Welcome To the Nile Shrine Masonic Center. We are one of four
Shrine Centers in the State of Washington and are part of the 191
Shrine organizations that make up the Ancient Arabic Order of the
Mystic Shrine for North America. The Shrine was started in 1872
by a group of men belonging to the Masonic Order. It was originally
established to provide fun and fellowship for its members. But as
the organization grew, its members decided to dedicate their efforts
to helping others by establishing an official philanthropy. Specialized
hospitals were created to provide expert medical care to children
at no charge.
Since the first Shriners Hospital opened in 1922, The Shrine has supported 22 Children's Hospitals throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The annual budget for the hospitals in 2000 was over 500 million dollars. It has become known as the "Worlds Greatest Philanthropy".
The best known symbol of the Shrine is the red fez that Shriners wear to official functions. Most Shrine Centers sponsor Shrine Clubs and special units, such as the motorcycle and mini-bike patrol, Band and Oriental Band, clown units and many other units of special interest. They share in the camaraderie, deep friendships and good fellowship that are all part of being a Shriner.
History of Nile Shrine
“From Whence We Came”
By Freddie Hayden, Past Historian
Updated by James O. Wood, Past Potentate,
and Ben Neff, Historian
In the year 1987, we presented a history of Nile Temple from its origin to date. That account remains factual and we have but to repeat it for the benefit and edification of those Nobles who have come aboard since that time, plus events in the interim.
We take it as “cut and dried” or “cold and factual” that Nile Temple was under dispensation in 1908 and chartered in 1909, but what of the circumstances?
We were happy, loyal members of Afifi Temple in Tacoma, so why make a change?
The likely answer might lay in the transportation problems of that time. Roads were terrible and autos scarce. During this period there were not many miles of highway in the state (mostly linking farming areas with trading centers), and as for monies needed to maintain these highways, the first tax levied on cars did not occur until 1909 and on gasoline in 1920. For years afterward you could count on more than one flat tire between here and Tacoma. There were steamers and rails for transportation, with the steamers the more reliable.
Membership was increasing to the extent that 487 members living in the Seattle area felt that they could support a temple of their own.
Tacoma was a bustling city on the move and with Afifi’s membership mounting, our mother temple gave her warm and amicable support to our plan.
Historical data taken from the “Smile With Nile” publication, dated May 1948, relates:
“The first meeting to take steps to form a Shrine temple was held in the Elks hall, Alaska Building, April 1, 1908, presided over by Noble Frank Parker, who presented our petition, signed by 457 Nobles, for a dispensation to the Imperial Council in St. Paul, Minnesota in July. Dispensation was granted July 15, 1908.
“At this meeting, Ernest B. Hussey, Past Potentate of Afifi Temple, was elected as temporary Potentate and held that office to the end of the year.
“Also at this meeting, ‘NILE’ was selected as the name of our temple, the most fortunate name that could have been chosen.
“The first Ceremonial was held in the Moore Theater on December 2nd, increasing our membership with 121 candidates. On December 9th, a letter was received from Noble Ellis Lewis Garretson, Potentate of Afifi Temple, our mother temple, congratulating us on a very high-class Ceremonial.”
Excerpts from “Smile With Nile,” March, 1947, continue: “OUTSTANDING RECORDS with becoming modesty, and yet, with a feeling of pride, we are wondering if the following records of Nile have been surpassed, or even equaled, by any other temple in Shrinedom.”
In 1909 when Nile was only one year old, it was the first temple to carry the message of the Shrine to the land of the Midnight Sun, by making a 5,800-mile round-trip pilgrimage to Nome, Alaska, staging a Ceremonial there.
In 1912, another pilgrimage was made to Nome, going via the Yukon River, staging Ceremonials in Fairbanks and Nome.
In 1914, Nile was the first temple to carry the same message to the Land of the southern Cross, making a 1,700 mile round trip to the Orient, staging a ceremonial at Manila, Philippine Islands. It since has made many other pilgrimages to the Orient and Alaska.
In 1915, when only seven years old, Nile Shrine entertained the Imperial Council. In 1914 the previous and preparatory year of the Imperial Council session, Noble J.E. Chillberg, General Chairman of the Executive Committee, called for a convention slogan and, after much debate, the slogan suggested by Noble Herbert A. Schoenfield was chosen – Smile With Nile. Usually after a convention, the slogans are soon forgotten, but in this one and only instance, the slogan has become a part of, and has lived down through the years with the Temple – another record.
