The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-04
MYSTIC SHR|NERS
 RECEIVE VISITORS Visit of Imperial POtentate Gives
 Much Pleasure IMPAIRMENT IN THE PARADE A Banquet Is Given at the HiIIman, at Which Eloquent Addresses
 Are Made By Visitors
 and Hosts.
IMPAIRMENT IN THE PARADE

Nearly 300 strong and every one jolly good fellow. zamora temple, Ancient Or der Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, made merry in Birmingham yesterday upon the visit or Imperial Potentate Frank c. Roundy of Chicago. Just as his majesty touched foot on Birmingham soil Jupiter Pluvius opened the f1oodgates and pro- ceeded to soak the merry throng, but while he succeeded in stopping the pa rade before it was half over. the jollity was of the kind that nothing could squelch and from 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon until the same hour this morn ing it bubbled over in an effervescence of joy.
 Mardi Gras in New Orleans pales into inslgnifcance as compared to the cara van the Shriners piloted through the desert wastes of Birmingham. Worship CTS of the Mystic Shrine in Oriental garbs of many colors champed in their impatience to loosen the bounds of their merriment, while the Arab patrol in true Turkish costumes strode up and down the line with short pieces of stout hemp rope ciutched in their hands and whipped it into order.
 The parade formed at Shriners' hall, corner of Fourth avenue and Twentieth street, and at 3:3O o'clock started for the depot. With the forming of the parade the torture of the candidates began, and until o'clock they were put through the terrors of deepest misery.
 Every kind of conveyance pulled by beasts of burden was in the caval- cade. Enormous black bulls mules, horses and gasoline pulled strange looking floats loaded down with precious shriners. There was the police patro1 driven by candidate in striped suit, while the Arab patrol secured the highways and the byways of the town searching for any Shrine- who had dared forget the great occa- sion. About a dozen of these unfor- tunates were located and unceremon- iously lashed with ropes and cast into the patrol. One luck less worshipper was caught with a chicken in the Cen tral park, and Shriner and chicken were both picked up bodily and placed in the city's four wheeled chariot.
 The march to the Terminal station was made in great style, people lining the sidewalks by the hundreds to see the parade go by. Imperial Potentate Roundy arrived a few minutes late over the Frisco from Memphis, being ac-
 
 s. Scott of zamora Temple, who had gone up the road to meet h i'm.
 An informal reception was held in the Hotel Hillman at 9 o'clock, and at 10 o'clock the banquet was begun.
 Illustrate Potentate W. S. Scott was master of ceremonies, and former Lieu tenant Governor pr. Cunningham was tine first speaker, his subject being Ala bama,' followed by talk on Masonry State Auditor w. W. Brandon was the next speaker down on the programme for the subject, "Experience-the Best Of Teachers" In his absence ex-Congress- man W. F. Aldrich was called upon.
 Noble c, R. Patterson followed MT. AL drich with an ode to Prohibition Or the Dryness of the Desert
 Noble A. w Rathbun of Medinah Tenn pie. Chicago spoke on Medina"
 Imperial Potentate Frank C. Roundy spoke on '"The Imperial Council"