Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-25
ORDER OF BLACK KNIGHTS
National Convention of the German Benevo-
lent Association.
officers Elected for Next Year-RitunI
ChnnYes-Parnde and Ball
Tonight.

The convention of the Deutscher Orden
Schwartz Ritter, or Order of the Black
Knights, which began yesterday at Arion
Hall, OH Sth rear E street northwest, con-
tinued today. The proceedings were secret,
and ii was announced at the noon recess
that nothing would be given out for publ
cation regarding them until the afternoon
session, which commenced at o'clock, was
concluded.
There will be a ball given tonight at
Masonic Temple in honor of the grand OIL
GERS and the visiting delegates. 1t will be
preceded by a parade composed of the
Black knights belonging to the several
branches in the District, who will act as
an escort to the distinguished guests. Head
ed the Canton Potomac Band, the line
will proceed from the place of forma :ion
at Arion Hall to F street, to 18th. to Penn
sylvania avenue, to Az street, back to 18th
street, to F street, to Masonic Temple.
Emil A. Fl. Ruik, chief senior knight of the
District, will be chief marshal; Benjamin
SeibOde, chief of staff; Charles Gerner, ad-
jutant, and Jacob Bruegger and John Eller,
aids.
Officers Elected.
The sessions of the convention began yes
terday morning at O'clock the intro
ductory meeting being devoted to the hear
ing of reports of the various officers and
appropriate action upon them. At the af-
ternoon session the annual election of Off
GERS was held resulting in the choice of
the following: Sir Michael koenig, Phila-
delphia, noble arch knight; Sir Herman
kuemmer, Baltimore, noble chief knight;
Sir John Schutt. Baltimore. noble treas
urer; Sir E. c. Linden. Washington, noble
secretary; Sir Ferdinand Heindel Cam
den, N. j.. noble equerry: Sir Henry Noll,
Camden. N. j., noble warden. and Sir
Charles Garner. Washington. noble guard.
The important question of reorganizing
the ritual of the order and the changing
of certain life insurance and beneficial feat
ures was discussed with much interest and
animation, and was finally referred to a
committee. with full power to act, COM
posed of William Specht, New York; John
Saul, New Jersey; William Schmidt, Penn
sylvania; John B. Buechl;ng District of
Columbia, and George Mathes, Maryland.
Notes Of the Convention.
A pleasant feature of the proceedings yes
terday was the presentation to Sir George
w. Horsky of this city, the retiring noble
arch knight, of a beautiful jewel Of the
order in solid gold, with emerald setting,
bearing the initials Of the order and the
German colorS.
Sir E. c. L:ndin of this CITY, the newly
elected secretary entertained the grand
officers and delegates last night at a very
enjoyable musical and dramatic entertain
Tent AT MS TeSlueHCe.
The headquarters Of the knights are at
Fritz Reuters Hotel, Az street and Penn
sylvania avenue.
The local committee having in charge
the comfort and entertainment of the visit
ing delegates Is composed as follows: Will
liam Hannemann, chairman; Charles E.
Gerner. vice chairman; John Meininger,
secretary: Fred Waterholter, treasurer: Ed
ward c. Linden and John B. Buechling of
the Grand Castle of the District of Column
bia; Gottfried Barth, Fred Seebode and
Louis Buerosse of Columbia Castle No. 81
Fred Hermann. John Knabe and John Ref
of Columbia Castle No. 30: Robert Weber,
John Schad and Adolf Seebode of Company
2. Uniformed Rank: Mrs. Louise Rink,
Mrs. Helen GEM and Miss Margaret Half
pan of Queen Louise Auxiliary Castle.
The order of the Black Knights Is one
Of the three important secret and benevo-
lent German associations in the United
States, and its beneficial features re-
garded as excellent. 1t was first instituted
at Philadelphia in 1867, and the first castle
in this city was founded in 1886. 1t is
modelled after the tradition of King Arthur &
knights of the Round Table, who swore to
uphold benevolence, justice and nobility of