Ancient and Accept Scottish Rite

Orient of North Carolina

Valley of New Bern

A Brief History

By

James E. White, III

2015

©Copyrite by James Edward White, III 405 W. Wilson Creek Dr. Trent Woods, NC 28562 ISBN 978-0-9837223-7-3

St. John's Masonic Lodge No. 3, ca 1863

St. John’s No. 3 Photo

The original building of the Scottish Rite complex in New Bern, North Carolina, was

begun in 1801as St. John’s Masonic Lodge No. 3. St. John’s Lodge was chartered in 1772,

although there was a Masonic Lodge in New Bern prior to that date as evidenced by a sermon

delivered to the lodge by the Reverend Michael Smith in 1755 at Christ Church. However, no

charter has been found for that lodge.

During the colonial period, the Lodge met in various homes and inns, finally meeting in

the former governor’s palace, after the state capital was moved to Raleigh. In 1798, the former

governor’s palace burned, leaving the Masons homeless; but at least they were able to save their

Masonic jewels and documents. With the burning of the palace, the need for a permanent

meeting place was realized and the brothers set about the task of building a Masonic Meeting

house.

In 1799, plans were drawn up for such an edifice and work began, with occupation of the

first floor by the end of the year. The first floor consisted of an opera house or lecture hall with

the third floor consisting of the lodge room and banquet hall. The lodge room was not completed

until 1809. In 1857, under the leadership of Col. John D. Whitford, St. John’s Lodge had the

lodge walls painted in a series of paintings depicting Masonic scenes, working tools, or symbols.

Brother E. N. Medernach, a Mason, was hired to do the work, which remains today as a

testament to the foresight of the brothers.

In 1904, an auditorium was added on to the building for the purpose of producing the

Scottish Rite Degrees. The stage was equipped with elaborate three-dimensional scenery which

was well coordinated for each degree.

Scene from Scottish Rite Auditorium

Dale Davis, Photo

The Scottish Rite consists of a series of degrees from four to thirty-two, each of which consist of

a dramatic presentation which takes place on the stage by trained degree teams in appropriate

costumes. Each play presents an external moral and virtue so necessary to life. In the Scottish Rite,

Masons learn to be men of honor and conscience, preferring duty to everything else, to be devoted to

humanity, to be kind and indulgent to our brethren, and to assist them by means of our power.

The New Bern Valley of the Scottish Rite or the New Bern Lodge of Perfection No. 6 was

constituted on November 29, 1909. At that time, 46 Master Masons’ applications were accepted and

they were advanced from the 4th degree to the 14th degree. Officers were elected with Joseph F. Rhem

elected as Venerable Master and Thomas A. Henry as first Secretary.

Secretary Thomas A. Henry

St. John’s Photo

Sometime shortly afterwards, Joseph F. Rhem was elected Secretary and served in that

capacity until 1916. A lot of the earliest history of the New Bern Valley of the Scottish Rite is

confusing because the earliest minute books are missing. The first minute books in existence

begin in 1916.

In 1910, there were 13 applications for degrees, all of which were elected to receive the

degrees which were conferred by Brother Harvey M. Day, the Director of Work of Charlotte

Consistory No. 1. In 1912, the Lodge held meetings each month and they received, balloted on

petitions, and conferred degrees at each meeting. The first Scottish Rite reunion as we know it

today was held on October 7-9, 1913. The degrees were conferred in the opera house on the first

floor of St. John’s Lodge No. 3. The first official seal for the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley

of New Bern was purchased in November, 1914.

Secretary Joseph F. Rhem

St. John’s Photo

In late 1914, the New Bern Scottish Rite Bodies voted to purchase St. John’s Masonic

Hall located on Hancock Street, containing St. John’s Lodge Room, Lowthrop Hall, and the

Opera House built in 1804-09. They built a small office on the north side of the building next to

the auditorium used for the Scottish Rite degrees. Up in the top of the tower is an empty room

with a raised platform, which was most likely used as the original Lodge of Perfection.

St. John's Lodge & Scottish Rite Building Showing Scottish Rite Office to the Extreme Left of Building

St. John’s Photo

Secretary Harry T. Patterson

St. John’s Photo

In 1916, Harry T. Patterson was elected as General Secretary for the Scottish Rite of New

Bern and he served as such until 1924. Prior to 1924, the brethren elected Rev. James A. Vaché

as General Secretary. James “Jean” Vaché was raised in Amity Lodge No. 76, Richmond,

Virginia, September 17, 1918, and demitted to Doric Lodge No. 568, New Bern, NC on

September 22, 1922. He served as a Presbyterian minister in Ghent until 1927 when he affiliated

with the Episcopal Church and was ordained as such. He served in that capacity until 1929. He

left Eastern North Carolina and transferred to Greensboro, N. C. where he became rector of St.

Andrew’s Church for many years.

