Evening star., 1922-10-01
SHR|NERS COMING
IN GREAT NUMBER
San Francisco Session to Be
0utdone Next Year in
Washington.

Figures based on proportionate
estimates of the Shrine session in
San Francisco last spring and the
proposed session here next June
fairly staggered the chsirmen Of the
committees of Almas Temple at a
recent meeting. Heretofore il has
been placed at IL conservative esti-
mate that the number of mobiles and
visitors who will arrive for the In
perial Council session would be in
the numbers show up in proportion
such as they did in California the re-
suit will be greater than heretofore
anticipated.
San Francisco, in the first place,
although q large and magnificent
city, has little OF the attraction that
the nations capital can boast of
Again. the greatest majority of Shrine
temples and members are east of the
Mississippi, and in proportion only
session from this section in COMPARE
son to those attending from the Pa
cific coast territory.
Many persons have put of coming
to Washington until there was some
big event taking place. Some were
tion ceremonies in 1920. At San
Francisco the only attraction was
the Shrine session. and a few others
attended who were not accustomed
to visit that city anyway. In the
California city, there were about
350,o00 according to the police record.
Most Of these came from the territory
west of the Mississippi. In the vi
cinity of that city-say. days ride
there is d population of from four to
five million people. In days ride
from Washington there are forty
eight Shrine temples out of the 1856.
which comprise 10000 members, and
of the Mississippi there are eighty
four temples. which comprise 100000
members.
Rivalry Among Temples.
In proportion. according to applica-
tions coming in here. there will be
more Shriners attending the WASH
ington session from the Pacific coast
area and territory west of the Mis-
sissippi than attended the 1892 ses-
sion from east of the Mississippi.
Also at present each temple seems
approximately the same size. Medi-
nah Temple of Chicago. numbering
10000 mobiles, is bending every eff
fort to outdo Lu Lu Temple of Phila-
delphia. with $4,000 mobiles. and the
same efforts are being made by other
temples.
Parking space in the yards of the
Washington Terminal which will
comfortably take care of 1900 rail-
way cars, has all been spoken for.
The Alexandria yards. which will
place 500 cars has now been turned
to. And still the applications pour
i'll. Besides the hotels and private
homes, in addition to the railway
yards. it is almost positively necessi-
taated. in the minds of the Shrine
leaders. that tented city will have
to be arranged for on Union station
plaza. Taking these estimates In the
most conservative form. the vast
crowds that will visit Washington
next June will surpass any crowd
that has ever streamed into the city.
The caravans of automobiles will
provide a puzzling situation to the
police officials. as there are not now
enough garages for the present num-
ber of machines in the city. 1t has
been suggested that a parking space
will have to be arranged for across
the river in Virginia. which will me-
cessitate guards to watch them, both
day and night.
Test for Capital City.
Shrine officials cognizant of the
army that will descend upon the city
hope that it will forever prove that
Washington can be depended upon as
la great convention city. "Almas Tenn
pie is only the hired man working
for better. richer and more beau
tiful city" seems to be, one of the
keynotes used in preparations.
The Mystic Shrine. according to
representatives of the order, has
many other duties than the seeming
gayety of the order. 1t believes in
helping the unfortunate and assist
ing the worthy. AS previously an
nounced. band and vocal concerts
will be given at various hospitals
throughout the city upon the arrival
of the visiting mobiles in June. In
accordance with this idea Almas
Temple will lend its cooperation.
Warren w. Grimes of the Depart
ment of Justice has been appointed
chairman of the song committee,
which will direct this work
A resume of recent work of the
Shrine in beneficiary lines Is shown
in report made public today. The
report is as follows:
ut is not all merriment humor or
frivolity in the Mystic Shrine. Be
hind the glitter and display there is
something more substantial Ask the
little helpless crippled children of
America They know. The Shriners
are contributing $1,o00,oO0 a ykar. to
build hospitals for crippled children.
where these little ones who have had
no hope or opportunity to be helped
or healed may have a chance to be
placed on the road to health and use
fulness.
Ask Little Publicity.
The Shriners do not say much
about this publicly. Their hospit Is
are all a part of days work in
shrinedom. In different cities of the
United States great structures are
going up. which later will be peopled
everywhere. Sam Cochran. the Inn
perial Council member who bosses the
hospital committee, has just made
known the progress of the work that
has been done.
THE hospital in the northwest is
tween st. Paul and Minneapolis.
They placed 1t in neutral territory
between the two rival cities, 10 there
would be no trouble. Up to July i
last the sum Of s4s.7ss.io had been
spent on this hospital. Last Monday
nesota laid the corner stone, and
work will be rushed from now on.
The imperial potentate, Sunny Jim
McCandless, made a speech, and all
the Masons of the Twin Cities were
there.
1.-The institution down at Shreve-
port is progressing rapidly TO com.
pletioh. The work has proceeded &c
far that patients are now being re.
ceived there.
"The corner stone of the institution
at San Francisco was laid June j
and now the walls are we'll past the
| first floor. That is the way they dc
things in the west.
''Then bids have been opened and
contracts have been let for the con-
struction of hospital in st. Louis to
cost 337O,oO0. and work will be push.
| ed IA rapidly As poseihle. And ho Il