Evening star., 1898-09-29

view of the important matters left unfin-
ished. The motion prevailed.
The discussion on the report of the
III &nce committee vas then resumed, which
led to the committee asking leave for a
brief conference.
Meanwhile MIR. ]. B. Merritt made his re-
port on Independent grand chapters, rec
ommerding that the General Grand Chan
rituals of the order in exchange for the
rituals now used by them. The report was
adopted.
On the return of the committee on finance
the discussion of its report was resumed
and took up the time till adjournment for
lunch at 1870 o'clock
At , O'Clock the order reassembled and
resumed its discussion, which was still in
progress at the hour The Stars report
closed.
The Pilgrimage.
At 1920 o'clock yesterday the General
Grand Chapter of the order visited Mount
Vernon, Alexandria and Arlington, as the
guests of the Grand Chapter of the Dis
trict, accompanied by a large number of
friends. They were met at 1872 street and
Pennsylvania avenue by Mr. Charles !
James. on behalf of the committee on ex-
cursion. and placed in charge of Mr. John
f. ONeill and Mrs. Carrie B Allen The
| venerable appearance of Alexandria was a
subject OF comment among western dele
gates n house 200 years old seemed to
s.
ltlnS member the place was not entirely
unfamiliar, for Right Worthy Associate
Patron Gearhart had bivouacked at ('Ioud's 9
Mllls, about three miles from Alexandria
IN 6l, and bears the effect of a Gettyshure
bullet, which has ever since made his right
leg shorter than it really ought to be
On coming near Mount Vernon a solemni-
y was apparent, and with due respect the
visitors entered the historic mansion where
lived and died Washington. The brave
| tht wise, tie good; supreme in war IN
council. and in peace" The house was care
iulIy inspected all points of interest Wis
iIe", ana many beautiful souvenirs pur-
chased. 1t is deemed proper TO saw thar
the courtesy shown by those in charge of
'he mansion was worthy of the place and
occasion.
Ihe visit to Arlington was somewhat try
l'S- hen II Is known that there is lJ6-
foot rise from the entrance to the mansion
comprising 1875 steps, 1t will not be surpris-
ing one young lady wanted to 90 to he'd
at once on reaching the house, and another
lacetouSly remarked that there were
rooms to rent on the top floor On being in
formed later on that one of the surround
Ing trees was called the tree of Paradise
she SAID she now understood why the ac-
cess was so difficult
When TIE magnificence of the scene hurst
upon their view everything else was for
gotten. The information was CLEANED that
some 1l,HD of the nations defenders were
beneath the ground on which the delegates
trOd, ana that but last week forty of our
brave boys who fought in Cuba were added
to the score, and Chastened feeling was
evident.
At . O'Clock the party returned to Wash
lngton after d day replete with historical
interest.
Banquet at Rifles ArmOry.
The banquet held by the Order of the
Eastern Star at Rifles Armory last night
surpassed in magnifcence even the recep-
ton OF the night before. Flags flowers
bunting, palms and garlands of smlax dec
Grated the hall. There were four tables on
the stage for the general and local officers
and five large tables running along the
entire length of the hall The banquet was
served by Freuud, a member Of the order
ana the appointments were perfect and the
v!ands excellent. TIE first page of the
menu card was handsomely designed In
the center of the page was the insignia of
the order, single star each point of
which. however, bore q symbol of the or
Sanl2dtion. In the center of the star was
a representation of the dome of the Capt.
tol. In the four corners of the card were
represented the Washington monument
White House, Congressional Library and
Washngtons home at Mount Vernon. At
the extreme top in the center was the mon