The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-28
THE NUMBER.
Knights Temp|ars
Strength.
Growth Of This Branch of
the Order Of Masons.
Report Of Grand Recorder William 3.
Isaacs, Ir., Of Richmond.
Present Total Membership Is 1O6,77O.
A Financial Statement.

ing of the Goth triennial conclave of
Knights Templars began IN earnest today,
/ while the round of pleasure was resumed
by the great body OF the Knights with
lively enthusiasm. Sessions of grand en-
campment were held both morning and
afternoon at Masonic Temple, the grand
exhibition drill of the crack comman-
deries of the United states, Columbia of
Warrington, ID. c., Apollo Commandery
drill corps of Troy N. Y; "The Little
Commandery" from the Masonic Widows
and Orphans Home of Louisville, KY,
| 81. Bernard of Chicago, Ills, Minneapolis
| Knights Templars drill corps of Mimi. and
Detroit of Detroit, Mich, was held at the
South Emo baseball grounds. Many of the
grand and subordinate communicates
kept open house all day, while excursions
almost without number to the va rious
arbors and historic points nearby at
| tracted thousands of Knights and their
ladies and guests The weather contin-
ues perfect and the day was almost an
ideal one for harbor trips and suburban
visits. Hardly cloud fecked the sky and
IN the city there was but little air stir
ring, a warm sun making lightweight
clothing a comfort. The streets were
blocked with heavily laden street cars
and well dressed strangers before O'Clock
and the crush in the city's narrow thor
oughfares continued all day. At the
depots, the scenes of yesterday were re-
| peated. Knights in uniform with their
ladies, most OF them displaying a bewild-
ering array of badges and souvenir rib
bons of communicates from all parts of
| the country, secured by exchanging with
friends, bands in marching order, fakirs
selling badges, souvenirs and guides were
crowded unfortunately in hopeless con-
| fusion. Along the water front the crush
OF humanity was even greater. the wharves
of all the excursion steamers being black
with people In the forenoon.
Afaln az
started down the harbor with a merry
party of 300 Sir Knights and ladies.
The boat passed most of the sea shore re-
sorts and went out as far as the lightship.
These harbor trips are especially popu-
lar With the Western contingent, who liv-
ing in the interior have no opportunity
to enjoy old ocean. The Cygnus returned
| about O'Clock, and at O'Clock started
out again on the same course with
another party.
De Molay Commandery of Boston char
tered boat this morning and took sew
eral visiting communicates out for a sail.
The William Parkman Commandery of
East Boston provided a similar entertain
ment for New York Commandery of New
York city, their special guests for the day.
Bunker aill monument was stormed by
an overwhelming force, and was surren-
dered with good grace by Coeur de Lion
Commandery of Boston, whose knights
were on guard at the historic shaft and
pleasantly greeted the army of strangers
from North, East, South and West.
Several commanderies held all day re-
ceptions at the American House, Trinity
Commandery of Hudson, Mass, received;
Beauseant Commandery of Maiden,
opened wide the doors of its headquar-
ters to visitors; Bethlehem Commandery
of Gloucester entertained Sullivan Com
mandery of Claremont, n. H., and the
Jerusalem of Fitchburg at Webster Hall;
Hugh de Payens Commandery of Melrose
had Hugh de Payens OF Little Rock, Ark,
and the grand commandery of Arkansas
as guests; Grand Commandery of West
Virginia had hundreds of visitors at Ho-
tel Brunswick, while the California COM
manderies at the Parker House and Grand
Army hall, Boston Commandery at Hor-
ticultural hall, the Apollo Commandery
of Chicago at the Parker House, contin-
ued their reception of yesterday and last
night.
Never in the history OF Boston baseball
grounds has such an immense throng of
people crowded through the gates of the
enclosure as was gathered there this after
noon to witness the exhibition drill by
six visiting communicates. The drill
was announced to begin at 10 o'clock and
before O'Clock there was line of trolley
cars on fremont street mile long every
one loaded TO its utmost capacity, and
most OF the passengers even then reached
but standing room, while after the drill
commenced hundreds were turned away
from the gates.
Introductory music was rendered by
the Salem Cadet band, and a few min
utes after 10 O'Clock Columbia Command
cry OF Washington, ID. c., marched on to
the field, headed by the Germania band.
The Knights marched and counter
marched, wheeled by company and pla-
toons and then executed many maneu-
vers, which have no military significance,
but are arranged with view TO effect
and complication. The climax OF Colum-
bias exhibition was superb. Coming
down the field in perfect alignment. the
men suddenly broke ranks and formed
three simultaneous tableaux representing
"Attack, " defence" and "Defeat.n -
Apollo Commandery OF Troy, n. V,
then took the field. Che feature of this
exhibition was the formation OF words on
the ground by arrangement OF swords.
In their different maneuvers the words
"Apollo, Troy, n. "" and Boston
were furnished.
"The Little Commandery, from the
Masonic Widows and Orphans Home OF
Louisville, KY, furnished a unique drill.
Although small boys, they marched per-
fectly, and performed a series OF maneu-
yers, i'm a circle around their standards,
which were extremely difficult. Not
single mistake was made, and the little
fellows received a storm OF applause. st.
Bernard Commandcry OF Chicago made
magnificent display
This commandery holds the banner,
which was awarded at the last competi-
ton drill years ago, and their magniii-
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