Nile Shrine holds a record, which never has, and never will be surpassed. For the first and only time in history, the Imperial Council held its annual session in a city whose temple was only seven years old, and which had a membership of only 1,731 Nobles. Never before, or since, has a temple of that age and size ever attempted a pageant spectacle of such magnitude. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce contributed $150,000 and Nile Temple raised another $150,000 to entertain 40,000 visitors to Seattle to a most colorful event of a seven-day occasion.
In 1945 and 1946 Nile Temple’s Shrine clubs in Anchorage, Alaska, with only 112 members, broke all records, we believe, for clubs by raising enough money to purchase 150 voluntary permanent subscriptions to our hospitals.
In 1916, the Seattle Masonic Temple was completed with Nile Temple being one of the investors and owners. This provided us with a more appropriate meeting place in the “Shrine” auditorium, which had been lavishly and authentically decorated in an Arabic motif employing stencils, highlighted designs, and murals.
No history would be complete without a mention of a little romantic interest such as we have experienced here at Nile. While on a pilgrimage to the Orient in 1922 with Noble Hugh M. Caldwell as Illustrious Potentate in charge, they purchased in China a young female camel and brought her home with them. At a special ceremony, she was christened “Nile.” She was a great favorite with the nobility and a welcome companion on many of our parades. She was quartered at the Woodland Park Zoo where the keepers and attendants at the park were also fond of her.
The following year, realizing how lonesome she must be, we had a boy camel sent to us from China and christened him “Potentate.” To make a long story short, they met, fell in love and were united in wedded bliss. The product of that union, a son, was christened “Outer Guard.” Both “Potentate” and “Outer Guard” answered the call of the Black Camel some years later, but dear old “Nile” stayed with us until February 5, 1947, when at the extraordinary age of 26 or 27 (the average age of a camel is 12 to 15 years) she, too, went on the long trail.
Excerpts from a report by Illustrious Past Potentate Leslie W. Eastman: “In the early 1920’s, when Nile Temple had a growing membership of over 4,000, it became apparent to an active and farsighted Divan that in building for the future and for the enjoyment and pleasure of the Nobles of Nile, a site for picnic grounds, country club and future golf course should be found and purchased.
“After considerable study and inspection of available properties within 30 miles of Seattle, William A. Eastman, Oriental Guide of Nile at the time, located and submitted the present Lake Ballinger site of 92 acres of waterfront, plus an option on an adjoining 60 acres of upland.
“The Divan, and Potentate Walter F. Meier, after visiting the property, enthusiastically endorsed the purchase of the 92 acres. At a regular meeting held at the Masonic Temple March 22, 1924, the motion to acquire the site was overwhelmingly passed.
“In April of 1924 additional land was purchased bringing the area to 135 acres. Following the acquisition, Potentate Goodwin appointed a number of committees with instructions to ‘get the grounds ready for summer use.’ As a result of a lot of hard work on the part of many Nobles, the First Annual Picnic was held at Lake Ballinger August 9, 1924 and was a resounding success.
“In April of 1926, $5,000 was borrowed by the Temple from the Dexter Horton Bank to pay off a portion owing on the land purchased and to pay for a preliminary survey and design for the Country Club by Olmstead Bros. of San Francisco, landscape architects. Also in 1926 an additional 20 acres was added, bringing the total area to 155 acres at an overall cost for the land of $33,200 (including about three acres added later). During early 1927, the members were asked to approve a $50,000 loan to cover construction of a clubhouse, access roads, and ground improvements. After unanimous approval, bids were asked and awarded and construction started on the clubhouse.
“As of January 1934, the Temple’s investment in the land was $33,200, clubhouse $39,894 and land improvements $38,500.
“In 1955 Nile Temple must have tired of paying rent for office space as well as having its units scattered all over town, because a building of our own was constructed at 229 Third Avenue North. This provided space for not only the offices but, also a Potentates lounge, unit rooms, kitchen and auditorium, and all under one roof.
“In 1959 the State of Washington made overtures to the Temple regarding the condemnation of 35 acres for a proposed freeway which would extend through the easterly unimproved portion of the country club in a generally swampy area. Approximately $35,000 was suggested as the value of this portion at the time.
