The Washington herald., 1913-03-20
SHRINERS stage
MINSTREL SHOW
Ceremonial at National Rifles
Armory Big Masonic
Event of Year.
500 IN ATTENDANCE
Traditional Banquet Is Held After
Show in Old Masonic
Temple,

Potentate James T. Gibbs. of Almas
Temple, mobiles of the Mystic Shrine.
made good with his first ceremonial.
staged last night at the National Rifles
Armory before 500 local and visiting
Shriners. There have been ceremonials
and ceremonials,' declared one elderly
looking Shriner, who had witnessed the
entire performance but that big show
tonight was one of the best for origi-
nality and real live wire stunts that 1t
has ever been my pleasure to witness"
OF course. those Shriners would not
tell what went on behind the scenes, but
from their expression and the smiles that
they all wore when emerging from the
hail, there must have been some cere-
monial. The ceremonial had been an
nounced by Potentate Gibbs in his first
circular as Great Celebration"
''Moolid es Slit Fatmeh en- Nebawieh.'
with Oriental observances brilliant illu-
limitations, a festival in honor of ''Mooee-
doo'l-Hasanayn." and receptions and re-
joicinS, to be followed by the traditional
banquet
The mammoth ceremonial began
promptly at O'Clock. and from that
hour until 1880 the events that transpired
will ever remain in the hearts and memo
ries of the large class of candidates that
made the hazardous trip in the caravan
across the hot sands to Mecca Follow
ing the regular ceremonial session the
shrine was closed and minstrel show
was staged by seventeen members of
Almas Patrol, with the captain. Dr.
Frank E. Gibson, as interlocutor. This
was the first chance a reporter had of
getting glimpse of the inside, and
from the finished work of the minstrel
men and the beautiful scenery used for
their open entertainment, the big show"
that preceded it behind closed doors
must have been a hummer"
Ten end men followed the opening
choruses with jokes and songs that
brought forth the loud applause OF the
Shriners who witnessed the fun. Noble
G. L. Isemann sang Till the Sands of
the Desert Grow Cold and other songs
We're sung. as follows: "On the MissN-
spi.'' by Noble Charles a. SteA.ns:
''Good-by Rose by &. F. Waring:
Row. Row. Row by L. NJ. Dodson;
That's How | Miss You.' by w 7.
Lawrence" ''on the Moonlight Bay by
V. NJ. Fookes: It's Anna Lizas We'd
ding Day by Morris Simon. John J.
Odenwald and Salvatore Desio made
good joke men and w. c. Smallwoods
dancing was a hit.
After the minstrel performance. the
Mobiles. headed by Potentate Gibbs.
marched to the Old Masonic Temple.
where the traditional banquet was
served. Potentate Gibbs introduced Roe
Fulkerson, past potentate of Almas
Temple, as the POSTMASTER.
The guest of honor of the evening was
William W. Irwin, Deputy Imperial
Potenate of the Shrine of North America. \
and member of Osiris Temple, at |
Wheeling, W. Va. Other Shriners who |
were called on for, addresses were Dr. |
o. w. Burdats. A Past Potentate of |
Osiris Temple, at Wheeling. W. Va:
Harrison Dngman, the grand old Noble |
of Almas," who is Past Imperial |
Potentate of the Shrine of North Amer |
lea, and the recorder of Almas Temple; |
William Hamilton Smith and Harry
Standiford. both past potentates of Almas |
Temple. Senator Thompson of Kansas |
was also visitor at the ceremonial
Among the Shriners.
Among the visiting Shriners present |
were John W. Hall. of Medinah Temple !
Chicago. Ill: r. l.. Odom. of Mecca Tenn
pie New York City; w. G. lie Hew, or
Acca Temple. Richmond. Va; o. F. Per-
key. of Alec Temple, Savannah, Ga: W.
r. Cline, of AcCa Temple. Richmond. Va;
George B. McArnold of Lulu Temple,
Philadelphia, Pa: Michael A Zelig, of
Al Kader Temple Portland, Oreg.; C. X.
Gaskill, of Salaam Temple, Newark, Y.
J.; w. T. Pierson. of Aladdin Temple, Co
lumbus. Ohio: Roy W. Hill. of Medinah
Temple, Chicago. ILL.,; Edward NJ Cogs-