New Bern's Arabian Court, Temple have long history, hundreds expected for annual events

New Bern has the distinction of being home to the first Prince Hall Affiliated Shrine Temple in North Carolina.

Arabian Temple No. 42, Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine, (A.E.A.O.N.M.S., Inc.) was chartered on April 19, 1911. Later, Arabian Court No. 52, the female auxiliary to the Temple, known as the Daughters of Imperial, was formally organized on May 30, 1953 and their charter was issued on Aug. 21 of the same year.

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Since its inception, the Nobles also known as Shriners, and Daughters have worked fiercely to improve the lives of those in need by performing charitable acts within their communities which include Craven, Jones, Beaufort and Lenoir counties.

In October, the daughters and the nobles will each hold events that are their largest fundraisers of the year and recognizes their leaders, the illustrious potentate and illustrious commandress for their service to the organization.

Daughter Jennifer Barrett is the commandress for Arabian Court No. 52. Barrett resides in Greenville is the supervisor of Interventional Radiology at ECU Health. Noble Kenneth Jones serves as potentate for Arabian Temple No. 42. He is a retired Marine and is currently employed at B/S/H in New Bern.

Jones said the organization has had a terrific year even through the pandemic.

"We were able to continue to build on our membership and the community aid and relief programs were very successful." he said. "I am proud of our team for their dedication to the community

Past Potentate Demetrice Rasberry of Kinston, imperial deputy of the Oasis of New Bern, said the purpose of the Temple is to give back to the community in the form of scholarships, community service and other charitable work.

"Our Charity Ball is to raise money for scholarships and it helps support the other services that we provide to our community throughout the year," Rasberry said. "It is also to honor our Illustrious potentate for his service to the Temple."

"We try to be as hospitable as possible to make sure people have a good time and return to our event each year," James Woods added. "We welcome everyone," he said. "The whole weekend is about fellowship and community service." Woods currently serves as recorder and is a past potentate.

The Court will hold its Non-Regaled Gala Weekend honoring Illustrious Commandress Jennifer Barrett from Oct. 7-8 at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center, 201 Tourist Center Dr. in Havelock. The weekend's theme will be Fifty Shades of Blue.

Commandress Jennifer Barrett said it will be an honor and privilege to be acknowledged at this year's event.

"The Daughters have really worked hard to provide a special weekend for the community, fellow nobles and daughters throughout the domain," she said.

Due to COVID-19, for the past few years the court was limited as to what activities they could do to raise funds. However, they were still able to volunteer with local nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and made donations to the residents of Craven Terrace among other notable acts.

"We look forward to providing scholarships at our future events," Barrett said.

Shamira D. Myers serves as the Deputy of the Oasis for New Bern.

"Our event is designed for an opportunity for our participants to enjoy themselves without the formal wear that would normally restrict them," Myers said. "Arabian Court's Gala will be a memorable weekend to kick off your shoes, let your hair down and enjoy yourself!"

Registration is from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 103 Branchside Dr., Havelock, which also serves as the host hotel. The event on Friday is from 8 p.m. to midnight at the tourist center followed by hospitality at the hotel from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Breakfast with Barrett will be from 7-10 a.m. followed by line dancing from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8. There will be a Day Party/Cookout from noon-3 p.m. at the hotel and the Non-Regaled Gala begins at 7 p.m. at the tourist center. There will be a cocktail hour from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The evening continues with Hospitality from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. at the hotel.

Tickets are $70 and available at PayPal by emailing arabiancourt52@gmail.com or can be purchased by contacting any daughter of the court.

For more information on the Court, visit their Facebook page.

Arabian Temple No. 42 will hold its Annual Charity Ball honoring Illustrious Potentate Kenneth Jones on Oct. 21-22 at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center. During the event, three scholarships will be presented to students who graduated in 2022 and are college freshmen at schools of higher learning.

The weekend begins with a fish fry and hospitality from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Holiday Inn and a pajama party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the tourist center.

On Saturday, hospitality with drinks and food will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the hotel. Game time starts at 4 p.m. and guests can play their choice of dominoes or spades as well as a cornhole tournament.

Chief Rabban Todd Goldstein said three scholarships in the amount of $1000 each will be presented during the brunch on Saturday.

"The whole point of this event is to honor the illustrious potentate and to give back to the community in the form of scholarships," he said. "Our mission is charity. We work hard to honor the head of the temple and to present these scholarships to three students who are attending a school of higher learning."

The charity ball will begin at 8 p.m. with doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $75 and cover all events for both days. They can be purchased from any noble of Arabian Temple.

For more information on the Temple, visit their Facebook page.

"We will be having Temples from other deserts (cities) that will be visiting." said Glenn Cooper, who serves as oriental guide. "There will be nobles and daughters from Texas, Maryland, New York, South Carolina and other places throughout the country."

The host hotel for both events is the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. The overflow hotel will be the Hampton Inn and both hotels are conveniently located within walking distance of the event venue.

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Nobles and daughters hold events to raise funds for charitable work