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Gala Day was first conceived and presented to the Imperial Council in
1944. The original idea was not conceived as Gala Day, but as Deputy’s
Day and was given the name Gala Day by the Imperial Council.
Gala Day was the brain child of Daughter Flora Watkins and Noble
Claude Watkins. At the time of its inception, Noble Watkins was the
Imperial Deputy of the Desert of Indiana. He approached the Imperial
Potentate and Imperial Council with the idea of declaring a day to honor
the Deputies of the Deserts throughout the Imperial Domain. The idea
was first met with many objections in the Council by a very conservative
block of officers of the Shrine. The Imperial Potentate, Noble Raymond
W. Jackson #61 (1939-1955), “A Man for the Hour,” embraced the
thought that the Deputies worked for the Council all year and deserved
the tribute. He also reasoned that local Temples could make money for
charity.
Upon giving the idea its approval, the Imperial Council decreed that the
event should be known as “Gala Day”, and that the Deputy of the Desert
must be in charge of all arrangements and business pertaining to the
events. The Council ruled that each Temple in the Desert would be
allowed the opportunity to serve as hosts, with the initial event to be held
in 1945.
Gala Day as we know it today is a joint celebration between the Nobles of
the Mystic Shrine and the Daughters of Isis. This is why we celebrate
“Gala Day.”
| HISTORY OF GALA DAY |