Evening star., 1886-09-28
THE ROYAL ARCH MASONs.
Session Of the General Grand Chapter
in This City.

PARADE AND DEMONSTRATION IN HONOR OF
THE BODY - THE LOCAL MASONIC BODIES
TURN oCT-.THE DELEGATES PRESENT-COM-
MISSIONER wEBB'S ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
The twentysixth triennial meeting of the
General Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch
Masons was opened to-day In this city under
circumstances of great brilliancy. The Ma
sons resident in this city united in their
EFFORTS TO render the occasion n notable one
ana 10 make the delegates assembling in
this city for the second time to feel that
the principles of masonry not only were exhib-
ited in words. but in action. The members OF
the General Grand Chapter, who have been ar
irving at the Riggs house yesterday aud to-day,
accompanied Ia many instances by their wives,
al once found themselves in charge OF the vari-
Gus committees, and every detail OF the man.
agement was SO complete that the visitors could
hardly realize that they were away from home
ter was not to meet until 12 O. clock, and the
members were informed that if they would
meet at the hotel this morning that there were
q a. number Of people who would like to escort
them to the Masonic Temple
MET BY THE RECEPTION COMMITTEE.
Accordingly, this morning, when the dele
gates began to assemble in the parlors OF the
Riggs house they. found the members of the re-
ception committee there, vino pinned bouquets
OF mowers upon the lappels OF their coats and
informed them that carriages were in waiting
w lille The visitors were putting OH their white
gloves and having pleasant social Interchange
Win tnelr w WashfnXtOn com AIDES, there was u
sound OF brass bands at the lower end OF q
street, hashingOf swords and epa a1lettes in the
bright sunlight and the waving OF giided BAN
ners. FOR here the communicates OF the Dis
trlct were forming in line preparatory to march
ing up to the Riggs house 10 escort their visitors
to Masonic Temple. The gathering of these
DOd1eS attracted u great crowd In the vicinity
and every movement was watched with inter
est. The heat of the sun was found TO be very
tine members gladly sought the relief afforded
by the shady side of the street.
THE PROCESSION.
There was but q snort delay in forming the
line and then 1t marched IN the following order:
Mounted Police, then the Chief Marshal, MIR.
j. +. Pearson, who, on account Of his i'll health,
rode with Mr.. Allison Nailor behind his white
horses, instead OF on horse back. Then came
The Marshal's aids, all handsomely mounted.
they were as follows: CHIEF OF staff, Companion
Robert Bali adJutant general, Companion NJ.
Thorp. Aids-From General Grand Chapter,
Companion Arthur q. Pollard; Grand Chapter
District OF Columbia, Companion p. y. Hay !;
panion E. q. Davis; Columbia Commandery,
No. 2, Companion John Wilson; Potomac
Gommandery, No s. Companion j W. Lee, jr.:
panion Martin OConnor; Mounted Buslers
came next in line and then followed the De
Molay Mounted Commandery. No. 4, X. of T.,
generalissimo and Ii. l. Sherwood, captain
general, in command. The commandery pre-
senied fine appearance, There were seventy
weil mounted and their equipment brightly
FURNISHED. 1t is safe to say that De Molay never
made better display in this city. Following
was the full Marine band, under the direction
OF Prof. John T. Sousa. Then came Washington
Commandery, No. l, XII, under The command
OF W. Il. Moore, &c; John H. Olcott, general
issiino aud Henry K. Simpson, captain gen.
