Many Masons in the Wilmington area, and in our grand jurisdiction might be familiar with the name Charlie Newcomb. The library in the Wilmington Scottish Rite Center is named for him in which some of his personal masonic effects are on display. It also doesn't take long to find books and papers with his signature affixed - including the thousands of petitions that were filed away during his fifty years of service. To us, he is a figure that is written on the pages of Wilmington and our state's Masonic history. To his contemporaries, he was simply known as Charlie.

Born in Florence, South Carolina, September 15th, 1887, Charles "Charlie" Newcomb was the son of George Bailey Washington Newcomb and Harriet Susan Hale. He received his early education in the local schools and high school of that city and soon moved to Wilmington to continue his education. Upon leaving school at the age of sixteen, Brother Newcomb accepted employment with the Boinest Hardware Co., at Florence, South Carolina and remained in that position until 1905 when he accepted employment with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, remaining with that company until 1910. In 1910, he accepted employment with the firm of Einstein Brothers in Wilmington and soon was made assistant to the manager of that firm. While employed, he studied law at the Wilmington Law School from which he graduated in 1917. He was admitted to practice at the September Term of the New Hanover County Superior court in the same year of his graduation.

In Dallas, Texas on December 25th, 1909 he was married to Hattie Sue Hale and together had three children: Amy, Frederick, and George Douglas.

Brother Newcomb was very active in public affairs yet never held public office. He was a member of the Consolidated Board of Education of New Hanover County and served for two years as chairman in which time a new high school was built. He was also a long-time Rotarian having served as secretary of that body for decades. He was a charter member of the Temple Baptist Church on Market Street in Wilmington and served as Deacon and Trustee for many Years. He also taught the Men's Bible Class in the Sunday School of his church for twenty-five years.

Out of his many activities in his family, professional, and civic life, he was most known for his many contributions to our fraternity. Shortly after reaching the age of twenty-one, he petitioned St. John's Lodge no. 1 in Wilmington. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice on May 19th, 1909, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on June 11th, 1909 and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on June 14th, 1909. He was elected Master of his lodge in June 1915 and served as District Deputy Grand Master of the 10th Masonic District from 1916 to 1926. From 1920 until November 5th, 1965, he served on various boards, commissions and committees of the Grand Lodge, at which time, on account of failing health and on the advice of his doctor, he resigned from all Grand Lodge activities. He was elected life member of his lodge in 1951.

On January 20th, 1927, Brother Newcomb was appointed Grand Steward by Grand Master John H. Anderson and after serving as Junior and Senior Grand Deacon, Junior and Senior Grand Warden, and Deputy Grand Master, he was on April 18th, 1935 elected and installed as Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina.

In addition to serving as Grand Master, Newcomb served on many boards and commissions including the Board of Custodians, Board of General Purposes, Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, Lodge Service Commission, and served as Grand Secretary for two non-consecutive years.

In addition to his work to his blue lodge and to the Grand Lodge, he was best known for his work in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. In 1909, it was determined that the Masons of Wilmington were willing to organize a new Scottish Rite Valley. He received the degrees of the Lodge of Perfection at the organization of Johnston Blakely Lodge of Perfection, his Chapter Degrees in 1913 at the organization of Cape Fear Chapter Rose Croix and received his council and consistory degrees with the Valley of Charlotte at same year.

In 1913, Brother Newcomb demitted from the Charlotte bodies and became a charter member of the Liberty Council of Kadosh and Wilmington Consistory. He was appointed General Director of the Work and elected Secretary of the Wilmington Bodies in 1915 and served in those capacities until his death in 1965. He received the decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour by the Supreme Council on October 20th, 1915, and on October 19th, 1923, he was crowned an Inspector General Honorary of the Thirty-Third Degree. He received his Grand Cross by the Supreme Council on October 20th, 1953.

Just when you thought that Brother Newcomb wasn't busy enough, he was also very active in the York Rite Bodies. He was exalted in Concord Chapter no. 1, Royal Arch Masons on February 24th, 1918, and served as High Priest of that Chapter from 1927 to 1928 and as Secretary in 1951. He served as President of the Grand Convention, Order of the High Priests of the State of North Carolina in 1937-1938. He was greeted in Munson Council No. 4, Royal and Select Masters on February 4th, 1914 and served Thrice Illustrious Master in 1925-1927, and as Secretary in 1951.

On March 3th, 1920, he was Knighted in Plantagenet Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar and served as Eminent Commander in 1929-1930, and as Secretary in 1951. He was elected Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of North Carolina on May 14th, 1931, and after progressing regularly through the line was elected Grand Commander on May 9th, 1938, and served one term.

It's safe to say that Brother Newcomb made North Carolina Masonry what it is today. In his many papers and books that are still held at the Valley of Wilmington, it is obvious that he was an ardent student of Masonic law. He was responsible for the complete revision of the Code of North Carolina which led to the Code of 1948. He also led the development of what's now the OSW (Official Standard of Work) for our ritual. Are you familiar with the Lodge System of Masonic Education? Brother Newcomb was responsible for organizing that effort – reviewing and editing submissions from well informed brethren from around the state to make a lecture service for our initiates.

There aren't many brothers left who were acquainted with Brother Newcomb. But it was obvious that he was well respected by his contemporaries. In a scrapbook kept by Newcomb, containing congratulatory notes from his 50-year celebration as a Mason, a well-wisher recalled the moment he met Charlie. Before the introduction, a brother whispered to him, "Do you want to meet, Mr. North Carolina Freemasonry?"

Charle Newcomb passed from this life on December 20th, 1965, leaving behind a legacy that few Masons in North Carolina have made. From a young man who walked through the doors of St. John's Lodge no. 1 in 1909, to Grand Master, and a long time servant to the Valley of Wilmington, he devoted over five decades of tireless service to the Craft. By leading the effort to amend the code, to standardizing the ritual work, to the education programs he helped build, he shaped every lodge meeting held in North Carolina to this day. The next time you open the Code or your OSW, remember that it was Brother Newcomb who helped put those tools in your hands. He was, in every sense of the phrase, Mr. North Carolina Masonry.