow, Truman, 130, 226 Street, J. A.) 172, 280 Street, Samuel R., 145, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 159, 160, 162, 228 Street, T. Doe, 185, 191, 231 es tng Francis, 31, 35, 37, 64A, Strother, John, 64A Studdert, George J., 233 Sturtevant, Joshua, 224 Styron, David, 229 Styron, W. S., 145, 228 Submarine explosives, 115 Sudan Shrine Temple, 91, 176. 79, 181, 186, 190, 191, 196, 198, oe 208, Sudan Temple Band, 186 Sullivan, J. B., 233 Sultan, M. H., 160, 229 Sultan, W. H, 231 Summerell, E. W., 9,195, 200, 201 202, 204, 205, 206, 209, 210, 211 212, 215, 216, 232 Sumner, John Bird, 21 Supreme Council Ancient and Ac: cepted Scottish Rite, 208, 219 Surry County, 109 Suskin, M., 169, 170, 172, 192, 230 Sutherland, Louis D,, 170, 230 Sutton, Frank R,, 201, 203, 205 Sutton, J. F. 1, 146 Sutton, Vera, 183 Sutton, William, 146 Swansboro, 107 Swindell, W. B., 229 Swinson, G. W., 170, 230 Swiss, 172 Switzerland, 172 T Tagert, I., 222 Tarboro, 35, 36, 37, 39, 48, 92, 93 Tatum, A., 56 Taylor, D. T., 228 Taylor, Isaac, 58, 59, 61, 63, 64, 64A}'69, 71, 223 Taylor, James, 64A, 73, 96, 108, Taylor, John Louis, 8, 13; 44,56, 59, 64,'644, 69, 71, 73, 75, 84,92; 93, 97, 98, 107, 109, 110-12, 141, 218, 223 Taylor, John P., 230 Taylor, L. J., 160, 161, 169, its 172, 173, 229 Taylor, Nettie O., 183 Taylor, R. N., 139 Taylor-Ward ‘House, 58 Taylor, William, 644A ; eee William G., 123, 124,°126, Templeton, John F., 81, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101, 106, 108, 113) 118, 224 Tennessee, 91, 92, 109, 110, 219 Terre Haute, Ind. 207 Terry, Nathaniel bay 108, 223 Theatre, 78, 79, 80, 81; see’ also Masonic Temple Theatre Theatrical Association, 70, 71, 74, 76-77, 80, 82-85, 98, 102 Theatrical Productions, 10, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82-86, 123, 180, 153, 156, 168, 220,' 221 Thirty- third Degree, 208, 217, 219 Thomas, Charles R., 164, 166. 254 YEARS OF LIGHT Thomas, Samuel, 644 Thomasville, 174 Thompson, Charles, 26 Thompson (Thomson), Thomas, 64A, 223 Thompson, Thomas, 148 Thynne, Thomas, 11 Tignor, James G., 84, 108, 118, 225 Tignor, William, 224 Tillman, Henry, 64A, 222 Tillman, ship, 66 Tilton, Benjamin, 224 Tinker, Edward, Jr., 644 Tisdale and Company, 77 Tisdale, Nathan, 64A Tisdale, William, 84 Tolson, William, 108, 223 Tomlinson, Thomas, 29, 30 Tooker, John, 224 Tooley, Adam, 223 Torpedoes, 115 Torrans, Alexander, 64A Travis, H. D., 231 Trenton, 50, 132 Trent River, 49, 50, 66, 128 Trianingham, N., 222 Trinity Church, Newport, R. I., 22 Tripp, Joseph, 223 Tripp, L. C., 231 True Republican, 34 Tryon, Lady, 14 Tryon, William, 14, 23, 30, 40, 61 Tryon’s Palace, 21, 31, 32, 39, 44, 48B, 49, 53, 58, 59, 60, 61, 65, 82, 101, 121, 220, 221 Tucker, L. R., 176, 191, 192, 193, 198, 231 Turner, Thomas, 224 Turner’s Still Room, 80 Tyson, Henry G., 232 U Ulrich, Ferdinand, 145, 151, 159, 164, 228 Unanimity Lodge, 13, 