
South Carolina College
Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis
South Carolina
About the
South Carolina College
Columbia, South Carolina
Chartered: February 18, 1978
The Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis (SRICF) is an American Rosicrucian society rooted in 19th-century Freemasonry. Its origins trace to efforts by Christian Freemasons in the United States to create a body similar to the British Rosicrucian tradition. Membership is by invitation only, open to Christian Master Masons, and capped at 72 members per college.
The Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis is a Rosicrucian Society based in the United States of America extending from its formation of a Grand High Council on April 21st, 1880 and its official consecration on September 21, 1880, by three Colleges chartered by the Societas Rosicruciana In Scotia. High Grade Christian Freemasons in the United States in search of the Classical Rosicrucian Society for Masons in the United Kingdom became interested in organizing a similar body in the United States and did so under Scotland’s authority (Societas Rosicruciana In Scotia) with the help of Most Worthy Charles Matier of the SRIS, as early as 1873. This effort died out two years later under the care of R.W. Frater George S. Blackie VIII and was then re-chartered by the SRIS later again in 1878. Dr. Jonathon J. French was a IX grade head of the Rosicrucian Society of the United States & opened the Matier Royal Provincial College with a charter from Lord Inverurie, Earl of Kincore and Supreme Magus of the SRIS. The college was named after Charles Fitzgerald Matier, the first Supreme Magus of SRIS who served in 1876. Harold Van Buren Voorhis insists that the Illinois College under Dr. French was never truly active, and it certainly was short-lived as Dr. French died an untimely death in 1879. Harold Voorhis also insisted that Frater Stodart Blackie’s early charter in New York had been nothing more than an unsubstantiated rumor. It has since been established as historical fact. (source: https://sricf.org/info)
Under the jurisdiction of the
High Council Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis

Meeting Time & Location
Annual - Second Saturday in June
Luncheon - 12:00 PM - Stag
Meeting - Immediately after Luncheon
Last Saturday in October
Luncheon - 12:00 PM - Stag
Meeting - Immediately after Luncheon
Please notify Secretary if coming for Luncheon to ensure there is enough food for everyone.
Dress Code
Officers and Degree Teams - Tux
Members - Coat and Tie, Dark Suit preferred
Contact info
J. Sam Burton, IX°
701 Hampton Road
Liberty, SC 29657-9296
Phone: (864) 723-5595
Email: [email protected]
Officers
2025-2026
| Title | Name |
| Chief Adept | RWF Robert M. Saverance, IX° |
| Celebrant | VWF Gary C. Sowell, VII° |
| Suffragan | VWF F. Dean Tollison, VII° |
| Secretary | RWF J. Sam Burton, IX° |
| Treasurer | RWF Rawl J. Scheibler, IX° |
| Primus Ancient | VWF David J. DeChant, PGM – VII° |
| Secundus Ancient | VWF Dana P. Rickards, VII° |
| Tertius Ancient | RWF J. Sam Burton, IX° |
| Quartus Ancient | VWF A. C. “AC” Flora, IV, GM – VII° |
