The Washington times., 1922-10-01
SHR|NERSPLAN
GREAT PAGEANT
FOR MEET HERE
History Of Masonry From
Earliest Days to Be Shown
In Floats.

pdSednIS ever SCtll fAIlCiNoJ W
sdrpass even the wonderful religious
pageant at the Washington Cathe-
dral last spring, will be held in Wash
ington next June in connection with
the huge session of the 1856 North
American temples of the Ancient
Arabic Order, Mobiles of the Mystic
Shrine.
The pageant will cover the entire
history of Masonry and will be
headed by a huge welcome float and
by the floats of the visiting temples.
The pageant, according 10 Wash
ington Shriners, will far outstrip a
pageant of similar nature put on
by the Shriners at the last session
In San Francisco at n cost OF $3O,Oo0
q night.
One of the most striking features
will be an event of vital importance
will represent the laying of the cor.
nerstone of the United States Capt.
tol by George Washington on Sep.
tember 10, 1893. Washington laid
the cornerstone in his capacity as
q Masonic lodge ms5Ier and wore
his Masonic apron at the ceremony.
The entire event will be elaborately
re-enacted.
The pageant will open with a
scene in ancient Egypt, the cradle
of mystery, and the birthplace of
the Shrine. There will be at least
four other huge reproductions OF
scenes occurring in the days before
the birth of Christ. One will COM
memorate ConfuCius and the Ma
sonic teachings in the year 500 b.
c.; another the first grand masters
995-937 B. c.; another, of surpass'
fpu ho Nidit of tho O1lPpn
of Sheba to Solomon in 975 b. c.,
and still another. Zerubabel plead
ing for his brethren, in 546 b. c.
To Give Medieval Scenes.
Medieval days will be represented
by several scenes Uf-the Crusades.
including Peter the Hermit preach
ing the Crusades. and the ancient
knights Templar defending the Holy
SepulChre. Other scenes will typify
the growth and spread of Masonry
through Europe.
A second group will deal with the
history of Masonry in this country,
opening with the Boston Tea Party,
which was an adjourned Masonic
lodge meeting: the ride of Paul Re.
we're, who was Mason, and the death
of Gen. Joseph Warren, a grand
master of the order. at Bunker Hill.
The pageant will include four or
five main groups, divided into fifty
or more scenes.
One of the main aims of the Shrine
session here will be the Glorification
of Washington as the Capital of the
Nation A concerted effort will be
made to acquaint the people of the
nation with the wonders of the seat
of Government, according to Almas
Temple officials.
Though the session here next June
will be one of the largest, gayeSt, and
most brilliant affairs of its kind ever
held, the Shrine is not entirely for
merriment, humor, and frivolitv, it
was said yesterday. This Is revealed
in a report showing that, during the
past year Shriners in this country
have contributed $1,000 900 for the
building of hospitals for crippled
children.
There has never been much public
information regarding this phase of
the Shrine's activity. The hospitals
supported by the Shrine are con-
sidered a regular portion of the or
ganization activity.
New Hospitals Building.
There are today four great Shrine
hospitals under construction IN
various parts of the country. One.
on the River Boulevard between st.
Paul and Minneapolis, Is now nearing
completion.
Another hospital at Shreveport, La,
ts now virtually completed and pa
tients are already being received.
The cornerstone of big hospital at
San Francisco was laid June II.
Bids have been opened and contracts
let for Il $37O,000 hospital at st.
Louis. These hospitals will care for
thousands of crippled or deforned
children who would otherwise have
no chance for health and happiness.
The report indicating the success
of the hospital program is spurring
the local Shriners on to make the
session here next June the greatest
ever held. The most conservative
estimates indicate that at least 30O,.
600 Shriners and more than 100000
visitors will be in Washington every
day of the week of June 5. Every
precaution is being made to insure
the comfort and entertainment of
this vast throng.
A measure of the work being done,
not by the ShrinCrs alone, but by the
District government, is shown in the
police preparations, already under
way, which promise to he the most
thorough ever undertaken here.
Ample Police Protection.
The Almas Temple headquarters
has been advised that estimates of
the number of additional policemen
and detectives who will be needed
here are now under course of prep
aration and that Congress will be
asked to make appropriations to
cover the additional needs of the
force.
The police department will be aug
mentcd by hundreds of the best de-
tCCtives from the large cities: and
several hundred extra uniformed po-
liCemCn will be provided, according
TO present plans
The finance committee is rapidly
rounding out it's organization for the
greatest financial canvas ssing of the
city ever undertaken. Appointment
OF S37 separate subcommittee, one
for each line of business represented
in Washington, will begin at a meet
ing of the newly created executive
subcommittee of the finance com.