Congratulations, again ! - Ben Hur Shriners
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June 2021 VOL. 89, NO 6
Congratulations, again !
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR
7811 Rockwood Lane 512-480-0812
Articles due NLT 15th of the month
Austin, Texas 78757 www.benhurshrine.org
May 2021 2
BEN HUR SHRINE APPOINTED STAFF (Cont)
CHARTED AUGUST 16, 1892 Entertainment Chair
7811 Rockwood Lane Jim & Debbie Kinley
Austin, Texas 78757 Entertainment Committee
Phone 512-480-0812 Danny Adrian, Mac & Laura Cutler, Dave Harnden.
Fax 512-479-4060 Russell Jones, Marco & Belinda Pizana, Sandra
www.benhurshrine.org Pickering, Craig & Shelby Reiswig, Ted & Charla
Robertson, Gene & Karen Sanders, Mike & Michelle
secretary@benhurshrine.org
Sanders, Brenda Scholin, Lana Stone, Jesus &
recorder@benhurshrine.org Sonia Trevino, John Wood,
BEN HUR OFFICE HOURS Insurance Chairman
Mon - Fri 9:30am to 2:30pm Gerald “Jerry” Carruth
Closed on Major Holidays Insurance Committee
Ill Sir Romeo Denghel, Potentate, Chief Rabban
ILLUSTRIOUS SIR Dennis Motley, David Caylor,
ROMEO ‘THE COUNT’ DENGHEL Recorder, Sam Stimson, PhD
2021 POTENTATE Legal Counsel
rdenghel@gmail.com 512-554-6356 Gerald C. “Jerry” Carruth
Masonic Relations
DENNIS MOTLEY…..…….……...CHIEF RABBAN Buddy Funderburgh
dennismotley65@gmail.com 512–844-8374 $100 Million Dollar Club
CHUCK JONES…..…....ASSISTANT RABBAN John Blair
fatboyfab1955@gmail.com 512-797-0718 Parade Marshal
JAMES HEINEMAN.HIGH PRIEST & PROPHET James McConnell, Oriental Guide
heinemanja@yahoo.com 281-923-5890 Parliamentarian
JAMES MCCONNELL….…..ORIENTAL GUIDE Gerald C. “Jerry” Carruth
jemcconnel@gmail.com 512-750-5242 Photographer
Ramon Reyes
BILLY J JAMES………………………..TREASURER
Public Relations
billjjames1@gmail.com 512-925-6676
Buddy Funderburgh
SAM STIMSON, PhD…………………..RECORDER Sickness & Distress
sstimson70@gmail.com 512-796-4179
Nobility
Transportation Chairman
Ron Dewees
Webmaster/Designer
Laura Holst
APPOINTED STAFF
STATED MEETING
Administrative Assistant for Office Ben Hur Shrine meets on the 3rd Thursday of the
Laura Holst month. The next stated meeting will be Sept 16,
Building & Grounds Manager 2021. YOUR 2021 DUES CARD IS REQUIRED!
Stanley Anderson
Chaplain
Rev Don Long APPOINTED DIVAN
Colonel of Units
Temple Director - Chris Garner
Earl Robertson, PP
Captain of the Guard - Ferril “F.C.” Smith, MD
Donor Relations
Outer Guard - Robin Shannon
James Heineman, High Priest & Prophet
1st Ceremonial Master—Russell Jones
2nd Ceremonial Master - John Wood
Ceremonial Asst. Rabban— Nicholas Jones
Marshal - Silas Powell, PP
June 2021 3 Potentates message—rdenghel@gmail.com Ladies and Nobles, June is ‘Parade Month’ at Ben Hur. The first parade of 2021 will be at Texas Shrine Association’s Ceremonial in San Antonio on Saturday, June 4th. Then will follow in order parades in Lockhart, Stonewall and Luling on the remaining Saturdays in June. Come join us on the Ben Hur parade float! To allow for more Masquerade Ball photos in this issue, this month’s story will be shorter than usual. My grandmother was one of two children of the largest landowner in the Transylvanian village you have come to know and love (or question the sanity of its people). My great grandfather lived a long life and was an excellent storyteller! When my siblings and I were very young, he would come over for bedtime stories. He taught himself to read and was the only person in the entire village with a newspaper subscription, back when newspapers were relevant and being a journalist still meant something. My grandmother inherited her father’s talent for doing new and unique things, seeing ‘this is how we’ve always done it!’ as the greatest enemy to meaningful progress. When oil lamps became available, my grandparents were the first family in the village to own one. It had to be special-ordered at the General Store and most of the village was present when it was first lit. For the next few weeks, people invented reasons to visit my grandparents after dark to marvel in the miracle that was the oil lamp. Electrification eventually made its way into the valley, and again my grandparents were the first to have it in their household. Again, people marveled at the miracle that was the light bulb. Eventually, my grandparents were the first in the village to own a radio. A talking box that entertained you! Such an amazing invention! Naturally, a television