National Republican., 1888-02-12
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
PREPARING FOR THE TRIENNIAL
CONCLAVE IN THIS CITY.
Great Demonstrations Anticipated Ar
ranging for the Comfort and Entertain
ment of the Visiting Fratcrs Probably
the Last of the Public Parades.

The triennial conclayc Of Knights Temp
lars, to be held in this city next year,
promises to be grand demonstration.
Already Chairman H. NJ. Parker, of the Ex-
ccutivc Committee, is being flooded with
letters of inquiry from all parts of the
country respecting the event, and what is
likely to be the programme. The communi-
cations in addition to this point, are mostly
on the subject of hotel accommodations.
Each letter is carefully indexed, filed away,
and in time the desired information is
transmitted to the commandcry seeking the
light The various committees have already
been at work, and they bid fair to continue
diligently employed until all their arrange
mcnts are completed. The membership of
the local communicates realize that they
have Il big task on hand in arranging for the
reception of their visiting brethren. They
did not desire this visit, but after being de-
cided upon they promised to entertain the
foreign fraters At present it would be i'm
possible to say what number of Knights will
be present at the opening of the conclave.
The committees will arrange for at least
2j,OOO persons although this number may
be exceeded.
I'VE can't tell just yet" said one of the
committeeman, chow many of our brethren
will be here. The letters reaching us daily
give warming that the interest is widespread
our communications come from all parts of
the country. Information reaches us from
California, Maine, Minnesota, and Texas that
CommandcriCs in those States are preparing
to come up to the convocation of the Grand
Commandary. Washington will see a sight
that will cause its citizens never to regret that
il witnessed it, and that is the grand parade
Ofthc various communicates of this country.
The desire to see the capital of the nation
was one reason that led to the selection of
this city as the place of meeting of the con-
| Clave. II will be the means of bringing
thousands of people here from the States, and
of course il will be our duty to see that the
occasion is made as attractive AS possible and
| that every guest is well cared for. The
Knights Templar of the District are not
! flooded with money, but theyhave the grit
about them to be equal to carrying out any
task when they decide to assume it. Yes,
we will need at least $50, 900, and that is Il big
sum of money. VIII we raise it? you will
no doubt ask. That of course, is large
amount of money but there is only one
| thing for us to do, and that is to raise it-and
we will get there. 1t is too early yet to say
what our programme VIII be, ana how we
| intend to entertain our visitors. To do these
things will be no small matter, and it re-
quircs good deal of careful study. There
il one thing that is already settled upon, and
| that you can state in most positive terms,
and that is. there will be no 'gouging" or
| Overcharging of prices of our visitors. We
have got that fixed in such way that it will
be out of the question. Our people were
lover accused of such II thing. and | am sure
that at this late day they will never permit
any such accusation to be brought against
them. We are talking of giving our brethren
Il big reception and ball, and, of course we
must look about us for a suitable hall. We
don't know whether we could get the Pen
| sion Office for the occasion or not, but such a
! place would be needed to accommodate the
throng. Many of us are led to believe this
| fact that the last parade ever to be given by
the Knights will be witnessed here. The
| feeling prevails that such affairs are not
suited to the objects of the organization, and
it is most probable that this feature of the
conclave will forever cease with the coming
meeting. MasonS are much interested in the
matter, and especially in this District and
they propose to do all in their power to help
the cause. II is big thing with us and a
very expensive undertaking, but we feel the
honor that rests upon us by the conclave
| having selected Washington as its next place
of meeting, and, of course, we must show
| III the best way we can how we appreciate it :"