The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-08-26
ooNoLAvE OF PYTHIANs.


Growth of tho Order Is Shown In SUI
preme Chancellor Richie's Report
CLEVELAND, Aug. 25.-With booming
Of guns, inspiring music and brill
liant dress parade, Camp Perry-Payne,
the home OF thousands of Pythians,
was formally dedicated Monday after
noon and the city of white tents is
now in charge of Maj. Gen. Carnahan.
The dedication took place on the big
commons in front of the major gener-
ais headquarters, where nearly all the
members of the camp assembled. The
ceremonies opened with brief speech
by Director General Day, of the cen
tennial commission, after which May
r. McKisson rendered the camp to
Brig. Gen. Howe, of the Ohio. brigade,
who in turn formally rendered the en-
campment to Supreme Chancellor
Richie. Another speech followed, af-
ter which Supreme Chancellor Richie
turned the camp over to Gen. Carna-
han. A gun then announced that the
camp was formally in charge of the
commander of the great military di-
vision of the Knights of Pythias, the
flag was raised, the band played "The
Star Spangled Banner" and the great
Pythian encampment of 1896 was de-
clared formally open.
This weeks session of the supreme
lodge promises to be one of the liveliest
in the history of the order One of.the
principal subjects to come up will be
the matter of the German ritual, and
there is considerable feeling in regard
to the matter. 1t is alleged by some
supreme lodge members that the Ger
mans are making fight on this ques-
tion simply because they are dissatis-
fed with the measures recently taken
to prevent members from engaging in
the saloon business.
Another matter which is to come up
is the matter of the incorporation Of
the uniform rank. The supreme lodge
is an incorporated body, and now the
endowment rank, whose affairs are
controlled by the supreme lodge, is
raising the question why the organiza-
tion can not be incorporated if it is per-
mitted in the case of the uniform rank.
The report of Supreme Chancellor
Walter B. Richie was distributed in
pamphlet form Monday. In discussing
the much-mooted German question, he
says:
! Our order stands for Americanism 1t says
to those coming to our country not caring to
nttr 10 oN IN nhCopIn
| laws, not caring for our customs, thrice well
come will be the ship that shall bear you
| back to the land from whence you came. This
| order In this country desires no man for
| member who does not wish to know It's tongue
and does not care to familiariZe himself with
It's laws, and has not proper regard for It's
| customs and institutions. Fully 9j per cent
of the foreign membership of our order prior
| to the adoption Of the new ritual are loyal to-
| day. No doubt some good men may leave us;
| but, as very large per cent who did not re-
| gard our tongue, our laws and our customs
have withdrawn on account of the new ritual
1t turns the apparent loss to gain. Our order
is better off without those who care not for its
| tongue, its laws and its customs.
The report of r. L. c. white, supreme keeper
of records and seals, showed that in 1861 there
were three subordinate lodges and7s members
and in 1896 650l subordinate lodges and 4G4.5S
| members There were gains IN 39 states and
| territories and loss in 10.
The number of members December 81, 1898,
| was 443.6i5; December 81. 1891, asa 80 making
| q net gain OF 2092I. AS evidence that the sub
ordinate lodges are at work, the number Of in
| itiates during the years 1894 and 1895 was 103-
| 1872
The report of Major General James r. Car
\ nahan, commanding the uniform rank, showed
/ h.,I tafa
| all the expenses OF the management. The in
come for the biennial term was S1s035, Gnd the
| outlay S7,S0& The rauli had made u steady
growth. Warrants had been granted for l0l
new divisions,
In his report, Thomas G. Sample, supreme
| master OF the eXchequer, congratulated the
order upon the healthy condition of its finances.
| The receipts for the biennial term ending
March 81, 1896, including q balance of sa905a,
we're SlSS,69O, and the expenditures Sl47,7 ,70S,
| leaving balance of S35, ,S07
One of the most important meetings
of Monday was the opening of the con-
vention of the supreme assembly Of the
Pythian Sisterhood at the Forest City
house.
There are 60 representatives of the
supreme assembly and almost all of
them were present when the meeting
was called to order. The day was TAX
en- up largely by the receipt of reports
Of officers and committees and the
work of organization. The sessions of
the assembly will continue the greater
part of the week.
The first session of the imperial pal
ace of the Knights of Khorassan con-
vened at Memorial hall Monday with
about 200 votaries in attendance.