The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-27
CLOSE OF THE CONCLAvE.
Prize Drill of the Knights Of Friendship-An
Evening of Thorough Enjoyment.

Yesterday the conclaye of the Knights of
Friendship, held in this city during the
past week, came to an end. At A. NJ. a
delegation marched down to the Union Sta
ton to meet the Louisville excursion train.
This consisted of ten coaches, all crowded
with enthusiastic knights. In the fore
noon the usual business session was held.
1t was decided to hold the next meeting,
in accordance with the new regulation, at
Louisville KY, in 1892. The committee on
accounts reported that all the expenses of
the former conclave had been liquidated,
and that the order was in good financial
condition. A committee consisting of j. +.
Moreland, Maysville. KY; DR.. H. Fitzbnlle,
Louisville, KY, and j. +. Turner and w. A.
Haines, Memphis. Tenn. was appointed to
revise and reprint the ritual as soon as pos
sible.
In the afternoon the prize drill took
place at the. Exposition grounds. Owing
to the rain. the crowd was driven to seek
the shelter of the building, and it was
there, too. that the drill had to be given.
Inc manGuvres were witnessed by some
1000 people. The competing camps were
Garrison, of Louisville; Bell, of Cincinnati;
vile, and Golden Eagle, of Win
chester, KY. The Memphis camp
could not enter because of an
M Insufficient Dent number %nn of men. The judges,
Heiskell, awarded. the prizes as follows:
Bell Camp, of Louisville, first prize, $780,
Garrison Camp. of Louisville. second prize,
500; Golden Eagle Camp, of Winchester,
KY, third prize, $50. The presentations
were made by Captain Many. who compli-
mented the camps for their meritOriOus
performance, and encouraged them to con-
tinue their training.
Essas work 5ad1 1Se All Place sven in the the
cars for, the fair grounds were crowded
things presented an animated appearance.
Under the numerous gas lights promenaded
lunch counters. at which chicken,
turkey. ham, lce-cream, cakes and
above all countless red slices of the
juicy watermelon were being freely par
taken OF by the hungry. There were no
booths for candies and knick- knacks, but
outside i'll the open grounds one such stand
was to be found. The proprietor, however,
complained bitterly that the crowd did not
patronize him, consequently early in the
evening eve1d5 ne packed packed up his goods and de-
more favored by the visitors. A brass
band furnished the music, and many q
couple catching the spirit of the tune,
soon tripped off into the maZes of the dance
mander, WIN. Porter, mounted a chair.
when he said the United Brotherhood IS
the largest cOlored secret order in exist
ence. and, furthermore that 1T is the only
one that owes its origin solely to a member
of the cOlOred race. He said: "Our order
was started in 1862 in a loft in Louisville-a
place in which the roof was SO low that men
of my height could not stand erect under
it. Since that time it has had a glorious
history in its progress. We carried it across
the Ohio river. then out across the Rockies
borders of the Gulf of Mexico aud then to
the land of Maine. To-day we number 81
600 people in our ranks. This has been done
by the colored people alone. All we ask is
q chance as American citizens in this coun-
try. Then, if we cannot keep the road, /
say let it grow up with weeds. Just
see, too, how our knighthOOd has grown.
A few years ago it numbered but 300 men,
bers-tO-day it contains over 1000 valiant
Knights. In three years more who can say
how much we shall have accomplished?
Let us be encouraged in our work to move
onward to success. Let it be understood.
however, that our organization is purely of
secret nature, and not a political
machine. We allow no man to talk
politics. Our business is to take care
of the sick, to do good; to do to our neigh
bors as we would have them TO do unto us.
This is and should be our object. Let us
ever spurn the evil"
Finally, having spoken of the progress of
Ohio, and having exhOrted the members TO
harmony. the speaker concluded his re-
marks. He was followed by w. A. Gaines
and j. +. Meelan. After the speaking the
remainder of the time was spent in dancing
and general amusementS.