The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-23
THE KNIGHTS TENPLAR.
Their Twenty-fOurth Triennial
COnclave in Washington.
A Parade of $1,000 Knights Re-
viewed by the President.

The twenty fourth triennial conclave oi
the Knights Templar of the United States
opened at Washington with a grand parade
! great in numbers and unique in character
! The National Capital wore a holiday garb
The days of chivalry, with all their pomr
and display seemed revived. The
/ long columns of soldiery, with their
gorgeous plumes and uniforms, the
| galloping mounted equerries the huttering
banners the martial music and the shrill and
commanding trurnpet-calls were here. Only
: tho fields of picturesque tents, the mounted
battlements and mailed warriors of the Mid
die Ages were wanting to make the picture
complete.
! The streets of the city were thronged early
in the morning with strangers and residents
eager to witness the grand pageant. The
Templars formed early in the morning at
their various headquarters, and, with bands
playing, marched through the crowded
streets to the place of starting.
| Along the line of march stands had been
! erected for the use of tho families and
| friends of tho visiting Knights, and before 8
| o'clock the choice places were occupied by
| spectators. A moderate estimate would
| place the number of visitors in town at about
| fifty thousand. The number Of Knights in
the city has been estimated at from fifteen
to twenty thousand, comprising over two
hundred Communicates from all sections Of
the country. There were fully seventeen
thousand in line.
The twelve divisions of the procession
formed in tho streets adiacentto the Capitol,
and, debouching from the side streets at the
signal of command filed into line and began
the long march up Pennsylvania avenue.
The parade moved over line Of march three
and half miles long, beginning ut First and
B streets and ending at Mount Vernon
square, where the commanderies were dis
missed. In front of the White House
stand had been erected on the
same site from which the President in March
and civic organizations that formed the in
augural procession. From this stand the
President reviewed the Knights. Another
stand was erected on K street, near the end
of the line of march, for the accommodation
of the Most Eminent Grand Master, General
Charles Roome, of New York.
Eleven o'clock had been fixed upon as the
time when the procession should begin tc
move, but it was nearly noon before
by Eminent Sir Knight Myron NJ.
Parker, of Washington, Chief Marshal
and his staff, of which Sir Knight Harrison
Dingman was chief. Then followed Eminent
Sir William G.. Moore, commanding and
staff, and the Washington commanderies, o
detachment of Cnur de Lion Commandery,
No. %, New York city, special escort to the
NJ E. Grand Master; Most Eminent Grand
Master General Charles Roome and his per-
sonal staff. Following these were eleven
other divisions made up Of the communicates
from the different States.
At 1890 President Harrison entered the
reviewing stand in front Of the White House
leaning on the arm of Secretary Window
He was followed by Secretaries Tracy, Noble
Rusk and Blaine, Attorney-G General Mil
ler, General Schofield and General Vim
cent, Assistant Adjutant-Gcnera. They
were accompanied by Mrs. Harrison, DR.
Scott, Mrs Scott LORD Mrs. Halford, Miss
Sanger and several Indiana friends. A few
moments, after the Presidents, arriva;
the corner of Fifteenth street and
marched with measured tread in front Of
the reviewing stand. where President
Harrison was kept continually dofling. hi:
hat in response to the salutes with which lie
was constantly greeted. The third division.
composed Of organizations from New York
State, was warmly applauded as it per-
formed some difficult evolutions in front of
the grand stand.
The last commandary passed the Presiden-
tial, reviewing stand at $3.50 o'clock. The
procession fulfilled the remainder of its long
line of march and was finally disbanded
about an hour later.
One Of the incidents at the White House in
the morning was the presentation to the
President Of the boy Knights Templar
from Louisville, KY. They wore the
full-dress uniform of the command
cry, plumed chapeau, baldric sword,
etc. and made very handsome soldiery ap.
pearance as they marched into the East
Room. They were accompanied by Mr. JUS
tice Harlan and were formally presented by
him in a short address. The President re-
sponded briefly and gave each Of the boys a
hand-shake.
The Grand Encampment began its session
Immediately upon arriving at Masonic Tenn
pie at the close of the parade. Mr. Myron
M. Parker delivered an address of wei,
come on. the part Of the local
Committee and introduced Commis-
sioner Douglass, who welcomed the
Knights in behalf of the city. To both ad-
dresses the Grand Master responded, and
this closed the public exercises. The encamp-
ment then began its business in secret con-