Omaha daily bee., 1892-08-16
FORMALLY WELLOMED.
Mayor Bemis Presents the Key of the City
to the Shriners.

Mayor Bemis Presents the Key of the City
to the Shriners.
Not for many day has the rotunda of
the Paxton and the surrounding balconies
been crowded as they were last evening
after the parade 1t was the center OF the
universe for awhile, and there wasn't room
enough to go round. There were more fezes,
fiounces, uniforms, flowers, frizzes, seine
tars, smiles and other implements of modern
warfare than were ever before grouped in an
equal space Splketail coats and brass
bands predominated, with the odds slightly
In favor OF the former, except at odd inter-
walls, and every body was happy in the super
lative degree.
Talk about ''inspiring SCENES" "thronging
humanity" "seething crowds" and truly
brilliant spectaclesr ~ None of them would
have lasted until you could have gotten them
in the door.
And there was Just as much good nature
as there was crowd. Not soul Kicked be-
eau Mayor Bemis was Il quarter of an hour
late owing to delay in the street car SER
vice caused by the parade The second To-
funtry band of Fort Omaha aud the Zuhrah
quartet of Minneapolis filled in the interval
very acceptably, ana even the Thprston
Drum Corps tried It's hand, out was prevailed
upon to stop while the roof was still in place.
Perhaps the delay was just the best thing
that could have happened after all, for the
Shriners were very thirsty after their
march, and any number of solicltous friends
anxious to escort them 10 the punch bowls
and help them allay their uneasness. so that
by the time even the sem olance of order was
secured the cty's executive was on hand.
What the Mayor said.
He was escorted to the west balcony, over
looking the rotunda and was introduced by
Judge w. 5. Strawn, who acted as master of
ceremonies. The mayor suid
Illustrious Mobiles OF the Mystic Shrine and
Il in R.nn v,n
said: IF i man he gracious to strangers 1t
shows that he is citizen OF the world and his
but continent that joins them" and |
assure you. good Arab brethren. that appre-
ciate the honor, and taaJ IL gives mo great
pleasure to extend to. you, our guests from
every part OF the nation. on behalf OF
people. most cordial Arabian welcome to,
and the freedom OF, the Oasis of Omaha, and
l believe that, before you leave us. we will he
able to prove to you that we are all citIzers OF
the word and posscssors of ''continentaP'
hearts.
We have had many strangers within our
Saues, thls yenrI ana yet we teci that your In,
and important bodies to which this midway
city OF the country has ever thrown open its
doors.
Founded ut Mecca In A. j. 656 over twelve
centuries ago, the Shrine must be one of the
then being to teach Justice, truth and mercy.
and to prevent the cruelty and corruption In
the administration of Justice in those days.
established on the broad principles of charity
has grand ana noble calling. Or anlZlng
your first temple, The Mecca oe New York"
In 1872, you have made wonderful progress;
establishing siXty-two temples with an az !re-
gate mem bership OF 25,OOJ-It must indeed sur
prise the Industrious mobiles" of the eastern
hemisphere.
On my visit to CaIro and Marselles in Sep
tember and D .toher, 1879. on Il hurried tour of
the world. regretted not meetinE the late w.
!. Florence and the iiiuslrlous potentate,
Yusef Churi Bey, of the Bohhara snrne Mar
settles and MISSING the opportunity OF being
presentel to the sultan ana through hIm an
in5dnction In With Florence, into the mysteries
too much Interested In the result of the
France; prussian war and the establishment
Paris was beseiged by the Prussiuus and Gam
6etta sailed out OF II In baloon and estab-
shed his provisional government at Tours,
Permit me again to extend to you
one ana all, illustrions MOBILES, u royal wei
come and the freedom OF our city and TO turn
gates OF the city AMI symbollzes the freedom
which extend TO YOU IN the name of Omaha.
Given the Guys Freedom.
prolonged outourst of applause greeted
the mayor as he handed to Illusirious Poten-
tate M.lllsh large golden key IL casket
OF blue plush.
In accepting the expressive emblem of hos
pitality, the illustrious potentate said
Mr. Mayor Mob shr ners and Citizens OF
Omaha; am acting here tonight us assistant
TO tho imperial pOtentate OF the United states,
who has been Ill ever since he has been Ia
your city. ! am here 20 receive. on behalf OF
Omaha that has been 30 graclousiy rendered
by It's mayor, think t's ull key-rect.
may say that IL Is the only thing that we
have not had up to this time. 1 wish 70 say
that | fully approve or what the mayor has
said OF the growth OF your ity aud OF It's
ing houses, but he omitted al reference 10
the Paxton, and Millard, and Murray. and
several OF, your other hotels, which we have
transformed into backing houses during the
past few days. | think 1 may say that We
have established three new packing houses
la nj
our gigantic wealth" through your hotels
ana street car companies. but not thrUu h
your immense disulicry or amy OF your big
brcweVles.
think II is perhaps we'll that you have q
tIOOl,9-O waterworks plant, for we have had
great need OF H. not necessarily for lrrlga-
tion, but after crossing the hot sands between
here and Denver we have had 20 extract "A
bushel ana perhaps a barrel OF IL from our
throats We very much appreciate the rain
hat you had here, apparently tor our especial
benefit, the morning before our arrival, cool