History Of The Oasis
Shriners
Oasis Shriners trace their history back to 1894, when Walter Scott
"Daddy" Liddell and eight Knights Templer of the Charlotte Commandery
No.2 petitioned Acca Temple in Richmond, Va., to organize a Shrine
Temple in North Carolina, actually the first in the Carolinas, North and
South. Those joining with Liddell were Belk department store founder
William Henry Belk, Dr. J.F. Robertson, B. Swift Davis, John Farrier,
C.L. Hopkins, W.B. Summersett, D.E. Allen and George Merideth. The
Charter was granted on Oct. 10, 1894, by Imperial Potentate William B.
Melish of Cincinnati.
Liddell, a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, Knight
Templer, and past Master of his lodge, Phalanx No.31 in Charlotte,
served as Potentate of Oasis for four years and was Grand Master of
Masons in 1904 and 1905. He was the Oasis Imperial representative and
had Emeritus status until his death in 1940. In addition to Illustrious
Sir Walter, the original Divan of the newly-formed temple were: Chief
Rabban W.B. Summersett, Assistant Rabban E.E. Allen, High Priest and
Profit D.S. Davis, Oriental Guide J.F. Robertson, Recorder John Farrier,
Treasurer C.L. Hopkins, First Ceremonial Master J.T. Barron, Second
Ceremonial Master J.W. Courtland, Captain of the Guard William Henry
Belk, Outer Guard George Merideth and Marshall C.L. Hoffman. Initially,
there was no director, but later D.G. Maxwell was named to the post and
all the original Divan was appointed by Imperial Potentate Melish.
The first meeting was held at what was called Shrine
Hall in downtown Charlotte on January 18, 1895. The next day, with the
assistance of Acca Temple repersentatives, 18 new nobles were initiated
into the newly-formed Oasis Temple. That first ceremonial ended with a
dinner in the Masonic Hall (A place thought to be the same structure as
Shrine Hall)
One of the first applications received after the
initial charter membership was formed came from J.M. Belk, W. Henry's
brother, and the first Oasis affiliation was F.L. Jacobs, who demitted
from Jerusalem Temple in New Orleans. As the Membership grew, it spread
across North and South Carolina, with initiates coming from Asheville,
Raleigh, and Charleston. The first honorary memberships went to George
Street of Acca Temple and Past Acca Potentate Louis Ecken.
The first Oasis Shrine parade occurred on May 17, 1898,
at the Spring ceremonial in Raleigh. Oasis was 173 members strong and
representation stretched across both Carolinas. In the minutes of the
ceremonial, it was noted that initiates "crossed the hot sands." Oasis
continued to grow as the Shrine of North America grew, with 82 temples
and more than 55,000 members by the turn of the century, all represented
at the 1900 Imperial Session in Washington D.C., where President William
McKinley stood on the parade viewing stand.
In the 18 years following, the Shrine organization
expanded into Mexico and the Republic of Panama and many of the
organization's traditions began, such as the first Shrine Circus in
Detroit in1906 and the expansion of philanthropy. Shriners contributed
$25,000 to earthquake victims in San Francisco in 1906 and gave $10,000
for the relief of European war victims, both considered enormous sums at
the time. But what would be known as "The World's Greatest
Philanthropy," the Shriners Hospitals for Children, emerged as the
organization's number one cause in 1920 when the Imperial resolution
established the "Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children," supported by
a $2 per member assessment.
The Cornerstone was laid for the first hospital in 1922
in Shreveport, Louisiana. Five years later, the Shriners Hospital for
Crippled Children in Greenville, S.C., opened, and by 1997 a network of
22 hospitals made up the system, now known as Shriners Hospitals for
Children, providing orthopedic, burn and spinal care for children around
the world.
Oasis Shriners were also vigilant during wartime, and
celebrated with the rest of the world at the end of each conflict. In
the October 1945 issue of the Desert Dust, Imperial Potentate William H.
Woodfield Jr. said of World War II Shrine veterans: "More than 50,000
fellow Nobles of the Mystic Shrine served their country in the military
forces during this worst of wars. Many will not return. Their names are
marked by a gold star on our rolls of honor". "To these men whom we all
knew and to all who made the supreme sacrifice, and to their families
and friends, there are no words to express our humble gratitude and
thanks for their deeds," Imperial Sir William said.
Also during the growth of Shrinedom in the 20th Century
came expansion of the organization in the Carolinas. Omar Temple was
chartered in Charleston, S.C., in 1907, Sudan Temple in New Burn, N.C.,
in 1917, Greenville's Hejaz in 1920, Columbia's Jamil in 1974 and
Raleigh's Amran in 1976.
One of the most significant modern milestones for Oasis
came in 1987, with the construction of its new headquarters mosque in
the University City area of north Charlotte after spending virtually all
of its first 90-odd years in downtown Charlotte. Ground was broken at
the new building on March 20, 1987, in a ceremony attended by local
government, civic and political leaders along with representation fro
the nobility throughout the Carolinas and on the Imperial level. A week
later a commemorative plaque was installed by the Grand Lodge of AF & AM
of N.C. by Grand Master Bud McCall and Oasis Potentate Tommy Arakas.
The completed 55,000 square-foot building, complete
with it enormous auditorium, practice area, meeting rooms, offices and
restaurant, was dedicated in June 1988. Oasis, with some 9,000 members,
still stands as the second-largest of all the 191 temples in North
America. A combined membership of more than 550,000 is governed by the
Imperial Council, the chief executive officer is the Imperial Potentate,
elected each year in July for a one-year term. The Shrine of North
America's general offices are in Tampa, Fla. |
Shriners Creed
Shriners believe in God and that He created man to serve His purposes,
among which is service to others in His name.
We believe that care for the less fortunate, especially children who
suffer from burns and crippling diseases, is our institutional calling.
We are patriots, each willing to serve his country with fidelity and
courage. We cherish independence under law and freedom with
responsibility.
We honor family. We respect our parents, wives and children. We should
instill in our children the tenets of this creed and the heritage from
which it emanates.
As individuals we pledge ourselves to integrity, virtue and nobility of
character. Our intentions will be honorable, our relations will be
trustworthy and our spirits forgiving of each other.
As brothers we offer each other fraternal affection and respect.
Together we will support each other in adherence to this creed, so that
we and our communities will be the better because
of our fraternity and its principles.
As Shriners we look beyond ourselves to serve the needs of others,
especially children who cannot help themselves. We believe Shriners
Hospitals for Children to be the world’s greatest
philanthropy, and we covenant with each other to support its “temples of
mercy” with spirit, time, talent and means.
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The
Crescent was adopted as the Jewel of the Order. Although any materials
can be used in forming the crescent, the most valuable are the claws of
a Royal Bengal Tiger, unified at their base in a gold setting. In the
center is the head of a sphinx, and on the back are a pyramid, an urn
and a star. Today the Shrine emblem includes a scimitar from which means
the crescent hangs, and a five pointed star beneath the head of the
sphinx.
The
red fez with the black tassel, the Shrine’s official headgear, has been
handed down through the ages. It derives its name from the place where
it was first manufactured – the holy city of Fez, Morocco. The fez was
chosen as part of the Shrine’s Arabic (Near-Eastern) theme, around which
the color and pageantry of the Shrine are developed.