The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-08
The KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
The Great Triennlal Masonic Event
at Denver, Col.
PREPARATIONS FOR TOMORROW.
Triumphai Arches. an Electrical Iliumin-
alton. Tons Of Flowers and Three or
Four Miles Of Parade-Dcnver Paves
Its streets for . Welcome TO Its Guests.
ESPECIAL TO rnE Nkwsl

DENVER, COL, Aug. 6.-The twenty
fifth Triennial Conolave Of the Grand
Encampment OF Knights OF Templaps Of
America opens at Denver, Col, tomorrow
morning with the customary parade, or,
moro properly speaking. the escort to the
Grand Master on his pilgrimage to the
asylum OF the grand encampment.
Templarism was introduced into this
country as early as 1874, just three years
after the first grand encampment of the
order was organized In England under
the patronage Of Edward, Prince of Wales.
The first actual record OF It's appearance
in America locates IL In Pennsylvania.
where, IA 1877, grand encampment was
formed of Philadelphia No. 1, Philadel-
phia No. 2, Harrisburg No. and Carlisle
No. T.
The Knights Templar of the United
States at the present time number q, 600.
Pennsylvania has the largest member
9,l39, followed by Massachusetts and
RHODE ISLAND, which are under one gen
eral commandery, s,985; Illinois, 1893;
Ohio, B,74l; Michigan. 4.367; Iowa, 3,7s9;
Mississippi, 3,445; Indiana. as7s; Califor-
mia holding the tenth position with
Thirty-eight grand communicates con-
stitute the grand encampment aud
twenty-two subordinate conmanderies
are under the immediate jurisdition OF
the grand encampment.
For over year local committees of the
knights Tepiplar have been actively en-
gagged in preparing for this big svenb In
Masonic circles.
The interest In the coming conclavs has
been contagious, leading the city author
tiles to spend enormous sums in paving
the streets, which prior to this occasion
had never before been paved, even in the
business centres OF the town; stimulating
both public and private enterprise in per-
manent improvements OF structural
nature and adding generally to the city's
wealth and prosperity.
The decorations for the conclave have
been carried out upon an elaborate scale.
Forty thousand dollars represents the
amount expended on street decorations
alone. Beautiful triumphal arches span
the streets from the depot aud along the
line OF the grand parade. and flags and
bunting float from every window.
The electrical illumination Of the streets
will be the most brilliant display OF the
kind that has ever been attempted.
business portion Of the city will beam
with thousands OF colored globes and the
powerful search lights from four princi-
pal points will dispel darkness from the
remotest region OF the city. The Consol-
idated Electrity Light Company will be
DAlQ kcO,VVO IOT tuclE WOEk, Out VQe OIT1-
cials say that the actual cost will be much
greater.
Then the floral decorations are on an
equally extensive scale. The suburban
towns for miles around have been de-
pleted o furnish many tons OF roses, car
nations and lilies, the mountains have
given up their rare wild flowers and the
plains their rich colored cactus, while
whole train loads of fern leaves and
palms, for which the dealers have been
negotiating for months past come in
daily from California, New Mexico and
Arizona.
The grand parade will be between three
and four miles long and occupy at least
three hours in passing the reviewing
stand.
The special escort to the grand master,
the st. Johns Commandery of Philadel-
phia, is counted among the Sir Knights
as one of the finest Templar organiza-
tions in the world.
From the returns sent in the local COM
mittee estimates that there will be fully
$4,000 Sir Knights in the parade. The
total number OF people who will be here
from all parts Of the United States and
CO. ida during the week will far exceed
25,L~J. The local committee say that they
have already secured accom- m cd ations for
59,675 Knights Templars and their friends
A big fight is expected over the location
Of the next conclave IL, Indeed, there will
be another triennial meeting of the Grand
Encampment as a whole, for there is
some talk of splitting up and In the fu-
ture dividing the United States for divis-
ional conclaves. However, should this
move not be made at the present gather
ing, as in all probability 1t will not, Gin
cinnati and Louisville, KY, will be formi-
dable rivals for the honor of entertaining
the knights Templars at the next session
of the Grand Encampment in 1895.
Though somewhat too early to speak Of
the business of the encampment, it il
pretty well decided upon that the grand
master TO succeed Gen. Goblin will be the
Hon. Hugh McCurdy of Corunna, Mich.
The badges worn by the different dele
cations number many handsome and
costly designs. Marysville, KY. has a
sol d silver Badge bearing conspicuously
on it's face the figures "5-l5-22"
At the triennial at Cleveland, In 1877,
the Marysville boys showed up five strong /,
but brought along with them fifteen
musicians and TWENTY-FIVE gallons of
whiskey ''5-l5-22" was what they regis
tered, and the notoriety that suddenly
sprang upon the commandery as the re-
suit OF the chaff that followed led it to
g., 10 l,al.