Evening star., 1923-06-04

acquired the dignity of a first and
second ceremonial master. Mobiles
John H. Olcott and ]. T. Amos: a mar
shall. Charles Newell; captain of the
guard, F.. b. Miller. and an outer
guard, William Ballard.
nounced the charter granted by
the !mpeJ p Council ,Sn .n1n June HorIs H. hSSS' g
W. Brownt represented Almas at the
first ImpeSal Council. in Cleveland,
June il. 1855. On August 80 George
w. Pratt Yas made potentate which
closed the slneventful first year of life
| of the liVle temple which was to
grow to Ihe large and successful
Almas of t5day.
During the first year. for want OF
necessary paraphernalia, the order
was exemplified only in part. Janu-
airy. 20. 1887, Mecca Temple. the
mother. OF New York. paid visit to
WashingtoSh and eXemplif1ed the order
in so beautiful a manner that great
enthusiasuf was created. An effort
raise subscriptions for the purpose
of property equipping the temple with
rohes for officers and other necessary
| para phernalia. The response was
quick and satisfactory. Five hundred
dollars was raised the first night.
| which was increased several hundred
| more before il was thought that the
organization was fully able to per-
form the >ceremonials in "a manner
befitting their high character The
first meeting when the order was con-
ferred in full by officers of the temple
was held June . 1887. From that
! time until the present the eXemplif-
cation of the beautiful ritual of the
order in Almas Temple has ranked
high among the temples of the entire
country.
Mrmbe r>hip Grows.
Membership grew steadily. so that
by July 10, 1898, according to one
record. the membership was $40.
Almas early began giving enter
tainments for the benefits of the
wives and daughters of Shriners and
their friends. During the triennial
conclave OF knights Templar in 1889.
| when the temple was making its
| home in the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
visitors. whether Shriners or not, par
| took of the hospitality. During the
same week large Shrine parade was
! staged. which, according to one of the
| early records, was declared at that
time to he been the finest Shrine
For headquarters and a meeting
place Almas began in the homes of
it's members. later extending to halls,
the Scottish Rite Cathedral. finally
present location at I'll 18th street.
with ceremonials now being held in
the largest theater available.
When the temple was holding its
first meetings IN the homes of mem
bern. it was customary for the host
on each occasion to bear the expense
OF the traditional banquet that fol-
lowed the session To relieve the
mem bership Of what might prove
burden. however, it was decided, after
H. h kf,-I tnn hnt n IF
future banquets should be. paid out
of the temple treasury. and as soon
as possible more commodious quarters
secured. For about year the temple
met in various halls
Early Temple Meetings.
Among the first of these. according
to some early members of the order
was the st. Cloud building. on the
corner OF 9Th and F streets. where
now is located the Washington Loan
and Trust. The Grand Army Hall. at
14th street and Pennsylvania avenue.
later was used. A location at 1908 G
street, where the Palais Royal building
now stands, was also among the early
meeting places until the latter part
| of 1889. when the temple took up its
home in the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
/ From there meetings were later
/ transferred to the National Rifles
Armory, on G street between 9Th and
10th streets. which was the head
| quarters during the nrst meeting IN
! Washington of the Imperial Council
| In 1900. 1t was there that a distin-
guished reception was given by Almas
| to the visiting Imperial Divan and
| visiting Shriners. From the National
Rifles Aufnory headquarters were
removed to a place on H street be-
! tween 18th and 18th streets, where
the Almas Arab Patrol was located,
| from which the last move was made
| to the present site, at I'll 18th street.
| Although not magnificently ap-
pointed, the present Almas quarters
! offer the most cordial hospitality to
Shriners from everywhere. Being
Shrine headquarters for the capital, il
naturally is a rendezvous for mobiles
from temples all over ,the country.
many of whom reside in the District.
Visiting Shriners from anywhere are
always extended the hearty welcome
at Ill 18th. street.
CIubroorn and Onace.
On the second floor is a clubroom
and the Office of the recorder, F. Law
lrence Walker The club room Is in
charge of John J. Tancill, 5r.. fitted
by happy natural ability to make all
Shriners feel atshome.
| On the third floor is large room
fused by the temple as headquarters
ilfoE- the uniformed hodiesS aud indpG-