The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-08
PROGRAM MAPPED OUT
MANY DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
ARE EXPECTED.
SEMI. CENTENNIAL OF GRAND CHAPTER
The Grand Commandery, Grand Chapter and
Mystic Shrine viii All Convene in Annual
Conclaye Here on May i8th--A
Four DAYS Session.
Four DAYS Session.

The month of May will be a great
event for Raleign. This city has been
selected as the next place of meeting
of the Grand Commandcry and the
Grand Chapter of North Carolina, and
already preparations have begun for
properly entertaining the two hundred
visiting Masons that will be here then.
1t is the semi-centennial of the Grand
Chapter and will be celebrated with
splendor. There will be excursions, pa
rades, barbecues, entertainments, con-
certs and banquets. Noted speakers are
invited and distinguished Masons will
be here from all over the United States.
Then there will be the Mystic Shrine
with its cameis and wild Arabs. its can.
didates. it's black goats and other things
no less ridiculous, parading the streets
in solemn procession.
For the occasion only a partial pro-
gram has yet been arranged. The com
mittee of arrangements held meeting
yesterday morning for the purpose of
beginning the necessary preparations
to entertain the visitors. Sub-comlnit-
tees were appointea and the following
general programme suggested:
Tuesday night, May 18th, a meeting
fer the purpose of organization will b.
held in Masonic Hall. Immediately af-
ter this all the visitors and their friends
viii be taken over the city in street
ears, decorated with Masonic emblelns
composed of electric lights-passion cross
for the Knights Templar, keystone and
arch for the Masons.
Wednesday morning the schools, pub
lie institutions and places of interest
about the city will be visited in car
riages. The excursion will wind up at
the asylum, where an old-fashioned bar
becue will be served on the lawn. After
this the A. and NJ. college win be visi-
ted and the afternoon spent witnessing
a game of baseball between Wake For
est and the A. and NJ. cadets.
Thursday morning there will be the
regular business sessions. In the after
noon the knights Templar will parade,
and at night concert will be given at
Peace Institute complimentary to The
visitors.
Friday afternoon the richest thing of
the meeting-to the outsider-will come.
The Shrine parade will be something
mated, surpass anything OF the kind
ever before seen in the State.
As fitting climax to the occasion
comes a grand banquet at the Var
borough House Friday night.
The committee of arrangements for the
occasion is composed of the following
gentlemen: John G.. Drewry. chairman;
Ashby j.. Baker, w. A. Withers, John
Nichols, ID. s. Hamilton, W. Il. Jones.
r. III. Bradley, William Simpson and
NJ Bowes.
Mr.. Drewry has divided the work up
among his committee as follows:
Street Car Excursi0n-Prof. w. A.
Withens.
Carriage Excursion--Ashby L. Baker.
Barbecue Dinner-R. III. Bradley.
Emtertainment-Ni Simpson
The banquet will oe given by the
Shrine.
While the Masons are here the free
dom of the city viii he given them, and
a Thousand doors will be open for their
entertainment.
The meetings will be held in Masonic
Hall, in the Holleman building.
Three highest officers of the three
bodies-Grand Commandery, Grand
Chapter and Mystic Shrine are:
j. FL. blackburn, of Newbern, right
eminent grand commander.
w. A Withers, of lialeigh, grand
high priest
w. S. Liddell, of Charlotte, illustrious
p0tentate.