Evening Star Newspaper, June 4, 1923, Page 34

The scimitar and crescent of Almas | Temple. swinging through the Irnlernnl‘ firmament of the nation’s capital for even years, flash this weck into brilliance, with entertainment of the Imperial Council and its gorgeous caravans—a destined long to be remembered as worthy of the | name “Almas,” which being interpreted | means “diamond.’ | Almas, looking backward over a ven- crable and honored past, no doubt will | ze upon the brightness of these days for inspiration to even greater achieve- that Mer name may be written among the 154 temples of North for which today she plays the distinguished role of host With & membership of more than 5.000, headed by Leonard I'. Steuart, ntate, Almas this week is carrying in splendid fashion a truly gigantic | program, conceived in vision as a mag- nificent and spectacular dream and through great effort and business-like | management brought to reality For more than a year Washington has been looking forward to this conven first as a probability through th> efforts of Almas Temple to obtain it Imas worked hard to send a delegation 3 ancisco last year to ask the ancil for the next conven Since that vote for Washington at San Francisco the temple organiza tion has been busy preparing for this| great wee thirty meteoric | brilliance well ment, Amcrica, Shrine Committee. business burden of the Almas Temple, Was Shrine Committee with Leonard I as general chairman officers’ consisted of Wisdom first vice chairman: Harry second vice chairman: Arthur treasurer; Harrison Dingman imperial potentate honor eral chairman, and executive committee Andrews, Whitir Estes, James C. H as | jarrel, Carter B. Keene, Eliwood | orey, F. Lawrence Walker. with Harry Standiford as executive secretary Although of more than 5.000' members. Al is without osque of her own. But since the charter was granted favuary 7. 1886, the twenty-fourth Is n América. Almas cons flourished while moving quarters one place to another. and gathered into the fold enthusiastic novitiat uling many noted figures in Ameri wton, D. C., 19 was incorporated cuart, potentate, other 3rown. Cary Ast Capital, it' was support that Aln ume the place now inevitable with shouid gradually a: achieved. Dreams for the future in lude only spectacular growth, a ificent temple some great day. but also, it hoped by some of the most «nthusiastic with far vision, the launch of a proposal for erection here, in e headquarters of the nation, the headquarters of the Imperial Council of © Mystic Shrine for North America Che latter proposal has hot as yet as- sumed definite form i Almas Mosque Planned. * Plans for an Almas Mosque nebulous, but growing. The Masonic Temple committee, compris ng all Masonic bodies in the Distriet af Columbia, continues its campaign oward realization of the Masonic ruilding group on Temple Heights, t ¢ ground magnificently located onnecticut and Florida avenues ,vvr! overlooking the city The plot of ground obtained, hope that there will be erected eon either a serle of glorious structures by various Masonic bodies or one supertemple, In which may be :oused all branches of Masonry, and which may assume proportions ap-| propriate to such a noble purpose, to e imposing heights and to the capi- the nation ct, the acquisition Masonry still United back to December ous, when, ac- 'rds, a meet- 9th street to ple really date 22 of the vear prev cording to some early r ing was held at 5 consider organization it is Ten Members Initinted. members were initiated delexat : iple of Baltimore Willlam . Nickum. poten Thomas McCoubray, jr. past William H. Klinesmith and Dan J. Krafft, who brought with them a dispensation warrant for their action signed by Walter M Fleming of New York. one of the or- | ganizers of the Imperial <Council, and {the first imperial potenta The first ten men initiated as charter members of what becarm Almas Temple include Emmett C. E more, the only noble of the original ten surviving in Washington. Nobl | Elmore holds_the smatlest number the temple, 4; the numbers run ning numerically and chronologicall from the first to the latest withou duplicating for those who are taken Ly the grim reaper into the unseen temple. Those first ten in the numbers were: Maj. W. Bayliss, | George W. Pratt, George H. Walker Emmett jre. Samuel J. Hals- lett. Benj Hrowne, H. Harvey Hazard, « W. Brown, J. Wil Paim Alphonso B. Bower: Major. Bayliss was Almas fiist po- tentate H._ Harvey Hazard the first recorder. The next meeting wis four days later (C at 1427 F i iy when were acquired a chief R matter of rabban (George W. Pratt). an assist- To Amas Temple menbevahiy ooance | ant rabban (George H. Walker) as “the thousands of Shriners here | MISR priest and prophet (Emmett ( this week. ©!Elmore), an Oriental guide (Samuel et 3. "Haisiett). Benjamin W. Browne cais et Almas had mot declded to|{ne the firat treasurer. who was | elected in Baltimore when the young to the Imperial Council that a s national mosque be erected an Temple {teMPle pald its firat visit to {ts mother Heights. But the thought has risen ippermost in the minds of many en- Masons here and no doubt discussed informally by thou- ring this great convention blished in 1886 as No. 24 in into Ten the tate potentate e of Temple lieights by was considered such_an achievement of itself that the future plans are being allowed time to assume shape commensurate the importance of the project, which is included, of course, a | for Almas Temp! Temple Heights, t mosque | of a will in potential site ! the nation's capital be visited this week Ly thousands of Shriners with the vision in mind nding on the St wooded slope overlooking the city, the with stretches of the Potomac in distance, the visiting Shriner as well as the Almas noble may well plcture in his mind's eye the majestic archi- tecture which in the future, not too ar away rise to the glory o Mason et Possible National Mosque. Possibility erial cansidering’ Temple &ht up the matter some national mosque as hea o Mystic of irally 1 scendent no doubt order of their , may m ie Council when it time of a dquarters for th America matter of tra Almas had not decided to ng |tem vs later (December 1) ple 1885) Hold First Ceremonial. |, Almas' first scction ceremonial was {held January 9. 1885, at 1427 F street | (Noble Walker's quarters). when ica. Almas goes well back Into | membership was fixed at $15 and dues days of the order, receiving |at $3 annually. The first to be admit- the chater only ten vears after the | ted to the new .temple were Fred W. shtablishment of the Imperial Grand | Flowers, Eben S McCleary, John thusiastic will sands d EUMDNSTON POTENTATE LEONARD P. Of Almasx Temple, ho STEUART, t of the convention. ‘ouncil in 1576, and fourteen vears Enler than the original and mother emple_of all:in this country, Mecca, in New York city, organized September 36, 1872, Although the \ima® charter was not received until Jineasy, 4886, the- history, oL ih Newton. Willlam 8. Ballard and J. H. Baxter. January 28 the name was chosén as Almas, meaning “dia- mond.” The next step was the appointment ofother, oflicers, and, on,May. 21 THE EVENING STAR, acquired the dignity of a first second ceremonial master. Nobles John 1. Olcott and J. T. Amos: a mar- | shal, Charles Newell; a captain of the | guard, F. B. Miller 1 an outer guard, Willjam Ballard On July @9, 1886. the potentate an- wounced tigt the charter granted b. the ImperM Council June 14, 158 was presef in the temple. Noble B W. Brownf represented Almas at the first Impeigal Council, in Cleveland, June 14, 86, On August 30 George | W. Pratt gas made potentate, which closed the fineventful first vear of 1ife of the li temple which was to arow to "n» large and successful Almas of thday During the first year necessary .paraphernalia, the order was exemplified oniyv in part. Janu- ary 20, 1887, Mecca Temple. the for want o Management of 1923 Shrine Committee. nd | tion of sm | monials, | paraphernaiia of the order mother. of New York, paid a visit to | Washingtog and exemplified the order in so beauliful a manner that great enthusiasny was created. An_ effort was made' at the next session raise subscriptions for the purpose | of properi: rohes for officers and other necessary paraphernalia. ° The response was | quick and satisfactory. Five hundred dollars was raised the first glght which was increased several hundre more hefore it was thought that the organizatign was fully able to p form the ceremonials in+x manner hefitting their high char. The first meeting when the orde = cor ferred in fiill by office: temp was held June 9. 