Ike Ashburn *

Illustrious Sir Ike Ashburn

Potentate - 1933

Noble Franklin D. Roosevelt (a member of Cyprus Temple in Albany, N. Y. and who was raised on Nov. 28, 1911 in Holland Lodge No. 8, New York City) became the 12th Masonic President of the U.S.A. just four days after Noble Ike S. Ashburn was elected Potentate of Arabia Temple. With new leadership in Washington, Potentate Ashburn wrote in his first letter to the Nobility that he looked forward to a year of hope and increasing plenty.

A very successful Crippled Children’s Ball in February strengthened that hope. Several new activities were introduced: a family picnic at Sylvan Beach, the first Memorial Day service at Miller Memorial Theatre, and a special train trip to Conroe. The Temple Bowling League was particularly active in 1933 with eight teams all named after birds (owls, hawks, jaybirds, etc.).

Both the Spring and Fall Ceremonials were highly publicized and resulted in a total of 14 novices in each class. The goal was one new member for every 100 of the 3,976 Temple membership.

Potentate Ashburn, the Divan, and representatives attended the Imperial meetings in Atlantic City, N. J. Again the absence of the Uniformed Units at the Imperial meetings was keenly felt. Returning to Houston, Colonel Ashburn authorized a fund-raising project to send the Uniformed Units to the Imperial Meetings in 1934 at Minneapolis, Minnesota. A “Blanket Campaign” involving the sale of 57 varieties of blankets, motor robes, Masonic and Shrine emblem blankets, etc., netted $3,000— not enough.

NOTE: The usual sources of information used to compile this history were not available for the next four years (1934-37).