Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-05-07
KNIGHTS OF MALTA.
CORDIAL RECEPTION AND MAG
NlFleENT PARADE.

Early Secret acknowledgements Strides
Made by ths order During the Last
Term as shown by Supreme Gem.
mAnaer's Report.
Members of the Supreme Commsndery
Anolsnt and nlustrious knights OF
Malta. kept arriving in this city all day
yesterday for the eonvocation which as
sembled tc day.
The committee of arrangements, which
had charge of the reception, had secured
the institute Hall, which was ttfully
decorated, and on the tables, which were
laid out In the form OF q cross, various
sdIhles, delieacies and flowers were
tastsfully arranged Tho banners Of
the several commanders stood at the
heads Of the tables and on the platform
There were the banners OF the King
Godfrey Comman5ery, No AZ, PAiladel
phia; Kadosh Cemmandery, No IS, Will
mington; Grand Commandery oil
America, Jerusalem Commandery NO 81,
Brandy wine Commandery, No 81, Salem
Comnsndery. No. ~. Philadelphia, and
holy Cross Commandery, No. l. The
banner which attracted the most atten.
tion was that of Kadosh Commandery,
No 25, which had just been finished In
time for the occasion by the deft hands
Of Miss Annie Greer The women who
exertsd themselves in making the
arrangements consisted OF q bevy OF
girls under the management of Mrs.
Brewster. Mrs Brown Mrs. Moore and
Mrs Wood
at o'clock about 200 members OF The
visiting and local Communicates filed
into the Institute Hall, where Sir Robert
Keenan, Of the local COMMITTEES called
the meeting to order and introduced
Bishop Schindsl of the Lutheran Church
of Pennsylvania, who recited a prayer.
Mayor Harrington then came forward,
bade the visitors welcome, and on behalf
of the municipality. extended to Them
the freedom Of the city Happy responses
were delivered by Owen r. Wilt of
Bethlehem, Pa G. H Pierce and Charles
McClintoek. Philadelphia
The collation. was next attacked and
hastily consumed, and then the various
sir knights went forth TO greet their In
coming brethren.
About 8 o'clock the parade WAS formed
at Seventh and French strests, 600 men
being in line The sidewalks were
thronged with sitizsns, much interested
in some Of the intricate movements Of
the commsndery Members OF the
committee on arrangements rode in front
and the First Regiment Band followed,
Hyatts Military Band occupied q posi-
tion near the centre and the Brandy vine
Com mandery took up the rear The
march was made amid the glare Of red
light and fireworks along Fourth to
Market. to Delaware avenue, and counter.
march to the Institute Hall.
At 30 o'clock reception was tendere a
the visiting knights in Institute Hall,
where music and dancing was kept up
until midnight Many of the visitors
we're accompanied by their wives, while
the wives and daughters of the local
knights were present in great numbers.
After the reception in the Institute
the members of the College Of the
Ancients formed in line and marched to
the Masonic Temple. where the first
secret session OF the convocation was
held
Past Most Eminent Charles McClintock.
one Of the visitors, Is editor OF the Phila
delphia Press
The knights Of St. John and Malta.
who claim to be the true and legitimate
order. have invited the lllustrious Black
Knights to meet Them and discuss the
Issue of legitimacy and priority which
has long been disputed and the present,
Ii Is thought, is an auspicious occasion,
because of the presence of the supreme
officers of both branches and all docu-
ments bearing on the case
During the secret session six vacancies
which were caused by death were filed
and the order OF the Eagle. Knight OF the
Christian. we're conferred on the six can
didates who received those higher orders
and are the ultimate degree OF Christian
Knight The following states obtained
representation: Illinois, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland.
Eulogles were pronounced on the
deceased colleagues. The session closed
at 80 a. m.
The session Of the Grand Commandery
opened at 1890 o'clock this morning.
The following com mittee on credentials
appointed: Sir H. D. Miller, p.
S. O.; Sir Isaac Workman, P.
s. G.; & e. Jones, NJ. D..
A eommandery was transferred to the
black degree and over $50 companions
who had not received the past com
mandsr's degrees, we're permitted to
enter
The Supreme Commander Sir owen R.
Wilt delivered his annual address He
made suggestions on the institution Of
lodges. He urged the necessity of
making the order more of a military
than heretofore, for IN order to be
Malta in It's entirety it must be
religious, military, frsternal and be-
nevolent, not one of which noble attri-
butes dare to be left in the background.
The order has increased 80 rapidly during
the past year that the limited stock OF
rituals and other necessary supplies had
become exhausted.
The Supreme Charter granted by the
Imperial body Of Scotland seven months
ago has banished from the minds Of
skeptics every trace OF doubt
as to the legitimacy Of
the Supreme Commandery OF America.
Fourteen new Communicates have been
instituted during the term, three old
ones we're Reconstructed and about thirty
are ready for Institution.
The session adjourded at noon. The
Committee on Credentials will report
this afternoon and thu degree of past
commander conferred.