The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-09-12
ShRINERS ARE At
WORK ON PLANS
HANCOCK AND OTHER MICHIGAN
SITES WILL BE CONSIDERED
FOR FRATERNALf
CITY.

The most pretentious undertaking
ever attempted by fraternal body in
this country is now being worked out
by special committee of the Imper-
ial Council. Mobiles OF the Mystic
Shrine, looking towards the establish
ment of permanent headquarters
of the order. In scope the plan is gil
gantic for It includes the incorpora-
ton of a new city and the erection
of "A convention building with seat
ing capacity of $4,000, all of which
has a particular significance to Mich
igan for the reason that the head
quarters may be located i'm this state.
At the last conclaVe of the order
held i'm Rochester a resolution was
adopted providing for the appoint
ment of "A special committee to Sc
cure a site for a permanent head
quarters. the reasons urged being that
owing to the great numbers which
attend the annual conclave no city is
able TO provide the requisite COM
forts and that the members who do
attend are subjected to exorbitant
rates.
Fred A. Hines of Los Angeles, Cal,
who was leaving the office of imperial
potentate, was prevailed upon to ac-
cept the craftsmanship of this COM
mittee, his associates being John w
Boyle, Utica; Frank G. Roundy, Chi
cago; George w. McGandess, Pitts
burgh; and Edwin DeBarr. Norman,
A. LIT. q too.
got together and decided on the essen
tails of the site they wanted in the
way of size and location In quiet
way the committee let il be known
that 5000 acres of land would be need
ed and for the purposes intended 1t
would have to be as close to the CEN
ter of population as possible.
Hancock Has Site.
The committee already has looked
over several sites, but has not finish
ed its work. Members of the COM
mittee visited Hancock some weeks
ago, coming down from Duluth by
boat. but could not stay long enough
to look over a site near here, which,
Il is said, will be offered. They stat
cd, however, that they would come
again, so Hancock may be considered
as likely candidate for the honor
of becoming the great national head
quarters of tine Shriners.
The plans that the committee have
I'm mind seem like dream, but they
are hard headed business men woo
have gone over the matter very care
fully and while they admit that III
Is big proposition insist that IT
can be carried out to the letter as
there are 127 shrines of the order in
the United States and Canada with a.
membership of 100000. In general
way Il is proposed to secure 5,OO0|
acres OF land, easy of access from all
parts of the country, which VIII De
incorporated as a city or village so
that the imperial council can mako
its own ordinances Upon this prop
erty II Is proposed to first build
convention hall and administration
building. capable of seating Zo'Voo
people, which will also be used tor
balls and other social affairs IL Is
proposed to improve the property 10y
providing golf courses. n game pre-
serve, athletic field, etc. In additioh
every shrine will be given from hve tol
10 acres of land upon which to buiid
n club house and upon which the
members can build their summer
homes.
The proposed plan has been taken
I'm with great enthusiasm by the mem
hers and the committee Is Determined
TO recommend a site to the Imperial
council I'm June, so that work can pei
commenced without delay.
State in Good Position.
Michigan occupies strategic posi-
tion for the reason that IL is prao
ticallv the center of population, can
he reached from the east and west
nv both railroads and steamer mas
ar ideal summer climate win po'"
bunting and fishing. 1t Is conserVa-
tivolv estimated that 100000 people
will spend their summers at the II"
nerial headquarters as everything pos
sible will be done to attract the"'
with none of the annoyances that no"
attend the annual conclaves.
what such an enterprise means tol
Michigan can hardly be estl'na'eo'
hut the transportation companies are
alive 20 the proposition and the mem
hors NJ the committee will be shown
the hest that Michigan has.
Members of the committee ho' ons
regard the plan as feasible put ''''an
that other large organizations WI
follow suit on the ground that IL WIN
solve the hotel problem and give '"e
members much more comfort ior less
unnnpV