The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-09-23
MASONIC.
GRAND TRIENNIAL CON
CLAVE OF KNIGHTS
TEMPLAR.
A GREAT OCCASION, BUT AN I'M
MENSE PARADE STOPPED BY
THE WEATHER.
KNIGHTS. TEMPLAR.
FIRST DAY OF THE GRAND AN
NUAL CONCLANE

~ AL SONS1AN Il.
ST. LOUIS, September 2l.-The city is in hollda
attire to-day, this being the first day of the twenty
third triennial conclave of the Knights Templar q
America. The city, its business men and privat
citizens, have WED with each other in decoratin
their buildings, and the result is most pleasing
Along the line of march the fronts of buildings an
municipal buildings are molden with decorations
flags bearing appropriate inscriptions, emblem
and notices, and varlOus-colored bunting drape
in graceful, fantastic manner. The most show
decorations are those about and upon the cour
house. This building occupies the entire squar
all around, which has been placed equi distant a
all points poles twenty-five feet bigh, trimmed
connected with each other by garlands and wovel
evergreens. Each pole bears a shield picture
upon which is painted the grand seal of the sam,
state or territory behind Shields and falling from
the top of the poles to the groun'
At each entrance to the building stand two i'm
mense pyramldal pillows of evergreen crowned will
Masonic emblems Directly over each entranc,
are semi-circular sunbursts, constructed of ever
green flags and bunting. The building presented
brilliant appearance. Immediately in front of thu
main entrance to the exposition building tine re
viewing stand has been erected and it also has beer
elab lrately decorated.
When the knights awoke this morning the cleal
sky of last evening had become overcast with dark
clouds and damp northeast wind was blowing
with considerable velocity. Light overcoats were
not at all uncomfortable, and the cooling drinks
provided for the anticipated thirst of the marchers
were entirely superious.
At o'clock cold steady rain set in and the pa
rade would have been march through the mud
had not the streets along which the parade passes
been thoroughly swept and cleaned.
Early this mOrning-as early as $50, squads
companies and ommanderies--many of them ac-
companied by bands of music could have been seen
hurriedy marching to their rendezvous. Early
morning trains were all on tlme and deposited
many commanderies, who have come to the con-
cave from points near st. Louis, and they pro-
ceeded Immediately to their positions At half
th.AH Hpaffr fnA
form was fred and the streets leading into the
main thoroughfares were alive with the 5000
knights who will march in the parade, hurrying to
their positions, and soon afterwards all were
ready to join their divisions. AS time passed the
rain fell heavier, seadier, until the streets became
sopping wet. Until O'Clock the prospects for
clearing up were not at all bright A few minutes
later j. r. Parsons, commander, issued an order
abandoning the parade.
The order was communicated to the faithful
Knights who had been standing in the rain ready
to march, and who broke ranks, greatly disappOint-
ed at not being able to parade, but very willing to
get in out of the wet.
In executive session the first business was the
reading of the report of Grand Master Withers.
This report covered only that period from his ap-
pointment in 1883 to January 1, 1885, at which
time his occupation OF the consul generalship to
Hong Kong necessitated tn delegation of the pow
ers of the grand master to Very Eminent Com
mander Roome. deputy grand master. After re-
citing routine proceedings, reference Is made
tions at issue with the great priory of Canada
which was finally referred to a special committee.
The report states that in 1888 and 1884 thirteen
were constituted chiefly in the north
western states and territories.
The country is congratulated on the completion
OF the Washington monument, while the fact is de-
plored that so few contributions have been received
for the monument to Garfield. The report closes
with general fluctuations on the progress of the
order
Following the report of Grand Master Withers,
General Roome of New York, deputy and acting
grand master, submitted report of his steward
Ship extending from May II, 1885, up to the pres
ent time Preceding the details of his report
General Roome noted the death of twenty -four
members of the grand encampment since their last
meeting. The report then proceeds to discuss the
Canada ques ton, mentioned in Grand Master
Withers report and insists upon it that the Scotch
antdates the sovereign great priory,
and that they are, therefore, not bound to be gov
erned by it. He recommends that the present en-
,ampment make no effort to try to
)ring about settlement of that
question. The deputy grand masterireports the fol-
owing for the question of lewiston of the ritual
The grand master says: "a copy of the report
If the committee on ritual has been furnished me.
While it would be manifestly improper to indulge
any detailed criticism in this place, am free to
state my surprise that it should be in more re-
'pects not allowed at all. A mere change of
words without any change of intent in the mean
ug of phrases, | do not consider of sufficient i'm
)ortance to arrest the adoption of standard forms
md the removal of this question from debate, and
trust that you will devote your tine only to such
matters in regard to which the lowest
differences of opinion may exist The
lctiOn of the grand master recommends
hat matters, state and local. be left to grand com
nanderies and not to the grand encampment
This is the point of conflict between members of
he latter tody and if they shall decide it, the grand
master predicts that its present session will be one
If the most important in the history of American
emplars
The report of Grand Recorder Parview was
hen read.
Grand Treasurer Jno W. Simons, submitted his
'eports for the years 1888 to 1876. The receipts
we're S2O,361; disbursements, SS,557.
A resolution was adopted permitting the knights
% attend the meetings of the encampment, even
hough not in full uniform as required by the
ules. 1t was decided after to-day to hold two SEES
ions daily, from 10 a. m. to p. m, and from to
p. m.
After announcing the membership of the
averal Communicates and referring the
eports of district commanders to the commit
ee on reports of grand officers, the encampment
djOurned till O'Clock tomorrow.
Considerable annoyance was caused by the noise
# machinery in the exposition, and it was decided
o get new hall for future meetings, unless the
machinery conld be stopped during the session.
In conjunction with the meeting of the grand
ncampment will be that of the Order of the East
IN Star. The local chapters have made great
PREPARATIONS for the entertainment of the grand
hapter, which meets tomorrow night. The No
les of Moolah Temple, the Nobility of the Mystic
hrine, of st. Louis, will, in conjunction
nth Medina Temple, of Chicago, celebrate the
asst feast of the old year, the day of arafat at
Iecca. The celebration will be on magnificent
Gale, the military exercises being conducted under
be auspices of Medina Temple, assisted by the
nperialFgrand potentate, Samuel Briggs, of
leveland, and other members of the imperial
ouncil. There is large number of can lidates
Or admission to the order.
At the time set for the departure of members OF
be grand encampment from the rendezvous to
hall, 1t was deemed inadvisable to
urnish any foreign and local commanders which
ave been held in readiness to act in the capacity
llo' ted them on the occasion. Members of the en-
ampment were taken to the hall in carriages.
The grand encampment began its session at IL 80
clock, being presided over by Sir Knight Chas
,come, of New York City, Right Eminent, grand
in the absence of Sir Knight Robert
!. Withers VI. Z. g., commander, who was too i'll
D ofiiciate at the opening.
Mayor David Il. Francis delivered an address of
relcome on behalf Of the city, which was responded
0 by Deputy Grand Commander ROome, on be-
off of the Missouri grand cnmmandry.
An address Of welcome was presented by Sir
Knight Jos. S. Brown, grand commander, and also
riehv responded to by Deputy Grand Commander
,oouie At the conclusion of these preliminaries,
{ 10 O'Clock, the encampment went into secret ses-
ion to listen TO the annual addresses and reports
f officers.