Secretary James "Jean" A. Vaché

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Greensboro, NC Photo

Charles A. Seifert was elected as General Secretary of the New Bern Scottish Rite Bodies

in 1929 and served in that capacity until 1967. In 1955, the dining hall in the Scottish Rite

Temple was named in his honor.

Secretary Charles A. Seifert

St. John’s Photo

In April 1933, the New Bern Scottish Rite held its first Easter breakfast consisting of

ham, bacon, eggs, biscuits, grits, coffee, and cigars. There were 33 members present and the cost

of the meal was $11.56.

In 1937, the Scottish Rite made extensive improvements to the Temple at the

approximate cost of $6,000.00. Pavement for parking was laid on the outside of the building and

an Egyptian motif was effectively carried out throughout the interior of the theatre to harmonize

with the Masonic rituals. The project took more than three months to complete and was

overseen by Rosleigh T. Daniel of Weldon and New Bern who was a prominent Mason. Above

the wainscot cap was depicted a variety of typical Egyptian scenes such as 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 attractively with

three shaped columns standing in front. Indirect lighting was used. In the main part of the

auditorium, white and blue lights were installed, with rose walls.

In 1941, the Scottish Rite installed new sets of scenery, made and installed by Louis Voll

and his brother of St. Louis, specialists in the painting and use of such scenery, and were used for

the first time in the Fall Reunion of November, 1941. At the same time, they reconditioned the

older scenery and equipment already in use in the theatre.

In 1947, the membership voted to build a new temple and purchased the adjacent lot to its

present property, located on Hancock Street for that purpose. They built one of the largest and

most important Scottish Rite structures in the area. The Temple front is of Indiana limestone

with large brass front doors of imposing appearance. Downstairs are offices and lounge areas. It

is one of the most important buildings in New Bern and is divided into three sections: the first

was the building built between 1801 and 1809; the second built around 1905; and the third

constructed in 1948.

Dedication of the Cornerstone of the New Temple, 1948

St. John’s Photo

Cornerstone for Scottish Rite Building, 1948

St. John’s Photo

The new Scottish Rite Temple cost a grand total of $300,000.00 in 1948 and was

dedicated on November 17, 1949. The principal speaker was Sovereign Grand Commander John

H. Cowles of Washington, D. C. Thomas J. Harkins of Ashville, N. C., Sovereign Grand

Inspector General of North Carolina, dedicated the building. The dedication of the building was

followed by a grand banquet in the large dining hall on the second floor of the new Temple.

Since then, the activities of the New Bern Scottish Rite Bodies have been centered in and around

this Temple.

The first major restoration of the Masonic theater began in 1957. At that time,

approximately $4,000.00 was spent on renovations on the theatre. The new decorations were in

an Egyptian atmosphere, to accentuate the temple’s antiquity and in keeping with Masonic lore.

Secretary Robert L. Pugh

St. John’s Photo

In 1967, Secretary Seifert retired and the brothers elected Robert L. Pugh, General

Secretary to secede him. Secretary Pugh served in that position with distinction until his death in

1979. During Secretary Pugh’s tenure as Secretary, “activity in the Scottish Rite increased and

the membership reached an all-time high.” Under his leadership in 1967, the Scottish Rite

decided to enter upon a ten-year Program of Renovation of the entire Temple with the objective

of beautifying and modernizing every apartment of the Temple. This was to be conducted on a

pay-as-you-go basis. In 1972, the original 1805 building was listed in the National Register of

Historic Places, with its significance cited: “The temple and theatre was built during the years

1801-1809, under the direction of John Dewey. It contains superb Federal interiors enhanced by

well-preserved mid-nineteenth century trompe l’oeil wall and ceiling painting, apparently unique

in the state.” In 1973, the Scottish Rite dedicated the Robert L. Pugh Meditation Center within

the Scottish Rite Temple for the purpose of prayer and meditation for anyone wishing such a

quiet and private place. This was done during the Fall Reunion of November 1973.

At the Fall Reunion, November 14-16, 1978, the Scottish Rite honored Secretary Pugh

with a formal banquet in his honor in Seifert Dining Hall. United State senators Sam Ervin and

Jesse Helms were special guests of honor present to speak at the dinner. In addition, the Scottish

Rite presented Secretary Pugh a fully equipped 1979 Buick Limited. Of all the honors received

that night by Secretary Pugh, perhaps the highest was given him by Judge W. J. Bundy when he

said of him, “ His greatest contribution to Masonry has been his work as lecturer to the classes of

Scottish Rite candidates. Few men can make the degrees life, and have meaning as Robert

Pugh.”

Secretary Charles T. Potter

St. John’s Photo

The Scottish Rite elected Charles T. Potter as its General Secretary in 1979 upon the

death of Secretary Robert L. Pugh. Secretary Potter served in that position until 1988.

