The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-19
SHR|NERS HAD BIG
 TIME LAST. NIGHT
Over One Hundred Are Taken
 Across Hot Sands
MET BY ARAB PATROL
Theatre and Is Said to Have Been the Most Elaborate Ever
 Seen Here

After having held on to the rope for what seemed to them an almost end-
 less length of time, 100 prominent Ma
 sons of Alabama received last night the initiation into the mysteries of the zamora temple, Nobles of the Mystic
 Shrine The caravan started across the l hot sands as the moon rose last night
 and ended about midnight The ses-
 sion was held in the Jefferson the
 atre.
 1 The caravan was composed of more ca mels than ever before crossed the blistering desert in the history of the local temple of Nobles and for that
 reason outstripped any ceremonial ses-
 sion of Shriners ever held in Birming- ham. The novices received their most
 cherished ambitions last night after
 having completed the journey. Today | there may be many who are fond pos
 sessors of aching persons but they have
 been welcomed into the elect in Ma sorry and would not exchange their
 places with any man.
 The caravan was composed of 100 novices who were corralled in Bir- min gham from Anniston and Gadsden.
 They arrived yesterday evening at o'clock, occupying three cars on special train operated by the Louis vile and Nashville railroad The trip was made on the fastest schedule ever operated on that division and even the old-time railroad men marveled at that l trip being taken by the prospective Shriners. They were accompanied by another 100 of the elect who exercised l a constant vigil over them. No es- capes were attempted and every one l of them arrived here in good sound condition. They were handcuffed when | the train came to a halt. They de- | seemed from the train amid deafen- l ing roar from the Arab Patrol drum and fife band and the yells of those nobles who were pleasantly anticipat- | ing the punishment they were to in- | fiict upon the novices when the moon | rose.
 | The novices, escorted by bowling nobles and to the tune of There Will l Be a Hot Time in the Old Town To- night" drilled up Twentieth street to | hotel where they were given some nourishment The refreshment was said l to have been "Zim Zim,' but those | who know said 1t was cameTs milk. Be 1 that as it may they were greatly re- | freshed for the ordeal through which they later went at the Jefferson the | atre.
 The ceremonial session was preceded by l a vaudeville concert which was given at l the Jefferson by some local actors and
 actresses. The journey adross the hot sands started soon after the termination
 of the concert.
 | The session was attended by about 400
 of the Shriners in Birmingham and dele gations from all parts of the state. The
 local hotels were crowded with Nobles l long before the special arrived with it's | load of novices.
 1 The meeting was held here under the direction of Potentate Charles Moffett, who Is trying to establish record TOT
 new members during his administration as potentate The team was composed I of some of the most prominent Shrlners
 In Birmingham who mapped out for the benefit of the visitors an initiation full | of unusual thrills. The trip ended short | ly before midnight. Proceeding that time howls of rage and groans were heard to enamate from the interior of the thea- l tre These were instantly drowned py the laughter of those who had preceded those performing last night. At the con i clusion of all festivities incident to the initiation those who were prostrated
 were given nourishment and cared for by 1 the imperial physicians. The other new 1 Nobes were served light refreshments at | tn theatre. The event is said to nave l been the most successful ever held here.
 The large attendance and the elaborate 1 initiation stimulated the greatest inter | est in the session.
 | The session was held here on account | of the ruling of the imperial potentate | that Birmingham Nobles were not au- | thorized to go to Anniston, Gadsden and other places and receive the Mobiles. uhe l festivities at those places were hastily cancelled and the novices induced to come | to Birmingham The train bore a banner uuon which was written, "We don't know W here we are going but we are on our
 way"
 The crew of the special consisted of
 Engineer B. D. Wade. Conductor Fl.
 Meigs and Noble M H. Rudisell. flag
 man. The visiting Shriners and the new ly-made ones return to their home today Among those who crossed the sands last
 night were J. S. Moragne J. W. Lawrence. D. L. | Russell, R. A. Burns, E. R. Ie Fevre, T. B. Gwin w. G. Ballenger, J. F. Winning, J. w. Penn, T. H. Stephens, M. A. Jolly, w. T. Christopher, A. Smith, J. M. High. saw, J. D. Hollis, J. E. Blackwood. w Hill, J. E. Line. T. J. Work, w. ". Whiteside, D. P. Hale, J. Mees, J. H. Abercrombie. B. w Whitfield, J. l. Lan-
 ford, John D. Scruggs. James D. Scruggs C. R. West, C. R. Bell, H. G. Ernest A. P. Reich, I. D. Davis, J. M. Reynolds,
 J. Levystein, H. P. Lankford, G. B. Nor gan, Dr. John A. Moore, l.. S. Kidd, F.
 B. Mize, J. H. Snodgrass, s. W. Quarles R. M. Bireley.