The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-29
Thousands of Guests Received
by the Golden State
Communicates.
GIFTS OF WINE AND FRUIT.
The Gilt Bear Badges in Great
Demand Among the Knights
and Their Ladies'.

'TecepIlOn Gay. Every UOl6I III lue Guy
and nearly every hall is the headquarters
of one or more communicates of Knights
Templar. There is one on every other
block throughout large part of the city.
In the front of each one is located band,
so that the throb OF music is IN the air
everywhere and a constant stream of
ladies and gentlemen pass in and out of
these headquarters and move from one to
the other, most of the gentlemen in the
fatigue uniform of the Knights, while the
ladies are arrayed in the gay colors and
decollete signs of the Eastern midsummer.
The whole city is given over TO this happy
exchanging of courtesies. Detachments
from many of the local commandments are
tonight moving from one headquarters to
another with their bands, serenading.
The brilliantly lighted streets are
thronged. 1t is a festival with hundred
central points distributed over the area of
old Boston, and through it all, from end to
end, everywhere one goes, he hears the
praises of California sung. 1t is "Cali-
fornia! California; Californian every
where, just as yesterday the cry of "Cali-
fornia" ran down the line of the multitude
of spectators of the grand parade.
A perfect enthusiasm prevails in behalf
of the Golden State. The newspapers have
responded to this feeling by devoting
columns of space to her three command
cries while discussing the others with
few sticks" The popular expression was
very aptly put by Boston newspaper man
tonight when he said:
"Tbere are four communicates here that
stand out from the others like so many
Bunker Hill monuments. They are Golden
Gate and California No. l, or California
No. l, and Golden Gate, as you please-the
Detroit and the Boston Commandery. The
California delegation has been talked about
for months in advance of its coming, and
since it came it has more than met expec-
tations in the display of hospitality, cor
diaiity and wealth. Detroit is known and
ATTRACTS attention through its fancy drill
ing, while Boston Commandery is our
pride, being the largest and Oldest"
This is the spirit in which everybody
talks. and it is small wonder, for the air of
good feeling which pervades the head
quarters OF these far Western commander
les is contagious.
doors of California Commandery No. 1
swung open to admit its guests.
The headquarters of the commandery
is the Parker House, but for this occasion
it had secured Billy Parks well-known
place in Bosworth street, adjoining the
hotel, and which has a ready exit in the
rear. There are two rooms to the place.
which had been stacked with cases of wine
and baskets of fruit.
Long before the doors were opened long
line had been formed in front of the place,
extending down Bosworth street to Ire
mont. Officers of the eommandery took
their positions in the room, and as this
line of people passed in and through they
were cordially greeted and each was
handed square package containing bot
tie of wine and basket of fruit. With an
expression of good wishes they then
passed out by another door. Such line of
march was kept up for fourteen hours,
covering from 10 O'Clock in the morning to
midnight, for all this time Bosworth street
was literally packed with people for the
half block extending to fremont street.
Out at Golden Gate headquarters, at the
old Kearsarge Association Hall on Wash
ington street, this scene was repeated.
Early in the morning the ladies accompany
ing the Knights got to work TO redecorate
the place in honor of reception day. Under
the direction of Mrs. George D. Clark,
Mrs. Bunker, Mrs. Benedict, Mrs. and Miss
Judson, Mrs. and Miss StadmilIer and Mrs.
Helwig the rooms rapidly took on festi-
val air indeed. At noon every was in read
mess; the punchbowls were overlooking,
and the foxboro. taking its position under
the trees in front, sounded the opening of
festivities and the saying was started,
'Have you seen the bear?' which came to
be understood as meaning "Have you
touched the loving-cup2" The ladies of
the party, respondent in evening dress,
occupied 'boxes" rallied off from the body
of the room and received" in captivating
fashion.
The scene in the rooms tonight is bril-
liant to degree. Zerubbabel has a posi-
ton in the yard with the band, and is a
prime favorite and attraction. Officers
stand guard at the iron gates, but their
presence seems to be a mere matter of
form, for the most perfect order and good
feeling prevails. Occasionally a visiting
band stops in front to serenade and then
passes on.
The popularity and fame of the Califor-
MIA contingent grows hourly. Tomorrow
they will take their turn as visitors, call
ing again upon the other communicates
The little pin badge of the gilt bear has
been in such demand that the barrelful
brought along BY Golden Gate is long
since exhausted, and they stand at a high
premium. offers of as much as 81 each
being made for them.
The opening session of the twenty-sixth
annual conclave of the Knights Templar
took place in Masonic Hall this morn
ing and was devoted to routine business
Most Eminent Sir Hugh McCurdy, grand
master, presided and delivered his trien-
NAL address. Grand Recorder w. B.
1saacs' report showed 961 subordinate COM
manderies under the Grand Commandery,
an increase of 81 over the last triennial re-
port in 1892. Subordinate communicates
under the Grand Encampment have in
creased from so to SO. Those knights in
the Grand Communicates number 21,531,
while the total membership of Knights is
106,770. The grand recorder reported the
receipts from the grand communicates to
be $5l2S; from subordinate communicates
$528. Since the last triennial conclava