The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-28
GATHERING OF KNIGHTS
TWO THOUSAND UNIFORMED PYTH-
IANS Al THE ByCAMPMENT,
Vice-President stevensoD's Speech mt tho
Reception Last Night-Talks Like an
Aspirant for the Presidency

| NASiING lON, -. G., Aug. LEX
pectation with regard to the great BIZ
enniai encampment OF the knights Of
| Pythias are beginning to be realized.
and everything indicates not only mag
niiicent gathering of the Uniform rank.
but visitors. many thousands in excess
OF the number predicted. SO great was
the influx Of people that the reception
committees have been embarrassed in
securing quarters for all of them. The
| knights are coming in numbers 80 greatly
in excess of the estimated strength that
three hundred additional tents have been
| erected at Camp George Washington. on
| the Washington monument grounds. max
| lng two thousand In an, and all are oc-
| cupied.
The representation of knights 50 far
includes cOnungents from IenueSsee,
! Ohio New Jersey Missouri West Nir-
| ginia. Nebraska. Pennsylvania. Rhode
Island. Arkansas, Texas. Kentucky. Wis
chusetts. Kansas and Connecticut.
RECEPTION WITHOUT SANCTION.
Tonight was TO witness the formal
opening Of the encampment 10y a recep-
ton at Convention Hall. at which Vice
President Stevenson was TO be the cen
tral figure. but the death Of Congress
man Shaw, Of Wisconsin, a past supreme
a
Eau Claire, this morning, caused
change in the programme \ meeting OF
the Supreme Lodge Was held 20 take
action on MIR. Shaw's death and IT was
decided that the reception should not
take place as a mark OF respect \ gen
eral order TO that effect was issued, but
later the supreme Lodge amended ltS
decision by agreeing that the reception
might be held. but without the SANCTION
Of the supreme officers. The reception
was, therefore, held. and a very bril-
liant affair II proved to be. Addresses
of welcome We're made 10y Nice-Preslit M
Stevenson and President Ross. Of the
Board of District Commissioners.
THE vIoE-PREsIpENl's SPEECH.
Mr.. Stevenson's speech was the event
OF the evening. although It was very
brief. He spoke as follows ,
The pleasing duty has been asslshei
me of extending to representatives, OF
the order Of knights OF ~ thlds a vel
come to the nations capital
II may bee pard)ned for OBTAINING you
for moment before this formal welcome
is extended. Your committee did well In
selecting the city Of Washington as iir
place FOR this great convocdtlon. I'm thl'
selection YOU have hOnOrcI yourselves,
as well as the great city IN which you
are assembled.
This IS no ordinary gathering. II Is
literally the coming together OF nouoI'i
representatives of great brothctHouu
from every state and section ~ the
American t'n.)u. II is indeed an honor 10
any city 10 claim as It's guests the
lrightiest representatives, IF an ordtr
whose membership falls little short or
half a million, whose living faltn; the
beautiful legend ot Damon and Pythias
whose shihhOlcth: Friendship bcneYo-
lence. and charity and the greatest of
these is charity.
he IS NOT A PYIHIAN.
"As IT IS not my good fortune TO be
cannot know 10 whom future ages Will
do honor as its founder. hut that he
'Buided wiser than he knew Is evidenced
by the facr that what our eyes now be-
Of century. I trust | dvulge no secrets
which would bring upon my poor head the
dread penalty. when / say that / have
heard that al each regular assemblage
quiry is made: Does any one know OF
sick brother. or of n brothers family IN |
distress?
III this be true. then even the way /
farlng man may know whence came the |
inspiration that formulated the ritual and |
founded the order. | cannot but believe |
that I'm illustrating I'm deeds the sublime |
tenets Of your order your inspiration IS /
that Of the new commandment. That ye |
love one another IL IS too much 10 say |
that 'ruly this is religion in action
Il repeat. you did Well 10 select for
your biennial conyocauon the nations !
capital, the city that bears the honOred I
name Of the Father Of his Country
NO SECTIONAL LINES.
Coming from and representing every
state. IT X meet that your assembling be
AT the political centre OF this great ma
tiOn. II boots not that your abiding
place be I'm the Southland. near he great
chain of lakes. or where rolls the Oregon
you owe allegiance 10 but one flag you
are citizens OF a common country. In !
your beautiful ritual there is no place
for aught that sdvOrs OF sectOnaiism or
OF strife
Whatever troubous times years may
bring to the state who can doubt that !
the knlahtly men Of this great brother
hood VIII stand as ad1mant for the preser-
vaton and perpetIation of all that Is
best IN our civilizatiOn-Of all 10 has cost
centuries of tireless endeHvOr 90 achieve
representing every portion Of the re-
public, very vocation and calling in ufr !
4 is yours TO bind by yet stronger chords
Every section and State I'm one indivisible.
me indestructble Union.
And now IL but remains 20 welcome
YOU. knights of Pythias 10 Washing
ton. cordially bid you welcome % the
most beautiful city In the world Here
the power. u the greatest
Government known 90 mon. You will /
find n. indeed. no mean city You ara
not strangers. but Iellow-citlzcns.' II rs
your capital and YOU are welcome 10 your
fathers house.
ARRIVAL TIMELY.
"Your arrival is timely. The Congress
las adjourned and the riyht Of way is
yours. The public building are open -
,ou. Upon every Intel is the pratefui
welcome. Upon your long line II march.
made glad 10y the cheering words float
ng on atreamsrs from mansion and