The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-14
TEMPLAR CONCLAVES,
What the Grand Secretary of the Missouri
Masonic Grand Lodge Thinks of Them.

What the Grand Secretary of the Missouri
Masonic Grand Lodge Thinks of Them.
From Annual Report of Grand Secretary YIncil.
''In our report last year called attention to
the vast outlay of money on the part of Masons
who made pilgrimage to California. The ex-
penditure far surpassed anything we estimated
but not one cent for home or charity. The
pilgrimage, so called--a pompous parade in
fact-cost Missouri Masons enough money to
found our long talked-of home. And what did it
amount to- A pilgrimage indeed! When
knights went on pilgrimages back in early CEN
turtles they proposed to visit holy shrine for
devOut purposes and their journeyings never
took the character OF menagerie or circus
We fail to find in our reading that they carried
with them liquid refreshments by the carload or
had a caterer who was saoon-keeper though
recognized as pilgrim among pilgrims.
IF our pilgrims will give much money to-
ward the erection and maintenance of home
for destitute widows and helpless orphans in
Missouri as they spent the California pill
grimage' we will agree to raise an equal amount
in twelve months. But our proposition will not
be accepted. The financial depletion suffered
from pilgrimage runs through three wears
Recovery from it is triennial recuperation and
becomes necessary in order to be ready for the
Eext grand national tramp. Already the work
of prepation has commenced. Grand and sub
ordinate bodies are putting things IN order for
the next triennial show and blow. Many thou
sands of dollars must be raised to make the next
'triennial in st. Louis bigger show than any
previous one on the continent But not one dol
lar for home for destitute widows and helpless
orphans we have vowed to defend even with our
swords The great triennia boom started in st.
Louis in 1868, and it has been booming ever
since-being more of boom than anything else.
AS this national exhibition began its continental
and trennial peregrinations in this city sixteen
years ago, it must needs reappear here and
furnish evidences of growth and improvement.
From the reputation made here III 1868 improve
ment is desirable for time and distance do
not lend enchantment to the view of what was
then done and seen under the name of Christian
knighthood. We will not particularize AS the
exhibition here was the biggest thing ever seen
on the continent, St Louis must be thrown into
the shade by the next seat of the conclave. And
thus has grown up spirit of rivalry between
pilgrims of different cities as to which shall
have the biggest display with the incidents,
especially the latter.
Chicago, which must be big or nothing, de-
termined to distance all competitors. And she
did it in many ways not to her glory. Now st.
Louis must put Chicago to shame if it takes three
years work and millions of money to do it. And
yet not cent for our home Citizens of all
grades Including saioon-keepers and brewers)
will be appealed to for money. Hundreds of
thousands for frolic parade. drink and debauch,
but not one copper for charity. The outlay, all
counted, of the Chicago triennial amounted to
millions. And we assert that not one cent ever
was given to the relief Of destitute widows or