Invitation to Reception and Dance in Honour of Imperial Potentate J. Putnam Stevens and Party
Honolulu, HI: Aloha Temple, AAONMS, 1916. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Single sheet, printed on one side. Format is approximately 6.25 inches by 7 inches, printed on one side, folded in half. Rare surviving copy. There is the Shriners symbol/logo at the top. The text reads: Aloha Temple, A. A. On N.M.S. Oasis of Honolulu requests the pleasure of your company at a Reception and Dance in honour of Imperial Potentate J. Putnam Stevens and Party on Monday, April the third, nineteen hundred and sixteen Moana Hotel eighth thirty P.M. On July 15, 1915, Dr. Frederick R. Smith of Rochester, N. Y., imperial potentate of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, who has ruled for the preceding year, laid down the scepter of authority to J. Putnam Stevens of Portland, Me., who had served as deputy imperial potentate. The J. Putnam Stevens Award is presented by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers, Maine. This award, given annually, goes to that person who, in the opinion of the selection committee, has rendered outstanding service to the industry and community in the state of Maine. It is not intended to restrict the award only to agents, but rather to recognize those people, even outside the industry, who have advanced the cause of the life insurance business. J. Putnam Stevens was born in Winthrop, Maine on Nov. 24, 1852. He was one of the pioneers in the life insurance industry. Not only did he exemplify all that is good in life insurance, he also demonstrated how worthwhile a good life insurance agent can be to the community. The state can be proud of this great humanitarian, and anyone receiving the J. Putnam Stevens’ Award gains with it a rich heritage. Shriners International, also commonly known as The Shriners or formerly known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, (AAONMS) is a Masonic society established in 1870 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Shriners International describes itself as a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. There are approximately 350,000 members from 196 temples (chapters) in the US, Canada, Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines, Europe, and Australia. The organization is best known for the Shriners Hospitals for Children that it administers, and the red fezzes that members wear. The organization was previously known as "Shriners North America". The idea of a new fraternity for Masons, stressing fun and fellowship, was discussed. Walter M. Fleming, and William J. Florence took the idea seriously enough to act upon it. Florence, a world-renowned actor, while on tour in Marseille, was invited to a party given by an Arab diplomat. The entertainment was something in the nature of an elaborately staged musical comedy. At its conclusion, the guests became members of a secret society. Florence took copious notes and drawings at his initial viewing and on two other occasions, once in Algiers and once in Cairo. When he returned to New York in 1870, he showed his material to Fleming. Fleming created the ritual, emblem and costumes. Florence and Fleming were initiated August 13, 1870, and they initiated 11 other men on June 16, 1871 In an effort to encourage membership, at the June 6, 1876 meeting of Mecca Temple, the Imperial Grand Council of the Ancient Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America was created. Fleming was elected the first Imperial Potentate. After some other reworking, by 1878 there were 425 members in 13 temples in eight states, and by 1888, there were 7,210 members in 48 temples in the United States and Canada. By the Imperial Session held in Washington, D.C. in 1900, there were 55,000 members and 82 Temples. Condition: Good.
Keywords: Shriners, Aloha Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, AAONMS, Putnam Stevens, Imperial Potentate, Moana Hotel, Invitation
[Book #82679]
Price: $100.00