Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-06
THE PLAINS PLACED ON MAP MA.
In Gala Attire They Turned
the Keys Of the City Over to
the Mystic Shriners
(Communicated)

charming rays of blue, purple and
red across the frosty fields of a Jan
uary morning-p presently the gray
eastern sky blazed with the glory OF
the rising sun. 1t was formality
which astronomy explains on the
ground that the sun would have risen
anyhow-and Capella's introduction
could have been made as well by any
other star. So "nemine contra d. |
centc".
This modern city, located in the
center Of the Blue Grass section OF
Fauquier County, with its asphalt
streets, concrete pavements, electric
lights, water works, club houses.
mayor and city council, on last Sat
urday night was the scene OF gay.
ETY., hilarity and real enjoyment. The
city was clothed in gala apparel and
all legal restrictions and restraints
were for the time abandoned. The
occasion was one of much interest,
it being the first time that the An
Gent Arabic Order of the Mystic
Shrine had ever gathered in Solemn
Conclave in that section Of the coun-
try, and this assembling of the Sons
Of the Desert in their Oriental gart
and paraphernalia, with all their i'm
posing pageantry and pomp. 1t was
when the sun had retired beneath
the western horizon, and twilight
fingered as if loath to go. like pur-
pie fringe on the dusty garments OF
the coming night. The evening was
mild and beautiful; beneath cloudless
sky, the pleasure loving populace gave
themselves up to the bewitching
charms of the occasion; amid blossom.
ing flowers and an atmosphere load
ed with perfume, the light clothed
the landscape with dreamy fascination
while the evening air wooed to ease
and enjoyment.
1t was under these peculiarly in
viting surroundings, that the Arabs
camels bent their course across the
burning sands, and arrived at Mecca
where they found thirty candidates
for the slaughter, and as they stoo6
in awe and dread of the horrible sac
rifice that they had voluntarily con-
scented to make in their pilgrimage
across the hot sands, for they had
seen visions Of living creatures of
tiendish shapes, in whose sulphurous
waka an army of hob-goblins hover
dancing in the air, but they were
told to put their faith in Him, who
makes the winds His messengers ano
holds the sea in the hollow of His
hand. They were told that after all
the storm and works of time haG
passed, and the great company of
the ranSomed had gathered in the
glorious light Of eternity, it woult
be found that none who trusted I'M
God had failed to escape safe to the
heavenly shore, and their names
would be found written in the Book OF
Life when the roll of the ransometl
was called. With these admonitions
and assurances they started on then
journey. Following the Oriental guard
Meduce Sannosas, Homines, compes-
cite curas, they were lead to the
slaughter.
In accordance with the Potentate's
royal proclamation advising the Faith
full of the Mystic Shrine of the feast,
and of the wonderful things in store
for them, in language which only the
initiate could comprehend and hay
ing called 20 his aid all the high and
mighty mobiles of his divan, and adj
Wsing in unmistakable terms and
language. which could not be mis-
understood, all the weary and waiting
candidates to make no calculations
for the future. lest their mathema-
ties be deranged by untoward and
unforeseen happenings-thus the event
Of rare interest and unusual impor-
lance in the annals of the Ancient
Order of the Mobiles of the Mystic
Shrine came off as scheduled Satur-
day evening at T:90 p. M, in the
Town Hall at The Plains. Acca Tenn
pie appropriately commemorated with
all the sacred solemnity due the oc,
casion the :martyrdom of the famous
llussein, which called for a human
sacrifice,
There were many distinguished vic
Tins ready for the slaughter, and the
perilous journey over the hot sands
of the Sahara. Among the most dis
tinguished individuals selected upon
this occasion were Messrs. Landon
11..T 4 n