| Conductor of Novices | VWF Jeff L. Hall, VII° |
| Prelate | VWF Marcus L. Burdette, VII° |
| First Herald | RWF G. R. “Mike” Harman, VIII° |
| Second Herald | VWF Edward E. Smith, Jr. – VII° |
| Torch Bearer | VWF G. Walker Moore, VII° |
| Guardian of the Caverns | VWF John R. Bowker, VII° |
| Acolyte | VWF Gary T. James, VII° |
| Librarian | VWF Phillip S. Reichner, III – VII° |
| RWF – Right Worthy Frater | |
| VWF – Very Worthy Frater | |
Members
| MEMBERS | |
| Harvie B. Bailey, VII° | George S. Mabry, Jr. – VII° |
| James W. Barr, VII° | John R. Marcucci, VII° |
| Robert J. Bean, Sr. – VIII° | Jack A. Marler, PGM – IX° |
| John R. Bowker, VII° | Joseph L. McGee, VIII° {E} |
| Michael J. Broom, VII° | J. Paul McWilliams, VII° |
| Lee Roy Bruce, Sr. – VII° {E} | G. Walker Moore, VII° |
| Marcus L. Burdette, VII° | Zebulon V. Morgan, III – VII° |
| H. Ted Burgess, Sr. – IX° | Johnnie T. Morris, VII° {E} |
| J. Sam Burton, IX° | Jerry M. Owens, VIII° {E} |
| J. Gordon Cartrette, IX° {E} | G. R. “Guy” Palmer, Jr. – VII° |
| Gerald L. Carver, PGM – IX° | George R. Peters, VII° |
| Lloyd F. Christopher, VII° | Victor D. Phillips, VII° |
| Michael E. Copeland, VII° {E} | Phillip S. Reichner, III – VII° |
| David J. DeChant, Sr., PGM – VII° | Larry S. Rhodes, VII° {E} |
| W. Blake Duke, VII° | Dana P. Rickards, VII° |
| A. C. “AC” Flora, IV, GM – VII° | William B. Rogers, PGM – VII° |
| Ricky C. Freeman, VII° {E} | Robert M. Saverance, IX° |
| William J. Goodenow, VII° | Rawl J. Scheibler, IX° |
| S. Hal Gregory, VII° | C. Todd Schofield, SGW – VII° |
| Robert C. Griffin, VII° | Edward E. Smith, Jr. – VII° |
| Jeff L. Hall, VII° | Gary C. Sowell, VII° |
| Steven D. Hames, PGM – VII° | D. Sam Tennyson, Sr., PGM – IX° {E} |
| JW Benny Hammond, Jr. – VII° | Joseph A. Terry, VII° |
| G. R. “Mike” Harman, VIII° | F. Dean Tollison, VII° |
| Gary B. Hinson, IX° | Richard T. S. Valentine, VII° |
| Earl P. Hudgens, Jr., VII° {E} | Charles A. Varn, VII° |
| Gary T. James, VII° | O. Eugene Wicker, Jr. – VII° |
| Michael D. Keen, VII° | Jerry A. Willard, Jr. – VII° |
| Michael T. Lancaster, VII° | |
| {E} = Emeritus | |
| 47 – Regular, 10 – Emeritus | |
Degree Team(s)
| For Reception of a Zelator | ||
| Office | Primary | Alternate |
| Celebrant | Charles A. Varn, VII° | Lloyd F. Christopher, VII° |
| Guardian | John R. Bowker, VII° | Rawl J. Scheibler, IX° |
| Conductor | Phillip S. Reichner, III – VII° | William J. Goodenow, VII° |
| 1st Ancient | James W. Barr, VII° | S. Hal Gregory,VII° |
| 2nd Ancient | Gary T. James, VII° | Robert M. Saverance, IX° |
| 3rd Ancient | Edward E. Smith, Jr. – VII° | |
| 4th Ancient | G. Walker Moore, VII° | Robert J. Bean, Sr. VII° |
| Exponent | George S. Mabry, Jr. – VII° | |
| Acolyte | F. Dean Tollison, VII° | H. B. “Pete” Bailey, VII° |
| Sentinel | G. R. “Mike” Harman, VIII° | Gary C. Sowell, VII° |
| Signs, Words, & Grips | G. R. “Mike” Harman, VIII° | |
| Torch Bearer | Edward E. Smith, Jr. – VII° | A. C. “AC” Flora, IV – VII° |
| Address | G. R. “Guy” Palmer, Jr. – VII° | |
| Director of Work | Robert M. Saverance, IX° | |
| Goal is to do all parts from Memory. Please contact | ||
