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Oasis Shriners trace
their history back to 1894, when Walter Scott "Daddy" Liddell
and eight Knights Templer of the Charlotte Commandery No.2 petitioned Acca
Temple in Richmond, Va., to organize a Shrine Temple in North Carolina,
actually the first in the Carolinas, North and South. Those joining with
Liddell were Belk department store founder William Henry Belk, Dr. J.F.
Robertson, B. Swift Davis, John Farrier, C.L. Hopkins, W.B. Summersett,
D.E. Allen and George Merideth. The Charter was granted on Oct. 10, 1894,
by Imperial Potentate William B. Melish of Cincinnati.
Liddell, a 33rd Degree
Scottish Rite Mason, Knight Templer, and past Master of his lodge, Phalanx
No.31 in Charlotte, served as Potentate of Oasis for four years and was
Grand Master of Masons in 1904 and 1905. He was the Oasis Imperial representative
and had Emeritus status until his death in 1940. In addition to
Illustrious Sir Walter, the original Divan of the newly-formed temple
were: Chief Rabban W.B. Summersett, Assistant Rabban E.E. Allen, High
Priest and Profit D.S. Davis, Oriental Guide J.F. Robertson, Recorder John
Farrier, Treasurer C.L. Hopkins, First Ceremonial Master J.T. Barron,
Second Ceremonial Master J.W. Courtland, Captain of the Guard William
Henry Belk, Outer Guard George Merideth and Marshall C.L. Hoffman.
Initially, there was no director, but
later D.G. Maxwell was named to the post and all the original Divan was
appointed by Imperial Potentate Melish.
The first meeting was
held at what was called Shrine Hall in downtown Charlotte on January 18,
1895. The next day, with the assistance of Acca Temple repersentatives, 18
new nobles were initiated into the newly-formed Oasis Temple. That first
ceremonial ended with a dinner in the Masonic Hall (A place thought to be
the same structure as Shrine Hall)
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