St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-25
PYTHIANS AT WORK,
The Supreme Lodge and the
Pythian Sisters Engaged
in Legislation,
While the Uniform Rank Is
Working in Competitive
Drills.
A New Ritual Reported by a
Committee Receiving At
tention.
William Worth Blackwell and
Walter B. Richie to Be
= Advanced.

KANSAS CITY, Aug. 24.-The Ppth
ians are down to hard work now. and
they are feeling tonight that good
days work has been done in the way of
prize drilling and parade reviews. The
uniform rank has come to entertain the
visitors. and in doing so it has shown
how large body of well-drilled- men
can be modified from all over the
country at the command of their supe-
rior. While the uniform rank has been
drilling and marching the supreme
lodges of the order and the Pythian
Sisters have been behind closed doors
attending to the business Of the body
for the whole world.
What they have done and what they
will do will be seen later better than at
present, for this meeting will have
much TO do with the future gatherings
of the order in the matter of ritualistic
work. The day was fittlngly closed by
a grand display of fireworks at the
Dark. The sham battle which was on
the programme was postponed until to-
morrow morning, when it will take
place before the rest of the Pythlans
and the governor of the state.
Competitive Drills.
The competition comprises battalion
and division drills. Today there were
three division and one battalion drill.
The latter was given by the First In
diana battalion. which went through
the movements promptly and in good
N 70 n1iy a 70 aff hot NJ
w. l.. Heiskell, who was in command,
was barely able to go on the field, as he
was suffering from an attack of syncope
before the call for drill. While weak on
his feet. he never lost his head, and
went through the intricate movements
without faltering and his commands
were clear and distinct.
The battalion comprised four Indian
apOlis divisions, as follows: lndianap-
Oils Division No. 2, Capt. George w.
Howell; Excelsior Division No. As. Capt.
II. Z. Castor; Indiana Division No. &c.
Capt. Ed j. Scott: Nancy Division No.
IS. Capt. c. J. Nancy.
The first division called for drill was
Terre Haute No. 5. of Terre Haute, Ind.
Capt. AlonZo DediestOn in command.
They were escorted on the field by the
Newcastle, Ind, brigade band. and went
a little over thirty minutes. They pre-
sented a decidedly military appearance.
and TO the ordinary observer did not
make any mistakes.
Red Cross Division No. 4,of st. Louis,
| was the next in order. and marched OH
the field without any flourish or music,
| ana they also made a good impression,
both in the marching movements and
i'll the sword exercise. Capt. j. +.
| Shick was in command. The closing
drill was that of Louisville No. f.,
Louisville, KY. Capt. j. w. Reccins in
command. They were escorted on the
field by the Newcastle band. While
they made fairly good appearance
they we're not as perfect i'll either foot
| movement. alignment or sword manual
as the two preceding divisions.
Supreme lodge Business.
This was busy day for the supreme
lodge. Three sessions were held, and
much hard work was done. At the
morning session the routine buSin eSs
under consideration. but not disposed Of
yesterday, was taken up and conSidera-
ton of it resumed. Twelve aspirants
for the honors of the supreme lodge
rank were admitted, and the rank con-
ferred. Chancellor Shaw announced
appointments to fill vacancies on sew
eral of the standing committees, and
then the supreme lodge proceeded TO
pending business.
The most important report of the
morning WIS that of the committee on
distribution ana assignments. To that
committee was referred the report and
address of the supreme chanchellor. and
its duty consisted in distributing its
different topics TO the proper commit
tees.
At IL O'Clock the supreme lodge re-
solved itself into committee OF the
whole to discuss the report of the COM
mite on rules. At the noon recess the
report was not more than half COM
pleted, and at the afternoon session it
was again taken up. 1t occupied the
attention of the supreme body ali the
afternoon to the exclusion OF all other
business. 1t is voluminous, treating of
changes IN the existing rules of interest
only to grand lodge Jurisdictions.
The New Ritual.
Tonight special session was held.
At this session an interesting perform
ance took place, which can be witnessed
only by the officers of the supreme
lodge, an exemplification of the new
ritual. Two years ago a committee OF
five was appointed to revise the ritual.
The committee is composed of Chair
man ID. T. Gledden, of Detroit, past su-
preme representative; E. E. French, of
Omaha, past supreme representative;
Walter B. Richie, of Lima, o., supreme
representative; w. A, Radcliff, of st.
Louis, supreme representative; K. L.
c. White. of Nashville, Tenn, supreme
keeper of records and seal.
Since its appointment eight meetings
of the committee have been held, and
its perfected work will be shown for the
first time at Scottish Rite hall tonight.
The new ritual is mainly the work of
Walter B. Richie, supreme representa-
tive from Ohio and candidate for SUI
preme vice chancellor, the stepping
stone to supreme chan ellor of the
order for the world. In the revision of
the ritual, which is one of the most
important things to come before the
supreme lodge at its seventeenth SEES
sion. the entire Pythian world is con-
cerned, and the exempliication of the
| new ritual to.ight will show whether it
is sufficient improvement over the
| present one TO be adopted by the su-
preme lodge. The report of the COM
Hiittee was not finally acted upon to-
night.
| Prospective Officers.
Tomorrow the supreme lodge will
elect its officers for the coming two
1