Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-28

A demonstration of hearty welcome sig
nalized the appearance of Vice President
Stevenson. Bowling his acknowledgements
The Vice Presidents Speech.
Mr.. Stevenson spoke follows:
THE pleasing duty has been assigned me
of extending to the representatives of the
order of knights of Pythias a welcome to
the nations capital. 1 may be pardoned for
OBTAINING you for a moment before this
formal welcome is extended. Your commit
tee did well in selecting the city of Wash
ington the place for this great convoca-
ton. In this selection you have honored
yourselves as well as the great city in
which you are assembled
This is no ordinary gathering. 1t Is
literally the coming together of honored
representatives of a great brotherhood,
from every state and section of the Ameri-
can Union. 1t is, indeed, an honor to any
city to claim as its guests the knightliest
representatives of an order whose men,
bership falls little short of half a million /;
whose living faith Is the beautiful legend
of Damon and Pythias, and whose shibbo-
leth is friendship benevolence and charity
And the greatest of these Is charity
LAS it Is not my good fortune to be a
member of this great fraternity l cannot
know to whom future ages will do honor as
it's founder, but that he 'builded wiser than
he knew Is evidenced by the fact that what
our eyes now behold is the growth of less
than a third of a century. / trust / d.
vulge no secrets-which would bring upon
my poor head the dread penalty-when I
say that / have heard that at each regular
assemblage of the Knights of Pythias the
official inquiry is made, Does any one know
of sick brother or of brothers family
in distress? If this be true. then even the
wayfaring men may know from whence
came the inspiration that formulated the
ritual and founded the order. l cannot but
believe that in illustrating in deeds the
sublime Ienets of your order your inspira-
ton is that of the new commandment that
va nna lie tnn rr11lr 70 "
that truly this is religion in aetion?
II repeat, you did well to select for your
biennial convocation the nations capital,
the city that bears the honored 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. 1t
boots not that your abiding place be in the
southland, near the great chain of lakes
or where rolls the Oregon you owe al
legiance to but one flag; you are citizens of
a common country. In your beautiful ritual
there is no place for aught that savors of
SectionaliSm or of strife.
Whatever troublous times the rolling
years may bring forth to the state, who
can doubt that the knightly men of this
great brotherhood will stand as adamant
for the preservation and perpetuation Of
all that is best in our civilization, of all
that it has cost centuries Of tireless en-
deavor to achieve? Representing every por-
tion of the republic every. vocation and
calling in life, it is yours to bind by vet
stronger cords every section and-state into
one indivisible, indestructible union.
And 1t now but remains to welcome YOU
Knights of Pythias to Washington. l cor
daily bid you welcome to the most beauti-
full city in the world. Here is the symbol
of authority, the grandeur the power of
the greatest government known to man.
You will find it, indeed, no mean city
You are strar gers, but fellow citizens 1t
is your capital ard you are welcome to your
fathers house.
Your arrival is timely. The Congress
has nearly adjourned, and the right of way
is yours. The public buildings are open to
you. Upon every Intel is the grateful well
come Upon your line of march a thou
sand times your heart will be made glad by
the cheering words floating on streamers
from mansion and mart, Welcome, thrice
welcome, Knights of Pythias.'''
Representative COnn's Welcome
When the last strains of the overture to
William Tell had died away Representa-
tive c. G. Conn made an eloquent and effec-
tive address Of welcome on behalf of the
Knights of Pythias of this city He said:
1T would be my pleasant duty to wei
come you to Washington in behalf of the
Pythian knights of the District of Column
bia were 1t not for the sad intelligence of
the death of the distinguished chief ex-
ecutive Of the Supreme Lodge Of the
knights Of Pythians. Past Supreme Chan
oellor George B. Shaw.
LAS darkness follows light, the de-
stroyer comes to the beautiful, SO death
has invaded our ranks and our songs of
welcome are hushed by the solemnity Of
mourning. For that reason the Supreme
mented commander, refrained from attend
irg in a body the ceremonies here this
evening. But I am authorized by the su-
preme chancellor to thank the citizens Of