In 1926 Afifi Temple again visited the Orient with P. P. Scott Z. Henderson acting as Potentate for the Ceremonials. 42 Candidates were put over the hot sands in Manila on Feb. 4,1926, 46 Candidates in Shanghai on Feb. 15th and 14 Candidates in Yokohama on Feb. 27th.

    A very distinctive chair graces our Afifi Temple stage. A brass plaque on the front reads: 

    The chair rests on a four foot square by eight inch high platform. The seat is approximately three feet wide. The back is paneled and about three feet wide and seven feet high and made of native hardwoods. A typical scene of the native Philippines is depicted on the back with individual palm trees on each side of the panel with their fronds expending out from the sides of the chair. The back itself has additional palm trees, a native house on stilts next to a river and with flying birds. All of the above scenery is embossed on the back.

    It is a beautiful piece of art.

    The Tacoma Masonic Corporation presented a communication which was read to the membership of Afifi Temple at a regular meeting on November 3, 1927. The message was that they required further funds to complete the New Masonic Temple building and a motion was made that each Afifi member pay one dollar annually out of the present dues now paid, effective Jan. 1,1928. This was seconded and carried.

    The first meeting of Afifi Temple held in the New Masonic Temple was on Thursday, Dec. 1, 1927, in the Roof Garden. A special session of the Temple was called at 1:00 P.M. on Dec. 3rd, in the Doric Room of the New Temple for balloting on petitions for candidates to be inducted into our Temple that day. This was adjourned until 8:00 P.M. in the New Masonic Temple Theatre.

    At four in the afternoon, a parade thru downtown Tacoma consisting of the Afifi Band and followed by the massed colors, the First Afifi Patrol of Tacoma, the Second Afifi Patrol of Yakima, the Third Afifi Patrol of Vancouver and the Fourth Afifi Patrol of Grays Harbor. The Nomad Oasis camel "Afifi" was followed by fifty-six novices. The Divan and distinguished guests were escorted by the Nile Temple Band and Patrol, the Chanters and more of the Nobility. They all returned to the new Temple where a six o'clock banquet was served to about twelve hundred nobles.

    At eight o'clock the Caravan was formed in the new Temple Theatre for the First and Second Sections of the Ceremonial. Of interest from the December 3, 1931 Minutes: a motion was made that Afifi Temple employ some one or several members of the Temple who are out of employment to canvas delinquent members locally until December 31, 1931. An amendment was offered: Such solicitor or solicitors to be selected by the Potentate and that a remuneration be allowed on the basis of ten percent of the collection made. A general discussion on this important matter of lapses followed and from which very excellent ideas were offered. (Nothing further was decided, regarding the above, at this meeting. Remember this is during the start of the Depression.)

    P.P. Grover C. Nolle took the floor at the January 7, 1932 meeting in behalf of the unemployment situation and appealed to the Nobles as citizens of this community to lend their utmost aid in furthering the already outlined community plans for defraying the costs of providing ways for the unfortunate people who are in real need of the necessities of life. 

    At the January 5, 1933 Stated Meetings one Noble was fined twenty-five cents for not having his fez. 

    Afifi Temple's third pilgrimage to the Orient left Tacoma on Jan. 7, 1933. There were four members of the Divan and the Captain of the Arab Patrol and thirteen other persons along. They arrived in Manila on January 29th where they held a Ceremonial and took in twenty-six candidates which was considered very good because of the economy. They left Manila on Feb. 2nd, made a short trip in Hong Kong and arrived in Shanghai on Feb. 6th. A Ceremonial was held on Feb. 7th and eighteen candidates were created. On the 9th of February they left on the Blue Express via Nanking to Tientsin, arriving on the 12th. The Ceremonial was held on the 15th and they had a parade with an excellent Chinese Band in the lead. There were seventeen candidates, several from the U.S. *"Can-do" Regiment stationed at Tientsin. The group left Tientsin on the 16th Steamer and rail and arrived in Yokohama on Feb. 21st. The Ceremonial was held on Feb. 24th and three were initiated. They left Yokohama on the 27th, traveling on the President Jackson. When they crossed the 180th Meridian on March 2nd they held another initiation, putting the Ship's Steward across the Hot Sands aboard ship and witnessed by all the Shriners aboard. An elaborate dinner was served for this occasion as both the Ship's Captain and Chief Engineer were Shriners. The trip ended in Seattle and Tacoma on March 10,1933. 

From the 10/3/35 minutes-
    A very interesting feature, and significant to Afifi Temple, was the presentation by Walter Sutler of a large special Shrine Emblem made by a life prisoner years ago in the old Bilibid Prison al Manila, P.I., the emblem coming to Afifi Temple indirectly through the family of a former Captain of Ihe U.S. Army. Afifi Temple received a similar emblem by personal gift to it's officers in Manila on the occasion of their 1921 visitation there. A plaque read: "Presented to Afifi Temple to commemorate their first Pilgrimage to Manila, P. I. by the members of Bamboo Oasis, Desert of the Philippines, February Second, 1921. (These emblems are now on display upstairs in the Temple Divan Rooms.) 

From Jan. 5,1939 Minutes-
    Noble Henry Drum, Charter Member No. 3 and Walter J. Thompson, Charter Member No. 8 were both present at the meeting and were recognized and received a big hand from the members. (Walter Thompson was later honored by having the Clover Park High School athletic field near Tacoma named for him.)

    III. Sir Henry Foss announced at the March 6, 1941 meeting that the Afifi Temple would this year for the first time participate in the Annual Daffodil Parade. The Temple would be represented by a suitable float and uniformed bodies. 

From Jan. 4,1945 Minutes—
    Walter H. Sutler who has served Afifi Temple in the most outstanding capacity as Ceremonial Director for many years, has asked to be relieved of the heavier responsibilities, but is willing to serve as "Ceremonial Director Emeritus". 

             * The Can-do regiment is the 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Division