1887, Fram tha | 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 er Membership Grovs. Membership grew steadily. so that by July 15, 1883, according to one record. the membership was 542 Almas early hegan giving enter- tainments for the benefits of Qe wives and 'daughters of Shriners and their friends. During the triennial conclave of Knights Templar in 1884 when the temple was making its home in the Scottish Rite Cathedral it kept opén house, and hundreds o visitora. whether Shriners or not, pa took of the hospltality During the same week a large Shrine parade staged, which, according to one of the early records, was declared at that time to Lglye been “the finest Shrine parade ev§ seen in this country.” For heatquarters and a meeting place Almas began in the homes of its members, later extending to halls. the "Scottish _Rite Cathedral, finally moving its official headquarters to its present location at 711 13th atreet 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 membership of what might prove a burden. however, it was decided, after the third session, that the expense of future banquets should be, paid out of the temple treasury. and as soon as possible more commodious quarters secured. For about a vear the temple met in various halls. Early Temple Meeting: 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 nd Trust. The Grand Army Hall, at 1ith street and Pennsylvania avenue. later was used. A location' at 1005 G stret, 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 first meeting in Washington of the Imperial Council in 1900. It was there that a distin- guished reception was given by Almas to the visiting Imperial Divan and visiting Shriners. From the National Rifles’ Aumory headquarters were removed to a place on H street be- tween 12th and 18th streets, where Arab Patrol was located. the last move was made to the present site! at 711 13th street. Although not magnificently a pointed, the present Almas quarters offer the most cordial hospitality to Shriners from everywhere. Being Shrine headquarters for the capital, it naturally is a rendezvous for nobles from temples all over :the country, many of whom reside in the District. Visiting Shriners from anywhere are @iways extended the hearty welcome jat 711 13th.street. : Clubroom and Ofce. Qn_the second floor is a clubroom and the office of the recorder, F. Law- Tence Walker. The club room is in charge of John J. Tancill, jr. fitted by happy natural ability to make all | ca; Shriners feel at.home. used by the temple as headquarters fox_she unitormed Rodiesgpand.induc- equipping the temple with | sses of from fifteen to twenty the meetings of the divan are hield and plans laid for cere- which are held at the call of the potentate in the largest theater available at the time. Some of the s located street headquarters, but the bulk of the beautiful appoint ments which invest the ceremoniais of Almas Temple with a beauty and a mystery known only to those who pass its portals are stored elsewhere in the city in ample storage sp Aimas’ life is brightened by the activties of six uniformed bodies be- sides the base ball team and orches- tra. Following the Arab Patrol. whic was the first uniformed body to organized within the tempic. there were formed a brass band. band. glee club and legion of which the uniformed body ervice men is the Saracen ( at the 13th f Almas’ Imperial Potentate. Aimas has been remiss In her participation the national affairs of the Mystic Shrine, and through the faithful work of Harrison Ding- in Almas Temple, 192 WASHING'T! ON, D. C.,. MONDAY Shri potentate It Harrison Dingman who, imperial potentate, issued a call Christmas offerings to the deser: poor throughout t notable results Dingman's Great Success. Explaining the success of his Christ mas offering campaign. Imperfal Po tentate Dingman addressed the Im- perial Council at Detroit.in part follows Having continuanc #ood work | Mystic perial accomplished as i was as for & nation, achieving a strong desire for and enlargem of Christmas offerings to the deserving poor, as started some years ago by a number of our t ples and encouraged Past_Imperial Potentate & his two s. I prepared ailed dur ovember and Decem- ¥, 1896, special letters to our po tes urging them to bring this sub- t to the attention of their te ples, that the necessary stej be faken to interest the n making happy the hearts of t might bility in the dis- JUNE mas Plays Big Role at Convention Acting a realize that forgotten?” cording to the records, reported that under his call for Christmas offerings t lent t pended by purposes during the was t more potentate of the order up to that time had been about &t Boston, at that time was the ext Lers. |in America, fore this Imperial Council again we will important as an organigation, 4, . 