The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-24
WHITE House RECEPTION
The President Shakes Hands With
Thousands of Shriners.
The CrOwninE md Closing Event Of
the Imperial Council Meeting
One of the Largest Crowds Ever
Received at the White Housc-Dcc-
orntiOns of the Executive Mansion.

President and Mrs. Mckinley last night
held the largest reception of the present
Administration in honor of the Mystic
Shrine. Seven thousand people, mobiles
and their ladies from all parts of the coun-
try, from Maine to California and from
Canada to Texas. shock hands with the
President between the hours of and II.
The entire great concourse of the Shrin rs
in the city in attendance at the Imperial
Council of the Order were present. aatl
the hours of the reception were stretched
out far beyond the original programme in
the endeavor to allow ell to meet TIER
fellow Mason, the head of the National
Government, and even then, when the
gates of the grounds were closed. nearly a
thousand people were outside that it was
necessary to disappoint-
There has not been such another i'm
mense throng at White House reception
since the conclave of the Knights Templar
several years ago during Mr.. Cleveland 6
last term, and it was estimated last nig1t
by the White House officials that even on
that occasion the number of guests IVES
not so great. The occasion was brilliant
one. long to be remembered as a chief
event in the history of the order. and Icing
20 be cited in Washington as the record
function of the White House in point Of
size.
The Immense Crowds.
The scenes both inside and outside the
home of the Presidents, which has seen SO
many great public gatherings. Nearly the
entire first floor of the Executive Mansion
YVES given up to the receiving party and
the guests. The East Room was filed to
Overlooking. and a stream of Nob.es ard
their ladies stretched back through the
parlors to the Blue Room. where the Fresi
dent and the receiving party stood, AMI
then through the Red Parlor, the state dir
ing room. the private dining room. and
thence to the Red Corridor and the main
corridor.
Outside. the line reached down to the
west gate and along the Avenue around
the north and east sides of the White
House Grounds to below the south end of
the Treasury building. And in addition
there was a long line OF carriages stretch
ing up the Avenue for two blocks beyond
the State, War. and Navy building. Ex-
cellent preparations bad been made for the
thrcngs. however. and the entire evening
passed off without a hitch or delay, and
only the fact that all could not be ad-
mitted marred an otherwise perfect sue
cess.
Plans for the Reception.
The plans for the reception to the
Shriners have been under way for several
weeks. President Mckinley sent word to
Almas Temple some time ago that he
J. IL - .rrf,, ~
the Mobiles, and later sent a personal inyi-
tation to every member Of the order, who
expressed the intention of making the pill
grimage to Washington and to all in his
party. And the Mystic Shrine. on its part
made the event one of the chief fea-
lures Of the programme of Imperial Coun-
Gil week. 1t came as the last event Of the
Council and the climax.
The decorations in honor of the Shriners
were simple but effective. The East Room
walls and inches were filled with palm
foliage, crotons. and exotic grasses. In the
Blue Room great punches Of pink peonies
bloomed In vases on the mirror rests and
a bouquet of red and white blossoms sur
mounted the fauteille in the centre of the
room. The deco rations were taken en-
tirely from the White House conservatory
and the Government gardens. The music
of the occasion was furnished by the Ma
rine Band. two sections being stationed in
the conservatory and in the hall off the
East Room.
President Mckinley shook hands with
the entire throng as IL passed rapidly by
him. 1t was thought that before the end
of the evening he would probably be
obliged to give up the handshaking for a
bow. but he continued manfully to receive
fifty guests minute for three hours Mrs
Mckinley. as usual. simply bowed TO the
guests. The East Room was soon filled
with the Mobiles in their evening suit uni
forms, and their ladies. for the most part
in evening walking dress. The room was
a bright and attractive scene during the
entire evening, though the guests were
continually changing, as those that had
been received left to allow room for the
thousands that came after them.
The Escort TO the White House.
The Reception Committee and ladies. and
the Executive Committee and ladies of AL
mas Temple met the Imperial Council at
O'Clock at the Riggs House, and acted as
their escort to the White House. A line
was formed at the Riggs and the march
was begun in the following order:
Executive Committee and ladies, Reception
Committee and ladies, Imperial Council and
ladies and visiting Mobiles and the ladies
of their parties.
Already an immense crowd OF eager |
guests had been admitted in line to the |
White House grounds and were waiting |
for the coming of the Imperial Council 1t |
stretched even then far down the Avenue |
east from the west gate At the White |
House the Imperial Council preceded the |
Almas escort party into the state and pri- |
vate dining rooms. where the wait was |
made for the coming of the Presidents |