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Frank R. Newton
Potentate, 1916
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E. Jeff Ashcraft, Jr.
Potentate, 1966
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In the 1800's, San Antonio had its Blue Lodges, York Rite and Scottish Rite. Those who were eligible to become members of the blossoming Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.) found that there was no Shrine Temple in the city. The closest Shrine Temple to San Antonio was Ben Hur Temple in Austin, to which San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley Masons who were eligible became Nobles. Brotherhood was of the highest in those early days. Masonry played an important role in the lives of its members.
Around the latter part of 1915 or early 1916, a group of Nobles from San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley decided that it was time for the formation of a Shrine Temple in San Antonio. The Nobility of Ben Hur Temple were at first opposed to the formation of a Shrine Temple in San Antonio, as they desired to keep their Temple with a large membership encompassing the entire area of South and Southwest Texas.
From time to time, a Noble of the San Antonio area was placed on the Divan. It was decided by the Nobles of San Antonio that if they could marshal enough members to go to Austin at the annual election of Officers of the Divan of Ben Hur and elect all of them from San Antonio, the officials of Bur Hur Temple could no longer resist the appeals of San Antonio for a Shrine Temple of its own.
Accordingly, as a well kept secret, about 150 Nobles agreed to go to Austin for the annual meeting. A special railroad train was chartered which left San Antonio between four and five o'clock the day of the meeting. Upon arriving at Austin, the Nobles paraded from the station to the meeting place and marched in just before the meeting started. The Nobles of Ben Hur were thunderstruck, to say the least, as only 40 or 50 of their members were in attendance. By what were, of course, lopsided votes, a new Divan was elected, and all of the members were from San Antonio. Following the election and installation of the Potentate and Divan, work began to secure a charter at the next meeting of the Imperial Council. Alzafar Temple received its charter on July 13, 1916. the 139th Temple to be chartered by the Supreme Council.
From this simple beginning came the Alzafar Temple we know today. It is the 57th largest among the Shrine Temples. During its early formative years, Alzafar Temple had offices and held its ceremonies in the Scottish Rite Temple. In 1967, construction began on Alzafar Temple on a 60 acre site at IH-10 and Huebner Road. In 1981, this Temple and the land on which it was located were sold. Construction of the new Temple at its present location on Loop 1604 was completed in 1983.
The story of Alzafar Temple is still being written. It is that of hundreds of men, Freemasons all, who join together to mix fellowship, pleasure, entertainment, good will and vast charity in a grand scale program of fraternal good works that truly earns for them the title of NOBLE.
From the "50th Anniversary Review":
Fifty years ago (July 13, 1916) Alzafar Temple was granted a charter by the Imperial Council in Buffalo, New York. The first Session of Alzafar Temple was held on October 20, 1916. At this Session Noble J. T. (Jack) Jones of India Temple, Oklahoma City, Imperial Second Ceremonial Master acting as Imperial Potentate installed the following Officers of Alzafar: Frank R. Newton, Potentate; Ted H. Milburn, Chief Rabban; J. A. Patterson, Asst. Rabban; Henry Rabe, High Priest and Prophet; Sylvan Lang, Oriental Guide; J. H. Haile, Treasurer; P. D. Mathis, Recorder; W. D. Hood, Director; W. H. Newton, First Ceremonial Master; Robert Burns, Second Ceremonial Master; Robt. S. Michael, Capt. of the Guard; A. C. McDaniel, Marshal; S. J. Winters, Outer Guard.
Back in 1916, about 416 Nobles of San Antonio and Southwest Texas, belonging principally to Ben Hur and other Texas Temples, petitioned the Imperial Council for a Charter to form a Temple in San Antonio and the charter was granted to Alzafar at the Imperial Session in Buffalo on July 13th of that year.
Past Potentate C. A. Soule and Walton D. Hood of our Mother Temple (Ben Hur) assisted by our late beloved Past Potentate Bobby Burns covered many miles in obtaining the requisite signatures and the Noble who handled the paper work became the Temple's first Recorder which position he held until 1928.
P. D. Mathis
Recorder, 1916 Tom Phillips
Recorder, 1966
At the Ceremonial Session on the afternoon of Oct. 20th, one hundred and thirty-four Novices were initiated as members of Alzafar Temple.
We have seen much happen during the past fifty years in Alzafar - the increase in membership during World War I period-the loss of about half our membership during the depression years followed-the steady increase in members during the World War 11 period. Let us hope that during the next fifty years we can have a steady normal increase. By having interesting yearly programs of activities as we have had the past few years, we can hold our new members and not have them drop out for lack of interest as they have in the past.
