The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-11
KNIGHTTENPL
The Twenty-sixth Triennial CoacIave
in Boston, Mass.
"A GRAND STREET PAGEANT.

The Metropolis of New England Elabo'
rateIy Decorated in Honor of Sil
knights Drawn From All Parts of the
Land---Twenty-flve Thousand in Line
Visitors Lavishly Entertained.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand people
saw the parade of over $4,000 Sir Knights
Templar at the opening OF the twenty-siIth
Triennial Conclave in Boston, Mass, and
with one accord pronounced it the grandest
pageant ever seen in that city. People were
everywhere-in the streets, on the side
walks, on the roofs of buildings and street
cars, clinginS to tops of telegraph poles,
whenever the vigilance Of the police and
Enemen was relaxed for a moment, in
wagons and drays filed with seats in the
side streets, and on hundreds of grand
stands, large and small, alongt the route.
Never in the history OF ancient Boston has
greater host Of strangers crowded within
the city's gates, and for many years the
spectacle will be the precedent with which
great gatherings in New England will be
compared. It was a good-natured crowd
and. considering its size, was well handled.
From every State commanderies began to
arrive at an early hour, and thousands OF
spectators came with them. The streets near
the railway stations echoed with the din OF
Scores Of bands and the trains OF arriving
Knights and their escorts. The railroad men
were completely overwhelmed by tho magni-
tude of the crowd.
Everywhere within radius of twenty
miles OF the State House the day was practi-
cally q holiday. Most Of the factories in
nearby cities were closed, and the opera
tives helped to swell the horde Of people who
watched the procession. BY eight o'clock
the thousands OF spectators were seeking
points Of vantage along the line. and from
then on the throng increased until every
avenue open to the public was jammed with
humanity. Long before the starting time
every grand stand seat was taken and the
owners reaped q harvest. The police ap-
pointments were we'll nigh perfect. Shortly
before the parade started platoons Of officers
cleared every street through which the Sir
Knights were to pass, and roped them of, ,
and until the last division had passed no
traffic Of anv kind was allowed on these
thoroughfares.
The entire city donned holiday dress and
on every hand flags, banners, gayly colored
streamers and flashing lights dazZled the eye.
Immsense numbers Of incandescent lights
were arranged to represent almost every
known Masonic emblem. The Masonic Tenn
pie decorations were OF course, the most
elaborate. the principal feature being huge
outline cross Of colored lights, covering al
most the entire front OF the building. The
Albion Building was not far behind, and all
along Newspaper Row the occupants ex-
tended a welcome to the Knights In blaze
Sflight.
The bunting, flags and emblems on build
hgs and residences, and the electrical dis
play outdid anything Of the kind ever seen
In New England. The floral decorations in
the public gardens were one OF the features
Of the city's decoration. Two handsome
floral arches were erected, and hundred
Masonic emblems in flowers and plants were
arranged.
The lines OF the parade were formed in
thirteen divisions in a column Of double sec
tions. The signal for the start was greeted
by the cheers and salutes Of 10000 people
gathered near the starting point.
As the great body OF Knights, the flower Of
American citizenship, moved down Com
monwealth avenue, the spectacle was an in
spring one. The music Of 100 bands and
the applause Of thousands of people filled the
air, gayly bedecked horses pranced at the
head Of each division, while the contrast of
the dignihei black cloth Of the uniforms, the
waving Of the rich plumes and the bright
silver and gold emblems, which are con-
spicuous in the Templar uniform, COM
Mned to present scene that was pleasing
and impressive, and withal lacked the
monotony which many expected.
The leading division Of the pageant, pre-
ceded by platoons OF Bosson's sturdy police
men, was very imposing. The $50 aides,
under command Of Chief Marshal R. En-.
Sir Samuel c. Lawrence, were all mounted
on handsome horses and with their bright
trappinSs and new uniforms made brilliant
display.
The division which was led by Right Emit
nent Sir Samuel G. Lawrence, Grand Com
mander OF Massachusetts, and Rhode Island,
as Chief Marshal. with Right Eminent Sir
Charles c. Fry as his chief Of staff, and fifty
four OF the most prominent Knights of the
Boston Commandery as aides, included the
Representatives Of the Grand Communicates
of the United States, as escorts to the
Grand Marshal, with ninety-three aides
from the more prominent communicates OF
America; the Boston Commandery, with Sir
Eugene A. Houlton, Past Commander. as
Chief OF Division and Eminent Sir Frederick
Gomez as Chief Of Staff, with eight aides;
the Detroit Commandery, Eminent Sir Arba
NJ. Seymour Commander, as special escort
to the Most Eminent Grand Master Hugh
ment in carriages, the members Of the Grand
Encampment in carriages and the following
subordinate communicates under the Grand
Encampment OF the United States:
South Carolina, Charleston, q. c.; Wash
lngton, Washington D. c.; Columbia, Wash
1ngton. D. c.: De Molay, Washington, D. c.;
St. Johns, Wilmington. DEL: Potomac,
Georgetown. D. c.; Muskegee. Muskegee,
Indian Territory; McAlister McAlister, In
dian Territory, and Olivet, Orlando. Fla.
Beside Chief Marshall Lawrence rode Mayor
Curtis, Sir Knights Charles Pierce and Hans
com, Deputies Saperintendents of Police,
and Sir Knight Abbott Horton, as bugler.
This was by long odds the greatest con-
clave Of Knights Templar that the country
has ever known. Never before in this gem
GRAFTON were such immense throngs Of peo-
pie seen upon the highways.
There were only few business sessions Of
the conclave, and the week was given up
mainly to pleasure. Excursions and recep-
tions almost without number had been ar
ranged and it is estimated that Boston spent
over half a million dollars in entertaining
her guests.
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