The San Francisco call., 1897-05-19
With the Knights Of
Pythias Comes the
Valley Road.
Wornmen Lay Rails Over the
Boundary Line of the
Convention City.
Rejoicing in Their Good Fortune,
Citizens Are Lavish In Hospi-
tality to Their Guests,

State. and the Rathbone Sisters, the wo-
mans branch of the same order, are being
overwhelmed by the hospitality OF its
people. Grand Chancellor McGlashan's 8
statements IN responding to Major Hicks
address of welcome exactly fit the case.
You have not merely hung the latch.
string on the outside" he said, "but you
have pulled the string out and given it to
u.s."
Hanford is enjoying the thrill of pecu-
liarly exciting days in her history. The
city is not only being overrun by a big
body of representative men and women
from every quarter OF the State. but the
city limits were crossed this afternoon by
body of workingmen bringing their
work with them, and that work marking
an epoch in the towns onward and up
ward march. They were laying the track
of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad. Only
a few months ago great part of the pop
uiation of the city refused to believe that
the road would ever come to Hanford, but
the most stubborn dou bier has been
changed into the most enthusiastic be-
lever by the presence of the track itself.
So the reception to the Knights, which
is to continue through the week, will have
a climax placed upon it by grand cele-
bration on Saturday of the completion of
the Valley road into the city. The pro-
gramme for the week EN- mbraces street
parades by day and music and dancing by
night, with receptions, exhibition drills
and drives through this land of vines and
wines between times. With all the temp
tations to outdoor enjoyment with which
the Knights and Sisters are being sur
rounded, those who attend the formal
business sessions of the Grand Lodge and
the te mple will deserve more than ordi-
nary credit.
The Grand Lodge convened promptly at
8 clock this morning. One hundred and
seven past chancellors were admitted to
mem bership. At 10 o'clock the doors OF
the lodge, which is in session at the
opera house, were thrown open for the
Mayor and city officers.
Mayor Hicks took the platform and for
mally welcomed the delegates to the city.
instead of the stale old key proposition,
he said, he presented Grand Chancellor
McGlashan with iatchstring in the form
of plated RIBBON of festal colors. In his
remarks Mayor Hicks said:
Probably no fraternal organization has met
with more marked growth within the past
quarter of a century than the knights OF
Pythiss. The very name OF your order as well
as the work il does appeals to the sense OF
right, and for men TO be banded together to
maintain toward each other the relations
which existed between Damon and Pyth1as OF
old is the highest standard OF earthly bro other.
hood. L am also reminded that your order
through its auxiliary, the Uniform Rank, has
become military factor recognized by the
q
our shores an army of Knights as brave as any
that honored knighthood OF old will meet
them and defend the stars and stripes.
But, best of all, l am reminded that your
order true TO its progressive spirit, has taken
women into its fraternal homes, in the persons
of the Rathbone Sisters and in extending this
welcome 10 you l am glad to say that Kings
County, conscious of woman's rights, at the
recent election rolled up 800 majority for
equal suffrage.
The grand chancellor responded briefly,
saying that the exhibition of good will
and hospitality by the city had been un-
equaled.
the grand chancellor. 1t congratulated
the order upon its increased strength of
members. Despite the pressure of hard
times some 300 new members have been
added to the rolls during 1896, making a
total at present of 10.772, the highest
numb reached in twenty-elght years. 1t
spoke highly of the Sacramento board OF
relief, and it suggested the lowering of
the age limit so as to admit young men OF
Is years, = move which would enlist en-
thusiastIc young blood which would hold
to Pythianism as its first love in fraternal
orders. report insianced graphically
the scope of the orders good work in the
following words:
"Once knight always knight has been
practically illustrated in many instances dur
ing the past year. Mars Lodge No. 2O2 es-
poused the cause of brother Frank Tucker
member of an Eastern lodge, who was under
sentence of two years imprisonment at hard
la Dor in Alcatraz. At first 1t seemed as if mis-
only recommendation was that he was a
knight of Pythias, but upon examining into
the facts he was granted pardon after
brief four months Incarceration.
Cotton Lodge No. 1877 finds one OF its mem
bers lying in a South American jail, charged
with murder but unable to secure hearing
Through the grand and supreme chancellors
the authorities at Washington are reached
and the entire machinery of the American
Government is in active motion endeavoring
to secure for him a fair trial and a. oppor-
tunity 10 vindicate himself.
Another lodge discovers former member
serving q life sentence at Folsom for q crime
of which ne protests he knows nothing.
thorough, systematic investigation is set on
foot, and, if The facts warrant, steps will be
taken to secure his release.
Ours is law-abiding, crime-detesting in
tensely loyal order but it is great enough,
broad enough, liberal enough, and it has
sufficient strength and influence to protect in.
nocent men in every peril, to follow worthy
men when unjustly accused to dungeon cells
or if need be, to the gal lows itself We hope
the time has come when every American citi-
protection will secure his just rights in any
foreign land, but we are inexpressibly proud
to know that Pythlanism protects its mem
bers wherever the sun shines.
Pluto Lodge No. 130 has knowledge that a.
member OF an Eastern lodge is in destitute
circumstances and sorely afflicted by an al
cial straits and cannot aid him. Pluto Lodge
obtains q dispensation, appeals to her sister
California lodges and gives the brother the
most skillful medical care and attendance OF
one of the best hospitals in San Francisco
Summit Lodge No. Sd knows that a long
suspended member is in want and dying from
rheumatism. 1t enlists the Masons and Odd
Fellows In his behalf, for he was formerly An
honored member of both, and the three or.
ders send him away to medical springs, where
he is cured.
San Jose No. 25 has a most deserving past
chancellor who loses leg Alter helping i'm
to the extent OF their power they obtain a dis.
pensation to appeal TO the lodges or the State
for help TO procure for him an artificial limb
that he may be able to support himself and
those depending upon him.
Redlands Lodge No. 186 is aware that a de.
serving knight has become permanently
blind. The afflicted brother belongs to an.
other domain, but has lived in Redlands long
enough to demonstrate that he is noble
hearted Pythian. The lodge decides to pro.
vide home for the destitute man and his
family. A petition is circulated among the
lodges, asking them each to assist iehtly
but Redlands No 1876 bears the brunt Of the
burden and does ii cheerfully and generously
The Grand Lodge did not meet in the
afternoon, or met only to adjourn. as
carriages had been ordered to convey the
delegates to the Lucerne vineyards, where