The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-24
Celebrated by Rhode Island Division
No. 4, Uniform Rank. K Of I.
A VERY PLEASANT OCCASION.
Banquet. Followed by speech-BaI<ing-
Brief History or tho First Division
That Was Instituted I'm New England.
Some Of the Noted Guests.

Rhode Island division No. 1, Uniform
Rank, Knights Of Pythias, celebrated the
twelfth anniversary OF It's institution
last evening. The members TO.
gether with the guests of IN,
occasion assembled at the armory OF
the division, corner of West
minister and Dean streets, at 8:30.
where an hour or more was enjoyed in
talking over the days OF the past ami
further prospects OF the order.
AT $3.50 the members OF the division vera
formed in line and escorted the guests
to the establishment of Lieutenant Cplc-
mel j. ID. Carpenter, where a banuuet
was served. After this portion of tho
evenings program had received proper
att ention speeches were made.
The party was called to order by Cal
tain John G. Purkis, who introduced az
the first speaker Grand Chancellor Geo~ge
c. Gates who was followed by Lieuten-
ant Walter X. Griffith, Herald Leonrr,.
Past Captain S. Fred Newell and A. b.
Gladding, Sir Knights A. Il. Howes, G IT.
nell, Brother G. X. Bragg, L. r. L. II "a
reux. Colonel j. ID. Carpenter and Liru-
tenant Supreme Representative Charles
Il. Lee.
To the last speaker Is due the honor OF
insttutng the division, October 3, 1881.
and it was the first division to be inst
tuted In New England; and the division
the following year had the honor to insti-
tute the first division in Massachusetts,
aud the second in New England.
Rhode Island Division
has always kept abreast Of the times aid
has always been q successful organiza-
tion. Today it has the honor of having
five past grand chancellors among is
members, as follows: George A.
Steere. j. b. Brayton. John
Gallington. Charles Moran, aad
A. B. Glaidiug. the latter having
been and is at the present time one of ITS
names of seventeen past chancellors upo,
most active members. Thera are also the
the roster of the division.
During its existence the division has
had six captains, rs follows: George a.
Steere. who served from the dats of its
institution, to February 12, 1888 lie
was followed by L. K. Davis, now col.
and aide-de-camp, on Major General
James A. Carnahan's staff. who served
two years. Next came 4. X. Newell, who
served two years; then A. K. Cady, who,
owing to i'll health served but four
months, when A. b. Gladding was elected
to fill the vacancy and served until Feb.
IL, 1889. when John G. Purkis was
elected to the position, and still
holds it with credit to the division aud
himself. Captain Purkis was admitted
to the division at its first meeting in
July, and was elected to tha
position Of Lieutenant, and today.
there is but one captain in the entire reg
ment who out-ranks him In seniority,
that being John N. Williams of the Per-
severance division.
There have been several prosperous IA !.
visions instituted in the state from
among the members OF this body, amons:
them being What Cheer and Har-
mony. The division has been in ex-
istence sufficient length OF
time to see the order grow from single
division to a full regiment, and it hopes
before long to see the second one formed.
At the demonstration last evening
there were not quite SO many present az
were expected, which was due to the
condition Of the weather. but those who
were present spent very enjoyable even
n