Evening star., 1950-06-08
'Skyscraper' Guards
Tower Over Meetinq
OF Yelled Prophets


of the Enchanted Realm got into
full swing today-with the help
of their big Six" guards whose
weight aggregates about a ton.
They were to march this after
noon in the parade which was to
be the high point of the days ac-
tivities.
The guardsmen, a sextet from
the AL Sirat Grotto of prophets in
Cleveland, lowered above the thou
sands of delegates who attended
the formal opening of the Su-
preme Council session at the Hotel
Statler. Each prominent officer
of the prophets was escorted by
the guardsmen to places on the
stage.
Its been their official duty
since I organized them in 1911"
said Charles A. Burke, former
monarch of the Cleveland grotto.
Although none of the original
members is still a guardsman, the
tradition of exceptional size is
being more than adequately kept
up by the present six members
Fritz Weihmiller, the captain,
weighs 800 pounds and is 6 feet
and 3 inches tall.
"The minimum weight allowed
is 290 pounds, and you have to be
at least 6 feet g." he explained.
Uniforms Weigh % Pounds.
The uniforms-complete with
bearskin hats two feet high and
long handled chrome axes-weigh
% pounds.
so you see all six of us weigh
o ton," he laughed.
The parade was to start at l:3O
pm. and move west along Con-
stitution avenue from Third to
Seventeenth street NV. 1t was
to disband on the Ellipse.
Grand Marshal is Col. Edwin S.
Bethlehem, jr. Leading the pro-
cession was to be Grand Monarch
Frank B. Jones, who then was to
review it from a stand near Six
teenth street and Constitution
avenue NV. Also in the stand
were to be grand officers. past
grand monarchs and officers OF
Kallipolis Grotto of the District,
convention host.
Aides to the grand marshal are
Prophets James Turbitt, Hovey
King and Make Schriber. Deputy
Grand Monarch Robert j. Esple
of Toronto, Canada, So, retired
master printer, due to become the
grand monarch. and Julius B. Gay,
potentate of AlmaS Temple, were
to be in the line of march.
The first group was to comprise
special dignitaries, including the
grand officers.
In Second Section.
In the second section were to be
the Kallipolis Grotto color guard,
American and Canadian colors, the
District flag, Grotto flag and
guards, Monarch William E.
Doolan of Kallipolis, chairman of
the national convention; Kallipolis
prophets, other Washington units,
monarch and officers of Aut-
Mori from Youngstown, Ohio, with
its band and drill corps; monarch
and officers, and units of Rani-
Char from Toronto, Canada. +.
The third section was to be made
up of Samis monarch and officers l.
and units from Richmond, Hindoo1
Koosh monarch and officers and
units from Hamilton, Ontario,
Canada; Aletheia monarch from
Worcester, Mass, and officers and
units. and Islam monarch and Of
f1cers and units from Pittsburgh.
The fourth section: Al-Sirat
from Cleveland, Dulaf from Union
City. N. j.: Al-Time from Atlantic
City. N. j.; Azab from Fall River,
Mass; Selama from st. Petersburg,
Fla, and Gehomecobe from Sche-
nectady. N. Y. Monarchs and Of
f1cers and units of these groups
were to participate.
Other Sections.
The fifth section: Longi, It's
monarch and officers and units
from Brooklyn, N. Y. Sixth Sec
tion: Yusef-Khan from Akron, |
Ohio, and Alhambra from st.
Louis. Seventh section: Herman
from Terre Haute. Ind, and Obeh
from Bridgeport, Conn. Eighth sec
ton: Oola-Khan from Cincinnati,
Ohio; Sahara from Indianapolis,
Ind, and Nazir from Canton, Ohio.
Ninth section: Lalla- a-Rookh from
Rochester, N. Y. and Mohassen
from Davenport, Iowa.
Section 10 will comprise late