set followed. By now, it is early 1980s. Yes, in 1980 in Transylvania, there were entire villages without one! It was an old vacuum tubes television set. You pushed the power button on Monday, and by Tuesday it would come on in time for the evening news. First you get the sound and a few seconds later, the picture comes on. If radio was a shock, a television set was downright magic! Village elders declared that the end days were near because people stared at a box for hours instead of doing something useful. These days the box is smaller and has apps. My father’s hobby was fixing up discarded television sets. He fixed a very nice transistor-based television set for my grandparents. The difference is that when you pushed the power button, the sound came on instantly. This gave my grandmother an idea. Their closest neighbor loved to come over every evening to get the most accurate weather report, she claimed. She wanted to be the one to push the power button on the set, and my grandparents indulged her. She came over as usual and after the usual greetings, she walked over to the television set and pushed the power button, as she had done many times before. Only this time, it was different! Music blared out of the speakers that were turned almost to maximum level by my mischievous grandmother. The neighbor jumped back in a fright, then kneeled on the floor and started praying because the devil possessed the television set. Once she saw that my grandparents were also on the floor but rolling with laughter, she realized she had been tricked. The evening news started promptly and all was forgotten. I usually try to have some kind or meaningful ending to my stories, some kind of lesson to learn from it. This one is just a prank, so I suppose the lesson is to watch out for clever grandmothers. Fraternally, Romeo Denghel
June 2021 4
Assistant rabban - fatboyfab1955@gmail.com
Howdy Nobles and Ladies,
This last month has been fun. Our cigar membership event went
well. It was in Buda at the Cigar Vault. Everyone had a chance to
mingle and have a cigar, beverage and some food. We had brothers
asking about Ben Hur and handed out several Shrine petitions. We
also had several guys show interest in joining the Blue Lodge and
we pointed them in the right direction. Our membership committee
is planning on several more membership events this year. Our
Membership Committee is working hard.
Game night at the Shrine was fun and we hope to see that
grow. Fireball party and ride was started up again and it was fun. This was started back
up from several years ago and donates money to our hospitals. It always has been
organized by folks outside the Shrine. Our late brother “Gorilla” was a founding
organizer. Got to see some old friends. Circus Kickoff party was fun. We hope to sell
some ads for our program and have fun at the circus this year.
We attended the first WILCO meeting in over a year. It was moved to Mel’s Bowling
Alley as the Country Club was still closed down. The bowling alley was fun and we will
need a bigger room next time. It was a great turnout. Beverages were cold, food was
good and fellowship was fun.
Karem Shrines’ Ball was fun. Ben Hur was represented well. Imp. Sir Jim and First
Lady Alice, Ill. Sir Romeo and First Lady Holly, James and Janet Heineman, and Pam
and I. It was fun and our Karem brothers and sisters treated us very good. Visiting
other Shrine events creates lifelong friends.
I got to practice shoot with Ben Hur Provost Guard in April. Competitive shooting is
way different that what I was used to at the Sheriff’s Office. I enjoyed it and I got
thrown into the fire. Bobby Tiner has me competing at TSA. First time I have ever
competed in any Shrine event. Bobby sold me one of his competition pistols. He bought
it from the factory in 1981 and has won many matched, medals and awards with it. I
am honored to own it and hope to live up to what Bobby and the pistol expects from
me. I love the history that comes along with it also. Bobby was my range master for
about 20 years at the Sheriff’s Office, way before my Mason/Shrine days.
Opening up has been busy compared to having a whole year off. Come back and visit
our events when you feel
comfortable, we would love to
see everyone. I would love to see
the building full of our families.
Looking forward to TSA in San
Antonio and Imperial in Houston.
Let’s have some fun. Ben Hur
Proud !
