Walter P. Moore *

Illustrious Sir Walter P. Moore

Potentate - 1957

“I have found from the Nobility a willingness to work and a desire for a good year. That we can and will have,” were Illustrious Potentate Walter P. Moore’s words in his first letter to the Nobility. At the February Stated Meeting, a resolution was unanimously passed to support Past Potentate W. Kendall Baker as a candidate for Imperial Outer Guard at the Imperial meetings in Minneapolis, Minn., and the representatives were instructed to take the necessary steps to insure that his name be brought before the Imperial meeting.

A previously appointed committee explored the advisability of having a new Mosque, and announced that the tract of land at the foot of Kirby Drive on Braeswood Blvd. had been purchased for the new Mosque.

In March, Imperial Potentate Gerald D. Crary made his official visit. Visitations were made to Baytown and Bay City; and the Crippled Children’s Pageant, billed as A Great Youth Extravaganza, was held in the Coliseum. No parade or public appearance of the Novices prevailed at the Spring Ceremonial in May at the Coliseum, but the 143 Novices and the ladies were entertained at a dance at the Mosque the night before the Ceremonial.

All-State was held at Fort Worth in June. Potentate Moore, the Divan, Uniformed Units, the Nobility, and ladies made the trip by train. The Arabian Knights, the Temple’s newest unit, made their first appearance in an All-State parade. At the Imperial meetings in Minneapolis in July, Noble Thomas W. Melham was elected Imperial Potentate and Orville F. Rush of Kena Temple in Alexandria, Va. was elected Imperial Outer Guard. Arabia Temple ranked 24th in membership among the 166 Temples.

Imperial Potentate Melham made his official visit in November and was made an honorary member of Arabia Temple at the stated meeting. The Fall ceremonial on November 1 attracted 110 new Novices.

Outstanding aerial acts and Merle Evans as leader of the Circus Band were features of the Circus which played successfully from November 7th to November 17th. A Christmas Party for the Crippled Children was held at the Clinic, and a really fine year closed with a New Year’s Party and dance at the Mosque.