Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-09-03
THE MYSTIC SHRINE,
Charles L. Fields Of San Francisco Is
! Elected Imperial Potentate.
Order Has Alleviated Much
Poverty and Distress.
Retiring Poienlaie's Address Shows Great
Growth In Membership and finances

NANTAsKRT BEACH, Mass, Sept. 8.-The
Mystic Shrsners made several changes In
the constitution yesterday, and then tho
following officers were elected: Imperial
potentate, @. l.. Fields, San francisco;
deputy imperial potentate, j. Il. Brush,
indianapolis; chief rabban Harrison
Bingham, Washington; assistant rabban.
Il. X. Harris, Detroit; high priest and
prophet, A. Is. McGaffey, Denver oriental
guide, II. II. Allen, Kansas City; treasurer.
w. s. Brown, Pittsburg; recorder, Is. w.
Rowell, Boston; first ceremonial msster.
w. ii. $. Wright, st. Paul; second cere-
monial master, Il. j. Bishop, Albany;
marshal, r. NJ. Johnson, Chicago; captain
Of tho guard, j. II. Atwood, Leavenworth,
Kan; outer guard, III. X. Blanchard,
Providence. IL Is estimated that there
were at least 10000 visitors at the Rock
land House yesterday, of which more than
half were Shriners. WV
The vote for the new imperial potentate.
Charles l.. Field Of San Francisco, was
12l out Of 1873. Mr.. Field Is a San Fran
cisco merchant In the leather business, a
man known and admired throughout the
west He Is past commander Of the "a
nous Golden Cato commandery and past
potentate Of the Islam Temple. He was
10 years old yesterday, his election being q
graceful birthday present on the part Of
his fellow mobiles.
An Encouraging Report.
Immediately after tho council assembled
yesterday Imperial Potentate Melish de-
hvered his annual address, which was In
substance as follows:
Again the Imperial Council Is convened
in annual session. We are greeted with
hospitality rs unstinted and typical as the
largest Arabic heart could wish In this
oasis of the famed Temple Aleppo, one of
the largest, wealthiest and most influential
Of our subordinates.
During the year 1892 called the atten-
tion of each temple to the virtue of charity,
as well as hospitality, and suggested that
each temple make special effort to al
leviate the poverty and distress Of the
worthy poor. This bore good fruit. The.
result exceeded all expectations.
The sum total expended for charity un-
der the auspices Of our subordinate tenn
pies and In the name OF the Order of No
bles of the Mystic Shrine, amounts to
$14,0S7 80. When carping criticism or
captious comment, derogatory to the
"Shrine is made, let us point to our charita-
BILE deeds to Gods poor and say: "This
is the answer OF the Shrine In America"
The prosperity of the order continues
unabated. Notwithstanding the financial
depression ring the greater portion Of
the year our growth in membership
during 1894 was the largest In our history;
on Dec. l, 1893, amounting to 81 AL. On
the same date, 1894, it was 37,542, showing
gain of 6i07. During the year have
made special effort to ascertain the growth
and condition of the order in other ways
than In numerical strength. and am glad
to report regarding it's material prosperity
We now have "A temples In North America,
located In 81 states and territories, with
net assets Of 1908 941.35
The Big Temples.
The largest temples In the jurisdiction
on the first day Of May, 1895, each con-
taining over 1000 members, were as follows:
Aleppo Of Boston, $685. Mecca of New
York, 1878; Lulu of Philadelphia, Medin.
nah of Chicago, Syrian of Cincinnati,
Moslem of Detroit. FL Kehir of Cedar
Rapids and Syria OF Pittsburg.
In looking back over the events Of the
past year am impressed by the necessity
of saying few words of warning in ref
erence to the future welfare of our beloved
order. / hold that no man has right to
commit acts as Shriner which would re-
feet on his character or subject him to dis
cipline as Knight Templar or S2d degree
Mason. am not one Of those who decry
the use Of wine. believe In the creed
with which closed my address to you in
1893: Pleasure without intemperance. hos
pitality without rudeness and jollity with
out coarseness should here prevail among
all of the true faith.
In conclusion beg to express to you my
apDraciation Of tho hiUh honor NJ occupv-