Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-26
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Twenty Thousand Members Of the
Order Are Expected
AT THE SUPREME GRAND LODGE
Which Meets in Washington This
Week-Ten Thousand Men Al
ready Accommodated in Tents
on the White Lot-The Parade
Will Be a Grand Feature-The
President to Review the
Marching Hosts.

WASHINGTON, August 25,-TricOlored
bunting OF red, blue and orange is be-
ginning TO crop out Oh all the business
streets Of Washington in honor Of the
biennial conclave of the Supreme
Ledge Of the Knights OF Pythias aud
the encampment of the uniformed rank
OF the order, which will be held here
next week. A canvas city Of loo
tents has sprung up in two days about
the Washington monument on the
broad white lot stretching between the
executive mansion and the Potomac,
where the veterans of the q. a. r. were
encamped during their reunion two
years ago. The field has been chris
tened Camp George Washington, ana
General Carnahsn, OF Indianapolis
chief officer Of the fraternity, who, with
his staff, is in the city, says. there Will
be 1O,OOOsKnishts quartered there, in
! organized bodies, while many unat-
tached members Of the order are ex-
/ pected.
The formal beginning OF the conclave
I is fixed for Monday evening, August 27,
when there will be a reception given by
/ the citizens of Washing ton to the com.
mandiug officers and representatives OF
/ the Supreme Lodge, in Convention Hall,
building with a seating capacity OF
| 1000, which is being decorated for the
occasion. Speeches will be made by Vice
! President Stevenson, Commissioner
Ross, of the District OF Columo oia; Su-
preme Chancellor w. w. Blackwell, Of
Henderson, KY, and Congressman e.
G. Conn, Of Indiana. The National Ma
rine Band will render programme OF
music, which includes march, The
Great Republic" by It's leader, Prof.
Fanciul, and "The Pythian Encomp-
ment," by Mr.. d. B. Mcleod, both COM
posed for the event.
Most important OF the weeks pro-
gramme, from popular standpoint,
will be the biennial parade Of tho uni
form Rank on Pennsylvania avenue. 1t
will probably be reviewed by President
Cleveland, who expressed willingness
to oGciate to-day in case the pressure
o. puctic eusiness-is not too great; by
Gen. SchOfield, of the United States
Army, aud the grand officers OF the
rank. Gen. Carnahan predicts that 12,-
600 uniformed Knights will march.
On Tuesday night there will be a
spectacular illumination OF PennsylYa-
MIA avenue and Of the dome of the capi-
tol, aud an Illuminated parade Of trades
organizations OF the city, Competitive
drills Will begin Wednesday aud be held
for three days, 10 be participated in by
fifty crack drill organizations from dif-
fsrent portions OF the country. The
cash prizes, aggregating $4,000, will
be awarded TO the victors in the compe-
titiou. On Saturday, the last day of the
encampment, the officers and delegates
/ OF the supreme lodge will devote them
selves to the consideration Of the 6usi-
ness Of the lodge.
No little sentimental interest is at
tached to this gathering, Washington is
the birthplace OF the order. Its founder,
Justus II. Rathboue, was government
official, and il was established 10 Feb
ruary, 1864, originally intended as a
fraternal aud protective society for gov
ernment departmental clerks, but is
was conducted on lines which gave il
popularity, and its membership has
| increased 10 half a million. Marines
| Hall, where the first meetings were
held, is still standing, and will be occu
pied as headquarters OF the grand lodge
of the District Of Columbia during the
conclave.
Washington was formerly taken poses
sion Of 0y the Knights of PythisS at 4
o'clock this afternoon, when Lawrence
Gardner, chairman Of the Citizens Com
mittee on Camping Ground, pre-
sented the camp 10 Major Gem
| eral Carnahan, the commander
in chief OF the Uniform Rank
| General Carnahan made a brief speech
of acceptance, and was then installed
with his staff in large headquarters
tent in the center Of the camp. The
endowment rank was also established
! in headquarters tent on the grounds
To-day General Carnahan called at
| the War Department 10 ask for the laan
of army tents in case Of emergency.
| One Of the most important Queftions
/ 10 come before the councils will be an
attem pt to enforce the rule that the rit-
ual shall be given only In the
/ English language. A committee on
ritual appointed in 1890 reported the
rule to the Kansas City conclave Of
! 1892 aud IL was adopted. 1t is said that
! $50 German lodges in the United States
have printed their ritual in German,
after making an unsuccessful demand
at the meeting in Chicago in 1893 for
the repeal OF the E3le. II there is an
attempt made TO ebforce the law against
the German lodges, they may Sc
cede, as they claim their charter con-
fers upon them the right TO conduct the
meetings in their native tongue.
Another important question is the eX-
cluslou Of LIQUOR dealers from the order
and it is predicted that a constitutional
provision for that purpose will be
adopted.
Vary Iama A flair