Lloyd L. Brightman *

Illustrious Sir Lloyd Brightman

Potentate 1966

Two significant events took place during Potentate Lloyd L. Brightman’s year of 1966. The first of three Shriners Burns Institutes opened at Galveston, and Arabia Temple’s Crippled Children’s Clinic became the Houston Unit of the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children.

Imperial Potentate and Mrs. Barney W. Collins were guests of honor at a formal banquet at the Shamrock on the occasion of the Imperial Sir’s official visit to Arabia Temple. It was Open House at the opening of the first Shriners Burns Institute on March 20th at Galveston, Texas. Potentate and Mrs. Brightman led a delegation of Nobles and ladies from Houston, including the Band and the Chanters who had a part in the program. Imperial Potentate Collins admitted the first patient to this Temple of Mercy. Other dignitaries present were MW William Fullingim, Grand Master of Masons in Texas and Past Imperial Potentate Harold Lloyd, Chairman of the Board of Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children.

The sudden death of Past Potentate C. E. “Chuck” Newton, Jr. on April 12th was a shock to every member of Arabia Temple. Chuck was Potentate of Arabia Temple in 1962.

At the Downtown Recreational Center on April 16th, the stated meeting was held in conjunction with the Spring Ceremonial. A full day of activity included a parade, and 125 new members were initiated.

All-State was held at Austin in 1966, with the customary unit competitions. There was, however, no record of any trophies brought back to Houston. A large group of Nobles and ladies accompanied the Potentate and Divan to the Imperial sessions at San Francisco, California in July. Noble Orville F. Rush of Kena Temple in Alexandria, Virginia was installed as Imperial Potentate for the year 1966–1967.

Negotiations, started early in 1965, were completed and Arabia Temple’s Crippled Children’s Clinic became the Houston Unit of Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children. For the Benefit of the Crippled Children’s Hospital, Arabia Temple sponsored a pre-season football game at Rice Stadium in August, featuring the Houston Oilers vs the Oakland Raiders. The Uniformed Units performed during the half-time activities. The Recreational Center was again the scene for the Fall Ceremonial in October; a total of 86 new novices became members during the ceremonial and several cold sands ceremonials.

With the Burns Institute now in operation, there was urgent need for blood and many Nobles traveled to Galveston and became donors for this most worthy cause. “Circus Through the Centuries” was the theme for the 30th Annual Arabia Shrine Circus. Featuring Tarzan and his animals, Blinko the Clown, and the sensational Celeste, the 1966 Circus was a big success and broke all previous records. At the December Stated Meetings, Potentate Brightman was presented with a color television set by the officers of the Uniformed Units. The traditional holiday parties and festivities closed one of the great years of Arabia Temple.