| Letter from First Potentate |
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Letter From First Potentate of Abou Saad TempleThe following is the letter written by Illustrious Samuel H. Marcuse, Past Potentate (first Potentate) to the shriners on the Isthmus of Panama following the Imperial Council Session in which Abou Saad Temple was granted a dispensation to form a temple. This information was obtained from a copy of the August 1, 1917, edition of The Canal Zone Orient that was loaned to us by Illustrious Sir Richard Gilman, Past Potentate."NOBLE SAMUEL H. MARCUSE, PRESIDENT PANAMA SHRINERS CLUB, TAKES A TRIP AND TELLS HOW HE "COPPED" THE PORKER. To all the Nobles of the True Faith: Greeting: That ye one and all may be advised as to the actual incidents connected with a pilgrimage made by me to the Oasis of Minneapolis, as the Representative of The Panama Shriners Club to the 43d session of the Imperial Council, to represent the cause of the Panama Shriners in their efforts to secure a dispensation for a Temple of the Mystic Shrine to be located on the Panama Canal Zone, I publish this script. First, I wish to thank the Cristobal Council of the Panama Shriners Club for the magnificent farewell party extended to the Minneapolis delegation at the Hotel Washington, Colon, on the evening of June 9th, at which I was the guest of honor. It is just such incidents that makes one glad that he is not only a Shriner, but the Chief Sheik of as fine a bunch of Shriners as the sun ever shone on. The following day I embarked for New Orleans, and the hearty good-bye and well wishes given me by my faithful following were enough to warm the heart even of a stone Sphinx, much less a potentate designate. My voyage to New Orleans was without incident, no sharks or U-boats being sighted. From the time I arrived at New Orleans on June 15th until Saturday June 23rd, I handled many matters connected with my personal business, also had several conferences with the Representatives of Jerusalem Temple, three of whom pledged their united support, which was given whole heartedly and in the true Jerusalem spirit. On Saturday noon, June 23rd, we boarded the Panama Limited train of the Illinois Central R. R. on which train was not only the New Orleans delegation but many representatives from other Southern and Southwestern Temples who joined the pilgrimage at this point. Still later as we proceeded toward Minneapolis, other delegations boarded the train, all of whom I met and discussed the Panama Shriners Club request for a dispensation. The opinion of all appeared to be that we should have a Temple of our own and many personal assurances of support were given us. We finally arrived at Minneapolis about 9 o'clock Monday Morning, June 25th, after having been entertained by different Temples en route, the Chicago reception being particularly elaborate and enthusiastic. On arrival at Minneapolis, I was met by Nobles Stephens and Grasley who had been on the ground since Sunday, putting in their time meeting the different delegations as they arrived from the various points of the compass and explaining our cause to them. After conferring with them, my devoted assistants, final arrangements were made for giving further publicity to our cause. The Minneapolis Executive Committee, had, through the courtesy of Illustrious Imperial Potentate Charlie Ovenshire, arranged to give us an elegant suite of rooms at the West Hotel, close by the suites assigned to the Imperial party, which were very convenient for our use. During the balance of Monday, June 25th, we three continued meeting Representatives, giving them such further information as was requested. After looking over the correspondence which Noble Stephens had received at Panama before leaving and at New York on arrival there, also checking up the verbal promises of assistance that had been given us, it was found that we had more than enough actual votes to give us a dispensation, if the matter was carried to the floor, in fact the consensus of opinion of the different representatives appeared to be that if the information given this year had been furnished at Buffalo last year we would not have been "Buffaloed." Notwithstanding this round-up, we kept at it and made an effort to visit every delegation from every Temple, and renewed in person what we had already asked by correspondence and other means. By Monday evening, it appearing that the matter was well in hand, Noble Stephens and myself went to Saint Paul at the special invitation of Ill. Potentate Spear (one fine fellow, by the way) of Osman. The Osman nobility went to considerable trouble to show the Panama delegation all the courtesies that they could possibly think of, and it was almost like getting home again to meet so many of the good fellows, whom we had met in Panama, and also those who had not been fortunate enough to sojourn with us. I felt almost equal to meeting the committee on Charters and Dispensations, but this was not to be until Wednesday morning, the 27th. On Tuesday morning, June 26th, the Imperial Council opened at the Auditorium Theatre, and after listening to some very classy music, both instrumental and vocal, the Council got to work. I might state incidentally, that "Buffalo Bill" (Colonel George Whitney) was one of the chanters of the combined AAD-OSMAN-ZUHRAH chorus and he qualified as a songster, fully as well as did the late Noble Buffalo Bill, who recently entered the Unseen Temple. Considerable business was handled on the first day, and in the evening it was thought we would be called before the committee on Charters and Dispensations, who convened at the West Hotel. However, several other requests for dispensations required so much attention of the committee that it was finally decided at a late hour, to have us appear before them on Wednesday morning the 27th at 7:30 a.m. We were presented to the Committee by Ill. Noble Ovenshire, who also personally endorsed our petitions to the committee, in glowing terms, his words endearing him more than ever in our hearts, if that were possible. He is sure "Some Charles," and not only a friend but a booster for Panama whose continued good opinion and well-wishes, we must always try to keep. The ball opened with Ill. Past Imperial Potentate, Dr. Frederick R. Smith (a mighty good friend of ours now, as always) in the pitcher's box, and after listening to a simple statement of our case, he turned your representative over to the other members of the committee for further examination. The next half hour was, I think, the most trying of my experience, but finally, we were dismissed and the Committee on Charters and Dispensation went into executive session, but we felt that matters had been fully presented to the committee when we left. The