Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1921, Thomas G. Moses wrote that he secured a scenery contract with the Dallas Shrine. In addition to supervising Shrine settings being built in Chicago, Moses was also negotiating a new scenery installation for the Little Rock Scottish Rite Theater. Of the upcoming projects, Moses wrote, “ “I have plenty to do on Masonic models and I am afraid I will have to get some help.”
This Dallas project was for Hella Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Moses recorded that Sosman & Landis “furnished a big set for the Shrine which was done in Chicago.” This means the actual construction and painting for the setting was completed in Chicago; the setting was shipped to Dallas that spring. In April, the Hella Shrine Temple hosted the Shrine Director’s Association of North America annual convention. The painted setting was possibly for use at that event.
On 27 March 1921, “Galveston Daily News” announced “Six Hundred to Attend Dallas Shrine Meeting” (page 8). The article continued, “Dallas, Tex., March 26.- Reports received by the arrangements and reception committee for the convention of the Shrine Director’s Association of North America, which meets in Dallas April 7 to 9, are to the effect that about 600 delegates will attend. The directors are meeting in Dallas in the third annual convention for the purpose of checking up of the curriculum of events encountered along the desert sands over which the novices travel at each ceremonial given by the Shrine Temples in North America. The meetings in Dallas will not be open to the general membership of Hella Temple, but will be confined exclusively to the directors and the committees in charge. Hella Temple will be host to the convention and will entertain the visitors while in Dallas. James E. Forrest is president of the association.”
On the last day of the convention, Frank H. Cromwell, of Ararat Temple, Kansas City was chosen president of the association (Austin America-Statesman, 9 April 1921, page 1)
To be continued…
