Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-22
MASONS COMPLETE PROGRAM
New Scottish Rite Cathedral Dedi-
Gated and Many Are Initiated.
CLASSES TOTAL FOUR HUNDRED
Take various Work I'm the Frater-
nifty, while over Hundred and
Fifty GO as High Ne Thir-
ty-second Degree


With Nebraska Masons. especially nose
OF high degree. last week without doubt
marked the most important epoch In the
history OF the order. Not only was the
splendid new Scottish Rite cathedral dedl-
Gated. but by far the largest class that
ever gathered In the Missouri valley trav-
eled up the line. taking en- route the de-
grees that practically elevate them TO the
top of the Masonic pinnacle.
The class that started numbered nearly
400. gathered not only from Omaha, but
from out In the state. OF course, not all
OF the candidates continued on to tho
thirty-second degree. but tho major por-
ton OF them continued along the path
not stopping until the goal had been
reached. For various reasons a number
OF the candidates have deferred taking
higher degree until some future time, but
they have all gone far enough so that
they are upon the Scottish Rite role
The gathering OF Masons not only
brought here many prominent Nebras-
kans, but those OF high rank from more
distant states. among them being Heery
Clark Alverson. sovereign grand inspector
general. one OF the highest officials known
20 Masonry.
Cathedral Wen Equipped.
At the Scottish Rite cathedral as high
degrees as can be conferred In any city
IN the world, with the exception of in
Washington. we're given and taken In
Omaha last week. In the city OF Washing
ton the thirty-third degree is conferred.
but at no other place can anything
higher than the thirty-eecond be given.
Master Masons are those who have
taken three degrees and those generally
were the ones who were In Omaha. can
didates at the cathedral Monday. the
first day OF initiation, the candidates were
prepared and taken through the fourth
to fourteenth degrees. inclusive. This en-
titled them TO the distinction OF being
members OF Mount Moriah Lodge OF Per-
lection, No. /, and all the benefits 90 be
derived therofrom. Having passed these
degrees. Tuesday the members Of the
class were given the fifteenth to eight
zenith degrees. inclusive, elevatlng them
20 tho rank OF knights of Rose Croix.
wednesday they took the nineteenth 20
thIrtieth degrees, inclusive, becoming
members OF st. Andrews Preceptory or
knights OF Kadosh. The climax Of the
ambitions OF the members OF the class
was reached Thursday. when upon them
were conferred the thirty-first and thirty
second degrees, elevatlng them TO the
rank OF members OF Nebraska Consistory,
No. L
Program Elaborate One.
Last, but not least OF the pleasant and
entertaining functions OF the week. was
the holding OF ceremonial session of
Tangier temple. where and at which moro
than $50 OF the candidates for Masonic
honors. took the Shrine degree. For this
tho candidates. at the old Masonic tenn
Pile were prepared Saturday morning for
the work, and later In the day they were
escorted TO the Brandeis theater by the
members OF Tangier, and guarded safely
from all harm by Captain Falconer and
his patrol. At the theater, where only
shriners were admitted, the Shrine degree
was conferred.
Following the comforting OF the Shrine
degree. there was a theater party, which
IN turn. was followed by a banquet. How
ever, banquets were not uncommon last
week. for TO the visitors In the city and
10 tho candidates for high Masonic hon
ors. the Scottish Rite Mnsons we're hosts
all the time. At the noon hour each day
they served lunch. upon numerous oc-
casions. feeding as many as 500 people.
Then too; nearly every night there was
a banquet at the cathedral. These were
for the visitors and the candidates, and
were greatly enjoyed.
Edifice Cost Quarter million.
As 20 the new cathedral built at a
cost OF close TO $4,000. together with It's
FURNISHINGS. visitors who were at the
building last week were loud in their
praises OF the structure. asserting that
for the purposes for which II h desi ned,
Il could not be improved upon. Sc
men, who have seen Scottish RllQ ca
thedrals In the different states. went from
Omaha unanimous In the opinion that
while In some cities there may be some
larger there are none more beautiful and
more convenient for carrying on Masonic
work.
A special invitation was given the pub
lie 70 visit the structure Saturday after
noon and evening and hundreds were
awed at the completeness OF the appoint
ments.