The morning call., 1894-08-28
NOBLE OBJECTS OF THE ORDER.
Notable Reception in Big Convention
-, Hall, Which Was Resplend-
ent With Banners.

uoDal tents from the War Department
were raised to-day, making The number
20CO But there were sill reports Of over
crowdlng and Washington divisions which
have tented with the visitors gave their
quarters TO the Mich gan men. The num-
Der IN camp is about10, 900. The crack com
panles drilled on the monument grounds
before hundreds CT spectators.
q: Convention Han, the largest associa ton
hall in Washington, was brilliant with
banners and The evening costumes of hun
.dTeds Of ladies during The reception given
in the evening 10 the Supreme Lodge BY
% The city ana the District Commissioners
Just as the scarlet-c0ated National Marine
band struck up maTch-"The Great Re
public" composed for the occasion by its
leader, Professor Fauucilli-Vlce-Pres
dept Stevenson wa ked down the aisle
escorted BY Richard Goodhart and fol-
lowed by the officers Of lie Supreme
lodge and members Of the company, who
%odk seats upon the stage.
.~-Chairman Goodhart introduced John ".
Ross. commander of the District Of CO.
}umba a, whose remarks were in harmony
with me spirit Of the occasion, dwelling
upon the eSta bllShm5nt of the order in
.Washugton.
Nj. Ross presented Eice-President Stew
enson, VINO was warmly applauded before
hp could speak. 10 his address Of welcome
. Mr. Stevenson said:
The pleasing duty is assigned TO me 10
extend to the representatives Of the order
OF Knights of Pythias a welcome to the
DaUo0's CAPT a.. L may be pard0ned for
OBTAINING you a moment before this formal
welcome is extended. ! our committee did
we'll in selecting the city of Washington
IS The place for this great convocation. In
this selection you have honoIed yourselves
as well as the great city in which you are
assembled.
This is no ordinary gathering. Il is
literally the coming together of honored
representatives Of a great brotherhood
from every State and section Of the Ameri-
can Union. It is indeed IL honor TO anv
city to claim as its guests the knigbtliest
REPRESENTATIVES Of an order whose men,
bership falls little short of half million.
whose living faith-the beautiful legend
OF Damon and Pytbias, whose shibboleth
was Friendship, BeneVolence and
Charity and The greatest of these is
chseity.'
As it is not my good fortune to be a
member Of this great fraternity l cannot
know TO whom future ages will do honor
IS its founders, but that they 'builded
wiser than they knew is evidenced Dy the
fact that what our eyes now behold is the
growth of less than q third of g century.
/ trust l diYulge no secTets-Which would
bring upon my poor head the dread
penalty-Wben I say 1 have heard that at
each regular Assem- bage of the Knights Of
'Pythias the official inquiry is made, Does
any one know OF q sick brother or of
brothers family in distress?'
III this is true, then even the wayfariDg
man may know whence came the inspira-
ton thaI formulated the ritual and
founded the order. I cannot but believe
that in Illustrating in deeds the sublime
tenets Of the order your inspiration is that
OF the new commandment, 'Ye love one
another Is it TOO much to say that truly
this is Religion in action p repeat, you
did well 10 select for your biennial coryu-
cation the nations capital. the city that
bears the honoTed name Of the father of
his country.
Coming from and representing every
State. It is meet that your assembling be
at the political center Of this great nation,
II matters not that your sbiding-place be
ia the South, the great chain Of lakes or
where rolls the Oregon you owe allie
glance 10 but one flag; you are citizens Of
q common country. In your beautiful
ritual there is no place for auKht that
. savors Of sectiOnalism OF of strife. What
ever troublesome times the rolling years
may bring to the state, who can doubt
that the knightly men Of this great brother
hood will stand as adamant for the preser-
walton and perpetuation Of all that is best
in our civiiZation-of all it has cost CEN
~turies Of time and endeaYor to achieve?
Representing every portion of the re-
public, every vocation and calling in
life, it is yours to bind by yet stronger
cords every section and State into one
union. Now, 1t but remains to welcome
You, Knights Of Pythias. 10 Washington.
l cordially bid you welcome 10 the most
beautiful city in the world.
"Here Is the symbol OF authority, the
grandeur, the power of the greatest Gov
eminent known to man. You will fad it
indeed 20 mean city, You are not stIan-
gers, but fellow-citizeDs.
cit is your capital, and you are welcome
10 your fathers house. Your arrival is
timely. Congress has adjourned, and the
right of way is yours. The public buildings
are open TO You. Upon every Intel is the
grateful welcome Upon your line of
march a thousand times your heart will
be made glad By the cheering words float
ing on streamers from mansion and mart,
welcome. thrice welcome, knights Of
Pythias.'"
Supreme Chancellor W. w. Blackwell,
who was to have responded. refrained
from speaking on account Of the death of
his predecessor in Office, Congressman
Shaw of Wisconsin.
Congressman McConn of Indiana,
member Of the fraternity, gave the address
of welcome on behalf of the knights Of
Washington. Incidentally he paid trib-
ute to the late chancellor, Shaw. whose
untimely death, be said. had changed the
rejoicing into mourning.
The influence of fraternal broiherhoods,
he prophesied, would eventually solve diff
6cultfes between governments and put an
end to war.
The programme was closed by a stirring
march by the Marine band, The Pythian
Eneampment," composed by D. B. Mcleod
Of Washington.