Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-13
CITIZENS TAKE HOLD
Encouragement for the Knights
From the Meeting Last Night.
OF THE ENCAMPMENT
Commissioner Ross Made Chair
man of the Movement.
A N E w COM NJ I T T E e

A N T. w g o NJ M Il L Il Il
Pursuant to the call issued on Monday by
the District Commissioners there was
meeting of citizens yesterday afternoon at
Willard Hall for the purpose of forming
citizens committee which shall cooperate
with the Pythian encampment committee in
the matter Of the biennial convention Of
the Supreme Lodge and biennial encamp-
ment of the Uniform Rank Knights Of
Pythias to be held in Washington in Au-
gust. The Pythian committee attended.
After a season of informal talk Commits
sioner John w. Ross took the stand and ex-
planned the reason Of the meeting. The OBJ
ject OF the call. he said. had been given
full and careful consideration by the board
of Commissioners. and their decision was
that the cooperation OF citizens with the
Pythians was the proper thing All WASH
ngton should be interested. and was inter-
ested. in making the Pythian celebration a
success. The fair name of Washington de-
manded this. The citizens had no idea Of
interference with the plans of the Pythian
committee as the members Of that meri
torious order had worked faithfully and
we'll. and had appointed their various COM
mittees. There was no design on the part
The citizens felt that in large part the
responsibility for the appropriate enter
tainment of the visitors rested on them,
and. because of this. they had felt 1t their
duty to organize. 1t was duty made i'm
perative by the magnitude Of the coming
encampment.
Commissioner Ross then made fitting ref
erence to the size and influence of the or
der Of Knights of Pythias. anc alllded to
the now well advertised fact that WASH
ington Is the birthplace of the order, and
that its founder, ]. H. Rathbone lived and
died here. The prOmptings of patriotism
should urge the citizens to aid in the cele-
bration. This action should be dictated by
local pride. He said. from what he had
seen and heard. he believed that throngs Of
American people from all the states and ter
ritories would come to Washington. This
city should provide handsomely for their
welcome. Washington was their city. They
owned these magnificent avenues and
mighty buildings. They had right to ex-
pect fair treatment in this city. which they
loved as their capital and In whose welfare
they felt just pride.
In conclusion, he said that his duty was
ended in calling the meeting to order and
stating its objects and II now remained for
the citizens to perfect permanent organi-
zation.
The Expected Crowds.
As he took his seat, Mr.. Marshall W.
Wines arose and briefly put Mr.. Ross in
nomination for the Craftsmanship Of the
committee. He put this motion, and 1t went
with rush. MI Lawrence Gardner nomi-
mated Mr.. James McNabb. jr.. as secretary,
and this nomination prevailed. Mr.. Richard
Goodhart chairman of the executive COM
mittee, Knights of Pythias, then addressed
the meeting. They wanted the aid of the
citizens, and the success of the celebra ton
made this assistance necessary. The order
was born in Washington in 1864. and the
Supreme Lodge was organized here in 1865
pxr LODI 70
and territory in the Union and to several
foreign countries. In the United States II
had membership of over 100000, the uni
form rank was between $1,000 and 60 600
strong and the endowment rank had a menu
bership of 10000. AT the last encampment
and convention. which was held at Kansas
City in 1s92. the Grand Lodge OF the Dis
trict invited the Supreme Lodge to meet
here. Before the Grand Lodge of this juris-
diction made this invitation it was sane
toned by the board of District Commission
ers. Represen ia ives of the Grand Lodge
had also conferred with the board OF trade
and had received encouragement which to
a great extent warranted them in extending
the invitation to the Supreme Lodge. AL
ready they had gained one point, and that
was In securing the use of the Monument
lot for the camp, in which would be pitched
5000 tents for the use of the uniform rank
They had every reason to believe that the
city would be thronged with those attracted
by the convention and encampment the
beauties of Washington and the low rail-
road rates.
Why" said Mr.. Gcodhart. "in Kansas
City, in that far-off place. away out across
the state of Missouri, 10000 people entered
during the term of the encampment" They
expected that Washington would have at
least 10000 guests. Mr.. Goodhart then
dropped into a panegyric on the order of
Pythias. He quoted the statement made by
Senator Wade Hampton, that the Pythian
order had done more to bring about bond
or sympathy and unity between the north
and south. than any other organization.
Resolution Adopted.
The secretary then read a letter from Mr.
b. H. Warner, expressing his regret at
being unable to attend. but pledging his
aid, AMI otherwise giving encouragement
to the projectors. He said that although
the board Of trade would take no action
othciaiiy as body. yet the members, in
their individual capacities. could be relied
en- TO further the success of the Pythian
ceiebratlcn. The letter was applauded
MI Lawrence Gardner then presented a
RESOLUTION providing that the chairman of
this meeting be authorized to appoint a
committee of fifteen to represent the cfti-
zens in the arrangements for the reception
comfort and entertainment of visitors ar
tending the biennial encampment of the
knights of Py thias, beginning August p
next; that the committee so appointed he
requested to confer with the local knights OF
Pythias committee. and to take such action
as IT may then deem best to promote tho
success OF tne encampment in August and
to insure to visitors a hearty welcome and
a pleasant stay; ard that citizens generally
be urged to give aid to the efforts of the
committees mentioned to provide for a
proper entertainment Of the city's guests !"
Gen. John E. Smith moved its adoption
Chairman Ross then called for remarks
Mr.. Goodhart expressed his admiration for
the resolution. Mr.. Wines spoke in its
favor, and it was carried
Confidence Refgns.
Chairman Ross announced that he was
not then quite ready to name the commit
tee, but would do so in due time Mr. Good
hart and Mr.. Medford explained that a
special meeting of the Pythian executive
committee had been called for Thursday
night. and Chairman Ross stated that he
would have his committee ready by that
time.
Mr.. H. p. Goodwin moved that a vote of
thanks be extended to Col. Staples for the
use of the hall. which was done. After ad-
journment, there was a free exchange Of
ideas and congratulations between the
Pythians and citizens. Everybody said to
every body else that the event was to be a
go. That there was nothing to prevent this
being made the biggest and the greatest
display which the people of Washington
have ever witnessed. Even after the citi-
zens left the hall they got together In
groups on the portico or the sidewalk and
discussed the situation.
Confidence reign led n headOuarters TO-DAY