Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-27
HOW WASHINGTON CAME TO BE CHOSEN.
TAG Work Of Arranging for the ENeanDnGlt and the Men
Who Did lt-H0W The Task Was SubdiVided
Among Committees

the best place at which to hold the next
meeting. The press of Kansas City and
the Pythian press gave great credit to
Representative Goodhart for his bold tao
Tics IN saving washington from defeat. 1t
was master stroke to have the conyen-
ton override verdict of its special COM
mittee. The District Representatives re-
turned to Washington at the close Of the
convention and made their report to the
Grand Lodge Of the District of Columbia,
whereupon the latter lodge appointed a new
committee as the executive committee on
convention and encampment, to be COM
posed of one member from each lodge.
The first meeting was held at 421 18th
street, nearly opposite The Star Office, and
hart chairman; George w. Heisley, vice
chairman; A. F. Medford, secretary; John
Humphrey. treasurer, and members, H. G..
Wagner. ]: H. Mitchell, John E. Smith.
Motley Anderson, N. Bunch, J. NJ. Kline,
]. c.. Yost, F. w. Helbig, w. H. Dougherty,
Burton T. Doyle, j. W. Carter, Harry Cog
gins, ]. w. Cronie and 8. H. Gladmon.
The subcommittee were appointed and for
little while they worked zealously. In
October, 1s.s2, circular letter was issued
to the several lodges of this jurisdiction
requesting them to contribute al least $40
per member, to be paid in weekly INSTALL
ments. This circular dwelt at length on
what was expected of the membership
in this jurisdiction and impressed upon
them the Importance OF the obligations they
had assumed.
resolution was passed in the convention OF
the Supreme Lodge, which empowered the
supreme chancellor to change the place Of
meeting, should he see fit, at any date up
to time within six mon tbs of the time set
for the convention. This resulted m a
great deal of uncertainty with the men,
bers of the Grand Lodge, because 1t was
understood that Louisville, still smarting
under its defeat, was Bringing pressure to
bear upon the supreme chancellor to d.
vert the convention from Washington to
Louisville. This belief had the effect of
staying the enthusiasm in the District W hich
otherwise would have resulted in flow of
golden contributions. For long time fol-
lowing matters remained passive. Local
PythianS did not feel like taking off their
coats and rolling up their sleeves and buck
ling down to work when there was an I'M
certainty as to whether the convention
! would be held here. 1t was not till Pythian
day at the worlds fair that Maj. Gen. Jas.
r. Carnahan and Supreme Chancellor
blackwell issued the order which quieted
the discomfort and settled the vexed ques-
ton as to where the convention and en-
campment would be held. AS soon as this
| order went forth the District Pythians took
new heart, summoned up their courage.
stifened up their sinews and went in to
win. Weekly meetings were held; work
was referred to the various subcommittee,
reports were received and encampment
preparations put on business footing. The
city was districted and contributions So
hcited by members of the order, but this
was unsatisfactory and paid collectors were
assigned to the task. A subscription OF
$4,000 was pledged, this sum including
5000 pledged by the Mount Vernon and
Marshall Hall Steamboat Company, which
! is contingent subscription. Matters went
along merrily until during April and May
| the press recognized the fact that the en-
campment was going to be red letter
| chapter in Washington history, and The
Star especially began to whCop things ur
| along the whole line with reports of meet
1 inc md ta6 pyfh StA
| Up to this time the movement had been
| wholly in charge of Pythian committees
| Finally the citizens felt that the project
| had assumed such great Importance that
| they should in measure assume control
| as the city undoubtedly had duties of hos
pitality which 1t could not shiIk. This idea
! took such deep hold on the business COM
| Inunity that Commissioner John w. Ross
] issued call for a mass meeting to be held
| at Willard Hall. By this meeting the
] Commissioner was requested to appoint a
| citizens executive committee on the Py-
| THAN encampment. This committee was ap-
| pointed, effected a temporary organiza ton
| and a few days later permanent organiZa-
/ ton as follows: Chaplin Brown chairman;
Thos, G. AlvOrd. jr.. vice chairman; George
| Z. Emmons, secretary; John p. Carmody
| Greenlees, Christian Heurich, Frank b.
Noyes, John B. Wight, S. w. Woodward
| F.. H. Clark c. s. Domer, A. F. Medford
| Motley Anderson, Richard Goodhart O. g.
4
| son, Duncan s. Walker, Beriah Wilkins
! Samuel Ross, James W. Somerville G. W.
| Heisley. J. H. Mitchell. F. w. Helbig w. T.
] Mockabee and ]. G. Yost. Some of the gen.
p, tlemen named were members of the Pythian
| committee. The plan of organization pur-
sued by the Pythian executive committee
| was followed substantially by the citizens
/ committee.
| Several conferences were held between the
| two committees, the result of which was
| that it was determined that the citizens
/ committee should have entire supervision
| of all matters pertaining to the reception
/ and entertainment of the Knights of Pyth.
| las. II should have the general control of al
| subcommittee define their respective du-
| ties and adj to or modify the same, as
| circumstances might require Contracts
| appropriations and expenditures should be-
I authorized and approved by this central
| committee. Within two weeks after the
! appointment Of the several subcommittee
| all were organized and many had created
! subordinate committees and had entered
| energetically upon their work.