The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-26


The Knights Templar are here. that
is, most of them are here, as at midnight
nearly all of the thirty-seven COM
manderies which will participate In the
conclave had arrived. Those which
had not put in an appearance are To-
Gated in nearby cities and they Will
come in time to participate In the par
ade which begins at 10 o'clock this
morning.
Hugh de Payens was the first organ
ization to report. 1t reached here on
the Jersey Central road at noon yester-
day and headed by its own band, the
Couturier, and led by an escort of
local Sir Knights and Bauers band,
marched to the Hotel Jermyn. From
the time the Eastonians arrived until
midnight there was almost continuous
incoming of communicates. The streets
I'm the business section resounded with
the strains of spirited band music and
saw commandery after commandery
go passing by.
Sir Knights are everywhere. Some
are in uniforms. some are without, and
where the Sir Knight does not appear
in person there Is 81 banner, cross.
a crown, or some other thing to denote
that he is hereabouts
An important fact and one which was
last night known to only the Grand
commandery officers. is the pres
ence at the Hotel Jermyn of Right
Eminent Sir Warren Larue Thomas.
grand master of the United States. He
il the most exalted officer of the Ma
sonic order in the country and is in
general command of 10000 men. Grand
Master Thomas reached here at 10
o'clock, having come via. Philadelphia
direct from his home in Maysville, KY,
and was accompanied by Right Emin-
ent Sir James II Hopkins, Of Pitts
burg.
HONORS THE OCCASION.
1t Is not all state Masonic organiza-
tions that can secure the presence of
the national grand master, and his pres
ence Is considered no less an honor to
the city and state than to the Grand
commandery. Fer obvious reasons II
was not made known last night. even
to prominent Sir Knights, that Grand
Master Thomas was in the city He
was somewhat fatigued and while he
. mingled with the grand officers late in
the evening there was successful ef-
fort to keep his presence unknown. He
will probably accompany Right lcmln-
ept Sir Grand Commander Snancer in
this mornings parade and will be one
Of the reviewing party.
The extent of the crowd already in
the city was not fully appreciated until
after O'clock. From that hour until
II O'Clock the streets in the business
section and especially in the hotel dis
trict We're fairly choked with Sir
knights and their fair companions.
bands and communicates in bodies. The
coming and going was incessant and it
was with difficulty that carriages could
be driven through the streets. One
could not turn a corner without run
ming into a band. Women were every
where. Not few of them were in
evening dress. The presence of SO
many on the streets was particularly
due to the receptions. from one to three
being held in each Of the large hotels.
Neither yesterday nor last night saw
the real beginning of the conclave
which starts with the parade and review
at 10 o'clock this morning. The evening
however, was given over to the order,
as there was big reception by the
grand officers in the parlors of the Hotel
.Iermyn and an elaborate "at home" Of
the two Scranton communicates, Melita
and Occur de Lion, in the Scranton
Rowing club rooms on Spruce street.
In addition there were individual COM
mandery receptions at the Wyoming,
House. the st. Charles, the Valley
House, and the Hotel Jermyn and a
band concert at Hotel Terrace.
HEADQUARTERS THRONGED.
Throughout the day the headquarters
of the grand officers at the Jermyn and
Of the local executive committee In the
rockingham arcade We're thrOnged
with visitors. At the former place the
callers were those who had business
with Grand Recorder Mont II. Smith or
with the other grand officers relative
to grand commandery matters. while
at the local headquarters there was Il
volume Of inquiries answered and other
business done concerning the more
general and detailed conclave arrange
ments.
From the time the communicates first
hegan to arrive there were many ex-
pressions of compliment and approval
concerning the welcome accorded them,
the decorations, the detailed plans and
everything that had to do with the
conelave. During the day and night
not hitch occurred nor did an ar
rangement miscarry.
At midnight all the grand officers had
arrived and by o'clock this morning
u Is likely that the following past grand
commanders will be here. General j.
II 8. Goblin, who is a past grand master
of the United States and the present
commander of the Third brigade, Ma
tional Guard Pennsylvania; Hon 1rv-
Ing p. Wanger, Of Norristown, con-
kressman from the Seventh district;
1slion.i James H. Codding. of Towanda
congressman from the Fifteenth dis
ham Of Philadelphia; Joseph Alexan-