New Bern Scottish Rite

🎄✨ Scottish Rite & York Rite Christmas Celebration ✨🎄

You’re invited to join us for a joyful Scottish Rite and York Rite Christmas Celebration this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the York Rite Temple in New Bern.

Come enjoy an afternoon of holiday fellowship, Christmas spirit, and Masonic brotherhood as we celebrate the season together. This special gathering brings members, families, and friends together to share in the warmth and traditions of the Craft.

📍 Location: York Rite Temple, New Bern
⏰ Time: Sunday, December 21, 2025 @ 2:30 p.m.

All brethren, families, and friends are welcome. We look forward to celebrating Christmas with you!

🎅🎄 Please share and help spread the word! 🎄🎅

Member Spotlight: Hyler Wayne Cox
Charter Member, Knights of St. Andrew

Some Masons serve quietly in the background, while others leave an enduring legacy through teaching, leadership, and unwavering devotion to the Craft. Hyler Wayne Cox belongs firmly in the latter group. Known across districts for his knowledge of the work, his humility, and his deep commitment to brotherhood, Wayne’s Masonic journey spans decades and continues to inspire those who know him.

Wayne is a Charter Member of the Knights of St. Andrew and joined the Scottish Rite during the Fall Reunion of 2023, the 1st H. Lloyd Wilkerson Reunion. Though his official Scottish Rite membership is recent, his desire to join reaches back to the very beginning of his Masonic life. When Wayne became a Mason in 1985, it was always his intention to join the Scottish Rite. However, service came first. He became a Certified Instructor in 1986, earned his "A" certification in 1987, and was appointed District Deputy Grand Lecturer (DDGL) in 1988. His dedication to teaching and lecturing left little time to pursue further bodies—until Brother Johnny Surles signed him up at Grand Lodge in 2023, finally bringing a long-standing goal to life.

Wayne began his Masonic journey at Mattamuskeet Lodge No. 328, where the principles of Masonry first took root. Over the years, many moments have stood out, but one remains especially meaningful to him: attending the raising of Jackie (Jack) Lucas, the youngest recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima. The degree was performed by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina in Washington, North Carolina. Jack Lucas later stated that becoming a Mason was the greatest honor he ever had—a powerful reminder to Wayne of the lasting impact of the Craft.

Being a Scottish Rite Mason has had a profound effect on Wayne’s life. He believes the degrees compel a man to pause and reflect, asking whether he is truly living “up to the mark.” Beyond the lessons themselves, Wayne values the friendships forged through the Scottish Rite—relationships he says he would never have known otherwise. Even within his own community, those bonds have changed how he sees and relates to others.

Wayne’s professional life has been as colorful as his stories. In his twenties, he worked as a pork producer, a chapter of his life often retold with humor—Wayne jokes that he left the hog business because “the hogs knew too much about Masonry.” He later became a car salesman at Belhaven Cox Chevrolet, and today works in Engelhard, North Carolina, delivering parts and taking orders for NAPA.

Family has always been central to Wayne’s life, especially his late wife, whom he lost two years ago. She was a tremendous supporter of his Masonic involvement, often encouraging him to attend meetings and events—sometimes jokingly asking if he “had somewhere to go” so she wouldn’t have to cook dinner. Her support and love strengthened his dedication to Masonry throughout the years.

One of the most surprising facts about Wayne is the sheer scope of his service. He has served as a DDGL for a total of 30 years, more than any other Mason in the history of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. In recognition of this remarkable accomplishment, Grand Master Mack Sigmon presented him with the Montford Medal in 2019. Wayne also helped rewrite the red work of the Official Standard of the Work (OSW) manual, leaving an enduring mark on Masonic education in North Carolina.

Outside of Masonry, Wayne is known for his generosity and creativity. He began selling knives after a lodge in District 3 was unable to hold a quarterly fundraiser to send a deacon to Wilkerson College. What started as a one-time effort became an ongoing mission—Wayne donates all proceeds from his knife sales to help fund the education of District 3 deacons. He also enjoys woodworking, crafting picture frames and wooden fish boxes featuring the Jesus Fish symbol.

Wayne lives by the guiding principle:
“Time, patience, and perseverance will accomplish all things.”
Though he has never considered himself a big reader, he credits the Bible and the Official Standard of the Work with shaping his understanding of both life and Masonry.

One of the most memorable—and humorous—moments of Wayne’s Scottish Rite experience occurred during the 2023 reunion itself. The class consisted of only four candidates, three of whom were either active or retired military. As a result, Wayne was elected to give the dinner speech. In true Wayne fashion, he chose to tell a story rather than deliver a formal address. He explained that he finally understood why his uncles had joined the York Rite instead of the Scottish Rite—because his grandmother would not allow anyone to come to the table and pray with their hat on. The story brought laughter to the room and perfectly reflected Wayne’s ability to blend tradition, humor, and heartfelt storytelling.

When asked what he values most about his membership, Wayne speaks without hesitation: brotherhood. Not just within his own lodge, but across districts and jurisdictions—the respect shared between men who truly know the work.

Wayne remains deeply engaged in the Masonic community. He is an honorary member of every lodge in District 3, an honorary member of two lodges in District 2, a long-serving DDGL in both districts, a Charter Member of the Knights of St. Andrew, an officer in the Council of Kadosh, and has delivered lectures at all three Masonic lodges that Franklin Lodge has had in Beaufort, North Carolina—from the original lodge built with bricks from Fort Macon to the present-day building.

When it’s time to unwind, Wayne enjoys meals at Martelle’s Restaurant in Engelhard and Fish Hooks in Belhaven. If he could travel anywhere in the world, he would choose Jerusalem, particularly at Christmas or Easter, drawn to the sacred history of the Temple, the Garden of Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the shores of Galilee. He says that if he ever won the lottery, he would take his entire Bible study group there to experience those holy places together.

Wayne hopes to be remembered as a man who always knew his work—a certified lecturer for 39 years, never afraid to give a lecture wherever he went. As Brother John Lane once said, Wayne probably forgets more about Masonry than anyone else would ever remember.

Hyler Wayne Cox is a living testament to the power of dedication, education, and brotherly love—and a reminder that time, patience, and perseverance truly do accomplish all things.

Congratulations to the Knights of St. Andrew on an outstanding week of growth and brotherhood!

Tonight at the Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection, we were honored to witness the initiation of Randall Marriner and Timothy Layne Jr. as Squires. Their dedication and commitment to the Craft are already shining through, and we look forward to seeing their continued journey within the Order.

And a special congratulations to Jason Maxey and Peter Hedges, who were Knighted this past Saturday. Your hard work, service, and devotion to the principles of the Knights of St. Andrew are truly inspiring.

Proud of all four of you—well deserved honors for deserving men.