Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-22
GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.
RAIN STOPS THE KNIGHTS TEN
PLAR PARADE.

Twenty thousand Magnificently Drilled
Men Ready TO March at the Firing of
the Gun - Thousands of Spectators
Along the Ltne--The Days Proceed
ings-Offlcers Elected by the Odd Eel
lows at Boston.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 21.-St. LOUIS is in
holiday attire to-day, this being the first
day of the twenty-third triennial conclave
OF the Knights Templar of America. The
city its business men and private citizens
have We'd with each other in decorating
their buildings and residences, and the
result is most pleasing. Along the line
of march which the parade would have
taken the fronts of the business and NUM-
cipal buildings are hidden with their deco
rations OF flags bearing appropriate in
scriptlons, emblems and notices, and va
rious colored bunting draped in a grace
full manner. The most snowy decorations
are those about and upon the court house.
RAINY MORNING.
When the knights Tempiar awoke this
morning the clear sky of last evening had
become overcast with dark clouds and a
damp northeast wind was blowing. At s
UcluCh COtu3 sLcduy ThtH S0b III huO tue
parade would have been march through
mud, had not the streets along which it
was to have passed been thoroughly
swept and cleaned early this morning.
AS early as $3.50 O'Clock squads OF CON-
panies and communicates, many of them
| accompanied by bands of music,
| could have been seen hurriedly
marching to their rendezvous. Those
who started thither early in the morning
xx,Ar hnn hair nrAt
brethren who, at $3.50 O'Clock, were pro-
ceeding to their appointed places with
dropping plumes and dripping uniforms.
The early morning trains were all on
time, and deposited many Communicates
who had come to the eonclave from points
near st. Louis, and they proceeded imme-
| diately to their positions.
THE FIRST GUN.
At $50 O'Clock the first gun directing
| the Communicates to form was fired and
the streets leading into the main thor
oughfare were alive with knights who
were to participate in the parade, hurry
ing to their positions, and soon after
wards were all ready to Join their divis-
ions. AS time passed on the rain fell
heavier and heavier until the streets be-
came sopping wet. At 8 O'Clock the pros
! poets for clearing up were not at all
| bright, and few minutes later J. Z. Par
sons, Commander in Chief OF the CON-
manderIes, Issued an order abandoning
the parade. The disappointment was i'm
measurable in every quarter. A mere
| pOstponement would not suffice. as the
rules OF the order permit the parade only
as an escort to the Grand Encampment,
and as That body must meet at the ap-
pointed time the rain absolutely prevents
parade at this cOnclave.
| A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.
Said Conmander-in-C Chief Parsons
''The disappointment is greater than
| can express. The arrangements were per-
| iect to the ninutest details. We had i'm
| pressed into our services for the occasion
the very best military talent in this sec
tion and were assured of something over
| 20. 900 men in line at the strike OF the ap-
pointed hour, and had the state of the
weather permitted the parade would have
been the finest ever known. AS it was,
however, nothing was left but TO aban-
| don it, and thus cut out one of the most
prominent public features OF the con-
clave." To the tens of thousands OF
spectators who had begun to crowd the
streets along the proposed route OF the
procession the disappointment was almost
as great as to the Knights themselves.
THE ENCAMPMRNT.
The grand enoampment began it's
session at 1890 O'Clock, being pres ided
over bv Sir Knight Charles ROome, OF
New York city, in the absence OF Sir
knight Robert EnOch Withers. who was
i'll. In the opening and public meeting
Mayor David II. Francis delivered an ad-
dress OF welcome on behalf of the city,
which was responded to by Deputy Grand
Master Roome. On behalf of the Mis-
sourl Grand Commandery an address Of
welcome was presented by Sir knight
Jos. s. Brown. Grand Commander. It
was briefly responded TO by Deputy
Grand Master Roome. At the conclusion
of these preliminaries at ! O'Clock the
encampment went into secret session TO
listen to the addresses and reports Of
officers.
THE GRAND MASTERS REPORT.
In the executive session the first busi-
ness was the reading of the report Of
Grand aster Witbers. The country is
congratulated on the completion Of the
Washington monument, while the fact is
deplored that so few contributions have
been received for the monument TO Gar
field. Tue report closes with q general
felicitation on the progress or the order.
Gen. ROome, OF New York, Deputy and
acting Grand Master, submitted the re-
port Of bts Stewardship, extending from
! May 10, 1886 to the present time. Gen.
| Roome noted the death OF twenty-four
members Of the Grand Encampment since
their last meeting and the erection OF
eleven new Communicates.
The report OF the Grand Recorder, which
is very voluminous, was also presented.
Grand Treasurer John simmons, OF
New York, submitted report for the
years 1888 10 1886 in connection with the
! Grand Recorders report. Tho receipts
were s2O,36l and the disbursements
S9.557. The revenues of the Grand En-
campments have been steadily increas-
ing.
1t was decided after to-day 20 hold two
sessions daily.
Committees we're appointed on unhn-
ished business. on the d0ings pi the grand
officers. on finance, on dispensatiOns and
new communicates, on credentials and
on grievances, on appeals, on Tempar
Jurisprudence and on the location OF the
next couclave. The session then ad-
Journed.
TO PARADE THURSDAY.
This afternoon IL was determined to
give a grand parade Thursday morning,
starting at II O'Clock and following the
general order prescribed for the parade
to-day. The committees Of the Grand En-
campment are holding meetings tonight,
but none ofthe proceedings have so far
been given out.
Tomorrow will be the interesting day
OF the cobclave. The programme calls
for grand display drill at the
fair grounds by visiting comman-