| Robert M. Saverance at (843) 621-1760 | ||
| as soon as possible if you are unable to do your part | ||
Past Officers
| Past Chief Adepts | ||
| * | 1978 – 1986 | James D. Penly, Jr. – IX° |
| * | 1986 – 1990 | J. B. McGuirt, IX° |
| * | 1990 – 1992 | Raymond A. Wood, IX° |
| * | 1992 – 2000 | Willard F. Bond, Jr. – IX° |
| * | 2000 – 2019 | G. Kent Elkiins, IX° |
| 2019 – 2025 | Rawl J. Scheibler, IX° | |
| 2025 – Present | Robert M. Saverance, IX° | |
| * | Deceased |
| PAST CELEBRANTS | ||
| * | 1978 | Wally J. Knopp, VIII° |
| * | 1979 | Claude Roberston, VIII° |
| * | 1980 | Vernon T. Pinner, VII° |
| * | 1981 | J. B. McGuirt, IX° |
| * | 1982 | Willard F. Bond, Jr., IX° |
| * | 1983 | Joel W. Frampton, Jr. – VIII° |
| * | 1984 | John B. Maxey, VIII° |
| * | 1985 | Jerry B. Putnam, VII° |
| * | 1986 | Raymond A. Wood, IX° |
| * | 1987 | T. Harry White, VIII° |
| * | 1988 | Tommie F. Brant, VII° |
| * | 1989 | Sam L. Grant, Jr. – VII° |
| * | 1990 | H. Dwight McAlister, VIII° |
| * | 1991 | Vernon A. Amick, VIII° |
| * | 1992 | Samuel H. J. Womack, VIII° |
| * | 1993 | Jesse C. Branham, VII° |
| * | 1994 | Julius C. Hubbard, Jr. – VIII° |
| * | 1995 | G. Ray Marsh, IX° |
| * | 1996 | Alfred Allsbrook, VII° |
| * | 1997 | R. Henry Brown, VII° |
| * | 1998 | Sam M. Willis, VII° |
| * | 1999 | Charles A. Adams, VII° |
| * | 2000 | Everette T. Deitz, VII° |
| 2001 | Johnnie T. Morris, VII° | |
| * | 2002 | William R. Logan, VIII° |
| * | 2003 | I. Lewis Langley, VII° |
| * | 2004 | Richard L. Harding, VII° |
| 2005 | Jerry M. Owens, VIII° | |
| 2006 | Joseph L. McGee, Sr. – VIII° | |
| 2007 | D. Samuel Tennyson, Sr. – IX° | |
| 2008 | Rawl J. Scheibler, IX° | |
| 2009 | Lloyd F. Christopher, VII° | |
| 2010 | Earl P. Hudgens, VII° | |
| 2011 | J. Gordon Cartrette, IX° | |
| * | 2012 | J. Frank Gilliland, VII° |
| 2013 | Lee Roy Bruce, Sr. – VII° | |
| * | 2014 | Jerry O. Glenn, VII° |
| 2015 | Gary B. Hinson, IX° | |
| 2016 | Robert J. Bean, Sr. – VIII° | |
| * | 2017 | Wayne C. Smith, VII° |
| 2018 | Gerald L. Carver, IX° | |
| * | 2019/2020 | Richard W. Sealy, VII° |
| 2021 | Jay A. Pearson, VII° | |
| 2022 | G. R. “Guy” Palmer, Jr. – VII° | |
| 2023 | S. Hal Gregory, VII° | |
| 2024 | Harvie B. “Pete” Bailey, VII° | |
| 2025 | Jack A. Marler, IX° | |
| 2026 | Gary C. Sowell, VII° | |
| * | Deceased | |
| Past Treasurers | ||
| * | 1978 -1990 | John A. Dixon, VIII° |
| * | 1990 – 1992 | Raymond A. Wood, IX° |
| 2019 – 2023 | Robert J. Bean, Jr. – VII° | |
| 2023 – 2025 | Robert M. Saverance, IX° | |
| 2025 – Present | Rawl J. Scheibler, IX° | |
| * | Deceased | |
| Past Secretaries | ||
| * | 1978 – 1980 | H. Dwight McAlister, VIII° |
| * | 1980 – 1984 | Wally J. Knopp, VIII° |
| * | 1984 – 1985 | Claude Robertson, ViII° |
| * | 1985 – 1987 | Andrew H. Gramling, VIII° |
| * | 1987 – 1991 | Willard F. Bond, Jr. – IX° |
| 2019 – Present | J. Sam Burton, IX° | |
| * | Deceased | |
| Past Treasurer-Secretaries | ||
| * | 1992 – 2006 | Robert D. Yonce, VIII° |
| * | 2006 – 2012 | William R. Logan, VIII° |
| 2012 – 2019 | J. Gordon Cartrette, IX° | |
| * | Deceased |


