Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-15
.SHR|N|E|R;S CHOOSE
HOUSTON AS HEAD
Chicagoan Is New Potentate
Cities Vie for Convention.
TorchIight Parade Set.
By the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, July 15-Thonaas j.
Houston. past potentate Of Medinah
Temple Chicago. today was elected i'm
perial potentate Of the Ancient and
Arabic Order Of Mobiles Of the Mystic
Shrine He succeeds Esten A. Fletcher
Of Damascus Temple, Rochester, N. Y.
All other oficers were advanced to
the next highest position.
While members Of the Imperial Coun-
ell Of Mobiles were selecting q new con-
vention city. installing the new imperial
petentAte and selecting new member
Of the outer guard, others at the Shrine
convention here prepared for tonisht's
torchlight parade.
Houston will review the train of torch
bearers, as they pass into the municipal
stadium Ten thousand marchers are
expected to carry their flaming lights
of many colors.
4o.oee See Oriental Night"
Approximately 10000 persons at
tended the shrine pageant. "A Night in
the Orient" LAST night. which was q
combination circus, Russian ballet and
fireworks display.
AS the divan met to select the con-
vention city San Francisco appeared to
be favored by the oficials. Chicago
was strong contender at the opening
of the convention, but San Francisco
was making q determined fight.
Islam Temple, San Francisco. began
distributing the golden poppy. Cali
fornia's official flower, as the opening
Of the fight to obtain the 1882 conven
ton for San Francisco Chicago, how
ever. Is expected to win out
The Imperial Council held It's FIRST
session Yesterday. but took no action on
any matters before 1t.
Twenty Patrols Drill.
Other events today included drills by
20 patrols from visiting temples, band
concerts, circus acts and boat rides.
Under huge tent, 900 members Of
the Imperial Council Of the Ancient and
Arabic Order Of Mobiles Of the Mystic
Shrine sat down to feasting and merry
making at the pageant last night. while
the thousands watched from the stands
of the Municipal Stadium.
The feasting was preliminary to the
pageant, which opened with a three
ring circus and dancing by ballet of
300 girls Of the caliphs harem.
Daylight Parade Held.
The pageant was the second brilliant
event yesterday Approximately 1000
Mobiles from 80 temples formed a pa
rade three miles long yesterday morn
ing. Twenty bands blared. and bright
lv costumed patrols executed intricate
drills as the line OF march swung
through the downtown section to tn"
stadium Police estimated that 200, 900
persons viewed the parade.
At the end Of the daylight parade
in the stadium the convention was on
cially opened with a PRAYER and ad-
dresses of welcome by Gov. George
White of Ohio and Imperial Potentate
Esten A. Fletcher Of Rochester. N. Y.
At the councils business session yes
terday proposal to abolish State jul
risdictiopal lines was made. 1t Is ex-
pected the proposal, advocated by No
BILE James Sanderson of Chattanooga,
Tenn, will be approved.
Houston Long Prominent.
The new imperial potentate is 81
years old and for years has been prom
inent In various orders of Masonry. He
began his ascension to the highest Of
nee in Shrinedonn when he was elected
imperial outer guard at the Des Moines
meeting Of the Imperial Temple in
1921. He became potentate of Medi-
nah Temple in 1918.
He is the second member of the Me-
dinah Temple to reach the once Of
imperial potentate. A business man,
he believes q business administration is
one Of the important factors in fra
ternal success.
Aside from his Masonic activities
Houston is we'll known in Chicago,
where he has spent his life, as an in
surance broker. an active clubman, for
mer Illinois superintendent of insur-
ance, a major in the Ofiicers' Reserve
Corps and a leader in athletics.
For rs years he has acted as one of
the judges of the Western Conference
track meets and for the Amateur
Athletic Union.
For the third successive time, Illustri-
Gus Noble Lou B.. Windsor of Saladin
Temple, Grand Rapids, Mich. was re-
elected head Of the Royal Order Of
testers, an organization within the
Shrine. New officers chosen were DR..
Harry Sharrar of Hammond, Ind. royal
property man, and DR.. Fred F. Wit
comb OF Omaha, Neb, royal charter
man. All other officers were reelected
Ali Chan Temple of Cumberland, Md,
the baby temple" Of Shrinedom, mus