The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-09-22
a GALA DAY AS sHRINERs HOLD
SWAY .-.....
Thousands of the Sons of the Desert
Attended Isis Ceremonial at
Clay Center


ed the Ceremonial at Clay Center,
last week, when thousands of Shriners
came IN on special trains on both the
Rock Island and Union Pacific roads,
and by automobiles, from hundreds of
miles around.
It's big job for any city to under
take to entertain the Ancient Arabic
Order of the Mobiles of the Mystic
Shrine. When it was suggested that
Clay Center extend an invitation for
the September Ceremonial of Isis
Temple, there were those who did not
believe it possible to take care Of the
crowds. They failed to realize what
the "Clay Center spirit" means, and
when the invitation was accepted,
every citizen of Clay Center became
an auxiliary member of Isis Temple
and went to work.
The Clay Center Shrine Club was
called together, and Otto Swaller was
selected as chairman and given full
power to appoint committees and
have complete charge of the whole af-
fair, and the manner in which he so
successfully planned and carried out
the work through various committees,
reflects a great credit upon his ability
to handle big jobs, and he deserves
the lavish compliments he is receiv-
ing.
The business men and citizens
showed a splendid spirit in the lavish
decorations in the colors of the order,
which made Clay Center a beautifully
decorated city, also by the plentiful
supply of light furnished from their
windows and the city white way until
a late hour last night. Huntress park
with the shade, water, and beautiful
auditorium, which had been remodel
ed for the occasion, furnished an ideal
place for the meeting and upon every
hand were seen splendid cartoons
drawn by Clay Center's noted local
artist, Paul Vincent, who has perhaps
received more compliments for his
ingenuity along this line than anyone
else.
Especial mention should be made of
the committee on refreshments head
ed by Walter Glidden for the excep-
tiOnally fine service in feeding the
multitude which began by serving
breakfast to the visiting Mobiles and
NOvices, and continuing until every
person had left the grounds, after the
Ceremonial had ended. The noon
meal was served with great dispatch,
and at one o'clock more than four
thousand people had been served and
were comfortably seated where they
enjoyed a meal, which satisfied every
one, and not a complaint was heard of
the service or Of the menu, but every
where could be heard compliments for
the splendid service. Profs. Vergades
and Bruce, with the high school stu
dents rs walters and mattresses, very
materially helped in getting through
with the big task of the refreshment
-eommittee. Special mention might be
given to each OF the various commit
tees, for the efficient manner in which
they performed their work but it IS
enough TO say that there was COM
plete harmony in all of the committee
work, which made the occasion one
long to be remembered.
The local lady Shriners very cred
itably entertained the visiting ladies
at Masonic Temple, which service was
highly appreciated and made the Wis
iting ladies feel welcome, and they
freely expressed their appreciation
for the hospitality shown them by
the Clay Center ladies.
The local and visiting bands, the
Orpheum entertainers, the O'Connor
sisters, and the reading by little Miss
Dolores Bacakos, furnished the enter
tainment for the Shriners in the Au-
ditorium, and the public at the court
house square in the evening, and gen
eral satisfaction is expressed for the
high class entertainment given.
The nlustrious Potentate, Ed Haug
of Concordia, is to be congratulated
upon the success of the Ceremonial as
a whole, as it was due to his energies
that the committees, and those having
in charge the preparations for the Oc-
easion, were given encouragement
from first to last, and during the past
few days ne was on the ground, and
rendered valuable assistance in bring