1923, s Host . Further Honors Gained by‘ Washington Temple After Distinguished History by Extraordinary Preparations an(l—l Rapid Growth to Membership of 5,000 Since Charter was Granted in 1886. Many National Personages on Roster. Aspirations of Having Huge Headquarters Mosque Situated Here. they and theirs are not|forget that at all cumstances we or Scottish Rite Magons, Devond all that we are ar tiemen; and remembering thesc benevo- ' let us ‘so act. Then there wi question but what our order after we shall have er life, and those wha co 1l say as we .say now s of a quarter of ago, that mystic thirteen, bu than they knew.” In his annual report gman_ declared » dissensicns of kind during nd that peace and harmony in all par he J He felt that when the Ereat business depreseion of tk was taken in The grand reco 1 membership of 44, the year of 2,789 Imperfal Potentate Dingman. ac- things o the poor, \donatio be institutlons and Masonic homes total sum of $25 44 was ex- the temples for charitable vear The Shrine was growing rapidly at he time Almas imperial potenta at the helm. Reporting nine emples as having a_membership of than 1,000 each, the imperial estimated that the growth s to he ong anoth originato passe Imperial that Poten- there had 4,000 a_vear. Aleppo Temple. | arg- 2,900 mem- in the country, with the Speaking of the future of the order Mr. Dingman assembled in angual have passed one of the very milestones of our cz for September 26, Temple, the organizer Charters Under Dingman. g Harrison Di ntate. Noble elected by the pot gman perial 897, Gaffey Mecca council Shrine convention executive committee, left to right. seated: Harry Standiford, secretary; Wisdom D. Brown, chairman of the jons commitéee; Potentate Leonard P. Steuart, general chairman and chairman of imperial divan and Iadies’ committees; Harry F. Cary, chairman ortation \commitfee, and Arth ting Estes, chalrman of parad banquets committee; L. committee. mas of Almas placed a representative f tressed in thelr respective jurisdic-|and parent temple of our seventy-six' tions: to lighten the burden of the| Working bodies, will have celebrated 1958 = Durden ®|the twenty-fitth anniversary | birth, September 26, 1872, having been | the first organization of a temple of |ple at Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. | in the highest post.in American Shrinedom. imperial potentate. Harrison Dingman was elected im- perial potentate at the twenty-second annual session of the Imperial Coun- | cil, held June 23, 1896, at Cleveland, and presided in that office over the gucceeding session, convening at De- trolt. June 8, 1897. Of special significance in the his- tory of Almas’ uniformed bodies was the fact that it was at the Detroit meeting, over which the Washington noble presided, that the first uni- formed body from Almas, its Arab Patrol, appeared at a national gath- ering. Twenty-seven men from Almas. | with Thomas B. Walker at their head as captain, went to Detroit with bright new uniforms of red and blue. with white belts, red Turkish shoes, blue stockings with gold bands. They rried tall spears with banners. tc record what her noble achieving highest distinction ja the gift ofsthe In a review of the history of Almas On the third floor is a large room |Temple it would be an oversight not r E. Cook, treasurer. Standing: | oppressed and bring joy and gladness | in households where sorrow and de- spair had been prevalent: so that when the Christmas holidays had ! come and gone there would be thou- sands of grateful hearts sending up thankful Grace for kindness rendered to them. I am sure that the burden of their songs was, ‘Blessed be those who be- | long to the Nobles of the Muystic Shrine, for their hearts are filled with charitable feelipgs,’ and they fully|the arry out by deeds the thoughts that|strength was 4,938, and from that time | fill their hearts. “One great object of belonging to the Mystic Shrine i8 to make our tellow nobles happy, and history has recorded that in this we succeed; | and so,with sociability, hospitality | and good fellowship as’ the principal characteristics of our order, what prayers to the Throne of | could be more appropriate than the | effort of endeavoring, on one day at|number least, to make those of our fellow- | beings less fortgnate than ourselves | happy days and nights, but let us mot |is in the Ontario Apartments. Ross R. Andfews, chairman decorations co) and patrols committee; Ellwood P. Morey, chalrman of hotel and housing committee Carter B. Keene, chairman of Inw committec; Thomas E. Jurrell, chairman of finance committee, and F. existence the progress in-maw member- ship was considered rapid at that-time, | Melh: but in the light of subsequent eventst mittee; James C. Hoyle, chairman Lawrence Walker, chairman of recorder Cleveland, to serve for the next year. Charters were granted under Potentate Dingman’s regime to Benl Kedem Tem- Charleston. W. Va., and Alee Temple at Savannah, Ga.. and dispen- sation was granted for a temple at Springfield, Mass., under the name of a Temple, and another one for a le at Dayton, Ohio, to be known as of her | “During the first fifteen years of our ey a rapid change has tome over-the