Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-17
Its Twentieth Annual Session Was q
Notable Gathering.
A SUCCESSFUL PARADE.
Long Line OF Shriners All in the Regula-
ton Suit and Red Fec - A Part OF the
Grand Stand Falls, but Fortunately No
One Was Seriously Hurt.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


WAS in many respects the most notable
gathering in the history Of the organiza-
ton in this country. The attendance of repre-
was large, but few vacancies being
reported by the committee on credentials.
Almas Temple of Washington. d. c., was repre-
sented by Harrison Dingmau. Geo. II. Walker
and James H. Ward!e. Besides the regularly
accredited delegates or representatives there
were several thousand Shriners in the city from
various parts of the country, and among them
a goodly number from the Washington organiza-
ton, many of whom were accompanied by their
ladies.
The entertainment provided by the local Or
ganization, Syrian Temple, was on grand scale.
The decorations were lavish and beautiful.
Business blocks and private residences exhibited
bunting in varied design, while the main thor.
oughfares in the business section along the
route OF march for the parade on Tuesday
evening were lined on either side by thousands
OF red, white and blue globes. which were llu-
minated ut night by as many gas jets. At GER
tain points illuminated arches with legends
formed by o myriad of burners added to the at
Effectiveness OF the display. The line of march
was in reality blaze Of light, for besides the
brillIancy OF the illuminations just described.
and those of the windows OF buildings. which
even the throng of people crowding every
available point Of observation could not hide,
liberal distribution of fambeau organizations
and colored fires and fireworks of every descrip-
ton made the streets almost as light US day.
THE PARADE A SUCCESS.
The parade itself was great success. To
give an idea Of the number of Shriners partici-
patlng it may be stated that Syrian Temple Of
this city numbers more than 1000 in member
ship, and there were very few absentees from
the ranks, while organizations from a distance
were proportionately well represented. Almas
Temple did not have SO many men III line as at
Omaha last year, but this was due in great part
to the terrible catastrophe at Ford's Theater
building. which directly or indirectly affected
a number who had intended coming to
Cincinnati. The Shriners all appeared in
regulation dress suit and fez. and the
marching of several organizations was such as
to elicit unstnted applause. Imperial Poten-
tate Melsh, bearing II huge bouquet, headed
the parade, accompanied by the officers of tine
imperial council, until the grand stand ut the
point of dismissal WAS reached, when he and his
party took positions allotted them to review
the passing thousands. Several crack band
| we're in the procession and many camels and
elephants and other animals from the Zoologl-
cal Gardens added novelty to the affair. Upo
| one of the elephants rode the Young son of
| Imperial Potentate Melish.
| After the parade grand spectacular enter
| tainmeut entitled Tho Secret of the Sphynx."
| representing a scene in the desert. with the ia
nous sphynx and the pyramids, and n grand
bale. and chorus. was produced at Music Hall,
wherein several thousand people were seated.
| 1t was a scale equal TO the Fail of Baby
| lOn," &c, and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Other features OF entertainment for visitors
were a musical fese at tho Geological! Gardens.
excursions on the Ohio river. receptions given
at vurious headquarters and reception to
visiting ladies given by Mrs. Melish, wife of the
! imperial poten0te.
| THE GRAND STAND FALLS.
just as the detachment of police bringing M
the rear of the parade had passed the grand
stand there occurred an accident which it was
| feared at first would cast a gloom over the
whole weeks enjoyment. The grand stand was
divided into two sections. on cach OF which
were seats for several thousand people. These
seats We're reserved exclusively for ladies. In
! their haste TO get to Music Hall thcy crowded
toward the only stairway leading to the ground.
| The weight became too great for any one par ,
of the structure, for suddenly there WAS a
crash and down went about forty feet OF tho
stand The excitement following for sever
minutes was simply appalling Hundreds WIZ
| heard of the disaster and who believed Their
| ladies to be upon the stand came rushing to the
scene The police seemed powerless to repel the
! frantic mass of humanity. dozen ambu.ancet
and patrol wagons with surgeons and the police
| reserve were soon upon the ground. Beyond the
| throng and amid the wreck of broken timbeI
and chairs ladies were screaming and trying l,
| extficate themselves from their per,lous posi-.
ton. After all the unfortunates had been re
moved it was happily found shat few were j
jured. and none seriously, but bonnets and Ia
and fine toilets suffered numerically be"at
OF the frantic efforss Of the frightened 20 4
to escape.
The sessions OF the imperial council were helt
in Scottish Rite Cathedral. fine editice-for
merly u chUrch-on Broadway. which has beer
Al,
meeting places owned BY the Masonic fra
ternity anywhere in the country. One issu,
ovorshadowed ell others that came before tn
council. During the year Imperial Potentat'
Meish had suspended Imperial Recorder Franl
NJ. Luce from Office for certain acts which tn,
head of the order regarded as evidence of in
subordination and violation OF law. The ques
ton WIS whether or not the imperial potentat
could remove an officer wEo was elected. rs wa
he himself, BY the imperial council l
was urged that i'll every grand lodge of Mason
the powers Of the grand lodge wer'
vested in the grand master during the inter
val between sessions, and Past Imperial Poten
tate Sam Briggs had decided during his tern
of Office that in the absence of specific law gov
erning the Order of the Mystic Shrine the Gus
toms ard usages of tho Masonic fraternity. o
which every Shriner was necessarily n member
should prevail. and, moreover, he had for Ger
tain acts. claimed to be n violation OF law, sus
pended the charter Of the Temple at Utica
New York, and said suspension sustained
by the imperial council. Grand Master Dear
of the Grand Encampment of Knights Temp,a
of the United States. during his term of office
suspended the grand recorder and his action
was sustained by the grand encampment Thu
whole question referred to the committe
on Jurisprudence and laws. composed OF j. L
Dobpyn of Minneapolis, Harrison Dingmal
of Washington, Lawrence NJ. knelhey o
Dallas. Tex, Bun F. Price of Memphis, AM
has EieE Of no tod int yn
OF the right Of The imperial potentate to sus
pend any subordinate officer from Office. argu
ing from the above precodents and quoting III
language of Past Imperial Potentate Briggs i
{ 20 Utica to tAe effect that the imper.a
potentate was clothAI with the full power ant
authority OF the imperial couucil i'll the interva
between sessions. Bat law and precedent wer
disregarded in this lrbtance; personal reason
were allowed sway, and the report of the con,
, mittee was rejected by vote Of "A to 40.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
, The result of the election of officers was dc
t termined by the vote in the Luce Th
I opposition to the reelection Of Melish vote
) for Thomas ]. Hudson of Pittsburg, who be
, sides being strong and popular man, was dep
} uty imperial potentate, and therefore next i
the line of succession. When tho vote wa
taken Hudson received sixty-six votes an
Q Melsh fifty-eight The other officers chose
Z were follows: Deputy imperial potentatI
0 Charles l.. Field OF San Francisco; chief rab
ban, Frank Locke of Boston; assistant rabbau
r John L. Brush OF Indianapolis; high priest an'
prophet A. Il. McGaffey Of Denver; orients