Chuck “Fester” Jones
June 2021 5
Spring carnival
June 2021 6 The details for the 147th Shrine Imperial Session are being finalized. Imperial Sir Jim Smith, Lady Alice, and the planning team are looking forward to seeing you and Shriners from around the country in Hou- ston this summer. We can again get together for safe fun and fraternity. Although we get together to conduct the business of Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children, “Havin’ fun in ’21” is what this year’s Imperial Session is all about. Among the activities taking place are activities such as a Nobility block party, cornhole tournament, International Association compe- titions, Shrine parade, and concert. The Block Party will be held on Sunday, July 4 th in the front plaza of the George R. Brown Convention Center and in the Avenida de las Americas adjacent to Discovery Green. There will be music, food, and other festivities for all Shriners and families to enjoy as we kick off the session. The festivities will include the inaugural competition of the International Association of Shrine Taprooms and an opportunity to taste the brews created by your fellow Nobles. The cornhole tourna- ment, also scheduled on Sunday, will be held in Hall B3 with the finals being held on Wednesday evening along with the concert featuring the music of the Bellamy Brothers. Below is an abbreviated schedule for the 2021 Imperial Session. Visit the Imperial Session website, www.imperialsession.com, for the full schedule and additional information about the Imperial Session.
June 2021 7
Welcome to Ben Hur’s new Nobles. At the May Stated meeting
Wieslaw Puchalski, Raul Scully, Christopher Braziel and Daniel
Crisostomo were created Nobles of Ben Hur Shrine.
Ben Hur will be having a garage sale in
October as a fundraiser. If you have good
used items that you were thinking about
donating, please save them for the garage
sale! If you do not have a place to store
them, please contact a Divan member and
we will see what we can do to help
June 2021 8
Legion of honor
Members of Ben Hur LOH attended the Texas Association Legion of Honor Mid-Winter in
Fredericksburg, Texas at the Inn on Barrons Creek, April 24-27, 2021.
Under the current health conditions, the meeting was well represented. In attendance
were the Imperial Potentate, Jim Smith and his lady, Alice; International Legion of
Honor Commander, Tracy Coughlin and his lady, Janet; four international Lt.
Commanders, three past international Commanders and their ladies, eight past Texas
Legion of Honor Commanders, plus representatives from both in state and out of state
LOH units.
James Farless of Alzafar Temple, San Antonio, was elected and sworn in as the new
2021-2022 TALOH Commander at the Change of Command ceremony.
Jim Hollis
June 2021 9
June 2021 2021 ball 10
June 2021 11
June 2021 12
June 2021
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5
RENTAL Rental WILCO
TSA—Alzafar
BOD LOH Offsite
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sons of Texana 123 Mini-B’s Trailblazers HLSC Lockhart
Herman Parade
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
LOS Social Provost GOLF BHS Dark TSA Victory
Directors Party
Staff
Stonwall
WILCO
Parade
RENTAL
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
RENTAL CLOWN Carboys Luling
Parade
27 28 29 30
BE SURE AND CHECK WWW.BENHURSHRINE.ORG FOR
LATEST DATES AND TIMES. CALENDARS CAN CHANGE.June 2021 13
July 2021
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
IMPERIAL SESSION 2021—HOUSTON
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
BHS Dark
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
BE SURE AND CHECK WWW.BENHURSHRINE.ORG FOR
LATEST DATES AND TIMES. CALENDARS CAN CHANGE.June 2021 14
June 2021 15
June 2021 16
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER & LOCAL DOCTOR ARRESTED!
On the Friday, May 13,1932 seven candidates appeared in a Shrine Parade before being inducted
into the mysteries of Shrinedom. Later they walked the hot sands to Mecca by the Ben Hur Divan
assisted by the Chief Rabban from Moslah and the Potentate from Karem.
The Ben Hur Band was augmented for the annual ceremonial parade by the Gold Metal Clown band
of Moslah. They played in the lobbies of the Stephen Austin Hotel, the Driskell Hotel and the streets
of Austin during the afternoon prior to the parade.
The grand parade was headed by three mounted officers including Travis County Sheriff Coley
White, Police Chief R. D. Thorp, the Ben Hur Chariot and the color guard. Then came Dewey
Bradford in a tramp costume accompanied by his “girl” smoking a long cigar and placarded with the
sign “What Will Happen Next?”. Then in order came the Ben Hur Band, the Drum and Bugle Corps
and the Patrol.
The flag draped cars carrying members of the Ben Hur Divan led by Potentate E. C. Munro followed
by cars carrying the visiting dignitaries. Then followed the novices. One was seated in a saddle
mounted on a long telephone pole labeled “Just Another Pole Cat”. Followed by another riding a
burro and yet another seated on a load of ice. The next was an antique motor vehicle with a sign
reading “Frisco or Bust”. The shriners are all heading to San Francisco next month for the Imperial
Session.
Then came a novice dressed in a skeleton costume seated on a black coffin labeled “In Case”
followed by a novice with a dummy for a dancing partner advertising the Shriners Ball on June 2 nd.
