Although Sousa had already been a mason for many years, he was sponsored into the Almas Temple in Washington (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine) by his nephew in 1922. He composed this march in honor of the occasion and was appointed honorary conductor. At the national Shriners' convention in 1923, Sousa led this march in a performance by a gigantic band of 6,200 Shriners at Griffith Stadium.
Music 
