Afifi Temple was greatly honored when our Past Potentate Ellis Lewis Garretson was elected in 1920 as the Imperial Potentate of North America. The Imperial Sir had passed his State of Washington Bar Examination in 1893 and practiced law in Tacoma for twenty-nine years. He became a Master Mason in Lebanon Lodge, in Tacoma, in 1902 and successively filled all of the official positions, becoming Master of his Lodge in 1907. He was elected High Priest of Chapter No. 4, Royal Arch Masons and became a Knight of Ivanhoe Commandery, Knight Templar. He became a Scottish Rite Mason in 1902, and held all of the offices in the several bodies of that Rite. Imperial Sir Garretson joined the Afifi Shrine on April 24, 1903 and after filling the several subordinate offices, was elected and installed Potentate in 1908 and held that Office thru 1911.

    Past Potentate Garretson in 1911 was elected to serve as the Imperial Captain of the Guard, being the second position in the official line. He was thereafter annually elected to each of the succeeding higher offices until he was elected in June, 1920, as the Imperial Potentate and served his full year. Nobel Garretson died at his home on Gravelly Lake, near Tacoma, on March 14, 1922, at the age of 49 years.

    During his reign as Imperial Sir he held the National Imperial Session in Portland, Oregon. Following the Portland meeting a trip was planned, leaving Tacoma on three steamships for Alaska. Many of the Afifi units were included and of course all of the Imperial Officer.

    At a stated meeting held in Tacoma at the Masonic Temple on Sept. 30, 1920, Imperial Sir Garretson told of the resolution adopted at the last meeting of the Imperial Council upon recommendation of retiring Imperial Potentate Kendrick providing for the establishment of an Orthopedic Hospital for the treatment of crippled children. He had found that during his visits to Temples so far, that the proposed charity was very generally in fact universally approved and that Nobles were paying their assessments of two dollars each, not only promptly but gladly.

    Another member of our Temple that deserves mentioning is Henry Drum. He was a charter member of the Afifi Temple, being number three on the membership roster. He was a charter member of Chapter No. 4, Royal Arch Masons in 1884 and the first High Priest. Noble Drum was Nestor of all Scottish Rite Masons of Tacoma and his patent was signed by Albert Pike. He was a Mason over seventy years, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 22, Tacoma. Noble Drum was the last living charter member of Afifi. He died on March 19,1950 at the age of 92 years.

    A motion made by Past Potentate Ira L. Davisson, that the Temple furnish new silverware to the Portland Shrine Hospital was passed at the stated meeting on Sept. 27, 1923. Moving pictures of the construction and completion of the new hospital were shown together with pictures of the actual operations and treatment of the children.

    A special meeting of Afifi Temple was held in the Social Hall of the Masonic Temple, Friday afternoon at one o'clock on December 7, 1923.

    Petitions of 56 Knight Templars and Scottish Rite Masons were read and were voted on and passed by the committee. A recess was then taken to carry out the following program:

3:00 P.M. Registration of Candidates.

5:00 P.M. Entertainment of Nile and Gizeh Temple's Bands and Patrols at a luncheon at the Masonic Temple banquet room, at the same hour the Imperial Potentate and party and officers of Nile and Gizeh Temple were entertained at an English Buffet Luncheon at the Tacoma Hotel by the Afifi Temple Divan and Past Potentates.

6:00 P.M. An elaborate dinner was given to the ladies of the Imperial party followed by a Theater party. The wives of the Afifi Temple Divan and Mrs. E. B. King acting as hostesses.

6:30 P.M. A parade was formed, preceded by the Afifi Temple Band and Patrol, escorting Nile and Gizeh Temple's Bands and Patrols, candidates and Nobles on a march through the business section of the city to the Armory, which had been especially decorated for the occasion.

7:30 P.M. All the officers taking their stations, the Imperial Potentate and party and visiting officers and Past Potentates of other Temples, were then escorted to the East and presented to the Illustrious Potentate F. D. Oakley by Scott Z. Henderson, Chief Rabban. The Potentate then proceeded with the First Section in full form. Special music being furnished by the Afifi Temple Chanters. 

    Between the First and Second Sections, the Imperial Potentate gave a most uplifting talk, at the close of which all candidates made the perilous journey across the hot sands and were invested with the arcanum of the Order and admitted to the gardens of refreshments and rest.

10:00 P.M. Adjournment to the Scottish Rite Cathedral where there was an elaborate banquet and entertainment in honor of the Imperial Potentate, at which time presentation was made to him on behalf of the Temple of a beautiful sterling silver Council set consisting of a bowl and candle sticks to match. There were 1234 guests seated at the banquet table. All seemed to be well filled and well pleased. The festivities ended in peace and harmony at 11:45 P.M.

    On October 30, 1924 a motion was made to authorize the Potentate to contract or lease space in the new Hotel Winthrop for Afifi Temple headquarters and to be maintained by the Temple out of the General Fund. Motion was carried.

    Roland H. Hartley, Governor of the State of Washington and Past Potentate of Zuhrah Temple, was very active and attended several Afifi Ceremonials in Tacoma and one in Vancouver, Washington in 1925. He was voted an honorary member of Afifi in May, 1925. Gov. Hartley first visited Afifi in 1895 when he was Potentate of Zurah Temple.