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Oliver Washington, Jr, Imperial Potentate
P/P Billy McLamb, Imperial Deputy of the Desert of Florida
P/P Earl Haugabook, Imperial Deputy of the Oasis of Tampa

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History of Harram Temple No. 23

The word "Harram" has two meanings:

(1) A dry bed in Turkey and
(2) is the name of the Sacred Temple of Mecca that is also called "Beit Allah."
Both meanings signify "The House of God."

Rising Star Temple No. 23 was instituted in Port Tampa City, Florida near the turn of the century in the year 1896. Under the leadership of Illustrious Potentate, Noble John R. Hall, Nobles Thomas R. Mamuel, Silas Johnson, William Alexander, Pete Johnson and several other Nobles, Rising Star Temple No. 23 had its humble beginning. By the year 1900, Rising Star Temple had become one of the leading Temples in America. Also, during the year 1900 Rising Star relocated to Tampa, Florida.

In the year 1927, the name "Rising Star Temple No. 23" was changed to our present name "Harram Temple No. 23." No existing record reveals an explanation for the name change. However, the name "Harram" still exists in proud tradition.

Recorded in history is a partial list of Nobles who were privileged to have served as Illustrious Potentate of these Temples, both Rising Star and Harram:

P/P John R. Hall, 1896-????;
P/P Rev. J.B. Green, 1914-1915;
P/P John Hall, 1921;
P/P W.M. Mims, 1923-1925;
P/P Peter Johnson, 1926;
P/P R.R. Williams, Sr., 1927;
P/P Peter Johnson, 1928-1933;
P/P A.N. Nelson, 1941;
P/P Daniel Webster, 1942-1951;
P/P Willie N. Tarpley, 1952-1954;
P/P James L. McFadden, 1955-1956;
P/P Thomas Smith, 1957;
P/P Daniel Webster, 1958-1959;
P/P Preston Rainey, 1960;
P/P Willie L. James, 1961;
P/P Theadore R. Montgomery, 1962;
P/P Joseph A. Henry, 1963;
P/P James L. McFadden, 1964-1966;
P/P Curtis Sams, 1967-1968;
P/P Harold Clark, 1969-1970;
P/P Joseph A. Henry, 1971-1972;
P/P Thomas Smith, 1973-1974;
P/P Nathan Brown, 1975-1976;
P/P Charlie Jones, 1977-1978;
P/P James Brown, 1979-1980;
P/P Carl W. Thompson, 1981-1982;
P/P Willie Forte, 1983-1984;
P/P Clarence Gaines 1985-1986;
P/P Samuel Cannon, 1987-1988,
P/P Freddie Whitehead, 1989-1990;
P/P Earl Haugabook, 1991-1992;
P/P Raymond Witherspoon, 1993;
P/P Watts Sanderson, Jr., 1994-1995;
P/P Attorney Eric R. Myers, 1996-1997;
P/P Robert J. Godfrey, 1998;
P/P Warren Davis, 1999;
P/P Elliott R. Pyles, 2000-2001;
P/P Johnnie L. Campbell, 2002;
P/P Nathaniel M. Walker, 2003-2004;
P/P George Wallace, III, 2005;
P/P Michael Dozier, 2006-2007;
I/P Dwayne Jones, 2008-Present

Historical Tidbits:

1953 - Harram Temple's initiation fee was $22.00

1958 - Harram Temple's Grenadier Club sponsored Ms Marie Lundy's trip to Los Angeles, CA for training with her seeing-eye dog "Rudy." At that time, P.P. Joseph Henry served as Secretary and Noble Johnny Gray as President. ·

1959 - In January of this year, Harram Temple received certification for "Harram Temple Credit Union."
OFFICERS: Noble Johnnie Gray, President; Noble R.R. Williams, Sr. M.D., Vice President; Noble Elisha J. Dixon, Jr., Secretary; Noble Joseph A. Henry, Treasurer-Manager; Noble Willie L. James, Sr., Educational Director.
CREDIT COMMITTEE: Noble Richmond H. Kincey, Chairman; Noble James L. McFadden, Member; Noble Curtis Sams, member.
SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE: Noble Raynell E. Slone, Chairman; Noble L. N. Brown, Member; Noble George A. Gorgan, Sr., Member.

1962 - Harram Temple received a $5.55 bill for Water Services.

1968 - A "Nobles and Daughters Nobility Tea," as it was called in those days, was hosted in Saint Petersburg, FL by Noble and Ms Preston Samuel. P.P. Nathan Brown served as Captain of Shrine Club No. 4.

1969 - Noble Raynell E. Slone introduced "Line Officers Training" to the Desert of Florida.

1987 - Under the leadership of then Illustrious Potentate Samuel L. Cannon, Noble L. N. Brown received Life membership through the Imperial Council. He is the only known Noble of Harram Temple to receive that distinction. ·

Noble Andrew J. Mathias once managed the famed "40 Minute Dry Cleaning" business located on Central Avenue next to the Lincoln Theater in Tampa. · Noble R. H. Kincey once owned the "College Hill Pharmacy" and adjacent property on 22nd Street in Tampa.

The only known Father/Son teams, respectively, to serve Harram Temple are: Joseph McFadden/Joseph C. McFadden, Jr.; Nathan Brown/James Brown; Watts Sanderson, Sr./Watts Sanderson, Jr.; Robert Scott, Sr./Robert Scott, Jr.

A few of Harram Temple's Most Distinguished Nobles are: 

C. Blythe Andrews, Editor & Publisher of the "Florida Sentinel Bulletin";

Leon Claxton, "Harlem in Havana Review" and Motel owner; 

Rev. A. Leon Lowry, Noted Minister and Hillsborough County School Board member (He also taught Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Morehouse College); 

Ray Williams, Funeral Home Director and Community Activist; 

Robert W. Saunders, former Field Secretary for the N.A.A.C.P.; and 

Honorable Eric R. Myers, Hillsborough County Judge and Imperial Second Ceremonial Master.

 

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Last modified: 09/11/08