The San Francisco call., 1899-09-09
SOLDIERS WERE
THE SHR|NERS'
WELCOME GUESTS
Red Fez AgloW in
Islam Temple.

Hundreds of mobiles of the Ancient Ara
bic Order of the Mobiles of the Mystic
Shrine assembled last night in the hall of
Islam Temple, on Suffer street, for the
double purpose of rendering grand well
come to Colonel Victor D. DubOce, the
recorder Of the temple, who returned
from Manila with the First California,
and to several other warriors who re-
turned at the same time, and to help
sixty-seven novices in their journey
across the "hot sands" of the desert.
The temples camel faithful Old Ben,
who has served the temple since 1883 and
during that time has carried great
number of mobiles and novices, and num-
Der of frisky young camels, We're trotted
out to form a gorgeous procession along
the pathway of the devotees in their en-
deavor to solve Oriental mysteries. The
animals, after three months rest, were
quite frisky, and the novices began to
think that they were sure-enough rough
riders.
The advice to those who were anxious to
become mobiles of the Mystic Shrine was
that if they had will to make they
should do so before going through the
ceremony of initiation; that If they did
not have mantelp1eceS at nome they Hdu
better provide themselves with those use
full ornaments in their respective homes,
as they would find them very desirable
as dining ia bles for some time to come
that If they could neither sing nor dance
they would have to notify CharleS L.
Field, the potentate, or Theo Frolch, the
acting noble recorder, and that they
should be satisfied with the assurance
that there would be nothing IN the dlSnl-
fled and eleVating ceremony or lnductlon
into the mysteries of the temple that they
would not cheerfully recommend 10 thelr
friends, with the possible exception Oh tlle
hot sands" and that only when they De,
came overheated. They were also ADVISED
that if they themselves got a little TOO TOO
much Caloric they would only have to tell
the director, who would order the Nuolan
slaves to scatter cracked ice under their
feet to reduce the temperature
The ceremony OF initiation was VII
messed by 333 mobiles, all wearing req 1ez
caps. All the spectators declared that II
was a grand sight and that the camels
was not disputed by the noNces.
The ceremony beng over there were a
few words of welcome to the noble re-
corder, Colonel Victor ID. Duboce, and the
other mobiles who returned from the PhlI-
ippines Then there was march TO the
main assembly hall. where there were ar
groaned under the weight OF good thlnSs
which had been deftly and artstlcaily
placed upon them. There were seats 1It9 r3r
400 and every seat was occupied. Inc
hail was artisticallY decorated IN a man
ner that gave the place a decidedly Orl-
entail air, and when all were seated the
scene presented was one that was "a
thing of beauty and joy while the fun
lasted, and it can be stated that 1t was
not until long d1ter o CLOCK III lile lllOI IL
ing that the fun ceased. The special
guests were at the head of the table in
military uniforms, the mobiles wore their
feZ caps and the novices or newly ere
ated mobiles were at their places in full
dress suits.
True to the traditions of Islam. neither
the members of the temple nor the
strangers within their gates were allowed
to depart until their appettes were ap-
peased, for they were hidden to partake
freely of the food and drink that was
placed before them. The menu was an
elaborate one, and each and every
shriner did ample justice TO the mysteries
prepared by the chefs.
Past Imperial Potentate Charles Fields
and at present potentate of the temple
presided in the capacity of POSTMASTER,
and as there was no set programme he
called for responses to toasts as the spirit
moved him; Those who responded were
ben H Lloyd. Colonel V. D. Duboce. 1.
]. Truman, ]. FRAME. Captain Hunt of the
idaho volunteers, Major Curry of ST
Paul, paymaster in the army; Major
Getchell and Colonel Black of the North
Dakota volunteers; Captain j. W: F.
Diss of the California Heavy Artillery,
Past Potentate Charles L. Patton, Major