The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-28
ON THE TENTED FIELD.
Pythians in Serried Ranks Close in OF
the Nations Capital.

Cne N aIlou' Capital.
Washington, Aug. 27.-Expectation with
regard to the great biennial encampment
of the Knights of Pythias are beginning
to be realized, and everything indicates
not only magnificent gathering of the
uniform rank, but of visitors-many
thousands in excess of the number pre-
dicted. So great is the influx of people
that the reception committees have
been embarrassed in securing quar-
ters for all of them. The Knights
are coming in numbers so
greatly in excess of the estimated
strength that 300 additional tents have
been erected at Camp George Washing
ton on the Washington monument
grounds, making 1900 in all, and are.occu-
pied. The representation of Knights so
far includes contingents from Tennessee,
Ohio, New Jersey, Missouri, West Vir-
ginia, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, Wis
consin, Illinois, New Hampshire, Massa-
| chusetts, Kansas and Connecticut.
Tonight was to witness the formal
opening Of the encampment by a reception
at Convention Hall, at which Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson was to be the central fig
ure, but the death of Congressman Shaw
Of Wisconsin, past supreme chancellor
of the order, at his home in Eu Claire
this morning, caused change in the pro-
! gramme A meeting of the supreme
lodge was held to take action on Mr.
Shaw's death, and it was decided that
| the reception should not take place, a
mark of esteem to his memory.
! A general order to this effect was issued,
| but later the supreme lodge amended its
! decision by agreeing that the reception
might be held but without the sanction of
| the supreme officers. The reception was
therefore held, and very brilliant affairit
! proved to be. Addresses of welcome were
made by Vice President Stevenson and
| President Ross of the board of district
! commissioners.
Mr.. Stevenson's speech was the event
! of the evening, although it was very
! brief. He spoke as follows:
1.-THE pleasing duty has been assigned
me of extending to the representatives of
the order of Knights of Pythias a well
come to the nations capital. Il may be
pardoned for OBTAINING you for a moment
before this formal welcome is extended
Your committee did well in selecting the
city of Washington as the place for this
!
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 great brotherhood
from every state and section of the
American union. 1t is, indeed, an
| honor to any city to claim as its
guests the knightliest Representatives
of an order whose membership
falls little short of 500 600; whose living
faith, the beautiful legend of Damon and
| Pythias-whose shlbboleth, friendship,
benevolence and charity and the
| greatest of these is charity
LAS it is not my good fortune to be
member of this great fraternity, l cannot
know to whom future ages will do honor
as its 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 third of a century
| I trust divulge no secrets which would
| bring upon my poor head the death pen
atty when | say that have heard that at
each regular assemblage of the Knights
of Pythias the official inquiry is made,
| Does any one know of a sick brother, or
| of a brothers family in distress'
''If this be true, then even the wayfar-
! ing man may know whence came the in
spiration that formulated the ritual and
! founded the order. | cannot but believe
that in illustrating in deeds the sublime
tenets of your order, your inspiration is
that new commandment that you love one
another
as it too much to say that truly this
is religion in actionP
Il 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 the 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 allegiance to but one fiag-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
years may bring 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 civil ation-of all it
has cost centuries of tireless endeavor to
achieve Representing every portion Of
| the republic, every vocation and calling
| in life, it is yours to bind by yet stronger
cords every section and state, in one in
dividual, indestructible union.
"And now it but remains to welcome
YOU. Knights of Pythias, to Washington.
| | cordially bid you welcome to the most
! beautiful city in the world. Here is the
| symbol of the authority, the grandeur,
! the power of the greatest government
! known to men. You will find it, indeed,
| mo mean city You are not strangers,
! but fellow citizens 1t is your capital,
! and YOU are welcome to your fathers
| house.
"Your arrival is timely. The 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 long line Of march,
a thousand times your hearts Will be
made glad by the cheering words floating
! on streamers from mansion to mart,
/ welcome thrice welcome, Knights Of
! Pythiasn