Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-08-29
THE pYTHIANS.

THE PYTHIANS.
Washington is still crowded with
Pythians. In the grand parade yester-
day about 5000 men appeared in line,
and. as stated in the GAZETTE of that
date, were reviewed by the President.
The waving plumes, the flashing
swords, the gilded epulettes, the silver
buckles, the pranciug horses and the
bands of music presented magnificent
spectacle. Ali Washington turned out
to see the great procession.
The knights and their friends did not
lack for amusement at night. The whole
city was at their disposal and hospital
ity was lavished upon them on every
side. The principal event on the even
ing programme was the ball given by
Union Division, No. s, of Washington,
at Marini's Hall, on E street, between
Ninth and Tenth. 1t was there that
the order first saw saw light.
Tho Pythian Sisters gave a reception
at their headquarters at the Elsmere
last night, which was attended by
large number of their friends.
The Supreme Lodge, Knights OF
Pythias, convened yesterday morning
and Supreme Chancellor Blackwell
submitted his report, in which he made
plea for Americanizing the order by
doing away with rituals in the German
language, and declared himself against
admitting saloon keepers and bar keep
ers to membership.
The report of the supreme keeper OF
records and seals, R. L. G. White, says:
The number of subordinate lodges
December 81, 1898, was 6,OOS, and the
number of members 443, 6l5-a net gam
during the calendar year Of l,OOI
lodges and 1851 members. While
this gain is not so large, either in sub
ordinate lodges or members, as that OF
the years 1890 and 1891, it is, consider.
ing the widespread financial depression
during the past eighteen months, both
remarkable and gratifying, and Is be-
lieved to exceed that of any other Sc
cret fraternal order. December 81,
1898, the total amount in the treasures
of the grand lodges was $3.50, 500 10,
and the amount in those of the subordi-
nate lodges was $1.SS3, 443 IS. The
total amount of the assets of subordi-
nate lodges at the same date was ST.
O6S, O54 Al. The total amount dis
bursed for relief by subordinate lodges
during the year 1893 was 81 POS, l35 IS,
while for the two years 1892 and 1893
it was 50, 379, 374 Is.
The report of Major-General James
R. Carnahan, commanding the Uniform
Rank, says: During the two years
ended with March 81, 1892, there have
been received and approved applica-
tons for $50 new divisions of this rank.
We had on March 81, 1894, the close OF
the last fiscal year, 1,107 divisions OF
the Uniform Rank, representing men,
bership of 43 ,036, being net gain dur
ing the two years last past of $3.50.
From the best information to be gained
from the reports as made, the value OF
the property owned by the Uniform
Rank to-day aggregates very nearly
81, 100000"
The Supreme Assembly of the Pyth-
ian Sisterhood convened yesterday
morning at Grand Army of the Repub-
lie Hall. The meeting opened with the
address and report of Mrs. A. A. Young,
supreme chancellor. This was followed
by reports from other supreme officers.
The interest in the Knights of Pyth-
las encampment was to-day centred IN
the prize drills held at the baseball
park. Forty-two teams had entered
for the drills, but not more than twenty
participated.
Tonight Pennsylvania avenue and
the Capitol will be brilliantly illumina-
ted in honor of the knights. The work
of Citing the figure of the Goddess OF
Liberty on the summit of the Capitol
dome with electric lights, which was
pronounced impossible, has been accom-
plished. An effort to do it was made
during the Knights Templar conclave
and the Grand Army encampment OF
1892, but it was abandoned as being too
hazardous.
Albert Ports, an assistant to the chief
electrician ofthe Capitol, accomplished
the feat yesterday by means of ladder
held by four men on the top landing of
the dome. When he had finished his
work Ports stood erect on the top OF the
Liberty's cap.
Tonight and Thursday and Friday
nights the goddess will be illuminated
in honor of the visiting Pythians, for
whose benefit the lights were put in
their lofty position. The height of the
liberty cap on the figure of Freedom,
upon which Mr.. Ports stood with such
remarkable nerve, is 3O7 feet from the
base of the Capitol building.