The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-22


| given up TO an illumination Of the streets and
| to receptions at different headquarters.
| The event of the evening was the reception
given by the Ascalon Commandery, OF this city,
| to the Grand Encampment and visiting Knights
| at the Merchants Exchange. The reception
| was held in the large trading room, which was
deliberately yet tastefulIy decorated. A very
/ large majority of those who had been
| favored with invitations were In attend
ance upon the main floor, which was devoted
entirely to the Knights. their ladies and other
invited guests in full dress. while the balconies
were reserved for spectators. Both the former
| and latter were crowded, although the floor
could be easily utilized for dancing. At ii
| o'clock the enjoyment was at its height, and at
/ that hour there present at least nine
thousand persons, about half Of whom were
and the civilians in evening dress
| presented a brilliant appearance, which became
| still more brilliant and enivened when the dane
| ing began. The Second Regiment band, Of Chi
| cago. gave the promenade concert, while Spiel
| rings orchestra furnished the dancing music.
| The most eminent Robert Enoch Withers, of the
Grand Encapment, vas unable to attend on ac-
count of illness, but the other officers of the en-
campment and prominent Knights were present.
The festivities continued late into the night, and
all who were present pronounced the reception a
decided success
The Grand Encampment began its session at
1870, being presided over by Sir knight
Charles Roome of New York city, r. E. D. O.
| Withers, NJ E. G. M, who was too i'll to leave
| his room at his hotel. In the opening and pub,
| lie meeting Mayor David r. Francis delivered
| an address of welcome on behalf of the city,
| which was responded to by Deputy Grand Mas
| ter Roome. On behalf of the Missouri Grand
Commandery, an address of welcome was pre-
| sented by Sir knight Joseph s. Browne, grand
| commander, which was briefly responded to by
| Deputy Grand Master Roome. At the conclu
| sion of these preliminares at l o'clock, the en-
| ipfo 70 SfA tn
| the addresses and reports OF officers
In the executive session the first business was
the reading of the report of Grand Master With.
| ers. This report covered only that period from
| his appointment, in 1883, to June |. 1885, at
| which time his acceptance of the consulgeneral-
| ship to Hong Kong necessitated the delegation
| of the powers of grand master to '. e. Charles
Roome, deputy grand master. After reciting
routine proceedings, reference is made, under
the discussion of foreign relations, to the ques-
tons at issue with the Great Priory of Canada,
which was finally referred to special commit
tee appointed to-day. The report states that Jo-
siah II. Drummond has prepared digest
of the decisions of the grand mas
ter, as approved and modified by the
Grand Encampment, and the decisions of the
Grand Encampment In 1883 and 1884 thirteen
communicates were constituted, chiefly IN the
Northwestern States and Territories, Dakota
coming in for the largest share The country is
congratulated on the completion of the Wash
ington monument, while the fact is deplored
that few contributions have been received for
the monument to Garfield. The grand master
recommends the substitution of the past grand
master for the deputy grand master the
printing committee, and the employment of
| private secretary for the grand master. He also
recommends that the bonds OF the grand treas
urer and grand recorder be reduced to the
amount of $4,000 each. 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 the report of his stew
ardship, extending from May IL. 1885, up to the
present time. Before proceeding to the details
of his report General 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 then
proceeds to discuss the Canada question men
toned in Grand Master Withers's report, and
insists upon it that the Scotch Encampment an
tedates the Sovereign Great Prory, and that
they are, therefore, not bound to be governed by
it. He recommends that the present encamp-
ment make no effort to try to bring about set
Element of that question. The deputy grand
master reported the following decisions made by
him during his term of Office:
An appellate body cannot assume original jul
risdiction. In the case of the Anderson lind
Commandery, chartered by the Grand Com
mandery against the protest of the Muncie Com
| mandery, the acting master holds that an appeal
from the action of the Grand Commandery may
be presented. and that the latter should cause
the conclaves Of the new commanderv to cease
pending action of the Grand Encampment
similar decision was rendered in the case of the
Charlotte Mich. Conmandery, which was char
tered without the consent of Lansing, No 20.
the nearest commandery. The acting grand
master also holds that commandery has the
right to receive and act upon the report of
committee to which had been referred the ques-
ton of the formation of new commandery after
it's dispensation has been returned and until the
Grand Encampment had decided to grant or re-
fuse a charter.
Upon the question of revision of the ritual
the acting grand master says:
copy of the report of the committee on ritual has
been furnished me. While it would be manfestly i'm.
proper for indulge in any detailed criticism in
this place, 1 free to state my surprise that it
should be- in most respects not altered at all. A
change of words, without any change in the in
tent and meaning of phrase / do not consider of
sufficient importance to arrest the adoption of
standard form. and recommend the removal of this
question from debate. trust that you will devote
your time only to matters in regard to which hon
est difference of opinion may exist.
The acting grand master recommends that
matters State and local be left to the grand
Communicates, and not to the Grand Encamp-
ment This is point of conflict between the
members of the latter body, and if they shall
decide it the grand master predicts that its
| present session will be one of the most impor-
| tant in the history of American Templarism.
The report of Grand Recorder Theo S. Par
| vim is rather volumnous. 1t opens with dis
| cussion of the printing question, and censures
| granQ commanders rOr failures TO report. and
| the printing committee for lack Of energy in
| the matter of printing and distributing impor-
| tant documents, notifications of meetings, ETC.
| By reason of the failure to issue proper sum
| monses, certain amendments, ETC., to the code
could not be acted upon at the last conclave and
| this fact is commented upon in a sharp manner.
| The Grand Recorder defends himself against in
formal charges of neglect of duty in failing to
| issue these summonses, holding that he is only
| authorized to issue such summonses when so
| ordered by the grand master. and recommends
that the question of authority in this connection
be definitely settled The Grand Recorder also
| makes the following recommendations: That all
! communicates holding their charters direct
| from the Grand Encam pment be required to
elect their officers at the stated concaye in May;
that the Grand Encampment adopt some uni
| form drill, and the printing of new edition of
/ the constitution.
| Grand Treasurer John w. Smons, of New