The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-10

SUPREME CHANCELLOR w. W. BLACKWELL.
land and the dignitaries of the order.
The parade of the uniform rank has al
ways been q popular feature of biennial
encampments, and this year efforts have
been made to surpass all previous dis
plays I'm numbers and splendor. Several
divisions are mounted, and all are hand
somely uniformed and carefully drilled
They will be commanded by Major Cen
eral Carnahan, commander in chief of
the uniform rank.
The camp of the visiting knights will
be pitched ON the Monument grounds,
where more than 5000 tents win be
erected. The camp is 50 planned ID not
10 approach nearer than 100 yards tOl
the monument, and the avenues are ar-
ranged like the spOkes Of q wheel, with
the shaft for q hub. This city Of white
tents will be one Of the largest as well
as the most beautiful ever pitched in
Washington.
The accommodations in the city viii
be ample. During the Grand Army en-
campment In 1899 26, 900 houses regis
tered for boafders, and indications are
that there will be no lack now, more
than 10, 900 already having made appli-
cation to the committee for registry.
These houses are scattered all over the
city, 70 that visitors a get any kind Of
accommodation in any locality they de-
sire by stating their wants a to price
and situation. The prices indicated by
the registry range from o.. 30 TO $3 per
day, and the hotels have guaranteed the
committee against any rise in prices.
The competitive prize drills, for
which prizes aggregating between @7,
900 and %, 600 have been offered, will
take place In the National Baseball
park, and an admission fee will be
charged. Rivalry between divisions from
d~ifferenet sections of the country il keen,
and the drills will be sharply contested
The first prize Of 81, 500 is sufficient 10
induce the crack organizations TO enter
the field. The other prizes are 81, 300.
81. 600 and $500 respectively. Besides
these there will be other prizes for sin
gle division drills OF 5000, $500, 440O,
$500, $500 and 500. and q prize OF $500
for the best mounted division.
The supreme lodge will meet in
Builders Exchange hall and will be pre-
sided ven by Supreme Chancellor w.
w. Blackwell. the head Of the order.
He was elected by reclamation at the
convention I'm Kansas City In 1891. Mr..
Blackwell is a prominent merchant in
Henderson. KY, where he was born I'M
l64G. His record In the order Id one Of
it's most brilliant chapters, and the work
he has performed justly entities him to
the warmest praise of the membership
ut large. The present supreme vice
chancellor, Mr.. Walter B. Richie, will
probably be elected to succeed Mr..
Blackwell.
Among the various questions to be
considered by the supreme lodge will be
the matter OF the Pythian Sisters and
the Pythian Sisterhood, the latter Sc
ceders from the parent order. They both
desire to be adopted 8 an auxiliary.
The Pythian Sisters, which is the larger,
comprises 416 temples. with a member
ship Of 25, 600.
Tho order of knights of Pythias was
organized In Washington Feb. 15, 1884,
and the original ritual was written by
Mr.. ]. =. Rathbone. From q beginning
of Ave members the order has grown %
eomprise {, 600 subordinate lodges, with
nearly 800. 900 active adherents, over
j, 900 divisions of the uniform rank,
with 80. 600 uniformed followers and
about !. 800 sections of the endowment
rank carrying over $40, 000, 900 insur-
ance.
The motto o. the Knights Of Pythias
Is .Friendship. charity and benevo-
ience. = while that described on the ham
ner Ok the Pythian Sisters Is Purity.
love, equality and adslity n