eral. No. was out in good Iorce, and MAIN
tanned its reputation ior soldierly bearing. Co
csraS a. iaows glme n ReS f T
NJ. Tznaga, generaiiSsimo z. G. Einiore, cap
tain general. The ranks oi this command were
dea H., roc eco com mendahie P"inInac rnmmansnrS
No. q, came next, under command OF a. Ii. Jack
son, gencrulissimo, acting eminent commander;
town Knights were we'll represented, aud
brought TO u close the line of piumed chapeans,
which could be seen stretching along the street
as far rs the eye could reach. Following the
four communicates came the Third Artillery
band, escorting the Grand Chapter Royal Arch
MasOns of this District. George +. COrsOn, the
NJ. r. grand high priest, was in command. The
grand chapter wore only their aprons, and
with their black suits and black hats presented
II striking contrast to the rather snowy uni
forms OF the Knights. When the line had
passed up street and by the Riggs house,
where the visitors were occupying carriages it
turned up 15tn street, and the line OF Carriages
brought up the rear.
THE ROUTE.
The route of march was then up 18th street to
X, 70 18th, to Pennsylvania avenue, 10 the
White House, 10 18th street, to Pennsylvania
avenue, to 10th street, to street, to 9th street
aud then TO Masonic Temple. The procession
passed through the White House grounds, where
1t was reviewed by the President, who came out
on the front portico unattended. Mrs. Cieve-
land was noticed looking out from one OF the
upper windows and was gallantly saluted by
many.
1t was estimated that there were over five
hundred men In line, and the procession was
Prononnced P.; :s. ny many to be one OF the finest
Masonic displays ever made in this city.
WELCOMED AT MASONIC TEMPLE.
After passing over the route mentioned, the
procession reached Masonic Temple, where the
visitors were escorted to the hall, which had
been appropriately decorated for the occasion.
Broad bands OF evergreen were festoOned in
double lines on each side of the hall, and across
the hall were run bands OF bunting. In the
rear Of the stand was an elaborate Arrangement
OF American flags and shields. with the words
in gold: "GreeLlng Ol the Grand X. A. Chapter
OF lhe District OF Columbia " The General
Grand Chapter, U. S. A." Large bronze figures
each side OF the Stage. The decorations OF the
wall were very effective and were much
admired by tue visitors. Before the procession
reached the hail, the lauies accompanying
the visitors were escorted by the local ladies'
committee to the hall and given seats On the
right of the stage. The seats on the stage were
occupied by the officers OF the General Grand
Chapter, and OF the Grand Chapter OF the Dis
trict The hall was densely tnronged. While
the audience were being seated, the Marine
the Grand High Priest o1 the District presided,
ana calling the assembly 10 order Called uuon
the Grand Chaplain " IN. Pitts, who delivered
the invocation. A welcome song Was then
timely sung by the Franz Abt club, Edwin s.
Holmes director.
COMMISSIONER WEBB
was then introduced, and in graceful terms
gave q cordial welcome to the members of the
General Grand Chapter TO the District. He said
that the citizens of Washington extend hearty
greetings, and that gives them pleasure to fnd
that this city was selected the place of meet
ing. "As the days go by" continued the COIN
missioner, "it touches us with JOY to find how
this city Is being recognized as the grand Gen.
trai point In this country, and We leel proud
country may feel . proud interest in: TO this
beautiful capital city l welcome YOU" He then
went on TO say that the houses OF the people
here We're open to the visitors, aud
They were regarded as representative
men not met tor the purpose of advancing the
interests Of any party, but rs representatives OF
gether in the cause of the common good. He
Then traced briefly the history OF the origin OF
Masonry from the gloom and uncertainty OF
and spread of these principles which the
knights OF the crusades was compelled to en-.
force at the point OF the sword. The COmmis-
siOher compared the moral victories Whicn this
order sought with the material progress, which
he said were useless as long man remained
unregenerated. After paying an eloquent tri.
butte 70 the objects aud work OF the order, Com
missioner Webb again welcomed the visitors to
this city, and hoped that their sessions would
prove OF proht.
THE GENERAL GRAND HIGH PRIEST RESPONDS.
The address Of Commissioner Webb was re-
ceived with hearty applause, and after it had
died away the General Grand High Priest, Mr..
Alfred +. Chapman. arose, and in behalf Of the