The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-03

table cutlery, nails, pocket books, Wis
iting cards, novelties of all kinds, and
hundreds OF other things, great and,
small, of wood, iron, steel and brass
The leading event in Boston this week
is.the conclave of the Knights Templar,
a higher order of the Masonic frater-
nity. This conclave is held every
three years. It met at Denver three
years ago. The Communicates from
nearly every State are in great force,
of course the larger number being from
the New England S5ates But they
came from California and other far
Western and Southern States. This
branch Of the fraternity does not send
delegates, but all, or as many as can,
attend from each c0mmand3ry. The
Raleigh, Newoern, Asheville, Charlotte,
Oxford, and other North Carolina com
manderies are here. I am indebted to
the Masons for many cOurtesies. For
several days the trains and boats have
been bringing great loads of people
here. Thirty thousand Knights alone
are here, and many OF them brought
their wives and other members of their
family. To this may be aGd4d many
business men who took advantage Of
the low rates to visit the Northern
cities. Boston Is a big city, but the
crowd is taxing her hotel capacity.
Yesterday was the biggest day. The
regular parade took place. Boston
had been preparing for the event, and
it is S aid that the citizens raised $780,
900 to spend for the entertainment Of
the Knjgh5s. Toat sum being spent
mainly on btnquots, ard doz ms of
them were spread in the city last night.
The entire business and much of the
residence portion Of the city Is gally
decorated with ex pensive bunting and
flags containing Masonic emblems.
The Masonic Temple and some Of the
Com mandery buildings are decorated
with col)re electric lights formed into
M .sonic emb'ems 1t is all very
beautiful.
Yesterday at 10 a. m nearly every
business house, ftctory and Office was
closed in order that everybody might
see the parade. At least 40O, coo Bos
ton people lined the streets where it
vas to pass To this you may add
probably go 900 who came in from
adjacent towns and cities and from all
Over the country. People cana from
the southern portion of Canada. Win
dOws and docrsteps along the line Of
march were rented at high prices. The
roofs of buildings we're covered with
people. IL parks and open squares
thousands of seats were constructed
and S id to all who would buy at from
81 so to 50 so per seat. 1t is estimated
that 800, 600 were paid for seats. The
line Of march was formed on Common
wealth Avenue, and started at II a m
1t was d vided into thirteen divisions.
The officers Of most of the Command
cries were in carriages, OF mounted on
black horses. Each Commandery a
ried beautiful banners. The Knights
Templar uniform is very handsome,
made Of black cloth trimmed in white
and gold. The helmets are black with
a large white plume exter ding over
the top, l had a position on Boylston
street, in front Of the North Carolina.
headquarters. For five hours I sat and
watched commandery after command
cry march by. The first end of the
parade passed at II o'clock, and at 4
p. m. the last n passed. 1 had a
good view up and down that street, and
l don't think n spectator out Of a
hundred left the street until the parade
was over. The music was good, there
being no less than one hundred and
seven bands, many of them the best in
the country, in the line of marching
Knights. Toe line Of march was nine
miles long and most of the Knights
tramped the entire distance. Ofcourse
some got sick and fell out. The day
was pleasant, warm, but a stiff breeze
was blowing. OF course the weather
isn't near as hot here as it is in the
South. The Knights will be in session
here several days yet, having some
important legislative work to do.
In my next I will describe this city.
the Hut of the Universe" so far as
education is concerned, and tell some
thing of the characteristics of the PEG
pie who live hereabouts and what they
are ding. r.
FAMILY AFFAIR.