The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-28
At Least Thirty-five Thousand
Members to Assemble
Next Month.
GROWTH OF A GREAT ORDER.
Some Interesting Information Con-
corning the Men Who March
Under the Red Cross.

way only little over week ago, the Hub
has already commenced to turn its atten-
ton to, the reception of the Knights
Templars of the United States, who hold
their twenty-sixth triennial conclave here
the week of August &C. 1t will be one of
the greatest gatherings of the Knights
ever known, both in point of attendance
and in the interest which has shown itself
all over the country, and which is particu-
larly marked here. Not only Boston but
all the smaller cities about here take an in
terest in the big meeting, such places as
Lowell, Worcester, Providence and others
having already made extensive plans to
help their brethren of Boston in entertain
ing the visitors from all over the country.
Of course Cambridge, Lynn, Somervllle
and other suburban places will take
hand, but they need no particular men
ton, as they are included in the plans OF
the triennial committee as part of greater
Boston.
1t will by no means be similar gather
ing to the big Christian Endeavor conven-
ton which has just conquered the city.
The difference is most marked. For ex-
ample, at the Hotel Vendome, one OF the
principal hostelries in the city, there was
not single Endeavorer. but the house
has already been engaged for 900 Knights.
That indicates much; the same is true OF
every other first-class hotel in the city.
The arrangements already made by the
triennial committee and its corps OF SUBJ
committees are very perfect, and unques-
tionably will provide for the Knights one
of the best entertainments they have ever
been offered at any conclave. Money has
not been spared in any direction, nearly
100000 having been appropriated for
this one branch alone OF the conclave.
Reports come to Boston that the visitors
are not to be behindhand in lavishness,
and if this be true the Sir Knights will be
treated to magnificent occasion.
The grand parade comes on Tuesday.
August q. 1t is conservatively estimated
that there will be $4,000 men in line. 1t
will be one of the "shows" of the century.
There is nothing in a military line to
equal the uniforms of the Knights, and
many OF the communicates make a
speciality of marching maneuvers which
cannot be approached by Uncle Sans
boys in blue in street tactics. For that
reason the show of the Knights on the
will go down in history, if for that reason
alone.
The order has grown so in recent years
that it is becoming somewhat unwieldy at
these triennial conclaves, and accordingly
the subject of making Northern and
Southern jurisdiction and dividing this
immense army is to be preached at the
Boston conclave. If the motion is carried
it will mean that never again can SO great
spectacle be presented in this country.
The city will be crowded to it's capacity
during the meeting. Already it is impos-
sible to secure room at any hotel for that
week, and the better class of lodging
houses have made engagements univer-
sally. The choice has been the best that
the city could offer, and of that every thing
has been taken.
Many hundred of visitors unable to Sc
cure 6rst-class lodgings, will sleep in the
cars which bring them to the city and the
Boston and Mamie Railroad has already
provided track-room for 500 sleeping-cars.
That shows something of the extent of the
arrangements.
Notwithstanding the great size and
prominence of the order in this country it
is one that has not been extensively adver-
tised. Many persons associate it with vari-
GUS sorts of knights" others know that
it is some part of Masonry, while there are
not few, despite the fact that there is
hardly village throughout the length
and breadth of the country but has repre-
sentative, who are totally unacquainted
with the organization.
1t is part of Masonry; it is the body at
the head of what is known as the York
rite and man desiring to become men,
Der passes through several other bodies. 1t
is composed of representative men in
community. Not if the order can felp it
are unworthy citizens allowed to join and
therefore it stands for what is best and
truest in manhood and patriotism.
At the present time there are SO Grand
Communicates in the United States, hav-
ing under their jurisdiction at the last
report 972 subordinate communicates and
1O3, 1903 mem bers. Pennsylvania has the
largest membership (1o,594), followed by
Massachusetts, with 1884, number
greatly increased during the last three
months; New York 10,018, Illinois $685.
Ohio 1866, Maine 2756, New Hampshire
1853, Vermont 1888, Connecticut 2099. It
will be seen from the above that about
40 per cent of the total membership is
within 300 miles of Boston, which insures
the largest attendance at any triennial.
The Grand Commandery of Massachu-
sets and Rhode Island is by far the Oldest
having been organized in 1912, and that of
Connecticut in 1927. The anti-Masonic ex-
citement prevented further extension until
1s43, when the Grand Commandery of
Ohio was organized.
The order of Knights Templar is of
great antiquity, dating back to the time of
the first crusade to the Holy Land, when
the military order Of the Temple was
called into existence for the purpose of
checking the power of the infidels and de-
tending the Holy Sepulcher and other sa-
cred places of the Christian faith in Pales-
tine. 1t was not introduced into this
country, however, until about the begin
ming of the present century.
The order was instituted in lib with
nine knights, who embraced the vows of
perpetual chastity, obedience and poverty,
| after the manner of monks, and devoted