The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-24
TOPERSECUTE THE NOV|CES TONIGHT Shriners Hold Grand Cere-
 mOnial Session BANQUET TO FOLLOW Experts of the Arab Patrol Will Con- duct Unknowing Ones Across
 the Hot Sands at the
 Orpheum
BANQUET TO FOLLOW

In obedience to a manifesto issued by Potentate Frank B. Keiser, 400 nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Zamora Temple, will gather tonight at the Orpheum thea ire. corner Seventeenth street and Third avenue, for the first ceremonial session under the regime of the commander. The greatest interest will surround what is to happen to about 35 novices who will gather with them and join the pilgrimage across the blistering sands.
 The Nobles do not get busy until 7:3O o'clock tonight, but the apprehensive ones will be there about one hour earlier to secure a little nourishment prior to the beginning of the momentous journey.
 Recorder Charles J. Geohegan said yes- terday that applications had been received from actually 20 novices, and he expected at least 90 to request passage across the desert. These will be supplied with a never-ending rope which will enable them to secure close communion and each of the unfortunates will be instructed to hold on tight especially during the sand storms, usually encountered in the pas sage of the desert.
 It was given out around the city yes- terday that several rubber nipples had been secured for the novices and in the event no oasis was passed during the journey they would be permitted to ab- sorb some camers milk; not however, unless the sun was scorching and the journey was interrupted by the sand storms
 The event tonight is expected to be one of the usual Shrner sort. It is stated that candidates for the playground of Masonry are coming from Calera, Deca- tur, Anniston, Montgomery and other nearby cities to endure the agonies quail flying them to wear the sacred red fez and be called after the elect--noble.
 The patroing of the desert this evening will be in charge of picked bunch from the Arab patrol. These will endeavor to appease the arid throats of the novices and will supply some soft cooling cloth to place over their optics to keep the sand out.
 Forty gondola loads of the finest sand sold by local sand artists were unloaded In the desert yesterday afternoon. This morning IT heat pipes run specially from the Birmingham Railway, Light and Pow CT company plant will be connected with the theatre. These pipes supply heat suf- ficient to destroy the McKaa diamond in IS of 1-16 of a second, so it is gathered that the aforesaid sand will be pretty well warmed up when at 6:30 the rope Is unwound and the suffering specimens are led forth
 Noble Russell M Cunningham, M. D., Frank Grace. M. D., and w. P. McAdory, NJ. D., will examine the candidates just prior to the beginning of the journey, and if there are any symptoms of heart failure the afflicted ones will not be per mitted to begin.
 Following the ceremonial session. in which the Nobles exhibit fiendish glee, there will be the annual banquet. This will be held in the Shrine hall on Fourth avenue. The regular nobility will attend this eatfest, while the candidates recent ly put through will be sent home in cabs well supplied with cushions. In addition to enduring persecution the novices will be deprived of the feed. This will be en- joyed by about 400 if the anticipated hap pens, and it will be a royal feast. The fun begins at the sinking of the sun and does not cease until the moon sinks to rest behind the cemetery on North Nine teenth street.