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Dispensation for Charter of Akdar Shrine was granted during the 37th Annual Imperial Council Session, held at Rochester, New York, on July 11th and 12th, 1911.
After the opening of the second day’s session, Wednesday, July 12, 1911, a call for a report of the Committee on Charters and Dispensations was made. The following is taken from the minutes of that meeting:
“Your Committee on Charters and Dispensations, having given the matter careful consideration, respectfully recommend that a dispensation be granted to Akdar Temple of Tulsa, Oklahoma. This portion of the report was upon motion adopted.
During the following year, 1912, at the 38th Annual Imperial Session held at Los Angeles, California, it is interesting to note that a break in the report of the Committee on Charters and Dispensations occurred after Wahabi Temple of Jackson, Mississippi, Bedouin Temple of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Al Bahir of San Diego, California were each granted charters.
A report of the Committee of Jurisprudence and Law proposing a change in Imperial Bylaws to elect members of the order “Emeritus Members” of the Imperial Council was presented. Then a roll call of temples and representatives was held.
During the second report of the Committee on Charters and Dispensations, the following report was submitted:
“In the matter of the application of Akdar Temple, under dispensation at Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a charter, your Committee is pleased to report that the progress made by this temple is very gratifying. During the year past, a large number of business sessions were held and two successful Ceremonial Sessions, at which were initiated 227 novices, received under demit 96, and by petition for 319, making a total membership of 639.
|
Total Receipts were |
$ |
13,540.83 |
|
Distributions for Paraphernalia, Etc. |
$ |
3,818.24 |
|
Set Aside for New Temple Fund |
$ |
1,500.00 |
|
Miscellaneous Expense |
$ |
5,737.62 |
|
Cash, First National Bank, Tulsa |
$ |
2,484.97 |
|
Total |
$ |
13,540.83 |
All requirements of the Imperial Council Law have been complied with and your Committee recommends that a Charter be granted. This report was accepted and recommendations adopted.”
H.P. Anderson served as Potentate under dispensation, while Arthur C. Farmer served as first elected potentate of the newly chartered temple.
The name AKDAR means “Mightier or Mightiest.” Akdar was the 125th Temple chartered. Today there are 191 Temples. The first Temple meetings were held at the Hotel Tulsa. Our first Mosque groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 24th, 1922, under the direction of Illustrious Sir Robert B. Hanna, Potentate. This was the beautiful building located at Fourth and Denver Streets, an architectural masterpiece.
During the depression, the Mosque was sold and later became the Cimarron Ballroom and was purchased by Leon McAuliffe of Bob Wills Fame. In need of major repairs, it was demolished in 1976.
Our next Mosque was located at 20 East 21st Street. Ground was broken December 22, 1948 by Illustrious Sir C. Williford, Potentate. Akdar moved into its new Mosque in June 1951, under the direction of Illustrious Sir B.L. Lightwine, 1951 Potentate.
A remodeling project was undertaken and completed under the direction of Illustrious Sir Harry Lord. A long and hard legal encounter was started involving our Minarets or “onion domes” (as they became known) and was finally concluded to the satisfaction of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
The Mosque of 21st Street was aging and in need of much repair. During 200, Akdar had the opportunity to sell the existing Mosque and purchase a medical facility from the University of Oklahoma and 2808 South Sheridan Road. During the late summer and fall of 2000, after much debate, checking figures, looking over the history of the building, the nobility voted unanimously to sell the property on 21st Street and purchase the facility on Sheridan Road.
Past Potentate Dr. Richard Polk, chaired the committee to oversee the moving from 21st Street to Sheridan Road in a very short period of time. The entire lower level was renovated…a complete kitchen, a dining room, dance floor, closets for each unit and kitchen cookware, while outside of the lower level you’ll find a nice wooden deck complete with flowers, trees and picnic tables. Illustrious Sir Charles Gruse, Potentate 2003, donated both a large grill and smoker. All this on one campus for the entire nobility to enjoy.
On the main floor, much needed administrative offices, work space, circus office, transportation office and auditorium. The auditorium is a beautiful place for the nobility to hold its monthly meetings. The nobility did much of the remodeling work on the new building and they are to be congratulated on a job well done.
