Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-20
KNIGHTS IN SLACK.
The Twentieth Annual Convention of This
German Order
VIII BE Opened In This City Tomor-
row Evening-Program ArranK-
ed for the Sessions.

The twentieth annual convention Of the
German order OF Schwartz Ritter knights
In Black) will be opened here tomorrow
evening with general reception to the
delegates from all over the country, who
will arrive during the afternoon and even
ing, and will continue three days. Arion
Hall. on 8th street, will be the headquarters
of the visitors and the place of reception in
the evening.
A Benevolent Order.
The order is a purely benevolent one.
having no other object in view than to as
sist its members in need by procuring suit
able employment. supporting them in sick
ness or relieving their families IN case of
distress. 1t has numerous branches in the
various large cities, each being designated
as a ''bund'' (bond, or union). those exist
ing in Washington being the Columbia and
Germania. The name Of the order is de-
rived from an ancient German body of
knights, whose existence is traced back as
far as the time Of King Artus. and who. in
the absence OF a strict and impartial ad-
ministration Of justice, had banded together
to help the oppressed, aid the distressed and
Charity, Generosity, Justice" With better
laws and the gradual development of judi
cial institutions these knights disappeared
from public view in the course Of time, and
there are now but few remnants Of that
ancient order extant in Germany, which, of
course. bear no relation to its iatter-day
namesake in America.
The "Deutsche Orden Schwartz Ritter
was organized in Philadelphia in 1867. and
spread from there to all the eastern cities
quite rapidly, the objects of the order being
Of the most unobjectienable character pos
sible, and appearing especially attractive to
young men everywhere. or the original
founders but one Is still living.
Inc following program has been ARRANGED
for the convention:
Saturday afternoon and evening, reception
of delegates at depots by the special COM
mittee, consisting of Mess-s. ]. Bruegger,
Binder
Saturday evening. o'clock. "Comme-s''
and entertainment Of guests at headquar-
ters, Arion Hall.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the convention morn.
Ing and afternoon; grand ball and exhibit
ton drill at National Rifles Hall in the
evening.
Tuesday-Sight-s seeing and private enter.
tainments.
The following committees have had charge
OF the general arrangements for the con.
vention on behalf of the local organizations
General executive committee - Messrs
Charles Gerner. chairman; J. B. Golden.
stein, Henry Beckstedt. Reception commit.
tee for the ball-Henry Beckstedt, chairman
Fred Water hotter. Hermann Vollmer, q.
w. Horsky. Floor-M. Ostheimer, chair
man: John wahl. Geo. Meyer, r. Weber. Ir.
Henry Weber, VIM. Stuehlnann, VIM.
Hannemann. Louis Mueller. A. Schmidt.
Control-Charles KazeL chairman; Henry
Drechsler. c. Zimmerman, Chr. Hansen.
Chr. Beiistein. Refreshments-Paul Biehler
chairman; John B. Buechling, l.. Otto G.
Ewald. VIM. Grieb, Fl. Weiss, q. Schaible
y. Cent?, c. Block, FIR. Eberle.
The exhibition drill on Monday evening
VIII De under the command OF Capt. j. p
Goidenstein, First Lieut. Chas. Gerner and
second Lieut.. w. Hannemann. The uni
forms worn by the knights are very neat
and becoming. being dark cloth with velvet
ana gold trimming, a stiff cap being substi-
tuted Tor helmets. Mr.. II. Dismer Is hon.
orary major OF the drill corps