Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-21
KNIGHTS TEMPLAgS
Gathering for the Trienniai CODciave
at ~. Louis. MO.
lBy Telegraph TO the Dispatch.l

at ~. Louis. NO.
lI3y telegraph TO the Dispstch.l
ST. LOUIS, September cot was
after midnight when the last special
train discharged its load Of visitors to
the Tfiennial COnclave last night, and
the day bad not broken this morning
when a procession Of arriving COM
manderies was reviewed. At an early
hour the bands were playing and the
Communicates were marching, and the
history Of the forenoon has been repe-
tition of that of the night on a
much more extensive scale. At
the Union depot the tracks are
crowded with extra trains, and no
sooner is one emp;ied than another takes
its place. Along the wharyes on the
river-front q similar scene Of activity is
witnessed, many Communicates from
along the rivers having chartered
steamers which will be used as COM
bined hotel and headquarters during
the week. The weather seems as if
specially designed for the occasion,
and, in consequence, the streets are
thronged with sight-seers, while
everywhere may be seen the march
ing communicates making frater-
nal calls on local and visiting
headquarters. Ii is an utter imposSi-
biity at the present time to give an
accurate estimate Of the number Of
Knights already on the ground. Repre-
seniatives Of every State and Territory
have reported, while three are present
from Honolulu. The Most Eminent
Grand Master, Robert Z. Withers,
United States Consul General at Hong
Kong, came all the way from that
place, arriving yesterday. At noon the
rush of visitors was still undated, and,
if anything, increasing. Fully 10000
Knights had arrived by noon, and more
than an equal number are expected this
afternoon and tonight. All the trains
are more or less delayed by the immense
traffic. There will be but one short
session on Change tomorrow and on
Wednesday noon.
Ore of the chief subjects for discus
sion is the question of amending the
organic law Of the order with regard to
the powers and privileges of the Grand
Encampment. A meeting Of the mem
bers Of the Grand Encsmpment has been
called for tomorrow afternoon to decide
what course the opponents Of the pro-
posed changes shall pursue. A cir
oular letter accompanying the call sets
forth the matter in controversy.
Ii quotes from the proceedings OF the
Grand Commandery Of Nebraska, which
appointed 6 special detail OF live In
May Of this year to prepare q report
on the propositions for the changes
made by the Grand Commandery OF
Pennsylvania, and, being adopted as the
views Of the Iowa Grand Commsndery,
were formulated by the latter body in
five resolutions:
Resoleed, That the Grand Eu-
campment Of Knights Templars Of the
United States abandon the system of
centralized and exclusive powers which
it now maintains and return to the
general system devised by Its founders.
Rssoived, 2, That its constitution
and code be revised and so simplifed
as to include general principles only,
leaving 10 the grand Communicates the
power, which Of right belongs to them,
70 legislate upon all matters Of detail.
hesolsed, 3, That the sovereign pow
CT be recognized as vested in the grand
Communicates, and such general pow
ers alone only in the Grand Encsmp-
msn' as may BE- expressly delegated
Ass''usd, 4, That under the gen srsl