The San Francisco call., 1898-10-10


 ] cOnclave ever been opened on
 more beautiful day than it was in Pittsburg to-day. The sun, after having been hidden behind rain filled clouds for several days, burst upon the awakening city this morning and threw his rays of smiles and admiration upon the festival array of streets and build ings, which made every one feel that this was an omen of the weather god. The influx of Knights. which com menced yesterday. continued during the day, and up to midnight, when the for nal opening of the conclave was in augurated with the festival sermon at the Trinity Episcopal Church. There was a congregation assembled larger than this historic building has ever held.
 The first formal event of the pro- gramme of the twenty-seventh Trienni- al Conclave of Knights Templar took place in Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church It was the official divine serV- ice of the Knights Templar. and was very impressive and largely attended.
 Most Eminent Sir Knight Warren La rue Thomas, Grand Master. was escort ed to Trinity Church by 500 Knights TemplaT, add as many more crowded the church yards, unable to obtain ad- mittance. The old church was filled to its utmost capacity. Rev. pr. Alfred W. Arundel, rector of Trinity, read the service, and the sermon was delivered by Rev. Dr. Cornelius L. living, rector of Calvary Church, Brooklyn, N. Y, and Grand Prelate of the Grand En- campment.
 After a graphic description of Tem- plarism. as related to the relieving of distress and the uplifting of the fallen, pr. Twing said:
 To-day we meet in this beautiful temple erected to God and consecrated to his worship, to ask his presence and his blessing upon the labors in which we shall be engaged and upon the pleasures we shall enjoy. From every part of our land there come.-. to this goodly city thousands of Knights Tenn plar.
 We come in peace, from all parts of land that Is a peace. The sound of war has ceased; the strife is over; the bravery of our army and navy has won a glorious victory, and war that has lasted about 100 days has advanced civilization 100 years in the lands that have been freed from the power of nation that has always persecuted Free masonry and tried by inquisitorial methods to suppress it.
 Thank God for that victory; thank God for the loyalty and patriotism of the entire United States. Thank God for the good example of the brave boys who have given up their lives for the cause of humanity and progressive lib erty.
 The Grand Encampment soon to as- semble in triennial cOnclave are repre- sentatives of the great and glorious or der of Christian Knighthood. Like our ancient brethren we are marching to- ward Jerusalem, but not the one of Ju- dea, but the Jerusalem on the hills of heaven. Inhoc signO vinces' was the mot to of the heroes, of the cross in the past. They put the precepts of the Christian religion into practice, and it bore fruit in their lives and action. We must do likewise, or our profession is a vain and idle thing"
 During the day enough Knights ar rived in the city from all parts of the country to swell the number now here to something like 10000 The local re- ception committee expects at least 25,- 900 Knights before the parade on Tues day
 The following communicates arrived to-day: Los Angeles, No 9, of Los An geIes, Cal; Potomac, No 3, of Wash ington, D. C.; De Molay, No. 4, of Washington, D. C.; Anderson, No. 32, of Anderson, Ind; Apollo, No. 19 of Ken 1 dallville, Ind; the Grand Commandery of Missouri; the Grand Commandery l of Indiana: the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts; Hutchison, No. 32, of | Norristown, Pa; Rose Croix, No S3, of | Huntsville, Pa the Grand COmmandery | of Tennessee; the Grand Commandery | Of Virginia; St. Andrews, No. 13, of | Richmond, Va; old Dominion, No. Il, Of Alexandria, Va; Grace, No. 16 of Norfolk. Va
 To-day's festivities were marred by one mournfui feature. The remains of Sir Knight George w. Starr, who died on the train en route to Pittsburg. were to-day escorted to the Baltimore and Ohio station, to be conveyed to Balti- more, for interment. The deceased Knight was Past Grand Master of Bal timore Commandery, No. 2, and Poten- tate of Boumi Temple of Baltimore.