The San Francisco call., 1898-10-11
GRAND ELECTRICAL DISPLAYS
EMBLEMS OF THE ORDER AR
 RAYED IN PROPULSION.
Real Work Begins To-Day, and Af- ter the Monster Street Parade the Business Session
 Opens.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

l PITTSBURG, Oct. 10.-Within the brilliance of incandescence emanating
 from nearly half million electric
 lights the conclave of the Knights
 Templar has now fairly started, and to-
 night close upon 50,000 pilgrims are
 revelng in each others hospitality.
 The brilliancy of the city's street dec orations marks an epoch in the history of electric illumination. Within a radius of four blocks from the heart of the city 400,0 900 incandescent lamps burn every night. Huge electric crosses and en- blefns of Templarism are suspended on the sides of the citys tallest buildings, and there is hardly a store or shop in the downtown district which has not an illuminated design of some Masonic sig ntficance in its windows. The result at night is that Pittsburg presents a per feet blaze of electric glory, with an ef- feet that has probably never been equaled
 The day was chiefly spent by the diff ferent communicates in arranging their headquarters and getting ready to re- ceive their guests and visitors. In this respect the various delegations vied with each other in the matter of put ting up the most inviting refreshments, ranging from the glass of ice water up to Kentucky bourbon, California wines and even champagne. Souvenirs of all shapes. sizes and designs are in abund- ant evidence, and most of the Knights are bedecked with decorations not un- like a major general and veteran of at least twenty wars.
 Although the business meetings of the gathering have not yet commenced electio1eertng for the honcr of holding the next conclaye Is in active progress. In this respect the Louisville people are apparently in the lead.
 This afternoon the members from the Minnesota communicates virsually gave up the contest they had expected to make iE favor of St Paul.
 Northern New York delegations are plugging" for all they are worth to have the next conclave at Niagara Falls in 1901
 The foremost event of to-day's pro- gramme undoubtedly has been the re- ception and ball of Tancred Command cry No. AS of this city at their head quarters in the Courthouse, which com nenced at ? o'clock this afternoon, and
 
 tertaining, with unabated musical ac- compartment, is to continue until 12 o'clock tonight.
 The sights on the streets have never been equaled in this city, as far as the crowds are concerned. Street car traf- fc is at a standstilI and vehicles of all kinds are banished from downtown thoroughfares, while every inch of | sands of pedestrians, who move along like an immense wave of humanity. Then there are those on the sidewalks, shouting and applauding the parading Knights as they pass in an appar- ently never ending column through the streets.
 The five local communicates opened their headquarters and started the ball rolling. The day was largely taken up with receptions and in welcoming the influx of visitors, also with reception in honor of Grand Master Thomas and Governor Hastings of Pennsylvania i The real work of the conclave will 1 commence tomorrow, when the Grand | Encampment will be called to order at | the conclusion of the big parade.
 Following is a list of the commander les that arrived to-day:
 Grand CoEmandery, Colorado: Orient | No 3, Washington, D. C.; Sutton No. IS | New Bedford; Stomer No. q, South Bos- ton; Woonsocket No. g, Woonsocket, R. l.; St. Paul No. 40, North Adams. Mass. Berkshire No. p, Pittsfeld, Mass; Grand Commandery, New York; Central Civ field, Ohio; Shawnee No IA, Lima. Ohio. | Grand Commandery, Kentucky; De Mo- lay No. 12, Louisville. Occur de Lion No 34, Boston; Boston No. 2, Boston: Hugh de Payne No. 20, Melrose, Mass: Williar Boston; Grand Commanderv. Maine; Portland No. 2, Portland, Maine. Grand Commandery, Wisconsin; Grand Nebraska; Englewood No. s, Englewood, Ill.,; Grand Commandery. Texas; Galesburg, No. 8, Galesburg, IL: Trinity No. 2, Augusta, Maine Hunting ton No 35, Huntington, Ind; Palestine No. 5, St. Johnsbury, Vt; Hamilton No 5. Bridgeport Conn; Lewiston No. 6, Lew iston, Maine; Everett No. Is, Rock IsI- and, H.; Joliet No. 4, Joliet, H.; Allen No. %, Allentown, Pa; Kansas City No. 10. Kansas City; Gethsemane No 2, New tonville. Mass: Grand Commandery. Iowa. St. Louis No. 1, St. Louis; St. Aldemar No. IS, South Louisville; Findlay No. 40, Ohio: Grand Commandery, New Jersey; Ivanhoe No. Il, Bordentown, N | J.; Grand Commandery. Kansas; Grand Illinois; Chevalier Bayard [ No. 52, Chicago; Montjoie No. 53. Chi ! cago; Pilgrim No. 5, East Liverpool; St. Bernard No. 8, Chicago; Mountain No. 10, Altoona; Talbot Mo- 43, Oil City; Mas sillon. Massillon. Ohio Cache No. 2.sCon- neaut, Ohio; Erie No. 2. Sandusky, Ohio; Eagle No. 29. Gainesville, Ohio; Oriental No. 61, Johnstown; New Haven No. 2, New Haven; Clarence No. 51, Corry, Pa. No. 43, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; St Johns, Wilmington, Del; St. | Palestine No. 2. Martinsburg, W. Va.; Franklin No. A, Franklin; Wooster No sS Wooster, Ohio; Calvary No 3, Parkers-j