Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-21
SECRET ORDERS.


cal coAuiDeuou before rundown Eight
miles az streets were brilliantly lighted
with tens and hundreds az
thousands OF gas-jete enclosed ID
many colored globes, while from the
fronts of prominent public and private
buildings blnred forth In electric lights
and gas, SYMBOLIC designs appropriate 10
the occasion.
There were rc set parades but small
bodies Of Knights accompanied BY bands
of music, marched in All directions, and
the streets were ttTonged with spectators.
The only set features Of the Knights pro.
gramme was reception by the four local
communicates; st. Aldemar, Ascaion,
Iyanhoe and 81. Louis No. L.
One of the CHIEF subjects Il not the
main one Tor discussion and determine
ton at the meeting Of the Grand encamp.
ment, IS question Of amending the
organic law with regard TO the powers
aud privileges Of the Grand encarapment.
meeting of the members OF the
grand encampment has been called
for tomorrow afternoon at Ne
braska headquarters 70 decide what
course the opponents OF the proposed
change shall pursue. The call Is ad-
dressed to all members Of the Grand Gu.
campment who oppose Its emasculation.
and the object set forth Is ITO devise
ways and means to give effective express
sion to the desire for reform lt reform
be needed within our order as now con.
stituted), and to defeat the existing ef.
fort to weaken our general governing
body, thereby destroying It's efficiency"
A circular letter accompanying this cali
se.s forth the matter In controversy and
quotes from the proceedings OF the
Grand commandery of Nebraska, which
appointed q special detail OF 1--we In May
OF this year TO prepare report on the
proposition for charges made by the
General commsndery OF Pennsylvania and
being adopted as the views of the Iowa
| Grand commandtry were formulated by
the latter body In five resolutions as fol-
lows,
Resolved, that the Grand Encampment
Knights Templars OF the United States
abandon the system of centralized and
exclusive power which II now maintains,
and return TO the general system devised
by Its founders.
.. That its constitution and code he re-
vised and so simplined as to general
principles, only leaving TO Grand com.
manderles the power which Of right be-
longs 10 them to legislat eupon all matters
of detail.
8. That sovereign power be recog.
nized as vested In the Grand COM
manderies and such general powers only
in the Grand encampment as may be ex'
pressly delegated to It..
4. That under the general legislation oil
the Grand encampment jurisdiction be
vested In Grand communicates over the
subjects OF uniform, ritual and member
ship.
8. Resolved, that In order that TIT
Grand encAmpment may In peace ant
, quietness provide the legislation neces
sary to carry out the foregoing changes
3 1t is in duty bound TO positively prohibi
all entertainments at the time and place
: when and where its conclayes shall b.
3 heidi
, Nebraska commandery, as stated b.
9 one OF its members, took N
. the fight against this proposed chang
Q simply because no other commander
9 saw At TO take the Initiative
r The question involved seems TO be whs
+ is known In politics as the Estate
g rights" problem, and, according TO on
I of the Nebraska opponents OF the pre-
!, posed changes, the Knights, speaking 0
: general terms, are divided on about tn
r same Geographical lines as those whic
:. have heretofore marked the dominance G
: the political party upholding estate
b rights" and Capitalization" respect
4 lively. The circular Issued b
r the Nebraska commandery takes yer
: strong grounds against the propose,
5 changes, claiming that their adoptlo
a would accomplish the eventual dismen
g berment OF the General encampment A
: to the proposition to abandon parade
g and other displays on the occasion OF tn
d Grand encampment the Nebraska con
! mandery gives its hearty supper
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