The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-30
THE KNIGHTS CONCLhNE.
One of the Great Events q; Boston His
tOry-Tnc superb appearance OF th'
Eernomters.

One of the Great Events Of Boston His
tOry-Tnc superb appearance OF tn
Eermonters.
Boston has given herself this week 10 enter
tanning the knights Tcmplar in the 10Th trlen
NAL conclaye of their grand e~ncampmcnt, which
closed yesterday. There were some iO,0OO I'll
knights from every part of the country present
and above 10000 of them marched IN the laraut
Tuesday to the music of 100 bands. IL was ono
of the three great fetes OF modern Boston his
tory, ranking the return of the soldiers IRON tht
civil war, and the Grand Army reunion, and in
its imposing dignity and panoplicd magniiiccncc
of course surpassed them all, for in this respect
1t is easily first among the organizations OF inc
world.
The knights generally arrived in Boston Mon.
DAY afternoon, and the Vermont contingent, 800
strong, including the subordinate Communicates
of Mt. Calvary Of Middlebury, Burlington of
Burlington, Lafayette Of !. Adams, Vermont of
Windsor, Palestine of st Johnsbury, hllllngton
of Rutland, Beau-eint of Brattieboro, Mt. /lon
OF Montpelier. Malta of Newport, with the shcr-
man Military band, made their headquarters ut
32 Union Park, where 4 five collation. was
served. The rooms were handsomely trimmed
with smilaX and flowers. The Vermont com
mandcry, which is the fourth oldest in the Uni.
ted states, having been organized back IN 1874,
was Il notable body all through the conclave.
Reauseant commandery was quartcrcd at g
[ Mon Park.
The work of the ~conclavc was OF course large.
ly secret. 1t was formally opened Monday
evening in Corinthian hall OF the Masonic Tenn.
Pile by Grand Master Hugh McCurdy, and wei
coming speeches were made by Grand Com.
manders Lawrence, Morgan, Curtis and GOV.
Grecnhalgc, with response from Grand Master
McCurdy, who ten delivered his fJrma! adj
dress.
But the climax was reached in the parade of
Tuesday. For about six hours the principal
avenues were occupied by plumed knights. 4
million people saw the highest Templar in the
world, Most Eminent Sir Hugh McCurdy, grand
master, escorted to the Masonic Temple by a
marching army of Sir knights. The day was Il
grand one Practically every building along
the line of march. besides many of the side
streets, was clothed in color. with appropriate
notices and Masonic emblems entNined with
streamers and bunting. The banners were in
many instances remarkably beautiful. and when
they were lowered at the review stands the
effect was very impressive. The delegation
from Detroit was perhaps the banner body in
Its perfection Of drill, but many other western
parties surprised the onlookers by their ad.
mirable marching and discipline. The most i'm.
coiiiilanderE was the mounted tallfor-
mans. They were superbly dressed. The band
of the It'll regiment from New York won much
praise, as also did the famous Topeka band.
The Vermont Knights marched in the third Ill
vision, anu rs they passed the reviewing stands
before Grand Commander McCurdv and Cover
nor 6reenhalge, and later before Mayor Curtis,
of them executed intricate military cyOlu- :
tions which won the expressed admiration OF
the thousands who witnessed them. Boston
comnlndery acted as escort and were preceded
by the aides led by Sir Knight Charles { FRYE.
cher of the staff.
y noteworthy event in connection with the
parade was the bullctiniug OF it, progress to
waiting thousands by John II. Pray, Sons ~ Co.,
dealers at Gjs Washington street. The
work, the first of it, Kind ever undertaken eN-
by Il newspaper, was finely carried out and
was Il good advertisement for this cntcrprising
lousc.
Wednesday a brilliant reception was given in
hall in honor of Grand Master Me
urdy. Boston commaniery received at HOrti.
'nltural hall, and the day and evening were
.iven TO hospitality. There was an exhibition
,ril also on the base ban grounds.
The election of officers was held yesterday.
Deputy Grand Master Warren La Rue Thomas,
I Maysyillc, Ky. was elected TO succeed the
lost Eminent sir Hugh McCurly a, grand mas.
er and Piitshurg was chosen a. the place of
he next conclayc.