Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-09

stand. and accompanied by his secretaries
and the ladies of the party, strolled across
the lawn to the white house.
The grand encampmeut began its session
Immediately upon arriving at the Masonic
Temple at the close of the parade. Myron
M. Parker delivered the address of welcome
on the part of the local committee and intro
duced Commissioner Douglas who welcomed
the knights on behalf of the city. To both
addresses the grand master responded, and
this closed the public exercises.
The encampment then began business in
secret conclave. The Iowa trouble imme-
dlately loomed up, and resolution was
offered excluding the members from that
state from the session. This resolution was
carried, and the Iowa members, somewhat
Indignantly, withdrew General Roome who
as grand master of the order had declared
the commandery and its members in reoel-
lion, had nothing to do with Offering the
resolution but simply placed 1t before the
convention. IL is authorltatively stated to-
night that he took no side in the matter dur
ing the discussion OF the resolution.
The annual address OF Grand Master
Roome, who presided over the session, was
then delivered. His address opened with
reference to knightly deeds during the past
three years He recommended selecting
Ascension day as a day of especial commem-
Grafton and of religious services by the
order throughout the country. He then de-
voted great deal of space to the Iowa
trouble, reviewing the whole matter from
beginning to end. lie said the grand com
mandery of that state had attempted to
nulify the deliberate will of the grand en-
campment, and though processing loyalty to
the grand encampmeut and the constitution
its deeds had behed its empty words.
He admitted that the ritual adopted
by the San Francisco conclave
in 1856, has not commended itself to all state
Communicates, but insisted that while it was
in force it was the bounden duty of Knights
Templar to obey 1t. Iowa did not rest with
criticism, did not submit such alterations as
1t deemed advisable, but attempted to do
away with the law of the grand encampment
and questioned the constitutionality of the
legislation of the grand encampment He
maintains that the adoption of the ritual in
1886 was in aid of the prerogative of the
grand master, and that the duty then i'm
mediately devolved upon him of seeing
that it should be used everywhere,
and when the grand commander of the
state of Iowa questioned his authority
to order the use of the new ritual in the
Iowa cOmmandery he felt justified IN issuing
an edic5 declaring the grand commandcry of
Iowa and all sir knights in its obedience to
be in state OF disloyalty and rebellion to
the constitution and grand encampment of
the United States He declared that he had
no ill feeling toward the Iowa brethren, and
what he had done had been solely to promote
the dignity OF the order Further than this, he
wished to be distinctly understood as III no
way taking up the cause of the ritual as
adopted. In concluding he recommended
great RentIeneSS IN deallng with this untOr-
tunate state of affairs The whole mat
ter of ritual he trusted would be definitely
disposed of at this conclave and in the final
decision he hoped all would agree, and if
Iowa was satisfied all occasion for diagree-
ment would be removed. Soon after the
reading of General Roomes address the con-
clave adjourned until tomorrow.
This evening has been given up to sere-
nades and receptions. The Golden Gate
commandery of San Francisco, has been the
of
This afternoon the commandery rendered
Mrs. John A. Logan an elegant reception at
their headquarters The rooms were eabo-
rately decorated Mrs. Logan, accom-
panied by her son, was received by Emf
nent Commander A. G.. Booth, General
isslmo Young and other officers. Thursday
afternoon Mrs. Logan, who is a warm friend
of the Golden Gate commandery, will give
Its knights and ladies a special reception at
Calumet place. Tonight public reception
was given by the Golden Gate commandery.
The ladies and knights ali appeared in full
dress. The reception rooms were thronged
for several hours and the great numbers
present enjoyed the liberal and open handed
hospitality of the Californians. California
Commandery No. /, of San Francisco, also
attracted much notice.
Thursday about thousand Illinois knights
will make a pilgrimage to Mt. Vernon,
where special ceremonies illustrative Of the
life and history of George Washington will
take place.
Although Iowa sent large number of
knights Templar to Washington none of
them took part in the parade to-day, as they
were forbidden to do so by the grand master.