Arthur B. Stone, Jr. *
Illustrious Sir Arthur B. Stone Jr.
Potentate - 1976
Arthur B. Stone, Jr. was Illustrious Potentate in the Bicentennial Year of 1976. The Illustrious Sir pledged he would continue the growth of Arabia Temple’s inheritance and he invited the Nobility to join with him in “The Spirit of ’76.” A public installation of officers was held on February 15th and the first Inaugural Ball in the new mosque ballroom on February 21st witnessed the largest crowd ever to attend an Inaugural Ball.
On April 5th, the Potentate was host to Imperial Potentate W. W. “Woody” Bennett on his official visit to Arabia Temple. The second annual Tabloid Sale – “Telling the Shrine Story” held on April 17th and, as expected, went “Over the Top” for the benefit of the Crippled Children’s Hospitals. Approximately 4,000 nobles and families turned out for the annual picnic on April 30th. An All-the-Way-in-One-Day Ceremonial was very successful with 191 new novices becoming members of Arabia Temple. Houston and Arabia Temple were hosts for the Texas Shrine Association in June. Arabia’s Potentate, Arthur B. Stone, Jr., President of the Texas Shrine Association, presided over the business meetings. Three full days of activity were thoroughly enjoyed by nobles and ladies from all over Texas. The Motor Corps, Arabian Knights, Chanters, and the Bowlers all won trophies for Arabia Temple. Sadness, however, prevailed when it was learned that our very popular Chief Rabban, Ted H. Rogers, had suddenly died on the first day of the convention. A called meeting of the temple on June 21st was held to endorse the elevating of two Divan members and the election of a new Oriental Guide. C. S. “Bud” Inscho, Jr. was elevated to the office of Chief Rabban, Forrest St. Clair was advanced to High Priest and Prophet and Tom W. Johnson was elected to Oriental Guide. In July, at the Imperial Council sessions in Kansas City, Mo., the Patrol successfully defended their National Parade championship and placed second in drill competition and the Clown Jewels won third place. Imperial Sir Peter Val Preda of Cairo Temple in Rutland, Vermont was elected Imperial Potentate. Chief Rabban C. S. “Bud” Inscho was elected President of the Shrine Patrol Association of North America.
At the Hot Sands Ceremonial on September 24th, for the first time, Arabia Temple’s membership exceeded 10,000.
The 1976 “Circus Fantastic”, with Chief Rabban C. S. “Bud” Inscho as General Circus Chairman, opened at the Coliseum on October 5th. With outstanding radio and TV coverage and the introduction of the Blind Program that enabled over 400 blind persons to “see” the Circus through the eyes of a moderator, the show was a complete success.
An All-the-Way-in-One-Day Ceremonial on December 4th brought the total of new members for the year 557 and the year closed with a record membership for 10,038 members.
