The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-30
OVER THE SANDS
CANDIDATES GO
MOBILES OF alec TEMPLE
MET IN CEREMONIAL SESSION IN
FULL STRENGTH.

Gorgeous Parade Preceded the Gath
ering I'm the Temple-Eight Can
dfdates Escorted Over the burning
Sands of the Desert TO the Rest
and Peace of Alec TempIe-Omcers
Were Elected for Ensuing Year.
zem-zem Water and Banquet Fol-
lowed Session.
In all the glory of the sun~kissed
cline of Araby the Blest. and in robes
that would have put even the famed
and wealthy Sultan Haroun AL Tlaschid
to shame Alec Temple. Ancient Arabic
Order, Mobiles of the Mystic Shrine.
met last night in ceremonial session.
When the official scribe to the po-
tentate was instructed to get busy
and count fezes, he reported that there
were more than 800 gathered together.
Then the devotees of Alec Temple the
Of Savannah. in the desert of Georgia,
rejoiced and were exceedingly glad.
And the Zem-Zenn water flowed the
more freely and all faces turned joy
ously toward the East and toward the
great central temple wherein lies the
sacred Kaaba.
Though mercury was coyly flirting
with the freezing point, the sands of
the desert were never hotter AS though
the sun, like a great red hot, copper
disk had been shining upon them for
ages, they shimmered with the heat.
Eight Novitiates. escorted by certain
mobiles appointed for the duty by the
potentate, hustled them over the burn
ing sands.
mobiles laughed and comforted them
with the thoughts of the delights that
awaited them in Alec. When they were
faint, by the way, they sprinkled the
all-powerful Zem-Zem on their parched
tongues and they arose and went on
with the journey. The patient camels
lead the way, but the terror of the
novitiate was the gay and festive goat
that butted in at all opportunities.
Parade Opened the Journey.
The first thing of note that happen
ed was the parade. Starting from
Catholic Library Hall. the assembled
Mobiles marched about the city. On
a gorgeously decorated and brilliantly
lighted float were the eight highest
officers of the Temple. On their heads
they wore the red fez of their faith
and about them were draped robes
whose silken beauty and splendid col
orings would have put to shame even
the once naughty Califf of Imperial
Bagdad
The ulustrious Oriental Guide Noble
Fred w. Garden: the Arab Patrol, In
charge of Capt. w. A. Burney, with
Lieut.. W. w. Edgerton second in COM
mand, and Noble c. c. Quackenbush
escorted the float OF royal beings about
the dangerous by-ways OF the land of
the unbelievers. Behind the float came
the Mobiles of the Temple, clad in
evening dress and wearing the bright
red fezes. u.s.
Were other Doings.
After the Mobiles finally again reach
ed the starting point the ceremonial
session began and for more than three
hours there was plenty doing" The
troubles of the noYitiate began in
earnest. He was hustled over the
burning sands, he was made to stand
bare-headed in the blazing sun, and in
fact everything possible was done to
remind him of the fact that the road
to Alec is as difficult to travel as are
the delights awaiting those who perse-
we're and safely get there. All of the
eight who made the journey last
night landed safely. A
Then the temple began the selection
of the officers who are to guide them
through the coming year. This bust
ness was carried out solemnly and
carefully, as much Of the success of
the temple and the STRENGTHENING
scimitar depends on the qualifications
of these officers. Most capable off,
Gals we're selected and for another
year at least Alec will be great sue
cess.
This over, the work of doing full
Justice to the viands that the imperial
cook had prepared was taken up. All
the Mobiles fell to with a will and did
full just ce to a menu that would have
satisfied TIE most particular Of cpl
cures. Zem-Zem water. eloquent adj
dresses, and the praises Of AL Koran
made the evening one which will be
long remembered.
It was decided to raise the initiation
fee to $50. this to include the fez. The
Shriners also made UP a purse as
Thomas Robins because of faithful
service to Alec Temple.
The Officers Chosen.
II was after 1 o'clock when the Tenn
pie allowed its devotees to depart in
peace, and as each turned away with
the Arabic sigh of parting, a wish
forced itself into words that another
session be held as glorious as had been
this. The following are the officers
elected
Potentate-E. A. Cults.
Chief Rabban--A. B. Simmons.
Assistant Rabban--W. b. Stephens.
High Priest and Prophet. A. III
son.
oriental GuIde-F. w. Garden.
Treasurer--A. S. Nichols.
Recorder--T. r. Youmans.
First Ger. Master-H. w. Witcover.
Second Ger. Masters. f.. Theus.
Marshal--H. S. ColdinR.
Captain OF Guard-Wiiliam Dem
hardt.
outer Guard--Thomas Robins.
Director--J. G. Postell.
Associate Director--C. G. Quacken-
bush.
Aichemist--T. II. Mcmillan.
Musical Director--John Wiegand.
Electrical Director-T. p. Keck.
Associate Electrical Director-W. A.
Burney.
chanters Al Koran-W. A. Reaves,
A. +. King. r. r. Byrnes.
Representatives 20 Imperial Council
e. A Cults and II r. Wilson.
Lumber Company bankrupt.
Norfolk, Va, Dec. 29.--The /. r. DE