Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-05
SUPREME BODY OF TEMPLARS,
KNIGHTS OF HIGH DEGREE.
How the Body That Makes Laws for the
Templars is Organized-A Summary
OF Its Hfstory-Former Triennial
Conclaves-Sketches of the
Grand Officers.

an event Of more than usual interest il az
fords an opportunity Of making a gratifying
comparison. for this is the second time that
this body has assembled in this city. Fifty
four years ago the sixth conclave- was
held here. Today the twenty-fourth
assemblies for the triennial session.
Then the representatives Of five Grand en-
campments met together. Today the Grand
encampment represents a constituency Of some
5000, including Communicates existing in
nearly every state and territory Of the Union.
The history of Knights Templary as a
system of pure knightly orders be-
gins in June. 1916, when the Grand en-
campment was organized in New York
city. The Grand encampment is purely rep
resentative organization, in which every knight
Is interested. 1t is formed OF officers belong
ing to the state governing bodies or grand COM
manderies. The latter are composed of the
officers of the subordinate bodies or individ-
ual Communicates. These officers are elected
by the members of the Communicates. which
completes the chain uniting the individual
members with the members Of the Grand en-
campment. This body is invested with power
to regulate the order in general, the state grand
bodies reserving to themselves certain rights Of
local government. 1t has the power to charter
individual Communicates Of knights Templar
In districts where there is no grand or state
body and has supervision over the question of
uniformity in action and regulation. The
members elect the officers, who serve three
years, each Office being one of honor and with
out pay or emolument. As there is no grand
eommandery in the District OF Columbia the
four Communicates here come under the i'm
mediate jurisdiction of the Grand encampment
THE TR1ENSIAL coScLAvE.
Once each three years, with one exception
since 1916, the Grand encampment has con-
vened- The exception was in 1919, when Off
GERS were elected for seven years, and the next
conclave was held in 1926. The places of meet
ing have been as follows: 1916, 1919. 1926 and
1929, New York city; 1882, Baltimore;
1855, Washington, u. c.; 1888, Boston;
ISL, New York city; 1874, New
Boston; 1858, Lexington. Ky; 1856, Hartford,
Conn; 1853, Chicago; 1862, New York city
lMemphis, Tenn. was selected, but owing to
the war the encampment was unable to meet
there(; 1885, Columbus, Ohio; 1868, ST Louis,
1871. Baltimore; 1874, New Orleans; 1877, Cieve-
land; 1850, Chicago; 1888, San Francisco; 1886,
81. Louis.
THE PRESENT OFFICERS.
The following is a list of the officers elected
in 1866 and whose terms expire at the coming
sncampment:
Most Eminent Sir Charles Roome of New
York city, grand master.
Very Eminent Sir John P. s. Goblin Of Leba-
non, Pa, deputy grand master.
Very Eminent Sir Hugh McCurdy of Corunna,
Mich, grand generalissimo.
Very Eminent Sir Warren La Rue Thomas of
Louisville. n.y.. grand captain general
Very Eminent Sir Reuben Hedley Lloyd of
San Francisco, Cal, grand senior warden
Very EminpDt Sir Hanrv Rat -
Bryan, Tex. grand junior warden.
Very Eminent Sir III. Wales Lines of Meriden,
Conn, grand treasurer.
Very Eminent Sir Vim. B. Isaacs of Rich
mond. Va, grand recorder.
Very Eminent and Rev. Sir John G.. Webster
OF Greenbush, NY, grand prelate (deceased).
Very Eminent Sir John X. Parson of st. Louis,
No.. grand standard bearer.
Very Eminent Sir Nicholas Van Slyck of
Providence. RI. grand sword bearer
Very Eminent Sir Nicholas r. Buckle Of In
diauapolis. Ind, grand warden.
Very Eminent Sir Edwin +. Warren of Ne
braska City, Neb., grand captain Of the guard.
To these are attached two veay important
standing committees, composed of the follow
ing distinguished members of the Grand en-
campment:
Committee on jurisprudence-Most Eminent
sirs James Hopkins OF Pennsylvania. Henry L.
Palmer Of Wisconsin, John @. A. Fellows of
Louisiana and Robert E. Withers of Virginia,
all past grand masters Of the Grand encamp-
ment, with Right Eminent Sir George o. Tyler.
past grand commander of Knights Templar in
Vermont.
Committee on rituals-Right Eminent Sirs
Enoch i. Carson of Ohio. Charles F. Lott Of
California, John L. Stevenson of Massachusetts,
and Rhode Island, Henry W. Turner of Illinois
ana w. II. Egle of Pennsylvania, all past COM
manders of Knights Templar in state jurisdic-
tons.
According to the custom that has prevailed
for many terms the officers of the Grand en-
campment are advanced in order at each trien-
NAL gathering, the deputy grand master being
chosen grand master. the grand generals
srHo being promoted to the office Of deputy
grand master and so on. Under this rule made
by custom, Gen. J. p. =. Goblin of Pennsyl-
vsnia will be elected at this conclsve to sue
coed Gen Roome IA rraDd master