The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-15
THE sHRINERs' PARADE.
On Horses, Floats, DOnkeys and on
Foot.

By far the most interesting feature
of the conclave. if not the most i'm
pressive, was the Shriners parade,
which took place at o'clock The
Mobiles started out from the Temple,
marched past the De Soto to Madison
Square. which they circled, and then
returned northward on Bull street to
johnson Square around which they pa
raded. and then returned to their
starting place.
The parade was in more than one
feature a novelty, and among the most
elaborate. that the local Mobiles have
ever given. The line was headed by
Marshals F. w. Garden and w. A.
Reaves on horses; then came the First
Regiment Band and behind that a
large float on which, each graced in
his ceremonial robes and seated in
state were the. chief officers of Alec
Temple: Potentate Ernest A. Cults.
under an arch of greenery, and, on
seats of lesser dignity, Chief Rabban
Fl. E Wilson, Assistant Rabban Thorn
as Ballantyne. High Priest and Proph-
ct George A. Brock and Secretary T.
f. Youmans
Drawn by DecISed Steeds.
The float was drawn by four white
horses. and was decorated with palm
and pine. With the lustrous robes of
the officers it presented a decidedly
brilliant aspect. as did, also, the sec
ond float drawn by two black steeds
and occupied by the following, the
lesser officers of Alec Oriental Guide
A. B. Simmons, nlustrious Marshal
Henry S Colding, Ceremonial Masters
Joseph w Jackson and A. S. Nichols
and Alchemist w. c. Offutt.
81
Corps followed the second float and
preceded Noble H. w. Witcover, who
in keeping with his office of keeper of
the animals. bestrode a small dun-col-
ored donkey, that had his own idea of
how the parade should be made. and
caused the rider some trouble to en-
force his views of the matter.
The Arab Patrol.
Next came the feature of the parade,
the Arab Patrol, which made it's first
appearance before a Savannah public.
Capt. ]. C. Postell, respondent in red,
blue and orange, and Lieut.. Z. X.
Demmond, not a whit less brilliantly
clothed than his chief, were in COM
mand. while behind them came the
rank and file in the traditional garb of
the free son of the desert, even to the
bare legs, which in this case were rep
resented by fiesh-colored stockings, and
the undressed leather sandals. Each
bore a spear, to which was attached
the symbol of the order a crescent and
star, stamped in gold on a small red
flag.
Candidates for the Hot Sands.
Their war like appearance was
heightened by the fact that in the CEN
ter of the patrol were marched twelve
of the candidates that were to take
the Shrine degree at the nights cere-
monial session. These the initiates
term fresh meat"
The parade was watched by interest
ed crowds which not only thronged the
piazzas of the De Soto and the Hus-
sars Club and houses along the
route of march, but who also lined up
several deep on the sidewalks.
After the parade. which was dismiss
ed at Masonis Temple. such of the
Shriners as are also Sir knights re-
turned to the De Soto and prepared
themselves for the Templar Service at
the church. After that they again be-
came the mobiles of the desert. lined
UP and with torches escorted from the
De Soto 10 Masonic Hall the candidates
who were put through Alec Temple
In the work of escort they We're ably
assisted by the members of the drum,
fife and bugle corps.
Those Who Lived.
The candidates who were Initiated
are:
Rev. Charles H. Strong and Messrs.
wafer =. Corbett, G. c. Quackenbush,
Continued on sixth Pagej