Organized 1948
On examination of any early history of most any order, political, social, or otherwise, which continues and has its being throughout the years, one is usually confronted with a cloak of uncertainty of the early facts surrounding the consummation and bringing to full bloom the finished product. This is so for natural reasons. The founding fathers are usually few in number, trusted friends, and frequently in close contact with each other, and to whom, under such circumstances, written records not only seem unnecessary but assume an air of affectation and appear to be ostentatious. Consequently, the later historian attempting to relate the formative events is necessarily required to use, in some degree at least, matters of conjecture. Thus it is with the early history of the Bedouins of Alzafar Temple, although from some witnesses now living and the early records found in the archives of the order, the account here related regarding its origin is something more than legendary and is graced with some degree of accuracy.
Sometime in the early part of the Year 1948 the Honorable Sam A. Chapman, the then reigning Potentate of Alzafar Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., expressed to his good friend, Brother J. B. Ashcraft, III, his desire to have organized in the Rio Grande Valley an oriental band as an additional uniformed unit of Alzafar Temple. A more fertile soil could not have been found by the Potentate in which to plant his seed of desire than in the fertile brain of Brother Ashcraft, who apparently immediately mounted his camel and began to round up a few trusted tribesmen for the purpose of organizing an oriental band. It can be readily assumed that Brother Ashcraft was enthusiastic in his mission and very persuasive in his arguments, for on the 12th day of February, 1948 he called a meeting in his office in Harlingen Texas, eight Nobles, including himself: of Alzafar Temple, for the purpose of organizing and holding the first meeting of the new organization. As the Minutes of the first meeting are of considerable historical value to the Bedouins, the same are copied herein in full, and read as follows:
"Meeting was called by J. B. Ashcraft for 5:30 p.m. on February 12, 1948 at his offices for the discussion of forming an oriental band.
Present were the following:
J. B. Ashcraft
H. S. Norman
Burt Pattison
Troy A. Shaffer
Lawrence C. Hull
H. W. Prescott
Wilson G. Palmer
Glenn K. Schuepbach
"All of the above being members of Alzafar Temple of San Antonio, Texas.
"J. B. Ashcraft explained to the above members why the meeting was called and also read a letter from Monty FerDon, National Organizer of "The Association of Shrine Oriental Bands', of Dayton, Ohio.
"In order that we might become affiliated with the above organization Ashcraft advised that officers be elected from the above group with the results that J. B. Ashcraft was elected president; H. S. Norman, Vice President; Burt O. Pattison, Secretary, Treasurer.
"As the annual dues of each band member is .50c this amount was collected from each of the above and this amount was sent by postal money order to Monty FerDon.
"The question of by-laws brought up for discussion but it was deferred until a later meeting.
"The following names were submitted for membership with the result that all of the following were passed for membership.
George T. Pattison
Roy Dixon
John Dixon
Pete Durham
Mervin Hays
Bill Kumpf
Harold Ainsworth
Joe Foster
Tommy Monk
W. D. Clark
Rev. Harry Hamblem
"It was agreed that the secretary write Monty FerDon stating what had been accomplished and also remitting the annual dues for each of the charter members, the amount being $4.00.
"Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m."
Although the Minutes of the first meeting held by the above named chartered members do not show a decision by the group on the name of the new organization, it appears from the Minutes dated March 16, 1948, (apparently the second meeting) that the name "Bedowins" has been decided on, as the Minutes started out as follows:
"Meeting was called of the BEDOWINS by J. B. Ashcraft, President, ant 8:00 p.m., March 16th at his offices."
There is a record of only one meeting in the Year 1948 after March the 16th, and that was held, according to the Minutes, on November 8, 1948. In the Minutes of which meeting the organization is referred to as "The Bedouin Band." At that meeting a set of By-laws, for the first time, was under discussion and it was decided that the proposed By-laws, with some minor corrections, be adopted and sent to the Potentate, Sam A. Chapman, for approval. The Bedouins, during the year of 1949, experienced a rapid growth and by early 1950 had a roster of approximately forty (40) members. Sam A. Chapman, the Potentate, under whose auspices the band was organized, had been voted a life member. The contemplated By-laws approved by the band at the meeting in the latter part of 1948 apparently were not forwarded to the Potentate for approval, as a subsequent set of By-laws appearing in the files of the Order were prepared for adoption sometime during the year of 1950. These By-laws were never signed and do not appear to have ever been adopted. However, in this set of By-laws, as well as the first set of By-laws drawn, the name of the organization is stated to be "Bedouins of Alzafar Temple." So far as the records reveal the Bedouins proceeded in their activities without a legal set of By-laws until the 24th day of April, 1952, when the then Potentate of Alzafar Temple, W. C. Pat Welch, approved the By-laws adopted by the Bedouins of Alzafar Temple on the 14th day of April, 1952 at a regular meeting. It is under this set of By-laws that the band has functioned from the 24th day of April, 1952 to the present time, January 12, 1953.
Officers of the Bedouin Band
1952
Pres. W. G. Palmer
Vice-Pres. Cecil White
Sec.-Treas. John Q. Adams
1953
Pres. Cecil White
Vice-Pres. C. H. Britton, Jr.
Sec.-Treas. John Junkins
1954
Pres. C. H. Britton, Jr.
