Raymond E. Bemis

Raymond Eugene Bemis was elected Worshipful Master of St. John's Lodge No. 1, on December 2, 1942, and again on December 22, 1943. Ray was entered on April 11, 1934, passed on July 18 and raised on September 12 of that year. Brother Bemis served as Secretary of the Lodge from 1969 to 1993. He passed from labor to refreshment in the Grand Lodge above on July 27, 1996.

Background

Raymond E. Bemis was born in Reading, MA on November 6, 1910, the son of Eugene Melvin Bemis and his wife Ella May (Booker). The Bemis family had its roots in England, probably Essex, and after immigrating to the Bay Colony in the 17^th Century eventually settled in Marlborough, New Hampshire, where they lived for several generations. Raymond’s grandfather Osgood and his wife Lucy (White) are interred in Marlborough. Ray’s father worked as a conductor on the Boston and Maine Railroad, and at retirement took on night security work on the power boat Jacomo moored in the Piscataqua River during WWII.

Ray graduated from Farmington, NH, high school and he moved to Portsmouth with his parents and younger brother Russell and younger sister Irma. The family resided on Christian Shore, Portsmouth, and finally lived on Northwest Street, next door to the old Jackson House.

Ray joined the Portsmouth Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in 1929, and became Master Councilor and Scribe. He served as Advisor to this Chapter for many years. He continued to be an active member and supporter of DeMolay, and attended summer camps in the White Mountains. Ray was awarded the Legion of Honor for his service to the organization; he was only the second member to receive this award.

Typical DeMolay Regalia at Summer Camp in the White Mountains, circa 1932

His early employment included stock boy at the A&P food store in Portsmouth in 1928. He soon joined the work force at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as an apprentice in the copper shop, and continued in various trades at the Shipyard throughout his working career, retiring as a drafting supervisor in 1969 after over 40 years service.

Ray married Lillian Bradbury Davis, the daughter of Charles Davis residing at 81 Park Street, Portsmouth. Charlie "Alphabetical" Davis was also a conductor on the Boston and Maine Railroad, and was nicknamed "Alphabetical" because he had two middle names. Ray and Lil produced one son, Preston. They lived at 191 Crescent Way, in the Atlantic Heights, until 1948, when they moved to Parsons Road, Rye.

After retirement from the Shipyard, and with his wife Lillian deceased, he married Barbara Patterson McGirr, and continued to reside on Parsons Road in Rye.

As far as the author knows, none of Ray’s ancestors were Freemasons. His son Preston was made a Mason in an English Constitution Lodge, Rising Sun No. 1491, meeting at Kobe, Japan, in 1984. His brother-in-law Russell Lindsay Davis was a member of St. Andrew’s Lodge as well as a member of the Shrine.

Raymond E. Bemis, standing, third from right, as Junior Steward, 1936.

The Lodge in the War Years 1943 / 1944

Brother Raymond Bemis was elected Master of St. Johns Lodge No. 1 during WWII. He was elected Worshipful Master on December 2, 1942. An excerpt from Past Master’s Night, October 14, 1981 follows:

‘When Worshipful Raymond E. Bemis was elected Worshipful Master of St. Johns Lodge No. 1 on December 2, 1942, the United States of America was engaged in a war of survival against the totalitarian Nazis and Fascists. The war was very close to home in 1942 as the East Coast of USA was a hunting ground for U-boats which had a most successful year sinking allied shipping. Worshipful Bemis had other problems – members were being enlisted and drafted at such a fast pace that it was difficult to fill the officers’ chairs. On the night he was elected, eight positions were filled with pro tempore members. Worshipful Bemis had more problems – he was then working thirteen days with one day off as a drafting engineer on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard – his shifts changed every three months yet Ray managed to fill the East for every Stated and Special Communication.

On the night he was elected, an announcement was made that another War Bond Drive was scheduled for December 1942 in all Masonic lodges in the USA – St. John's voted this evening to buy another $1000 bond. Before V.E. Day this lodge would have purchased $6700 in bonds.

On December 30, 1942 Raymond was installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year. The meeting was numbered 3878 and for the next two years Worshipful Raymond would have as busy a Lodge as any in the country. During his two years in the East he held ninety five meetings. He never missed one. In 1943 he worked 58 E.A.s, 54 F.C.s, and 40 M.M.s. During 1944 he worked 74 E.A.s, 64 F.C.s, and 66 M.M.s.

He was initiated in St. Johns Lodge No. 1 on April 11, 1934; passed on July 18, 1934, and raised on September 12, 1934. He was installed Junior Steward April 1, 1936 (editor’s note – the Worshipful Master at that time was Worshipful George B. Ward).

