The San Francisco call., 1897-06-27
Enjoy a Drive Through
the Fertile Valley
of the Eel.
Find a Banquet Awaiting Them
at the End of Their
Pilgrimage.
Ohe Guest Declares the San Fran.
olscans Have at Last Found
Their Utopia.

FERNDALE, CAL, June 26.-The Sir
Knights of California Commandery Nc. 1
ana Eureka Commsndery No. SO accom-
panied Grand High Priest Pierce of the
Royal Arch Masons to Ferndaie to-day.
There a new chapter of the Royal Arch
Masons. to be hereafter known as Fern
dale Chapter No. 78, was instituted.
The party lett Eureka at 80 o'clock on
a special train and proceeded TO Singlevs
station, whence its mem bers were ferried
across Eel River. On the opposite bank
they were met by a sufficient number of
conveyances and conducted through the
rich and prosperous valley of the Eel
One after another smiling pastures dotted
with grazing kline and cozy farmhouses
were passed. The crsameries were all
visited and the process of converting the
milk into delicious butter noted. One sir
knlg ht exclaimed:
well, this is a city mans Utopia,
where the cream shows little water and
the buttermilk is unadulterated."
Ferndale was reached al o'clock. Most
of the party were disappointed at the early
termination OF the ride. Others. who had
been unfortunate enough to be placed in
| wagons devoid of springs, considered that
they had had slight overdose OF rusticity
| in the iolting they had experienced.
At Ferndaie a right royal reception
awaited the pilgrims. They were taken
in hand by the members OF the craft and
| treated with marked courtesy. At 3
O'clock the valiant Sir Knights escorted
! their ladies fair to the beautifully deco
rated banQuet-hall with ali the chivalric
courtesy of We olden time. 1t was here
that the resident Masons outdid them
selves. The hall was a bower of lowell
ness. Banks OF ferns and evergreens. en-
twined by brilliant flowers, were heaped
up all along the sides. Smilax and ivy
were entwIned around the pillars and
gallery supports. Over 800 persons sat
down to the spread. There was an abun-
dance OF everything.
DR.. Ring. IN the name of Chapter 7S
| Royal Arch Masons, welcomed the
| knights and their ladies to Ferndale
After the banquet Sir Knight Deuprev
OF California Commandery being called
upon spoke Of the gratitude which the
visiting drill corps felt foT the magnificent
treatment accorded it everywhere. He
said that his only wish was that the
memories left behind would be as Dl as
ant as thoss carried away His address
was gem OF after-dinner oratory.
Sir Knight Smith spoke of the natural
resources OF the county and ended his ex-
travagant praise with a euogy on the
excellence OF humboldt cream. His
speechwas very witty and put his listen
efs into an excellent humor.
Tue dnll corps of California Command
ery and Eureka Commandery formed an
escort at o'clock this evening and con-
Quoted Grand High Priest Pierce and his
aids and the officers and mem bers of the
new chapter of Royal Arch Masons to
Pythian Castle, where the ceremonies
were to be performed. The grand officers
appointed by the grand high chief of the
| State of California TO assist in the ipstitu-
tion of the new chapter are: T. B. Cutler.
deputy grand high priest; J. b. Richard
son, king; Thomas Morton, scribe; A. +
Corbel, treasurer: E. n. Deuprey, secre-
tary; Thomas Kyle, chaplain; F. w.
Titus, captain of host; J. :. Young, royaI
arch captain; S. A. Mcdonnell, guard.
The new chapter will contain thirty-two
members, with the following officers:
William Dinsmore, high priest; f. w.
Luther, king; S. b. Swift, scribe; F. w.
| Oliver, captain of host; c. A. Doe, royal
| arch captain; +. 6. Williams, principal
soiourner: Z. A. Pearson. master of third
veil; H. S. Delamere, master of second
veil; l. A. Russ, master of first veil; J. A.
Shaw, treasurer: J. H. frost, secretary; !;
ID. Stillings, guard.
After the exercises were concluded the
Sir Knights were driven to the station
and departed for Eureka, thoroughly de-
lighted with the splendid entertainment
provided tor them by the mem bers of the
creft and their efficient assistants, the
ladies' OF the e ,stern Star Lodge of Fern
dale. Tomorrow morning the Sir Knights
and their ladies' will attend divine services
IN Eureka. AT P they Will board the
Pomona for the return to San Francisco.