Vice-Pres. Glen Scheupbach, Jack Cronewett
Sec.-Treas. Larry Crow
1955
Pres. C. M. Shelton
Vice-Pres. M. S. Beller
Sec.-Treas. Joe Garrett
1956
Pres. Pete McNamee
Vice-Pres. Joe Garrett
Sec.-Treas. Harry Blair
1957
Pres. Larry Davis
Vice-Pres. Bob Youker
Sec.-Treas. Jack Mayo
1958
Pres. Murray Hensley
Vice-Pres. Tony Lagler, E. J. Ashcraft
Sec.-Treas. Frank Van Ness
1959
Pres. E. J. Ashcraft
Vice-Pres. Mitch Kelly
Sec.-Treas. Lowell Williamson
1960
Pres. Mitch Kelly
Vice-Pres. J. Q. Adams
Sec.-Treas. Marshall Hutts
1961
Pres. Billy Fletcher
Vice-Pres. J. Q. Adams
Sec.-Treas. Dan Milliar, M. M. Harris
1962
Pres. J. Q. Adams
Vice-Pres. R. J. Furgerson
Sec.-Treas. M. M. Harris
1963
Pres. R. J. Furgerson
Vice-Pres. M. M. Harris
Sec.-Treas. R. G. Ray
1964
Pres. M. M. Harris
Vice-Pres. R. G. Ray
Sec.-Treas. G. H. Bailey
1965
Pres. R. G. Ray
Vice-Pres. G. H. Bailey
Sec.-Treas. Bobby Evans
1966
Pres. G. H. Bailey
Vice-Pres. Bobby Evans
Sec.-Treas. Larry Nance
The Bedouins of Alzafar Temple are in many ways like the Arab-Bedouins.
Origin of the Arabs (Bedouins)
The Bedouins forefathers were from the northerly group believed to be Ishmael, son of Abraham. Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, was a concubine of Abraham who bore him a son when his wife Sara was barren. According to some of the nomad Arabs (Bedouins), Hagar was a desert spirit.
Because of Sara's jealousy Abraham was forced to abandon Hagar and her son in the desert, where they were in great distress until God came to their aid, causing a spring of water to rise up before them. The Bedouins of today believe that they, too, are under God's protection from the day of their birth.
The Arabs are proverbially hospitable to strangers. The Bedouin is obligated, by the code of honor which rules his society, to welcome anyone - whether friend or enemy - who touches his tentpole. If any Bedouin fails to comply with this unwritten law he is greatly lowered in the eyes of his tribe. Bedouin hospitality on such terms lasts only for two nights and the day in between, this being the time considered necessary for the guest to digest the food and drink offered him on his arrival. At the end of this time, it is not unusual for the guest to be stripped of his goods by the man who has been his host.
The Arabs of the desert are the Bedouins. They are nomadic, spending the rainier winter months in the desert, where they are able to find sufficient pasture for the flocks which provide their livelihood, and moving in the summer toward the oases. This pattern of existence has not changed appreciably since early Biblical times.
Those Bedouins who breed camels as their main source of livelihood are considered to be the noblest. The sheep breeding bedouins never venture far into the desert, preferring to remain close to cultivated areas.
The nomads who keep flocks of sheep and goats are regarded by the camel breeders as inferior.
Certain nomadic tribes can claim no relationship with the noble tribes of camel breeders or even the less noble sheep breeders. These ancestorless tribes are regarded by the other Bedouins as vassals, and are treated with contempt.
The celebrated black tent of the Bedouins is made from thick material woven by the womenfolk from the hair of goats and camels. Strips of this cloth are sewn together to form a rectangle some ten yards by four. The material is stretched over three parallel stakes and fixed by means of ropes and pegs. The ropes usually also are made of animals' hair, are the weakest part of the whole structure. For this reason, hemp ropes are regarded as a particularly desirable commodity. The interior of a Bedouin's tent is divided into two rooms separated by a curtain. The right-hand room is for the men and for the reception of guests. The other room, which forms the women's quarters, is also the storeroom for the family's few possessions and meager supplies of rice and grain.
Furnishings generally comprise no more than a few carpets serving as seats, divans or beds, as required, and the necessary domestic utensils.
Most women possess a small box in which they keep their comb, mirror and whatever modest pieces of jewelry they may have inherited. The wife of sheik (tribal chief) also owns a small, red trunk - a prestige symbol - in which she keeps the gifts she has received from her husband.
Tribal society is highly developed among the Arabs, and particularly among the Bedouins. In the desert, the tribe is the ideal unit of society, since it is small enough to function as a unit and large enough for its number to be an advantage.
The Bedouins are reluctant to accept the authority of any national government and for this reason have always been hard to control. The nomads only recognize the authority of one who shares their life and has had long experience of its difficulties.
The elected chief of a tribe, the sheik, has considerable personal power but his decisions are not necessarily law. He is expected to defer to the collective experience and opinion of the tribe, expressed through an informal council of elders.
The basic garment of the Arab's costume is a piece of cloth wound about the body below the armpits. The top garment worn by the Bedouins is a heavy, woolen cloak made from sheep's wool or camel's hair. This garment is particularly useful since by day it absorbs perspiration and gives protection against the sun's rays, while by night it retains the body's heat. The cloak is a sack-like garment, usually gray or white, but sometimes triped, with openings for the arms and head.
The characteristic headdress of the Arabs consists of a rectangular piece of cloth which is coiled around the head in such a way that the ends fall on to the shoulders. It is kept in place by a ribbon or cord, wither plain or decorated, which encircles the crown of the head and is tied at the front. A cap or caps made of felt is worn underneath this headdress.
