Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-21
MEN OF THE MYSTIC TIES.
TWO CELEBRATIONS ECLIPSING
ANYTHING OF THEIR KIND.

ANY THING OF THEIR KIND.
Knights TempIar FIocking to st. Louis
by Thousands. and Odd Fellows In
vading the Hub In Equally strong
FOrce-RepOrts OF High Oficers of
Odd Fellowship.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 20.--It was aftor mid
night when the last special train dis
charged its load OF visitors to the triennial
conclave last night, and day had not
broken this morning when the procession
OF arriving Communicates was renewed.
At an early hour bands were playing and
communicates were marching, aud the
history of the forenoon was a repetition of
that of the night on much more extern
siVe scale. At the union depot the tracks
were crowded with extra trains, and no
sooner was one emptied than another took
its place. Along the wharyes on the river
| front a similar scene of activity was wit
messed, many Communicates from along
the rivers having chartered steamers,
which Will be used as combined hotels and
| headquarters during the week.
BEAUTIFUL WEATHER.
| The weather seems as II specially de-
| signed for the occasion, and in conse-
| quence the streets were thronged with
sightseers, while everywhere might be
seen marching communicates making
fraternal calls on the local and visiting
headquarters. 1t was an utter impOssi-
bllity at noon to give an accurate esti-
mate of the number OF knights already
on the ground. Represen tatives from
every State and Territory had reported,
while three are present from Honolulu.
Most Eminent Grand Master RObt. E.
| Withers, United States Consul General at
| Hong Kong, came all the way from that
place, arriving yesterday. At noon to-
day the rush OF visitors was still una
bated. and. II anything, increasing. Fully
ten thousand Knights had arrived by
noon, and more than an equal number
I were expected In the afternoon and to-
| night. All trains are more or less de-
| layed by the immense traffic. There Will
| be but one short session on 'Cbange to-
morrow and Wednesday noon.
THE ORGANIC LAW.
One of the chief subjects for discussion
| is the question of amending the organic
| law of the order with regard to the
| powers and privileges of the Grand En-
campment. A meeting Of the members
OF the Grand Encampment has been
called for tomorrow afternoon to decide
what course the opponents of the pro-
posed changes shall pursue. The circu-
lar letter accompanying the call sets forth
| the matter in controversy. 1t quotes from
the proceedings OF the Grand Com
mandery of Nebraska, which appointed
special detail OF five, in May OF this year,
to prepare a report on propositions for
changes made by the Grand Commandery
| OF Pennsylvania, and being adopted as
the views Of the Iowa Grand Command
cry, were formulated by the latter body
| in five resolutions.
| J. Reso,ped, That the Grand Encampment
| of knights Templar of the United States
! abandon the system OF centralized and ex-
| elusive power which IL now maintains and re-
| turn to the general system devised by its
| founders.
2. Resolued, That its constitution and code
be revised and so simplifed as to include gem
| eral principles only, leaYing TO the Grand
| Communicates the power which OF right be-
| longs to them to legislate upon all matters Of
| detail.
| 3. Resolsed, That sovereign power be recog-
| nized as vested in the Grand Commander
| and such general powers OnlY in the Grand
Encampment as may be expressly delegated
| to it.
| 4, Resolpfd, That under the general Iegisla-
| tion Of the Grand Encampment Jurisdiction
| he vested in the Grand Communicates on the
| subjects of uniforms. ritual and membership.
| 6. Res1tOed, That in order that the Grand
| Encampment may ip peace and quietness pro-
| vide legislation NECESSARY to carry out the
| foregoing changes, it is in duty bound TO posi-
| uVelV prOhlDlt all paraueS ana enicrIaln-
ments at the time and place when and where
| its conclaves shall be held.
ON THE STATES RIGHTS LINE.
| The Nebraska commandery, as stated
| by one OF it's members, took up the fight
against this proposed change simply be-
cause there was no other oommanderv TO
| take the initiative. The question involved
seems to be what Js known in politics as
"the States rights" problem, and accord
| ~ 81 NAhr NF
| the proposed changes the knights, speak
ing in general terms, are divided on about
the same geographical lines as
those which have heretofore
marked the dominance OF polti-
| cal parties upholding Estates rights"
and Capitalization" respectively. The
circular issued by the Nebraska COM
mandery takes very strong ground against
the proposed changes, claiming that their
adoption would accomplish eventual dis-
memberment Of the Grand Encampment.
| To the proposition to abandon parsdes
and other displays on the occasion OF the
Grand Encampment, the Nebraska COM
mandery gives its hearty support.
SOME OF THE VISITING CoMMANDERIEs.
The following Communicates are among
those which have arrived: C9ur de Lion
| No. A, of Atlanta, Ga; Palestine No. 7. OF
| Savannah, Ca; the Grand Commandery
| OF Tennessee; LaNetLe NO. 10, OF Ntsn-
Vile: Columbia No. 2, OF COum bia, 8. c.;
| Columbia. OF Washington, d. c.. Rich
mond. of Richmond, Va; Washington, Of
| Washington, ID. G.
On an Eastern special came a body OF
Knights distinguished by being selected
as the special escort Of Grand Master
Robert r. Withers. These were Rich
mond Commandery No. 2 and Columbia
| Commandery No. l. OF Richmond, Va.
" n. ..t.,, ka y
the Grand COmmandery, swelling the
| number to sixty.
With the Virginia Commandery came
the Washington, ID. c., Knights, who, in
turn, acted as escort OF the Virginia es-
cort. In the WASHINGTON representation
we're W asbington COmmandery No. and
Demolay COmmandery, mounted. In
honor OF their relation to the Grand Mas
ter, they we're accorded more than the
uRual WalcOmo.