Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-14
Special to the Register.

Special to the Register.
Charleston. w. Va, May 13.-The
Knights Templar of West Virginia
never had a more brilliant meeting
probably than that which took place
here to-day when they convened in their
annual conclave.
The eleven communicates of the State
were all present. -Four communicates
were present in a body, those from
Wheeling, Parkersburg, Huntington
and Charleston, and Joined in the par
ade
The Wheeling Knights were the first
10 arrive. coming in this morning Over
the Kanawha & Michigan railway in
their own special train and accom-
PANIED by the Opera House band, a
splendid musical organization. They
made a very pretty display, coming
from the train to the Hotel Ruffner,
their headquarters. They numbered
twenty-four.
Parkers5urg commandry, thirty
strong, came next, with banners flying
and, in splendid uniform. Huntington
commandry came next over the Cincin-
natl & Ohio railroad at l o'clock, and
with them the second regiment and ST.
Adams bands. Fairmont and De Mo-
lay commanderies were due on the
steamer Ben Hur early this morning,
but did not get here on account OF tEe
low water in the Kanawha river.
At II a. m. the grant parade took
plaos. 1t was formed in the following
order: Platoon of police; st. Adams
band: Kanawha commandry, No. 4;
Grand commandry; Wheeling band; Cy-
rene commandry, No. l. Wheeling; Cal
vary commandry, No. 3, of Parkers-
burg; Fairmont, No. 6! Huntington
band Huntington commandry, no. 9.
The parade was under the command
of Sir knight E. l.. Buttrick, as chief
marshall, with Sir knights Charles X.
Haine. John l.. Dickinson and II. n.
knight as aides.
All the principal business houses and
residences on the line Of march were
decorated with banners and Masonic
emblems. Thousands of people wit
messed the splendid pageantry.
The grand commandery held its bust
ness session in the afternoon. After
the disposal Of the ordinary routine
busmess the following officers were
elected:
Right Eminent Sir, ]. C. Riheldaffer,
of Wheeling, Grand Commander; Emil
nent Sir l.. n. Tavener. of Parkersburg,
Deputy Grand Commander; Eminent
Sir John A. Zorn, of Wheeling, Grand
G Generalissimo; Eminent Sir George De-
bolt. of Fairmont, Grand Captain GEN
eral: Eminent Sir James A. Bryan, OF
Parkersburg, Grand Prelate; Eminent
Sir f. II. Markell, of Charleston, Grand
Senior Warden; Eminent Sir J. K. f.
Steele. of Bramwell, Grand Junior War
Gen; Eminent Sir d. w. Emmons, of
Huntington. Grand Treasurer; Eminent
Sir r. C. Darlington, of Fairmont,
Grand Warden; Eminent Sir VIM.
Campbell. o. Charles Town, Grand
Standard Bearer: Eminent Sir J. S.
Vandevort. of Weston, Grand Sword
Bearer; Eminent Sir George w. Creel,
of Grafton, Grand Warden; Eminent
Sir c. H. Ahrens, of Wheeling, Grand
Captain of the Guard.
" UtGilUS Ndo NuOSNn 90 tIO hNAN
place of meeting. In the evening each
of the four communicates present held
receptions in separate apartments at
Hotel Ruffner. Cyrene Commandery
held their reception in the hotel par
lor. which they had beautifully decor
ated with potted plants, cut flowers and
Masonic emblems. The Opera House
orchestra, with sixteen pieces, dis
coursed some of its sweetest music dur
ing the evening.
r.. EN-. Sir John Riheldaffer and
Prof. John NJ. Burch were masters of
ceremony, and right royalty did they
perform that function.
The Opera House band gave a concert
in the lobby at Hotel Ruffner during
the afternoon, which attracted an i'm
mense crowd of people. The Wheeling
knights leave for home tonight at 1
o'clCsk.