St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-08-10

sand men and women had to find hotel space in st.
Paul.
This created some grumbling because the con-
vention activity was in Minneapolis ten miles from
the principal st. Paul hotels. However all in all
write this piece, there to be genuine enjoyment
among the thousands of visitors who are paying
their first visit to Minneapolis.
Among the white population which has been
exposed to the presence of the thousands Of well
hammered convention visitors, there has been con-
siderable wonderment and question, Many Of them
did not realize there such organization as
Shriners among Negroes. Others wondered for the
first time why they had not before realized that the
most familiar Shriner groups they had seen parad-
ing around the city streets were all white. Some
curious enough to ask why all Shriners did not
belong to a single group. The Negroes of course
know the reason well enough, but white brothers
who are not members Of the fraternity and a few
who are had the question brought wildly home as
the predominantly Negro Shrine group met here
The manner in which the Shriners conducted
their deliberations presented their public programs
their public spectacles contests limitations balls
and the various social affairs which make up such
large national meeting aroused great pride to the
Twin City Negro community.
The bearing and behaviour Of people who came
to the city not only to deliberate and conduct
ization business, but also to have real good time
excellent The mayor of Minneapolis Arthur
Naftalin spared time in trying to be sure that
every facility at his Offices command was avail
able to the conventions. Police Chief Pat WaIIing
and his staff spared effort in helping in planning
for the parade and assisting the Shrine provost in
maintaining order at all times.
This is not to say that every visitor who came
completely satisfied. There were the usual
snafus in hotel reservations a natural occur
ence when several thousand people descend upon
any town.
There were many who could not understand
why there was a large lack Of welcome signs adorn-
ing the hotels where the delegates stopped and the
retail centers Nicollet Avenue where many of
the conventioneers went to shop.
good many people who might have made con-
siderable purchases in downtown stores felt the
absence of welcome signs (Which they had found in
other cities) disconcerting, and many of them re-
duced their shopping materially The retailers missed
a bet there which we hope they will not repeat
again.
All in all the three meetings are hearing re-
ports Of growing membership fuller participation
of Negroes of their various communities In the
political, social and economic life Of the various
places where they live.
The presence Of an increasing number of well
trained men and women in the organizations is
evidence that the expected decline in the
growth of the Negro fraternal organization has
now halted and fraternal membership may again
be on the upward swing. Certainly this is a good
sign, because along with the organized church and
the Negro press the fraternal groups in the past
have contributed the most towards American-Negro
advance.
This editorial was written Tuesday afternoon
three days before the sessions hear their presiding
officers final gavel We hope that the early evidence
Of fine meetings will continue until the final day
and that when the visitors bid state goodbye
they will do with regret that they could not stay
with longer. We have been glad to have them
with us, If for only short while.