St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-08-23
Correspondence.
BOSTON LETTER.

Especial Correspondence of the cALEDoNIAN. |
Boston, which had only just recovered
its normal condition after the excitement
of the rush and crowds of the Christian
Endeavor Convention, is beginning to be
convulsed again, this time with the pre-
variations for the great TrienniaI Conclave
Of the Knights Templar to be held here
next week.
The decorations, which were taken
down after the July gathering, are being
gotten out and looked over, to see ifthey
will do to use again. In too many cases
it is feared they will not, for the severe
rains of Christian Endeavor week we're
hard on colored draperies, and what
should be red or white, too often became
an indiscriminate pink.
And it seems to be a generally held
opinion that nothing must be used for
the Knights Templar festival but what
is OF the best Boston must not fall be-
hind the standard which she set in Iuly
and if anything she must improve a little
upon it. The many striking devices
which are comprised in the embems of
Masonry afford great possibilities in the
way OF decorations, and there is no
doubt but that they will be fully util-
lied. Already many beautiful banners
are being hung out most numerous
among them being the scarlet cross and
shield on background OF black and
white. Workmen have been employed
for more than a week on the Masonic
Temple, covering the front of it with an
elaborate design, the foundation OF
which is an enormous Templar's Cross
which covers the whole front of the
building. The electric decorations on
Houghton & buttons block, which
promise to surpass in beauty and elabo-
rateness anything they have ever done
before, are also in process of arrange
ment. The chief features of this display
are the word Fidelity" browning the
central corner of the building, where the
letters of light will be outlined against
the sky; a huge Templars Cross set
solid with lights, half way down the
'front.' an ordinary cross on the IRE
mont street side; and the eight-rayed
cross of Salem on Beacon street.
Few people have any idea OF the
amount ofwork which has been necessary
to successfully plan for this gathering.
Over year and a half ago Gen. Samuel
Lawrence of Medford, the Grand Com
mander of the Grand Commanderv of
Massachusetts and Rhode Island met at
the Parker House the thirty members
who had been appointed as primary
committee to arrange for the Triennial
Conclave. Realizing as these men did
the amount OF work to be done, they
elected associate members to bring the
number up to 1875, and divided them
selves into various subcommittee.
Three important questions arose at once.
These were finance, accommodation and
transportation, and a subcommittee
was detailed to deal with each.
The matter money to pay expenses
was arranged by assessing each one OF
the 10000 members OF the Grand Com
mandery SIS. In addition to this each
local Commandery has raised such
amount as they wish to spend them
selves. Boston Commandery will spend
$50, 900 in this way, and De Molay $10,-
600, Satisfactory railroad rates were
hnally agreed upon, and after much cor
respondence, investigation and registra-
ton, ample hotel and 10 lying accommoda-
tions have been assured at moderate
rates. As the time for the Conclave has
approached, the work has greatly in
creased and many other subcommittee
have been formed to deal with it, with
the result that all of the innumerable
plans are being carried to completion
with degree of success which reflects
the highest credit on those who have
done the work.
Never before at Conclave have there
been so MANY badges of elaborate de-
sign. The exchange badges OF years ago
look tame and cheap at this time when
placed beside those to be worn on this
occasion. 1t is safe to say, however,
that the badges now being distributed
did not cost any more in many instances
than the ones of older date it is simply
due to the grand progress made in their
manufacture.
The souvenir book will prove to be one
OF the finest specimens of its kind issued
IN connection with any Knight Tempar
celebration. 1t represents the united eff
forts of many Knights who have put
much time and work to bring about
such successful result.
The Vermont delegations which have
arranged to come with the places where
they will be quartered in the city, are as
follows:
Grand Commandery, % Union Park.
Mt. Calvary, No. 1, Middlebury, 1872,