In order to keep things “clean” one novice was placed in an old bathtub and given something other
than a dry cleaning. This one got a lot of laughs. A novice seated under a tree on float with an
umbrella and three chickens roosting in the tree. One novice was kept busy blowing up sausage
balloons. Another was demonstrating the new shrine tie. He was suspended from improvised
gallows with a rope around his neck. Another was “tarred and feathered” with a coat of molasses
and feathers by a Bedouin. Two other novices were in a feather bed towed by a truck. The truck
was covered in tin foil reminding Shriners and their friends that shrine temples across the country
are collecting tin foil and the proceeds from the sale of the foil go to support the Crippled Children’s
Hospitals.
Prior to the parade the Shriners had the Hoodlum Wagon parked in front of the Stephen F Austin
Hotel. Some of the city’s notables forgot to wear their fez and were taken into custody until they
were able to raise the money for their fine. One notable was Railroad Commissioner Pat M. Neff.
Another was Dr. Deats. The Hoodlum Wagon was parked in front of the Norwood Building during
the noon hour and any Shriner without a fez fell victim.
Following the parade there was a banquet at the cathedral dining room followed by the first section
at 7:30pm and the second section at 8:00pm. Judge Ike White and A. C. Bull delivered the prologue
and the inspired charge respectively.
Gene Freudenberg PP
Historian
Information from the Austin Statesman article May 21, 1932June 2021 17
Wilco shrine club
WILCO Shrine Club had their first meeting and social, since February 2020, at our new
meeting place, Mel's Lonestar Lanes. An unexpected big group of Nobles and
Ladies showed up for this long overdue event. The fears of the pandemic were quickly
put to rest with lots of handshakes and hugs. We received the latest and greatest
information on Ben Hur Shrine events, parades, and the September Shrine Circus from
our Chief Rabban Dennis Motley, Assistant Rabban Chuck Jones and Lady Pam, and
High Priest & Prophet, James Heineman and Lady Janet. Honestly, these "guys and
gals" are lots of fun. It seems to me, whenever any of them are speaking, it's more like
they're having a fun-filled conversation with us. Their
enthusiasm and excitement for Ben Hur Shrine Clubs & Units is immediate and
delightfully infectious. We hope they will come back to see us, often.
Two very special members of WILCO Shrine Club, the always-gracious First Lady Alice
Smith of the Imperial Shrine gave us the latest information on her Star Program,
"Women in Philanthropy" (please let me add, if you haven't done so, please give to this
most worthwhile Hospital Fund-Raiser). Then Lady Alice's favorite Noble, past
president of WILCO (Sun City) Shrine Club and the 2020-2021 Imperial
Potentate, Imperial Sir James "Jim" Smith talked about and updated us on our
Fraternity, and the present status, plans and changes to improve not just the care, but
the associated budgets and expenses for Shriners Hospitals. I couldn't help noticing
when Alice was talking about her First Lady's Program, that from beginning-to-end, Jim
was beaming with pride.
Your WILCO Shrine Club officers have opted to have these socials and meetings every
month on the first Thursday, of every month, all year long (yes, that means during the
summer months, too) in the Party Room at
Mel's Lonestar Bowling Lanes, 1010 N. Austin Avenue in Georgetown. So, come on out
and enjoy!
Please, if you have any
questions about the new meeting
place, call any of your Shrine
Club Officers. Jim Crawford 334-
313-6272, Ron DeWees 512-423
-9403 or Ron Speaks 813-365-
0101. We look forward to
seeing all of you at Mel's for the
next get together, on Thursday,
June 3.
