The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-12
ATE and SHIVERED
Masonic Banqueters Found the
Auditorium Cold.
Six Hundred People Sat Down
to Tables.
BUT NOT ALL STAYED.
Speakers Found a Decidedly Chill
ly Audience.
Heating Plant Not Yet in Work
ing Order.

The Scottish Rite banquet at the Aud
itorium last night was a success. A de-
cided success so far as the banquet was
concerned. And as a banquet han the
Auditorium was found to be excellent.
The only thing at fault seemed to be the
weather.
The banquet tables were arranged in
the square, level part of the main floor.
Six tables seating at least a hundred
each. The tables We're tastefully dec
GRATED with ferns and behind q bank OF
palms on the stage MarshalPs band
played during the banquet. But the
building was cool when the people went
in and by the time the last course had
been served the temperature was decid-
edly low. The boilers were steamed up
yesterday and heat turned on the Aud
itorium but the main pipe had not been
properly connected with the Auditor
ium and therefore there was no steam
in the building. But the people shivered
a little. ate a picked onion, drank lit
tie more hot coffee and stayed for a
while.
The banquet was served without
fault. The menu was excellent. The
food was served from a, s'cook tent in
regular circus style. No stoves are all
lowed in the Auditorium. So the tent
was pitched in the open space just north
of the building and row of gas stoves
were connected and kept busy A line
of hose carried the supply of water. The
cooks in the tent had things arranged
as neatly and cleanly as if in a large
kitchen.
It was II o'clock when Toastmaster E.
w. Poindexter introduced the first
speaker. w. A. s. Bird Mr. Bird re-
spOnded to the toast, "Our Country" FIe
spoke OF Masonry being the first frater-
nal order and that others had been
started after it's success. He spoke of
the good the fraternal orders have done
the country and said: Our country is
above and beyond all others in the sis
terhood of nations of The earth. Every
lady IS queen and every man a king.
1t can truly be said of our country that
it is not necessary to be born with a sill
Yer spoon in ones mouth to become a
person of fame. The country presents
an equal chance to ALL" The hall was
becoming colder.
o. J. Wood responded to the toast
Scottish Rite Masonry He said.
Learn all one can in a lifetime of
Scottish Rite Masonry and at the end
one would have to say as Socrates L
feel as though after all I had not learned
half The Scottish Rite is an ancient
and honorable institution. Ancient, as
having existed for years; honorable, be-
cause it has never taught dishonesty,
and always teaches that we should be
better men and better citizens. I affirm
that because man has become a Ma
son that he is never made worse. King
doms and dynasties may pass away, but
ancient craft Masonry will continue to
exist"
ished the banqueters commenced to
leave. Toastmaster Poindexter raped
for attention, but the people hurried for
the cloak rooms and their wraps. It
was like a stampede. IN a couple of
minutes more than half the people had
gone. The hall looked awfully empty
Mr.. Poindexter said that perhaps it
would be well to dispense with the re-
mainder of the programme on account
of the cold, but those who remained
called for the remaining speakers.
Col. Jonathan D Norton responded to
THE Supreme Council" He told of the
Great He said the United States is
divided into two jurisdictions. That the
southern jurisdiction is the largest, and
that Kansas is the leading state in the
number of consistories. The audience
shivered
W. L. Burdick, of Lawrence. responded
to the last toast .sThe ladies'" He
viewed the small audience, and said:
There are enough left to give me an
inspiration. Susan b Anthony said she
could never watch sweet girl graduates
upon the school platform without wish
ing that she could take them in her arms
and kiss them. That is the way / feel
here. The weather is rather cool in
here. and reminds me of the man who
told a friend that he could look a crowd
over and tell where all of them came
from. He pointed to one man, and said
he came from New York. The friend
asked the man and he admitted that he
was from New York. The man said the
next was from Vermont, and it was
found that he was right. He guessed
men from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and
other states, and finally pointed to
man and said He is from Missouri
The man got up and said: No, I'm not.
The reason / look so bad is because IN
sick Now the reason 1 feel SO bad is
because I'm cold" There was a chorus
of chattering teeth.
But despite the cold the banquet was
a success, and the Auditorium will make
an excellent banquet% room when the
heating plant is in working order.