Chester H. Bryan *

Illustrious Sir Chester H. Bryan

Potentate - 1919

Several significant events occurred during Potentate Chester H. Bryan’s year in 1919. On April 21, 1919 Arabia Temple purchased the First Baptist Church property at the corner of Fannin and Walker for $71,000 for future renovations and occupation. In June at Indianapolis, Indiana, Past Potentate Frank C. Jones was elected as Imperial Captain of the Guard, thus giving Arabia Temple its first Imperial Officer. Also at this session of the Imperial Council, Imperial Potentate W. Freeland Kendrick announced plans for building hospitals for orphaned, friendless crippled children.

On his return from Indianapolis, Past Potentate D. W. Michaux made a motion to start a crippled children’s clinic of our own here in Houston. This was adopted and our first clinic was started at the old Memorial Hospital downtown.

Arabia Temple became incorporated in 1919, “the term for which it was to exist was fifty years.” The year closed with a membership of 1561 nobles.