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Oasis Shriners were
also vigilant during wartime, and celebrated with the rest of the world at
the end of each conflict. In the October 1945 issue of the Desert Dust,
Imperial Potentate William H. Woodfield Jr. said of World War II Shrine
veterans: "More than 50,000 fellow Nobles of the Mystic Shrine served
their country in the military forces during this worst of wars. Many will
not return. Their names are marked by a gold star on our rolls of
honor". "To these men whom we all knew and to all who made the
supreme sacrifice, and to their families and friends, there are no words
to express our humble gratitude and thanks for their deeds," Imperial
Sir William said.
Also during the growth
of Shrinedom in the 20th Century came expansion of the organization in the
Carolinas. Omar Temple was chartered in Charleston, S.C., in 1907, Sudan
Temple in New Burn, N.C., in 1917, Greenville's Hejaz in 1920, Columbia's
Jamil in 1974 and Raleigh's Amran in 1976.
One of the most
significant modern milestones for Oasis came in 1987, with the
construction of its new headquarters mosque in the University City area of
north Charlotte after spending virtually all of its first 90-odd years in
downtown Charlotte. Ground was broken at the new building on March 20,
1987, in a ceremony attended by local government, civic and political
leaders along with representation fro the nobility throughout the
Carolinas and on the Imperial level. A week later a commemorative plaque
was installed by the Grand Lodge of AF & AM of N.C. by Grand Master
Bud McCall and Oasis Potentate Tommy Arakas.
The completed 55,000
square-foot building, complete with it enormous auditorium, practice area,
meeting rooms, offices and restaurant, was dedicated in June 1988. Oasis,
with some 9,000 members, still stands as the second-largest of all the
191 temples in North America. A combined membership of more than 550,000
is governed by the Imperial Council, the chief executive officer is the
Imperial Potentate, elected each year in July for a one-year term. The
Shrine of North America's general offices are in Tampa, Fla.
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