Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-18
ILLINOIS.
The Grand Masonic Celebration.


CHICAGO. August Il. The ci,izens were
unusually early in the streets to-day, decked
in holiday attire All Cook county had mi
grated within the city limits and thousands
from north. south, east ami west kept pour
ing in all night.
The morning bro Ike clear and warm. Before
o'clock the streets were thronged with sight
seers. The largest number made tor Wabash
avenue, where it was thought the best view
Of the grand procession could be secured. All
along the route the decorations were com
plete, elaborate and almost continuous for
miles. The profusion and variety of flags,
banners, stars, crosses, crowns. shields, fes-
toons and evergreens were endless and be-
wildering. Hardly house along the line OF
march but what was graced with some sort OF
temporary grand stand, so the procession
moved through a continuous amphitheatre.
The various communicates assembled for
dress parade at 7.45, and from that hour until
. there continuous movement of
knightly bodies to the stations assigned them
in the column, which consists of 20 divisions,
divided into three grand divisions. Em. Sir
Henry Turner, grand captain general, com
manded the first grand division, which formed
on Lake and contiguous streets. Sir Fayette
Fetch commanded the second grand division,
which formed on Washington and intersect-
ing streets. The third division formed on
Monroe and intersectng streets, and was
commanded by Sir Benz. +, Heller.
The procession started at 10 o'clock. As
the column moved south on Wabash avenue
the sight was imposing. The soldier-like
bearing and beautiful and starred uniforms
of the different Communicates ELECTED cheer
upon cheer from the living walls between
which they passed. The sight which greeted
a., L.. ,ho al,a Hntfarinu No.
Acknowledgement of the esteem in which they
were held.
1t is estimated that nearly 10000 knights
were in line. and it required about three hours
for the procession to pass given point. The
various communicates were heartily cheered
from the streets and sidewalks but marks OF
appreciation were most hearty where evidence
was shown of superiority in military tactics
and when particularly bright uniforms were
visible The most remarkable features were
Oriental commandery of Cleveland, which
escorted the eminent grand master in his car
rage drawn by thirteen horses, seven white
and six black, a very brilliant staff attending
him. There are now about 100000 persons
in Chicago denouncing the parade as sham
and outrage. These secured seats along the
latter part of the line of march, and after
sitting from 8 30 until o'clock were reward
ell by seeing three local ana Two small state
communicates file past. The tcmplars ac-
count for their failure to carry out the pro-
gramme by saying that many of the com
manderies went into line without breakfast,
and between waiting and marching they were
overcome with fatigue and faintness and he
gan to desert all along at the sight of a res
taurant or lunch counter. This caused such
a detection from the ranks that some com
manderies had hardly enough knights left to
carry their standard. and determined to
abandon all appearance of maintaining a
place in the column.
The Lumbermen.
|. The Northwestern Lumbermens Associa-
ton met in convention yesterday. 800 dele
gates were present, and there was generally
expressed the belief that the numbering in.
terest is fourishing and demands greater
than ever.