In August of 2004 Akdar made history when the Will Rogers Telemedicine Suite opened inside our Shrine Center. The first such clinic in all of Shrinedome, Potentate Tommy Henshaw, Jr. welcomed Past Imperial Sir Ralph W. Semb to Tulsa for the Grand Opening. Children and their families were seen by their Doctor in Shreveport, LA that day without leaving Tulsa. This effort was made possible through the generosity and cooperation of Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma University and the Tulsa Regional Medical Center.
Today as you enter the nice spacious parking lot, then enter our beautiful new Mosque, you can sense the pride of Akdar Shriners. We are proud to be Americans, proud to be Shriners, and very proud to be Akdar Shriners.
Yes indeed! We are proud to share the beauty of our building and grounds with our neighbors and the community.
January 2009
What is Freemasonry?
Who can become a Mason?
How do I become a Master Mason?
The following is a brief response to questions often asked about Freemasonry: what is Freemasonry, what is its origin, when and where did it start, who started it, and what is its purpose.
Freemasonry is the oldest and the largest fraternal order in the world. It is a universal brotherhood of men dedicated to serving God, family, fellowman and country.
The heritage of modern Freemasonry is derived from the organized guilds or unions of stone masons who constructed the beautiful cathedrals and other stately structures throughout Europe during the middle ages. The skills and architectural genius of these craftsmen and their commitment to the highest standards of moral and ethical values were universally applauded, and unlike other classes of people, they were allowed to travel freely from country to country. Thus, during this period, the word "Free" was prefixed to the word mason, and these craftsmen, and the generations of masons who followed, were referred to as Freemasons.
Until about the sixteenth century, masons were strictly an operative craft-stone masons and architects building those magnificent cathedrals and palaces, many of which still adorn the landscape of the European country side. Early in the seventeenth century, membership in these unions or operating lodges of stone masons began to decline, and probably to compensate for their loss in members, they began to admit certain men of prominence in society who were not craftsmen or stone masons. This class of members were initially considered patrons of the Fraternity, and over the years became known as "accepted masons". At the conclusion of the seventeenth century, a radical transformation had evolved; these accepted masons had become predominant, and the older lodges of Freemasons began to emphasize and teach moral philosophy rather than the technical and operative art of earlier centuries. Tools of the stone masons are still used in the Fraternity today, but only to symbolize moral virtue, not to build cathedrals.
Although the moral philosophy of Freemasonry is founded upon religious principles, it is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. Candidates for membership (adult males) are however, expected to profess a belief in God, and be of good moral character.
Courtesy of Alexandria-Washington Masonic Lodge,
(original version 1988, Revised 1995)
In order to be considered for membership in the Masonic Fraternity you must:
* Be a male
* Be at least 19 years old (Oklahoma) *21 years old in most other states
* Believe in the existence of one true and living God and the immortality of the soul
* Support local and national government and abide by the laws and Constitution of the United States (in the U.S.)
* Not be engaged in illegal activities
* Have a good reputation in the community
* Have no mental, legal, or moral impairment which would prevent you from being a good Mason and associating with men to whom ethics and honor are important.
Courtesty of the Oklahoma Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of Oklahoma, "Path to Brotherhood" package.
How do I become a Master Mason?
It's not hard to become a Master Mason. The process is by petition and then by taking a series of three Degrees. They are ancient in form, and contain no "horse-play."
Step 1. Make sure you meet the qualifications (listed in prior FAQ).
Step 2. Ask a Master Mason for a petition.
Step 3. Fill out the petition and return it to the Mason who gave it to you. He will take it to the Lodge where it will be read in a meeting.
Step 4. Meet with a committee appointed by the Master of the Lodge. The committee will meet with you at your convenience. Their task is to amplify the information on the petition and to answer your questions about Masonry.
Step 5. The Lodge will contact you to tell you when to come for the Entered Apprentice Degree. After you take the Degree, a Brother will help you learn some material. After that, you take the Fellowcraft Degree and the Master Mason Degree.
That's all it takes.
Courtesy of the Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of Oklahoma, "Path to Brotherhood" package.