Norwich bulletin., 1921-06-11

There were nineteen members of Pyra- mid temple of Bridgeport, then the only \ temple in the state, present. Rial s. Peck was made chairman and James H. Jarman, secretary of the meeting. MT. Peck, Charles B. Andrus and Halsey B. Philbrick were appointed committee to- visit Pyramid temple and notify that body of the proposed secession The proposition was opposed by the members of Pyramid and. as a counter proposition, they suggested that Pyramid temple be relocated in Hartford. This proposal went down to defeat and it was voted to allow the Hartford nobles to go ahead and organize a temple.
 At a meeting. March 6, 1896, the name l sphinx" was selected, as being in line
 with the requirement that all temples of the order must bear Arabic names. | The dispensation for Sphinx temple
 was granted April 8, 1896, Rial s. Peck
 was elected the first illustrious poten- tate; Sidney E. Clarke, recorder; Alfred
 Spencer, IT,, treasurer; Frank D. May, director.
 The charter was granted by the Im- perial council, June 4, 1896, at it's annual
 session in Cleveland, Ohio. Jurisdiction 1 was given the temple over the territory
 embraced by Washington commandery, l Knights Templar of Hartford; Columbian
 conmandery of Norwich, Clark comman- dery of Waterbury, Cyrene commandery
 of Middletown, and St. Johns command | cry of Willimantic and concurrent jur- isdiction with St. Elmo commandery of
 Meriden except the town of Berlin, which is under the exclusive jurisdiction of Sphinx temple.
 1 The first meeting under the dispensa- tion was held April 24, 1896, with forty three nobies present The first meeting under the charter was held July 13. At lthe end of the first year the new temple had 415. With the 153 candidates re- ceived today the membership is 2,107. I Charles E. Shelton succeeded Sidney P. Clarke as recorder at the end of the first year. MT. Shelton continued until
 January l. 1900. when he was succeeded by Richard P Martin, still continuing
 as recorder. MT. Spencer has been the
 treasurer since organization.
 The potentates have been Rial S. Peck
 who was followed in 1902 by James II Jarman, William G. Simmons, Stanley B. Bosworth, Joseph E. Root, Edward W. Pratt, Edward Mahl. John T. Tender son, George W. Klett William w. Fray
 CT, William F. Loomis, Walter s. Garde Henry S. Strong, Thomas w. Morgan Henry C. Toothaker, Clayton W. Row
 ley, Charles W. Heusted, Horace W.
 Eddy
 The present year under Illustrious Pc : tentate Otis J. Hart has been a very
 busy one Including the 153 candidates today, there are 225 new members tC :, date.
 The membership includes many presen : and past state officials and others prom inent in public and business affairs. 5 Three strong adjuncts has the tenn pie. The oldest is the famous Sphin7
 temple band, founded in 1898 by Directo Frank D. May, with thirteen members The late J. Oscar Casey was it's frs = leader. In 1899 Thomas w Morgan 7 was made leader of the band and ap
 pointed musical director, a position h : has filled since.
 - The Sphinx Temple Arab patrol wa
 organized in 1907. The late Robert Ma 1 genigal was the first captain. William s F. Powel is the present captain. Tn . late Edward W. Alexander was cap . ltain for several years until his death i