46 Union (Phoenix) Lodge, 13, 31, 35, 38 University of Georgia, 115 University of Louisiana, 121, 219 University of Maryland, 198 University of North Carolina, 40, 45, 51, 67, 85, 86, 121, 127, 141, 198, 219 University of Pennsylvania, 134 U. S. Engineer Department, 208 Utley, Jacob, 226 Vv Vail, Benners, 64A, 71, 73, 106, 224 Vail, John, 64A, 108, 224 Valley of New Bern, 214 Vance, Robert B., 162 Vance, Z. B., 163 Vendric, H. H., 233 Vestal, W. I., 228 Vice Grand Master, 68, 97, 219 Vick, George D., Jr., 202, 232 Vincent, Francis R., 226 Vipon, Henry, 27, 32, 222 Vipon, Thomas G., 64A, 224 Virginia, 51, 118, 126, 134, 186 Volland, Louis, 214-15 Vultus, George, 54, 55, 222 Ww Wade, Dempsey, 224 Wade, J. N., 231 Wagner, F. B., 188, 231 Waite, John, 222 Wake Forest, 179, 186 Wake Forest College, 174 Waldrop, Harlowe C., 231 Walker, A. A., 181, 231 Wall, L. L., 78, 79 Wallace, David, Jr., 64A, 108, 223 Wallace, George W., 146, 227 Wallace, James, 223 Wallace, James, 225 Wallace, Joseph, 64A, 222 Wallace, Thomas C., 227 Wallace, William H., 225 Wallace, Woods L., 233 Wallnau, L. L., 231 Walnut Street Theatre, 80 Waples, Nathaniel, 8, 123, 124, 125, 225 War of Regulators, 23 War stamps and bonds, 180, 189, 215, 216-17 Ward, D. L., 230 Ward, J. D., 226 Warne, J. A., 226 Warren, 36 Warren County, 13 Warren, Edward, 222 Warren, Jacob, 222 Warren, James B., 165, 229 Warren, W. T., 231 Warrenton, 46, 67 Warters, William R., 145, 146, 151, 153, 154, 160, 161, 228 Washington, D. C., 109, 166 Washington, George, 3, 17, 21, 30, 33, 34, 39, 40, 47-53, 87-92, 97, 115, 116, 117, 119, 128, 173, 185, 187, 188, 189, 192, 193, 196, 200, 218, 219 Washington, John, 64A, 108, 223 Washington Lodge, 46 Washington National Memorial, 90, 91 Washington’s Birthday, 50, 51, 52, 196; Bi-Centennial, 196 INDEX 255 Washington, William, 174 Waters, Samuel B., 158, 159, 229 Watkins, J. L., 148, 149, 228 Watson, T. B., 226 Watson, Thomas, 106, 108, 113, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 224 Watson, William M., 144, 153, 228 Waynesville, 193 Weatherly, Mary C., 182 Webb, James H., 186, 187 Webb, William S., 120, 124, 126, 129, 225 Webber, Thomas, 64A Weeks, Stephen, 34 Weinstein, Joseph, 145, 228 Weinstein, W., 227 Weldon, 203 Wendell, 215 West Indies, 59, 181, 141 West Point, 115 West, Richard, 64A West, Stephen, 223 Wetherington, J. E., 192, 230 Wetherington, L. F., 203, 232 Wethington, C. E., 169, 170, 179, 220, 230 Weymouth, 11 Whaley, Jonathan, 228 Whalley, Thomas, 222 White, Edward, 222 White, Luther, 231 White Pine Series of Architectural Monographs, 101 White, R. R., 192, 193, 206, 215, 216, 232 White, William, 121 White, W. W., 226 Whitehurst, George B., 232 Whitehurst, Henry P., 134, 226 Whitehurst, Henry P., 188, 231 Whitehurst, Mrs. T. B., 182 Whitehurst, T. Bayard, 179, 231 Whitford, Dill and Company, 140 Whitford, Hardy, 189, 191, 231 Whitford, John D., 