The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-17
THE MAsoNs MEET TO-DAY.
The Parade of Shriners VIII Take Place
This Afternoon.

This Afternoon.
The Masonic fraternity of North Caro-
lima will hold in Raleigh this week the
annual meeting of the Grand Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons. the Grand Com
mandery, knights Templar, and the
Grand Council, Royal and Secret Mas
tiers.
The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons meets to-day, and the occasion
will be the semi-centennia celebration
of the body. The Grand Commandery
of Knights Tcmplar will meet tomorrow
and Thursday, and the Grand Council
will meet during the session. A large
number of delegates arrived yesterday
and last night. and for once masonry
will take possession of the State capitol.
Eugene S. Martin, of Wilmington,
will deliver an address on "Capitular
Masonry in North Carolina" during
the gathering of the bodies. His address
will be one of the features of the Occa-
sion and the Masons all over the State
may look for complete and mastery
presentation of the subject.
The annual parade which the Mystic
Shrine will give this afternoon will be
something unique. One of the best
bands in the State has been secured to
head the parade, which will include a
detachment of seventy-five Shriners at
tired in dress suits and wearing fezes,
twelve Arabs of the Desert attired in
Ara bian costumes, the court jester the
Royal Potentate and other dignataries
of the order Donkeys, camels and
goats also form feature of the parade.
Bringing up the rear of the procession
will be the candidates. who later In the
afternoon will be marched over the
burning sands Of the desert to the oasis.
Each of the candidates for initiation VIII
be attired in immaculate suits of white
and around the neck of each will be
a rope They will ride facing each other
in oDen carriages There are twenty
five candidates to receive initiation and
be taken over the hot sands of the des-
ert at this meeting. Among the mum
Der are Col. J. $. Carr and Col. A. -.
Andrews. The parade viii be given tins
afternoon and tonight the banquet and
limitations will be had
The parade win form in front OF Ma
sonic Hail. at the Holleman building,
and will then proceed north on Fayette-
vile street, turning to the right at Nor
gan until Blount street is reached, when
the procession will move out BlOunt
street to Peace. A turn will be made at
Peace, proceeding along that street to
Halifax, up Halifax to North, out North
to Edenton, Mcdowell and then Hills
boro The parade will proceed out Hills
boro as far as st. Mary's, returning
again as far as Dawson, where a wheel
viii be made down Dawson to Martin,
up Martin to Fayetteville. thence Fay
etteyille to Davie. down Davie to VIII
mington, then up Wilmington to Martin,
thence to Fayetteville, finally stopping
at the starting point.
The branch of the Shriners that as
sembles here represents two States
North and South Carolina. Delegates
from Charlotte, Columbia and other
points in South Carolina will attend.
On Thursday the knights Templar, IN
uniform, will parade, following the same
route as that taken by the Shriners.
At this meeting all the branches Of tne
order will hold annual election Oh ON
GERS.