The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-09

Iowa Grand Commandery Excluded from the
session-Cause of the Trouble.

Iowa Grand Commandery Excluded from the
Session-Cause of the Trouble.
WASHINGTON. Oct. S.-The grand encamp-
ment of Knights Templars began it's session
Immediately upon arriving at Masonic Tenn
pie, at the close of the parade. Mr.. Myron
NJ. Parker delivered an address of welcome
on the part of the local committee, and in
troduced District Commissioner Douglas.
who welcomed the Knights in behalf of the
city. To both addresses Grand Master
Roome responded, and this closed the pub
lie exercises. The encampment then began
its business in secret conclave. The Iowa
trouble Immediately lo0med up. and resO-
luton 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 Iowa COM
mandery and it's members in rebellion. had
nothing to do with Offering this resolution.
but simply placed it before the convention.
1t is authoritaLively stated tonight thai he
took no side in the matter during the dis
cussi0n of the resolution.
The annual address of Grand Master
Roome, who, presided over the session.
a reference to the knightly dead during the
past three years. He recommended select
ing Ascension day as day Of
especial cOmmemoratlOn and religious ser
vices by the order throughout the country.
He then devoted a great deal of space to
the Iowa trouble. reviewing the whole
matter from beginning to end. He said the
Grand Commandery of that State had at
tempted to nullify the deliberate will of
the Grand Encampment, and though still
lnxvo ~ fo ha Ex.p
ment and the constitution, its deeds had
that the ritual adopted by the
San Francisco cOnclave in 1886 had not
cries, but insisted that while it was in
force it was the bouDden duty
of Knights to obey it. Iowa did
not rest with criticism; did not
submit such alterations as it deemed advis-
able but attempted to do away with the
toned the constitu1ionality of the legisla-
tion of the Grand Encampment. He main
tains that the adoption of ritual in 1885
was In aid of the prerOgatiye OF the Grand
devolved on him of seeing that it should be
nsed everywhere, and when the Grand Com
mander 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 edict declaring the Grand
Commandery of Iowa. and all Sir Kni ghts in
its obedience, to be in state Of disloy atty
and rebellion to the constitution and
Grand Encampment of the United States.
He declared that he had no ill-feeling foI
his erring Iowa brethren. and what he had
done had been intended solely to promote
the dignity of the order. Further than
this che wished it to be distinctly under
stood as in no way taking up the cause oi
the rituals as adopted. In concluding he
recommended great gentleness in dealing
with this unfortunate situation of afinirs
The whole matter Of the ritual he trusted
would he definitely disposed of at this con-
clave. and in the final decision he hoped all
would agree. and If Iowa was satisfied all
occasion for disagreement would be re-
moved.
Soon after the reading of General Roome'i
address the conclave adjourned until to.
marrow