spirit | Antioch Temple. of our dreams Hirrison-Wingman' is a veteran of the civil war and carries guns wounds received in a seven days' fi at Malvern Hill, Va., about fifteen {miles from Washington. Born in Hudson, N. Y., he enlisted in the 14th New York Volunteers. was wounded Splendid Growth of Shring. “December 31, 1886, ten years from close of last vear. our entire he order seemed to have taken a new start, our increase from that date to the |at Malveren Hill. recovercd in a hos- present time being 39, of about 4.000 per year. growth .croakers and grumblers who can only | Lodge. No. 9, of Free and Accepted ses the serfous side of life predicted [ Masons, of Columbia from the start. that never be a success or live any great pital at Aunapolis, and was mustered |out with his regiment at Utica, N. Y He is a member of New Jerusalem , or an average ‘A wonderful in face of the fact that many hapter, Wash- the order could | ington Commandery, the Scottish Rite and the thirty-third degree. He has been head of all his lodges in the York Rite and the Shrine. His home Mr, of years. imsure ‘good health, “We long life, to Shriners| Dingman Pa Temple « member or of Li honorary Commandery and Philadelphia One of the choice possessions | Harrison Dingman is a beautiful g watch, which he carries with real | prectation of the significance of Bift. It js inscribed as follo perial Potentate, Harrison Dinx from his friends, the nobles mple, a token of dovi friendship. ~ Washingts an man, Almas fraternal |p.C., 1897. Elmore Only Charter Member. The living charter member Almas Temple Noble Emme Claiborne Elmore, bearing number who expects thoroughly to enjoy 1} onventio It was sole ¢ . more who made the fire parapher used by the temple Grand Army Hall, and often | handlwork was called upon to furn some additional equipment to 1t early and struggling temple. Nob ore - was made a Mason in Wa Centennial Lodge, No. 14 His services to Masonry has long and varied, including se » as exalted high priest of Lafa, B A . No. 5, and as En Inent ( nander ‘of Columbla Co imandery. He was on the trienn committee Washingte 1889 is a life f his on and rary m Molay Commandery member of Washingte ¥ Chapte He beca of noble birth with December 1885, w ten men who later organized te of and un of ti to 1919 ip several were added have beer 4 through the rar er bodic farshall Shrine Hall ver ere pre Almak Temple Officials. Nosts Nu Pea captain iard. Samuel Lee Pitchly ry Huber directc al ra Williar 2 | Wititam ¢, Band. W Glee Q1 fA edit White; director « Bartlett; dire hestra. Myer N. Ge Alibi, Mu have un’ attaine field a who have Masonic <t of men to t xander G Quinter Whiting Estes nsburgh 1821 _— KHEDIVE PATROL DOES ITS DRILL BLINDFOLDED The Arab patrol of Khedive Ter of Norfolk drilling for until the mem i they are able to drill as Jlindfolded as not, and this st | have their*share of in Washirg ors claim that the darkest darkest is like th “anointe ers. and they go through euvers while closely blindfo.d e all the figures and moven The patrol is compos following H W Jones, A. W ke, lieute Burch, has been Jast year | | now v E tair ment while Men th desert brightest day to se lohman, capt Fairer a ants; A R. Cole, .J Diehl, C. M. Gray, 7T T. Merrill, W. C." Mz thews. R. G. Nunn, J. F. Roberts. I Scott. G. W. Steinmetz, J. S. Sadls W Ziegenhaim, George Buckir ham, C. T. Morton. A. G. Malone, Che ter Koontz, W. T. Bew, C. M. H stead, R. D. Guy, jr. W. W. Vellin D. T. Ritch, jr, W. E. Ellis, R Sollie, C. S. Lane, J. W. Barnes, G. Carroll. L. L. Holmes, S. R. Mil B. 8. Harris, L. L. Redd and O Steinberg TRIPOLI HAS MOTOR CLUB OF 1,000 SHRINE MEMBERS Tripoli Temple of Milwaukee has a motor club of a thousand members This feature was organized in 1920 for the purpose of assisting the ten ple in social welfare and general er tertainment purposes There is Tripoli Country Club, with & Shriners on its roster. It owns 160 acres of land on which is a fine eighteen-hole golf cource. The value of this property is rated at $308,57- “Then there is a Tripoli Booster Cinl that conducts noon luncheons eve Friday throughout the year. average attendance is 350. Tripoli has been a regular attend ant at imperial sessions with its band and patrol, with the exception of th war period. during which time it de voted the funds usually raised for de fraying pilgrimage expenses to sisting the soldiers and sailors. The delegatign to Washington 1 by far ‘the larkest and most. repre sentative (he Wisconsin Shrine ha< ever sent forth, and even then, it had to be limited because more \accome I modations were mot availabie. pé Bonney, H. E Cox, J. B. K Halstead, J )