“After nearly two years of negotiations, in 1961 Nile Temple deeded 35 acres to the State of Washington for freeway purposes and received the sum of $241,961. A severed 14 acres lying east of the freeway and considered surplus to the Temple’s needs were sold in 1964 for $151,000. An additional condemnation by Mountlake Terrace of one-and-one-half acres of lakefront for park use brought $45,000, and the taking of a strip of land along Nile’s north line for road purposes took approximately three acres, but left the country club with an outlet to the north of the freeway.
“The income to Nile Temple resulting from the above condemnations was in excess of $560,000, part of which was used to pay off the bonds that were sold to build the office headquarters building downtown in 1955, remodel the clubhouse and build the new golf course.”
Today, the Nile property consists of approximately 93 acres with
over 3,000 feet of choice waterfront on Lake Ballinger, an 18-hole
golf course, a warehouse with storage for First and Second Section
equipment plus their meeting areas and maintenance accommodations,
and men and women’s lavatories, caretakers and groundskeeper’s
quarters, extensive picnic and parade grounds, blacktop roads and
parking areas, plus the original clubhouse.
“Not a bad investment in pleasure and happiness for Nile Temple Nobles, their families and friends during the past years for picnics, parades, Shrine affairs and pride of ownership on an original outlay of $33,200 for land!”
However, our building downtown was coveted by the City of Seattle for addition to the Seattle Center grounds. We had located on a spot that was later to have the Seattle World’s Fair in our front yard. The property was condemned and it was necessary to move, but where? Let’s go “home” to our country club!
Construction was begun on an addition to the original clubhouse and
in 1982 we moved in. This move, however, was different from others
we had made. We borrowed no money; we paid for this construction
with the monies we received from the City of Seattle as payment for
our downtown building.
Besides the Nile Shrine offices, the addition to the clubhouse
contains the gallery to connect the two lobbies, the Red Room, the
Unit Kitchen, Scimitar Room, Potentate’s office and lounge, the
Board Room and unit rooms and Library.
A new restroom was built on the south side of the picnic area; in addition, new covered barbecue stations were erected throughout the picnic area.
In 1987, we had a “first.” Noble Fred Sethmann was installed as Potentate in January. In mid-July of that year Illustrious Sir Sethmann passed away and as a result, the Chief Rabban, Gordon B. Anderson was appointed as Acting Potentate for the remainder of that year. He was then elected as Potentate for the year 1988. As a result, we had our first Potentate to serve for more than 1 year. In 2002, L. R. “Dick” Wilkinson was installed as Potentate for the year 2002. At the end of his term, he was re-elected for the year 2003 making him the only Nile Potentate to be elected to two consecutive terms.
In 1994, Illustrious Sir John G. Lien was instrumental in forming the Nile Temple Belles. They meet five times a year, in January, March, June, September and November. There are 135 active members; annual dues are $5.00. The membership is composed of the wives of deceased Nobles. From their dues and luncheons, they make an annual contribution to the Nile Patient Transportation Fund.
Work is completed on the enlargement of the golf course to 18 holes. A new pro shop was completed in 1996, adjacent to the first tee. This was accomplished by volunteer labor, under the direction of Nobles Andy Warner and Bud Wheat. Ralph Wright donated a building, which was taken apart and the materials were used in the new construction, along with other materials necessary to complete the new, two story building. There is cart storage on the lower level, and the pro shop is located on the upper floor, a few steps below the level of the first tee.
Upon completion, the building was valued at $225,000, but the actual
cost of construction was $56,000, for a total savings of $169,000.
Andy Warner and Bud Wheat, along with their core of volunteers, are
commonly known as “WW Construction” and have completed many
worthwhile projects around the Temple.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of maintaining the Temple. Though too numerous to list, the contribution of each is greatly appreciated.
A bond program was successfully initiated in 1998 to retire the commercial loan required to enlarge the golf course to 18 holes. Bonds were sold to members, and to lodges with a history of support of Nile programs, and 1.5 million dollars was raised. Increased play brought about by the 18-hole format will allow us to repurchase the bond in ten years. We have continued to improve the property, facilities and dining services.
We hope the next 95 years prove to be as fruitful as the past 95.