Vernon C. Oswald *
Illustrious Sir Vernon C. Oswald
Potentate - 1978
A ship that sells! That’s right-a ship that sells, in my opinion is MEMBER-SHIP. The flagship for the year will be membership. All Flagships have a Fleet. The Fleet for the year is Craftsmanship, Leadership, Partnership and Fellowship. Thus, another great year for Arabia Temple got underway with “Captain”, Vernon C. Oswald as the Illustrious Potentate.
Past Potentate Hirsh N. Schwartz was honored at the January Stated meeting as “Mr. Number One Shriner.”
To assist the Temple in the Masonic Fraternity and to promote goodwill to all Brethren, Potentate Oswald organized a Masonic Relations Committee. All master masons were invited to attend the February Stated meeting.
As president of the Texas Shrine Association Potentate Oswald presided over the TSA Mid-winter meetings held in February at Tyler, Texas. All thirteen Texas Shrine Temples were present including the Potentates and representatives from Anezeh Temple in Mexico City and Al Azhar Temple in Calgary, Canada. It was truly a meeting with Shrine representatives from the three countries of North America.
A well attended Inaugural Ball was held at the Mosque on February 25th.
Imperial Potentate, Fred R. Morrison made his official visit to Arabia Temple at the March Stated meeting.
Potentate Oswald declared that 1978 would be the year of the bow.
The first bingo in 1978 was held in the Mosque on March 15th and Benefit Day on March 18th was a complete success. A total of $209,400.00, the largest amount ever raised for this project. The annual Easter Egg Hunt was held on March 26th at the Tin Hall Gun Club.
The nobility of Arabia Temple were invited to enjoy two new pool tables that were recently installed in the Mosque. A hot sands ceremonial was held on April 8th and was followed by a Nobility dance featuring the Jay Burnen band. Family night featuring the magic of Paul Driscoll was held on April 15th.
The first Temple tour in April took a large group of nobles and their ladies to Las Vegas.
The Arabia Squares held their first annual Square Dance on April 29th. Past Potentate, W. Kendall Baker passed away on May 1, 1978. The beloved Kendall was Potentate in the year 1956.
The ladies of the units of Arabia Temple honored first Lady, Elaine Oswald, at a tea at the La Hacienda De Los Morales on May 5th. An All the Way in One Day Ceremonial was held on May 15th and was followed with a dance in the evening.
The Shrine Law Enforcement Association was organized following the May Stated meeting to work with the Marshal in providing security needs for Arabia Temple.
Another Family Night featuring the La France Sisters was held on May 20th and was well received.
The annual Texas Shrine Association all state meeting was held in Houston on June 8th, 9th & 10th and was one of the highlights of Potentate Oswald’s year. Nobles from all thirteen Texas Temples and Al Bedoo Temple from Billings, Montana and Bedouin Temple from Muskogee, Oklahoma were represented. Four Imperial officers; Imperial High Priest and Prophet, Daniel E. Bowers, Imperial Treasurer, Thomas W. Melham, Imperial First Ceremonial Master, Gene Braswell and Imperial Captain of the guard, Voris King all remarked how expertly the Texas Shrine Association stages its annual meetings and conventions. Also in attendance was Most Worshipful R. Furman Vinson Grand Master of Masons in Texas.
First place trophies were won by the Bowlers, Golfers, Legion of Honor and the Oriental Band. Second Place winners were the Band, Drum Corps, Patrol, Motor Corps, and the Provost Guard. A hot sands ceremonial was held and was available for all candidates across the State.
An All the Way in One Day York Rite Festival, in memory of the late Ted Rogers, was held on June 17th. Sixteen new novices were initiated. On June 25th Potentate Oswald installed the officers of the newly organized Sercor Club to carry out special assignments for the Potentate. Potentate Oswald and the Divan attended the Imperial Council meetings held in Detroit, Michigan on July 9th through July 14. At the request if Noble Hoyd E. Brock, President of the Association of Shrine Oriental Bands of North America, Potentate Oswald presided as Master of Ceremonies at the Annual Awards Banquet. Imperial Sir Warren F. Weck, Jr. was installed as Potentate.
The Rhine River Adventure Tour departed on July 25 for a tour of Europe including Brussels, Belgium and Munich, Germany.
Potentate Oswald gave approval for the newly formed Arabia Toastmasters Club.
The Temple units participated in the Annual parade in Schulenburg on August 6th.
An All the Way in One Day Ceremonial was held at the Mosque on September 23rd.
The 1978 “Shrine Circus Tremendous” got underway with a dance on September 30th and opened on October 5th and continued through October 15th.
A mini hot sands ceremonial was held at the Lufkin Shrine Club on October 7th.
Ballroom and Latin American dance lessons were revived on October 17th through December 19th in the Ballroom.
A full-form Hot Sands ceremonial was held on November 4th and attracted 22 novices. 38 nobles were created at a mini hot sands held on November 11th at the Brazos Valley Shrine Club.
For his many years of dedicated untiring service for Arabia Temple, Past Potentate Hirsh N. Schwartz was honored at a banquet held at the Mosque on November 15th.
Past Potentate Harry Berkey Jewett Sr., the Potentate in 1938 passed away November 18, 1978.
A Christmas Shoppers cruise to the Caribbean got underway on November 25th.
The final ceremonial of the year was held on December 9th and Santa Claus visited the Temple on December 16th on the occasion of Family Night.
A blood drive was held at American General Life Insurance Co. on December 20th and the great year of 1978 closed with a gala New Years Ball on December 31st.
