The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-19
Music by the Fifth Artillery
Band Enlivens the
Spectacle.
GRANDLoDeE RANK CONFERRED
A Big Reception to Be Given to the
Grand Representatives Thurs.
day Evening.
on Searching for

Crash! The great Gym balls of the Fifth
Artillery band of Mars Lodge No. 202
came together as a signal and in an in
slant the walls Of Union League Hall were
echoing and re-echoing with the lively
strains of a martial air.
With the music opened also the twenty
eighth annual convention of the Grand
Lodge OF Knights of Pythias OF Caiifornia.
Early yesterday afternoon officers had
been rushing hither and thither and COM
mittees had made arrangements 10 have
everything pass off smoothly. By even
ing everything was ready for the inaugur-
alton of the session.
First came the annual convention of the
A. o. Z. W, and gsyly bedecked candi-
dates for higher honors and delegates
from the interior gave the town lively
aspect. Then came the Woman's Con-
gress, and the town was taken completely
by storm. The Odd Fellows were listed
third, and hardly had the last delegate
packed his grip and departed thence in all
the glory OF high spirits and multi-colored
badge ere the iron horse bore in upon rs
Sir Knighe of Pythias with all the aroma
of romance which is his by heritage and
adoption.
By O'Clock, the hour scheduled for
the opening ceremonies, Union-square
Hall, both main floor and gallery, was
crowded. Delegates and mem bers crowded
the outer hall and the stairway. Many
even stood round the entrance on the side
walk and discoursed with their fellows on
the work ana pleasure that lies before
them.
After the opening with music it was
announced that the committee on creden-
tials would retire 10 a private room and
prepare their report on the credentials of
the past chancellors and the representa-
tiyes on whom the Grand Lodge rank was
TO be conferred.
The names OF the committee are O. Nor
cross and 7. F. Carrigan. As soon as they
had fled out a recess was taken and in
stantly scene Of confusion prevailed that
rivaled the tower of Babel in all respects
save two-everybody spoke the Anglo
Saxon tongue, and not an ill-humored
countenance was seen or 8 harsh word
heard in the hall.
Everybody had hold of some one else's
hand and managed to shake hands with
the aforesaid person, slap him on the back
with the disengaged hand and ask after
his health and the physical welfare of his
family, his brothers family and frequently
of his third cousin and his mother-in-law
all at one and the same time.
The types OF humanity were as varied as
the sands of the sea, gentlemen with light
clothes and with dark clothes smooth
faced men and men that could hold their
own with PETER or Rip Van Wrinkle, hum
orous men and solemn-faced men, large
men and small men.
Every trade and profession was repre-
sented. Bankers and politicians elbowed
past one another TO get at some friend who
was himself doing his best to make some
one hear him above the uproar. Farmers
were there, newspaper men and collegians.
Asthe great human kaleidoscope shifted
round every now and then the band broke
in with waltz or march, and then every
body caught his neighbor by the arm and
endeavored TO make himself heard.
Between the intervals OF music well
nigh every topic in the human category
came under discussion
The gentlemen from the interior wanted
to know all about Buck ev's chances
against the Junta, and in return would
have TO explain why their particular dis
tr;cts were going TO go either Republican
or Democratic. Ana they all improved
the chance 10 do little PROSECUTING.
Some of the reiigiously inclined dis
cussed fin de steele church affairs. As an
evidence OF the interest DR.. Browns trial
excited in the interior as well as metro
politan circles, his name and the findings
OF the church council and the Bay Confer
eace, with varied comments thereon.
might have been heard at all points of the
compass.
The weather, the crops, McKinley's
chance for the Presidency, how TO be
saved-though Democrat-and other
things ali came in for their share OF talk.
The only notable exception to the gem
eral rule of action was an old gentleman
from one of the southern counties. He
got of into corner ID a chair and paid
no attention to anything but the pages of
some journal. Closer inspection showed