Imperial Council was again convened at 9:30 a.m. and from that time until the Court House bell tolled the hour of midday, the nervous tension of your representatives can hardly be described, as we had no knowledge as to what the committee would do, and a fight on the floor, while having possibilities of success, was to be avoided if at all possible, as very little time could have been given the matter, the session having been cut down from the usual 3 days to 2 days. As the Court House bell became quiet, Ill. Past Imperial Potentate Smith, Chairman of the Committee on Charters and Dispensations, arose and addressed the Imperial Potentate, reading the report of the committee, which was favorable and on motion of Ill. Past Potentate Harrison Dingman of Almas, a unanimous vote was cast for the admission of a new bird into the Paradise of the Imperial Council, and little Abou Saad was born (emphasis added). There was no real opposition to the granting of the dispensation and the vote giving us the dispensation was not only unanimous, but was one of the two enthusiastic outbursts of applause at the entire session, it appearing to a casual on-looker as if every Representative on the floor had a personal interest in seeing that we got what we wanted, and what they considered we were entitled to. The Representatives as a whole, gave great praise to what they termed our original methods of advertising, in fact several of the foremost Shriners in the Imperial Council, pronounced our campaign the most perfect and clearly presented case that had ever been offered to an Imperial Council for consideration. Our "Tiger Claw" was evidently read by every Representative who attended the meeting, and it was evident from conversation had with them that they had given our request much thought and I am glad to say, favorable consideration. Our cocoa hats also made a wonderful hit with the Representatives whom we could supply. Too much praise and thanks cannot be extended to our newly elected Illustrious Imperial Potentate, Charlie Ovenshire, and "Papa" Harry Lewis, for their untiring labor and devotion to our cause. Since their return to the United States last December, they have missed no opportunity in advocating our cause, and making clear just what we had on the Panama Canal Zone, and just what more we needed to make us happy. Our thanks are not only due them for their devotion to us and our cause, but also to Osman Temple as well, who stand to lose over 200 of their members by the granting of this dispensation, but like the royal good fellows they are, they not only endorsed our petition, but went to work for us. To Past Potentate Ashley J. Abell, and to Ill. Potentate Sear of Osman, as well as the membership of Osman, Panama can never hope to express in words their appreciation of their wholehearted action in giving support to the creation of what might almost be considered a real daughter of Osman. Noble Stephens, Grasley and myself, who went from Panama as your delegation, and were on the ground to represent the interests of The Panama Shriners take this means of expressing our great indebtedness to certain of the old Panama boys, for the wonderful help and assistance rendered us by three of the good "old timers" who are now resident in the United States. Noble "Jim" Barney, Past Commander of Canal Zone Commandery, was right there with the kind of assistance one noble can expect of another. Nobles "Buddy" Hall and Webb Gibbs were also right there every minute of the 24 hours for four days, and did us much good through their acquaintance with many of the Representatives, in fact these two boosted Panama even more than your delegation, if that were possible. It is believed they would again live in the "Land of the Coconut Tree" although they are both well located and getting the best there is out of life. Nobles, we now have a Shrine of our own, and although merely given a dispensation, we can feel that every special effort we make will be for our own advancement rather than assistance rendered some foreign Temple. We must, however, work for two years under this dispensation as the law was amended at the Minneapolis session, extending the time from one year for a dispensation, to two years. Ill. Imperial Potentate Ovenshire told us before leaving Minneapolis that he would send Ill. Noble J. Harry Lewis to the Isthmus as soon as we are ready, as a special Deputy of the Imperial Potentate to institute our Temple, stating that Noble Lewis was the originator of the Panama idea in 1913, and was the "Daddy" of not only many of us here, but had "daddied" the Temple idea from the time of his visit in December 1916, until the dispensation was granted, and it was no more than proper but that he should have the honor of instituting the new Temple under dispensation. Under the Imperial law, a Temple under dispensation cannot elect officers, but the Potentate designated by the Imperial Council can recommend to the Imperial Potentate, such officers as he considers would be Proper for the proper performance of the work, and if the Imperial Potentate approves the recommendations, then the officers recommended are instituted and constitute the Divan of the Temple under dispensation. With the end in view of securing opinions on this subject, I am calling a meeting of all Shriners who signed the request for dispensation, at Ancon Lodge Hall, at 2 p.m., August 5th, at which time I desire a full turn out, so that the subject matter can be given full consideration. I also desire considered at this meeting, the question of drafting a set of By-Laws to be presented to the Imperial Potentate for his consideration; however, I might state that very little remains to be done in connection with this feature of the work, as almost every item of procedure is already covered by the Imperial Code, by which we are bound. I also wish to state that I do not care to have any lengthy discussions on these subjects, but prefer them to be limited to 2 minutes on any one subject. I wish at this meeting to also line up work committees, etc., and arrange for a possible ceremonial date, as this is an important matter on account of arranging for the instituting of our new Temple. I trust to see continued activity or even increased activity if at all possible, in all the prerequisite bodies to the end that there may always be plenty of fresh meat on hand so that the animals may not go hungry. I need not ask you for your cooperation as I have always received it, and trust the future will find not only a renewed activity in Shrine affairs, but that harmony will continue to prevail. S. H. MARCUSE, Potentate, Abou Saad Temple, U.D. Representative, Panama Shriners Club, to 43rd Session, Imperial Council |
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