Ron Speaks
WILCO Shrine ClubJune 2021 18
June 2021 19
Cheeky's
Broccoli
cornerJune 2021 20
2021 CHARIOT BOOSTER CLUB
Greg & Ann Murrow 04/35 Byron & Linda Betncourt 03/22
Brian & Carol Vance 12/25 Bob Newlander 03/22
Al & Ellie Blaschke 02/25 Charles Campbell 02/22
In Memory of Gus Carlson 02/25 Hubert & Dorothy Cook 02/22
Doris Grabo 12/24 Bob Newlander 01/22
Aggie & George Auer, PP 08/24 Bobby G Harden 01/22
Jerry & Bea Hohman 07/24 Highland Lakes Shrine Club 01/22
‘The Count’ and Lady Denghel 07/24 Jack Neal 12/21
Chuck “Fester” & Pam Jones 06/24 Charlie & Betty Farnham 12/21
Ralph & Vera Reasor 01/24 John Cooper 12/21
Prairie Lea Lodge #114 11/23 Tom & Judy Schneider 12/21
Ron & Debbie Speaks 11/23 Forest & Doris Cruse 12/21
Andrea & Brad Cole, PP 10/23 Leonard & Lidia Bronik 11/21
Margaret & Bob Kelly, PP 10/23 Jim & Sharlene Worley 11/21
James & Janet Heineman 07/23 David & Juanell Yeager 11/21
Imp. Sir Jim & Lady Alice Smith 07/23 David & Samon Isbell 10/21
Dottie Hughes & Alan Mulder 07/23 Dr. & Mrs Mike Barry, PP 10/21
Ed & Ceverene Lackey 04/23 Vernon & Leona Milton 09/21
Kathy & Randy Wimbish 02/23 In Memory of Gail Carruth 09/21
Heather & Rob Kelly, Jr 02/23 Gerald "Jerry" Carruth 09/21
Louise J Hein 02/23 Bill Manning 08/21
Dale & Barbara Dugger 09/22 Jim & Donna King 08/21
Duke & Tracey Dugger 09/22 Herb & Shirley Canada 08/21
Billy D / Alice Edmondson 07/22 Charles & Emily Maddox 07/21
Ron & Jami Dewees 07/22 In Memory of Don Lee 07/21
Brenda W Scholin - TX REALTOR ® WILCO Shrine Club 07/21
Colorado Commandery #4 KT 05/22 Henry & Vicki Shoenfelt 07/21
Austin Council #2 RSM 05/22
Lonestar Chapter #6 RAM 05/22
Keller Williams—World Wide 04/22
Alfred & Ellie Blaschke 03/22
NOTICE: Did YOUR name get dropped this edition? Remember to check the date following your
name. Next edition will drop all dates to 8/21 ! Send in the form below TODAY with your $25 to
become/remain a loyal booster club member.
YES! I WANT TO BE A BOOSTER
Enclosed please find my check in the amount of $_______
[ ] ONE LINE (single name) - $25 per year
[ ] ONE LINE (Mr. & Mrs. or two names) - $25 per year
[ ] TWO LINES (Yours and your Lady’s name on 2 lines - $45 per year
NAME(S): _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Mail to the Temple Secretary.June 2021 21
ED WEEREN
INSURANCE AGENCY
BLACK CAMEL REPORT
Laura’s Smiles Quilts
Crafted by Laura Holst
Specializing in T-Shirt & Memory Quilts
LauraSmiles.com | 512-736-4392June 2021 22
June 2021 23
NOBILITY SALES ITEMS
Items have already sold by being posted here. Got something to sell?
Let us know and we will post it ...
For sale $1000 minimum bid. High bid
takes it. Bidding closes july 1st.
Do you have a business or know of a business that would like to reach
over 700 views? We would love additional business sponsorships for
our Chariot. For additional information contact Ben Hur Shrine at
secretary@benhurshrine.org or 512-480-0812Ben Hur Shriners TIME DATED MATERIAL
7811 Rockwood Lane DO NOT DELAY NON PROFIT ORG.
Austin, TX 78757 U.S. Postage
PAID
(512) 480-0812 Permit 1120
Austin, Texas
BEN HUR NOBLES WITH BIRTHDAYS IN JUNE
6/3 6/14 6/20 6/26
Jeffrey L Dotterer Jorge A Millan-Espana James R Robinson II Kenneth B Whittemore
Steven D Rivers Earl D Robinson PP
6/5 6/15 Jeffrey L Wilbur Jeffrey D Pietsch
Jackie W St. Clair John L Allen Marshall D Tiner
6/7 6/27
6/16 6/21
Edward L Weeren Sam M Piper Jr
Gordon N Decker Raymond H Hohenberger
David E Martin George Moxley
Billy D Edmondson
Bert A Bronaugh Jr. 6/22
6/17 Harold P Laves 6/28
6/8 Jonnie V Barnett John E Cooper Edwin V Morrison
Bobbie N Atkinson Thomas D Hoke
Frank R. Gibson 6/23 6/29
6/18 Barry F Townes Bobby W Clark
6/10
Allan Holmes Bryan L Martin
Francis M Jackson Jr. 6/24
Nazario Cantu III
John R Kollman Dillard C Keirsey
Robert A Weissman 6/30
6/11 6/25 Joe M Kelly Jr
6/19
Daniel P Vasquez Wallace G Schuehle Mark E Cortinas
Dan L Bailey
William D Bays
6/13 Richard A Wheeler
Delmar E Tally
Charles E Campbell
Thomas N Novosad
Grant M GeorgulisYou can also read