65-66, 81, 83, 138-41, 149, 154, 162, 163, 227 Whitford, J. N., 227 Whitford’s “Historical Notes,” 65- 66, 141 Whitley, R. C., 183, 195 Whitney, D. P., 222 Whittemore, James 0O., 156 Whitty, Edward, 222 Whitty, Joseph, 227 Wicker, W. C., 188, 191 Wicks, P. L., 124, 225 Widows’ Fund, 150, 190 Wiggins, J., 223 ' Wilber, Caleb, 108, 224 Wilhalf, C. B., 231 Wilkins, Samuel, 644 Willard, H., 222 William and Mary College, 110 Williams, Benjamin, 69 Williams, Benjamin, 222 Williams, Blanche H., 183 Williams, Charles, 64A, 222 Williams, Charles A., 90, 91, 192 Williams, David, 222 Williams, BE. Ellis, 231 Williams, Enos, 108, 223 Williams, James, 146 Williams, J. D., 182 Williams, J. F., 91, 192 Williams, J. F., Jr., 91 Williams, J. M., 226 Williams, John, 222 Williams, Mrs. J. D., 182, 183 Williams, Mrs. R. B., 182, 183 Williams, R. B., 183, 184, 185, 188, 189, 201, 231 Williams, Robert, 13, 64A, 67, 68, 108, 109-10, 141, 218, 223 Williams, Thomas, 223 Williams, Thomas, 159, 229 Williams, William, 91 Williams, William J., 87-92, 96, 118-19, 192, 219 Williamsburg, Va., 80 Williamson, Hugh, 39 Williard, W., 223 Willis, A. J., 226 Willis, Albert T., 9, 91, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 200, 203, 231 Willis, A. R., 170, 230 Willis, A. Rexford, 232 Willis, David H., 232 Willis, David S., 8, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 226 Willis, D. W., 225 Willis, E. L., 232 Willis, Blijah, 224 Willis, G. W., 226 Willis, J., 225 Willis, R. A., 228 Willis, Spence P., 124, 225 Willis, Wallace, 222 Wills, Henry, 34 Wilmington, 11, 12, 16, 36, 42, 46, aA 67, 94, 132, 134, 148, 207, 208, Wilmington Academy, 60 Wilson, B. D., 186 : Wilson, James, 64A, 222 Wilson, N. H. D., 192, 232 Wilson, R. H., 170 Wilson, T. G., 227 Wilson, Thomas, 223 Wilson, Thomas, 146, 151, 153, 154, 158, 159, 160, 228 Wilson, T. R., 135, 226 Wilson, W., 227 256° 2 i YEARS, OF LIGHT Windsor, 12, 18, 36, 89, 46, 186). Woods, Benjamin, | 64A,, 67, 725-76, Wingate, Isaac, 108, 224... 97, 222); tt BW Winslow, Edward, 26, 222...) Woods, Mati ews. 1228, Winstead, I ‘W., 193, 195. Woods, Robert, 64A Winston; Francis D.,,12, 186.» ‘Wooten, John, 108,225 Winton, 13, 36, 46...) » World War I, 178, 179-81 Witherington, W.- Bs 227. “World War II, 215-1711) Witherspoon, Wyatt, William, 644, 223 222 iz Wyche, T. Toys 20! Witherspoon, John, f Wood, A. W., 8 155, 156, 467, 158, vel 229 g ‘ iF oncer “County, 107 Wood, C. B.,” 227. By: Yarrell, P. W:,) 226 Wood, Ernest H.,. 170, m 230 Yellow Fever, 65 Wood, H. C., 227. York Rite, 198, 213, Wood, H. O., 227. Young, G. W., 147 Wood, John F., 182 _ Young, Samuel, 223 Woo Wood, Mrs. L. 8, 142. ret te ei Wood, Thomas, 2EB Zion Lodge, 125 O38 {aintsesidot alk 808 Tih bist TaGMOD His L. hy $ LCL C8! eb pron sttl 3... aifol broth E Ght EB ee t broriny a prot? BOS 4 Bi te 2b cH. Al uoalt

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