Arab Shriners - A.A.O.N.M.S.

For many years the Nobles living in and around Topeka had worked hard to secure a Temple in the capital city of Kansas.

In the years 1928 - 1929 - 1930 their efforts were renewed and some progress was made, enough that a mass meeting of all Shriners was held in the Hotel Jayhawk Roof Garden. At this meeting a Central Committee was appointed to secure the 1,000 signatures required for a petition to the Imperial Council for a Temple and to keep the interest up.

The following Nobles were named on this Committee: Norris Townsend, Al F. Williams, J. Harry Colingwood, Clinton T. Wilcox, Sherman T. Bourassa, and Charles R. Shrake. The Committee then named the following officers to serve :

Chairman - Clinton T. Wilcox

Secretary - Charles R. Shrake

Treasurer - J. Harry Collingwood

Legal and Spokesman - Al F. Williams


After several trips to the Imperial, Arab Temple (U.D) was formed July 16, 1931 to cover the counties now in Arab territory and the members went to work to make a showing for the next trip to secure a Temple. A very large class of novices were signed, as shown by the Institution Class. With the first Divan they are shown in the large framed picture in the entrance to the Mosque. So, July 28, 1932, Arab Temple was born with Dr. Norris L. Townsend serving as our first Potentate.

With lots of hard work Arab Temple attended the Imperial Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1934, with a Band and Patrol in full uniforms. The trip was made by cars and the units were housed in a former apartment building. It was a fun trip with Nobles only, as the ladies did not, at the time, attend Imperial Sessions. Potentate Stanley J. Shook led the Arab Temple on this trip.

In 1944 the Divan of Arab Temple secured an option to purchase the building on Jackson Street that was formerly owned and occupied by the Scottish Rite of Topeka and other Masonic Lodges. A special meeting was called and the members voted to buy the building on contract as proposed.

In 1945, the Divan secured an option to purchase a fifty foot front building in the 900 block of Kansas Avenue. After spending a lot of money for plans and checking the lack of parking nearby, we were able to sell this building to one of the Capper Publications units. Arab Temple made about $10,000.00 net, and so started our building fund. This building is now owned and occupied by the Eagles Lodge.

During the years our jurisdiction was good to Arab Temple and even with World War II from 1941 - 1945, we grew.

In 1966 the Jackson Street Mosque was destroyed by fire and we moved to the Hotel Jayhawk. Later the Safeway building at 1305 South Kansas Avenue was purchased and made into our present mosque with plenty of parking.  We moved to our present location in 1968 and we have grown since.

During the years 1932 - 1978, Arab Temple has had three Recorders: Walter D. Miller, J. Lewis Coffelt, and Forrest E. Lindsey. It has also had three Treasurers serve: J. Harry Collingwood, George W. Stansfield, and Charles R. Shrake. Arab Temple, with a membership of nearly 1,400 is on its way. The Past Potentates are now, and have always been, very loyal and are formed into a Chapter of CABIRI, - #44, the first chapter in Kansas and has 21 members, the CABIRI chapers in Kansas are #44-93-145-155-162, so Arab may be the baby Temple, but they have the senior Past Potentate chapter.