Following the 1979 election of Charles T. Potter as Secretary of the Scottish Rite, the

SGIC decided that in order to take the politics out of the office of Secretary, it would be best for

the Scottish Rite if he would appoint the General Secretary in the future. Thus, when Charles T.

Potter retired in 1988, the SGIC appointed William Kilpatrick as the next General Secretary for

the Valley of New Bern.

Secretary William L. "Billy" Kilpatrick

New Bern Scottish Rite Photo

William Kilpatrick served as General Secretary for the Valley of New Bern from 1988

until 2001. During his administration it was felt necessary to remodel or renovate the Masonic

theatre on the first floor of the old Masonic Hall, in the 1804-1809 building.

In 1999, work began anew on the restoration of the theatre. Don Manweiler served the

Scottish Rite as fund raising chairman and Jerry Stapleford and P. M. Doug Soltow served as co-

chairmen of the project. Work on the theatre cost well over $100,000.00.

William Kilpatrick retired as General Secretary December 31. 2001 and the SGIC

appointed B. E. “Nickey” Miller as the next General Secretary. Miller served in that capacity

until February 2004.

Secretary B. E. "Nickey" Miller

“Nickey” Miller photo

In 2004, upon the resignation of B. E. “Nickey” Miller as General Secretary of the New

Bern Scottish Rite, the SGIC appointed P. G. M. William L. Dill as General Secretary for the

Valley of New Bern. Dill serves in that capacity to date.

Secretary William L. Dill

N C Grand Lodge Photo

In 2005, the Masonic Theatre committee under Dill’s guidance, selected the Seredipity

Players of New Bern to be the first group to present a program/play in the newly restored theatre.

They were a new artist-driven performance ensemble whose primary focus was to encourage

creativity and imagination wile providing the finest theatrical entertainment for the community.

Their first program which was held in the newly renovated theatre was “You’re a Good Man,

Charlie Brown” which opened on September 16, 2005. Since then, numerous theater

productions and lectures have been held in the theatre. Today the Lodge contracts with the

“Rivertown Players”, another theatrical group in New Bern to produce plays for the Masonic

Theatre.

One of the many treasures within the Scottish Rite Complex is the beautiful frescoes or

paintings which adorn the ceiling and walls of St. John’s Lodge Room in the 1805 building.

These were originally painted by E. N. Medernach in 1857, and portray many different Masonic

symbols and legends. In early 2004, pieces of the ceiling in the lodge room began to actually fall

from the ceiling and no longer safe, forcing the lodge to be closed due to safety issues. Many of

the paintings were beginning to fade and needed to be restored as well or they too would be lost

as a result of grime and soot.

One of the Many Frescoes in St. John's Lodge Room

Jim White Photo

With a start from Lodge savings, the Scottish Rite hired Durham artist Edward Rokosz to

restore the ceiling and the paintings inside the Lodge. Polish born Rokosz spent hours each day

inside the room, gently cleaning years of dirt and soot from the walls and ceiling, patching cracks

and touching up the colorful paintings that depict Masonic symbols. Rokosz said that his work

should last a long time since the Lodge’s fireplace and chandelier were no longer being used.

The most recent Scottish Rite Reunion was held during the weekend of March 28-30,

2015, and was designated the Knights of St. Andrews Reunion in honor of the work done by the

Knights of St. Andrews. Eight candidates went through the degrees, four through thirty-two. As

always, they found the degree work humbling and most inspiring, especially in the setting of the

ancient backdrops of the stage and scenery of the auditorium. Added to the excitement was the

realization that his would probably be the last group to eve go through the degrees in the Temple.

Fall Reunion, 2014

Dale Davis, Photo

On Sunday, March 30, 2015, the brethren voted to abandon the Scottish Rite Temple

built in 1948 on Hancock Street after 66 years, downsize the office and services, and move to an

annex building of the New Bern York Rite, located at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd

and 2100 S. Glenburnie Road. This was necessary due to the decrease in membership and

revenue while there was a major increase in bills. At the same time, there was a large list of

maintenance work which needed to be done on the Temple. There was just no way to

accomplish the maintenance with the decreasing income and membership. The York Rite will

renovate their building to accommodate the Scottish Rite in order for them to move in by June 1,

2015.

Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal, April 14, 2015

Dale Davis Photo

New Office of Valley of New Bern, Located S. Glenburnie Road, New Bern, NC

As of June 1, 2015

Valley of New Bern

Secretaries

Chartered 1909

1909-1910 (?) Thomas A. Henry

1910-1916 Joseph F. Rhem

1916-1926 Harry Patterson

1924-1929 James “Jean” A. Vaché

1929-1966 Charles A. Seifert

1967-1979 Robert L. Pugh

1979-1988 Charlie Potter

1988-2001 William Kilpatrick

2001-2004 B. E. “Nickey” Miller

2004-Present William L. Dill