The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-28
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ISSUES AN
ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC.
Nature and Size of the Great Gather
ing Next Summer-What 1t
Means to Indianapolis.

The executive committee in charge of
the local arrangements for the meeting Of
the Supreme Lodge, *. of P, and the ma
tional encampment of the Uniform Rank
next August yesterday issued an address to
the people Of Indianapolis explaining the
nature of the gathering and asking general
cooperation in making it a success. The
address is as follows:
''To the Business Men and Citizens of In
dianapols:
''The fame of the Hoosier capital as a
convention city has spread from sea to sea,
that indianapolis has been honored by
many of the ch-sought-after and very
largest transitory bodies That mold thelr
meetings at regular intervals. These great
national gatherings, which it is not here
deemed necessary to enumerate have all
aided in extending world wide the reputa-
ton of this CITY and of its citizens for
bounteous hospitality and excellent enter
tainment. While this reputation is fully APP
preciated by all our residents, we fully real
ize tfat these numerous gatherings have
drawn heavily upon the time and re-
sources of our people, but either directly
or indirectly all or nearly all nave been
greatly benefited 1t naturally involves
much hard labor and costs some money to
play the part OF host to many of these large
gatherings. and now that we will, in 1895,
be confronted with the necessity of exer-
cising both these functions we must be
equal to the occasion and do our part of
the work and assume our portion of the
expense willingly, promptly and ungrudg-
ingly.
NATURE OF THE GATHERING.
at is doubtless we'll known to all that
the twentieth biennial convention of the
Supreme Lodge, knights of Pythias, and
the national encampment branch Of the or
der were invited to Indianapolis by the
city officials, the Board of Trade, the Com
mercial Club, of Indianapolis, and the
Grand Lodge, knights of Pythias of In
md hat yffafi Trdi lIy
and warmly extended were almost unani-
mously accepted by the Supreme Lodge at
it's convention held in the city of Cleveland,
o., in August, 1896. The twentieth conven-
ton and the attending great military en-
campment will therefore be held in this city
beginning the 23d of August, 1885, contin-
uing for a period of eight days, and the
legislative body will be in session for
week longer.
What it is: This biennial gathering of
representative citizens of every State and
Territory and British provinces, members
and friends of this greatest of American
fraternal organizations, is known and rec
ognized as the largest body of its kind
that meets in the United States, and, with
the attendance at former meetings held in
the larger cities of the country as a basis,
and from information as to the interest
now being taken in various parts of the
Union, conservative estimate of the num-
Der who will visit us next August will not
fall short of one hundred thousand people,
most of them strangers to the city, who
will come for pleasure or on business, and
remain with us in an unbroken and solid
body for six or ten days.
What 1t means: 1t will readily be under
stood that such gathering at such time
will prove to be great advantage to In
dianapolis as city but to our business
enterprises, not only from a financial point
of view, but from the far more important
fact of the very widespread advertising
that our city and its many and varied in
terests will receive by reason of the pres
ence of such multitude of strangers. The
benefit accruing from such q gathering to
all citizens cannot be computed in dollars
and cents, but it is patent to- all that it
will revert to the profit, the credit and
the honor of every citizen.
THE MILITARY CAMP.
1.-THE spectacular feature of the biennial
meetings is the encampment of the Uni
form Rank, the military branch of the or
der Numerically stronger than the regular
army Of the United States), which will be
represented by eighteen thousand to TWEEN
ty thousand men in attractive uniforms,
who will go into a well-appointed military
camp and remain during the entire week or
longer. In connection with this branch
and participated in by the members of the
Uniform Rank will be the great parade,
review and prize drills, which will provide
spectacles of military pagentry that never
have been equaled in the West.
What must be done The work of prepa-
ration for this event is in no sense a
light task, and already the more i'm
portant committees have been appointed to
take charge of the preliminary Details AS
will be observed, the executive committee
appointed by the representative organiza-
tons is composed of leading and represent
atiVe business and professional men-men
in whom all citizens have the fullest con-
fidence-and to whom you are earnestly re-
quested to render every possible assistance
ing the many details for systematic work,
and have thus far accomplished much
"One of the most important matters in
connection with the convention and en-
campment is the question of money-the
amount necessary to properly prepare for
the accommodation Of those who Will go
into camp, particularly and for the enter
tainment of the entire number. The eX-
e ecutive committee will need fund OF $50
amount must be available no later than
April l, 1898. The uses to which the amount
will be applied are here Indicated in or
der that every citizen may fully understand
the purpose for which the money is needed.
The equipping of the camp with brigade,
regimental and company tents camp chairs
and tables sanitary arrangements light
water and fuel for the camp, labor and
employees for the camp, reviewing stands,
period of preparation, advertising, pro-
grammes, souvenir and other printing, dec
orations, illuminations, entertainment, mu-
sic and badges, incidental committee ex-
penseS, prizes for competitive drills en-
ployes for booths of information, reviewing
stands and camps. The members of the
ton.
"Ths is a common call for common
cause. The city, the press, the business
man, the merchant, the mechanic, the man
ufacturer--all lines of business and every
enterprising citizen is interested in the sue
cess, well-being and good name of Indian
apolis, and to that end. keeping before you
at all times the enviable and dignified po-
sition which this city, the greatest in
land town in the United States, holds and
will continue to hold before the American
reople you will cheerfully respond to the
call of the committee on finance when re-
quested so to do. You can assist not only
by your subscription to the fund, but by
your support of the gentlemen who have
in their hands the immediate charge of
affairs.
1.-The various railroads have guaranteed
rate of ! cent a mile. and the committee on
transportation will look to the matter of
securing the largest possible attendance
from every section of the country.
1.-The finance committee will begin the
work Of soliciting at an early day and all
are urged to make as liberal a subscription
as possible. Very truly,
JAMES r. ROSS.
For the Executive Committee.
FRANK BOWERS. Secretary"