Evening star., 1923-06-07

the council. when there was occasion
10 refer to the early history of the
order In America
IN his hotel room here later, James
ncree' VINO links the beginning with
Ihe glorious present fruition of
Shrlnedom, eagerly talked, as with spar
king eyes. and bright mind. which
peered with delight down the beaut;-
Iui corridors Of his Masonic past, he
told of the early struggles and jafer
gorgeous growth of the order which
this week has emblazoned the ma
tons capital.
Holds Thirty-Third Degree.
according to Noble McGee and
others or Mecca. card No. 2S is the
lowest numbered card now issued bv
.ne recorder of the mother temple Of
North America, ali the holders of
smaller numbers having entered the
unseen temple. The cards now being
1900. ''''o ''ie
The Masonic history of Noble lanes
McIee covers the complete trails per-
mltted a Mason to tread, from being
! made a Master Mason in 1854. in
Chancellor Walworth Lodge. No. 271.
through all the degrees of the Scot
tlsn Rlte, York Rite. Shrine and thir-
ty-thfrd degree. In every Masonic
branch to which Noble MCGEE belongs
he is a life member.
Telling Of the early history of the
Shrine; Noble McGee declared that
DR.. Walter NJ. Fleming was the
father mother doctor and nurse. who
brought into the world the Mystic
Shrine. A history of the order has
been written by the pioneer Shriner.
Tells of Emblem's History.
Noble McGee related one of the
earliest incidents with the Masonic
emblem. now so we'll known over the
continent the crescent and scimitar
or the order. One of the earliest
conceptions of this emblem, he said,
was at ladies' party. given by Mecca
Temple. back in January. 1884.
The good wives of Masons at first
seemed TO be bit skepticaI of the
Shrine, Noble McGee said. so it was
thought they should be given some
special consideration. A ladies' night
was arranged, he said. and the cres-
cent and scimitar, emblematical of
Arabian atmosphere. were designed
into a shawl pin. which a jewler made
into an attractive and useful orna-
ment about three inches wide, to be
given souvenirs.
Many Variations of Pin.
So successful was the reception
given the scimitar and crescent
Noble McGee said, at this party,
where was present William Florence,
whose name was connected with the
early history of the order. that later
it was decided to make a smaller pin
of gold to be worn on the Shriner's
coat lapel Ihat, ne SAID, was the
origin of the Shrine pin.
Many variations of the emblem
have been evolved since that day, but
the original one, copies of which are
still used by Mecca. has the crescent
turned points up, with the scimitar
superimposed upon the points of the
crescent, with the concave curve
down.
Having attended every Imperial
Council session. except the past two
at San Francisco and Des Moines.
Noble MCGEE had high praise for the
huge convention here in Washington,
declaring it was a great success.
In the interests of the order he has
travelled the width of the continent
many times. he said.
Aided Almas Temple.
Noble MCGEE was instrumental in
taking a delegation to San Francisco
in August, 1883, to the grand en-
campment of knights Templar, when
Islam Temple. which had obtained it's
charter in March of that year, was
given the benefit of a full divan of
officers and regalia from the east in
a ceremonial inducting many candi
dates into the new temple.
Early in the history of Almas Tenn
pie of Washington Noble McGee head
ed a delegation from New York
which helped in making sixtyseven
candidates of noble birth here in