After he was Past Master, he still served the Lodge by being Secretary of the Board of Managers until it was disbanded in 1963. For a few years he was given time off, but in 1969 when a new Secretary of the lodge was needed, Raymond E. Bemis was ready to begin a new career of which he performed so well for the next 23 years. He was awarded the John Sullivan medal on October 24, 1969.

Interestingly, a testimonial dinner took place a month before the above Past Master’s night, on September 12, 1981, to honor Brother Raymond Bemis and Brother Gerald Foss. Brother Gerald Foss had been Senior Warden during Ray’s time as Master.

Unfortunately, the secretarial records provide only mere glimpses of Masonic life in these difficult times. Attendance at stated communications was generally 30 to 40 brothers, but as many as 325 brothers attended special functions, visitations, and ceremonies. On one occasion in May 1943, 230 brothers representing 12 jurisdictions and 58 Lodges attended a Master Mason ceremony. On one Church Sunday in June 1944 (now called St. John's Sunday) 282 brothers were in attendance. In a single evening, candidates for initiation as Entered Apprentices were as many as 8, and up to 5 Fellow Crafts would be raised in a single ceremony. Lodges in many parts of the United States asked St. John's to enter, pass and raise their candidates as many people were stationed far from home in the military or working in a civilian defense industry such as the Shipyard. Many brothers were working shifts and unable to attend regularly.

During Brother Bemis’ tenure, Brother Gerald Foss was Senior Warden, and Brother Percy Burgess was Junior Warden. In June, 1943, Brother Gerry Foss volunteered for active duty in the military services, and the record shows that the W.M. advised the Brethren that for the duration or balance of the term an acting SW would fill that office. Fortunately for the Lodge and New Hampshire Freemasonry, Gerry soon returned and continued his exemplary Masonic career. As a shipyard worker, Brother Ray was in a critical occupation and, like many others, did not serve overseas.

An interesting note in the record was when a request for financial support from a civic association to assist with the purchase of an ambulance had to be declined. The W.M. stated that the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the State of New Hampshire forbade donating any funds for anything other than Masonic purposes. The brethren were asked to donate individually. Fortunately, the concept of Charity has changed since that time.

Personal Notes

Brother Raymond Bemis loved Freemasonry and was proud of its traditions and characteristics. His concept was that true Freemasonry was embodied only in the Blue Lodge with its three degrees. Other appendant bodies such as Commandery, Scottish Rite, Shrine and so forth were perhaps interesting, but he believed that there was no higher salutation between men than "Brother."

Many of his contemporaries were shipyard workers like himself. This promoted a true bond of friendship as well as brotherhood.

He was of an age where certain biases had been established and remained. He could not conceive of Catholics as Master Masons since past Popes had published Papal Bulls against the Fraternity. He also did not believe that African Americans should be allowed into Freemasonry, and that they should stay within their own but separate Prince Hall Lodges. Finding that most other Constitutions such as the English, Irish, and Scottish have no such sentiment must have been somewhat of a shock.

Like many others in St, John's Lodge, he was an outspoken critic of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. He never sought an office in the Grand Lodge. As Secretary, he was often at odds with Grand Lodge policy and practices. He did not agree that the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire was a significant benefit or added much of value to the local Lodge.

Ray knew the Masonic ritual by heart. But the family curse of hearing loss made it difficult for him to stay abreast during the ceremony and act as prompter. Hearing loss began to make it more and more difficult to handle the secretarial duties during the lodge meetings, and while hard on him, must have been even more difficult for the Worshipful Master and other officers.

His work as secretary was before the advent of computers. As far as I know, he never learned to type and most of his work was in a fine script or in precise lettering. The preparation of the monthly Trestle Board for mailing was done on the home dining room table, with hundreds of envelopes to be stuffed.

He was a good musician in his early years, playing xylophone, drums, and piano. Ray learned to play the organ in his late 60’s, and provided the neighborhood with a concert on Sunday mornings – quite loud so he could hear what he was playing.

Ray was always quick to learn new skills. He built a small Cape Cod style wood frame house in Rye over several years, with only some minor help from a neighbor (Urban A. Bean, a member of St. Andrew’s Lodge) and his brother-in-law Russell. We moved in to the new house long before it was finished, with sub-flooring and bare studs in places. Many people recognized his excellence in wood craftsmanship. Most of his hand tools are still in good condition today. His prized DeWalt radial arm saw is still in use. A nephew, Paul Frazier Davis, learned many carpentry techniques from Ray.

His hobbies included stamp collecting, but when the U.S. Post Office began to increase the number of plate numbers he decided the hobby was becoming too expensive. Ray enjoyed the beach and bodysurfing – ‘riding the waves’ – at Wallis Sands Beach. He enjoyed eating seafood, especially lobsters, and some oriental food. He was a strong swimmer and was a great believer in early morning set up exercises.

With love.

Preston E. Bemis

February, 2006

Son, Father, Brothers. (circa 1975)

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