The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-21

bv Grand Treasurer Simons. The latter Is also
unwell, but will, no doubt, be able to attend to
business.
One of the chief subjects, il not the main
one for discussion and determination at the
meeting of the Grand Encampment Is the ques
ton of amending the organic law of the order
with regard TO the powers and privileges of the
Grand Encampment. A meeting OF the men,
bers of the Grand Encampment has been called
for o-morrow afternoon, at the Nebraska head.
quarters, to decide what course the opponents of
the proposed change shall pursue The call is
addressed to all members OF the Grand Encamp.
ment who oppose its emascuation, and the OBJ
Ject set forth is Ito devise ways and means to
give effective expression to the desire for reform
Gf reform be needed) within order
as now constituted, and to defeat tie exist
ing effort to weaken. our general governing body
thereby destroying its efficiency" circular
letter accompanying this call sets forth the mat
ter in controversy. 1t quotes from the proceed
ings of the Grand Commandery of Nebraska,
which appointed special detail of five, In May
of this year, to prepare report on propositions
fog changes made by the Grand Commandery OF
Pennsylvania and being adopted as the views of
the Iowa Grand Commandery, were formulated
by the latter body in five resolutions, as fol-
lows:
Resolved That the Grand Encampment Knights
TeInars of the United States abandon the system of
centralized and exclusive power which it now main
tans and return to tae general system devised by its
founders
Resolved That its constitution and code be re-
yised and so simpifed as to include general princi
pies only. leaving to grand Communicates the power
which of right belongs to them, to legislate upon all
matters of detail.
vested in grand commentaries and such general pow
ers only in the Grand Encamprnent may be express
ly delegated to it.
Resolved That under the general legislation of the
Grand Encampment jurisdiction be vested in grand
communicates the subjects of uniform ritual and
membership.
Resolved That in order that the Grand Encamp
nent may in peace and quietness provide the legsla
tion necessary to carry out the foregoing changes. it
is in duty bound to positively prohibit all parades and
entertainments at the time and place when and where
its conclaves shall. be held.
The Nebraska Commandery. as stated by one
Of its members, took up the fight against this
proposed change simply because no other com
mandery saw fit to take the initiative The
question involved seems to be what is known in
politics as the States rights" problem, and, &C
cording to one OF the Nebraska opponents OF the
proposed changes, the Knights, speaking in gen.
eral terms, divided on about the same geo.
graphical lines as those which have heretofore
marked the dominance of the political parties
unfolding Estates rights" and Capitalization"
respectively. The circular issued by the Ne
braska Commandery takes very strong ground
against the proposed change. claiming that their
adoption would accomplish the eventual dis
memberment of the Grand Encampment To
the proposition to abandon parades and other dis
plays on the occasion of the Grand Encampment
the Nebraska Commandery gives its hearty sup
port.
Tonight the streets were brilliantly illuminated
for the first time, the work of preparation hav-
ing been brought to practical completion before
SHUTDOWN. Eight miles of streets were brilliantly
lighted with tens and hundreds of thousands of
gas jets inclosed in many -colored globes, while
from the fronts of prominent public and private
buildings blazed forth. in electric lights and gas,
symbolic designs appropriate to the occasion.
There were no set parades but small bodies of
Knights, accompanied by bands of music, were
moving in all directions. and the streets were
thronged The only set features of to nights
programme we're receptions by four local com
mapderies-St Aldemar, Ascalon, Ivanhoe and
St Louis No. l.