The leader., 1889-10-12
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
Their Twenty-fOurth TrienniaI
COncfave in Washington.
A Parade Of $1,000 Knights Re-
viewed by the President.

The twenty-fourth triennial conclave of
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 holiday garb.
The days of chivalry with all their pomp
and display seemed revived. The
long columns of soldiery, with their
gorgeous plumes and uniforms, the
galloping mounted equerries, the fiuttering
banners, the martial music and the shrill and
commanding trumpet-calls were here. Only
the 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 the families and
friends of the visiting Knights, and before
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 commanderies from all sections of
the country. There were fully seventeen
thousand in line.
The twelve divisions Of the procession
formed in the streets adjacent to 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 a line of march three
and a half miles long, beginning at First and
streets and ending at Mount Vernon
square, where the commanderies were dis
missed. In front of the White House
a stand had been erected On the
same site from which the President in March
last reviewed the long columns of soldiery
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 to
the column started. The line was headed
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 Communicates 9
detachment of Ceur de Lion Commandery,
M. 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 commanderieS
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-General Mil
ler General Schofel6 and General Vim.
cent, Assistant Adjutant- General. 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 arrival
the head of the procession filed around
the corner of Fifteenth street and
marched with measured tread in front OF
the reviewing stand. where President
Harrison was kept continually dofing his
hat in response to the salutes VITA which he
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 a 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 well
come on the part of the local
Committee and introduced Commits
sioner Douglass, who welcomed the
Knights in behalf of the city. To both adj
dresses the Grand Master responded, and