The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-23

PYTHIANS IN SESSION.
Biennial Gathering of The
Supreme Lodge in the
City Of Indianapolis
is, 900 MEN IN TIE PARADE
Someone Leaked About the
Finances and if Discovered
Will Be Expelled.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Aug. % 1885,
The Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias.
began its biennial session at the hall Of
the House of Representatives at the State
capitol this morning The Supreme Off
GERS We're escorted from headquarters at
the Denison. to the State House, By the
supreme Representatives and a special
guard of honor from the Uniformed
Rank. The rooms were beautifully decor
ated with the Pythian colors and emblens
of the Order, and the galIerieswhich were
thrown open at an early hour, were soon
crowded with the wealth and fashion Of
the city. Caleb s. Denny, ex-Mayor OF
Indianapolis, who is Chairman of the
Citizens Executive Committee, called the
meeting to order.
Mayor Taggart in brief address well
coined the Supreme Dodge and hoped that
its session would be a great value to the
order throughout tAesworld. On behalf Of
the State of Indiana. Gov James A.
Mount welcomed the Lodge. and on behalf
of the Grand Lodge of Indiana Grand
Chancellor Union B. Hunt made an adj
dress of welcome Supreme Chancellor
Colgrove replied for the Supreme Lodge
In speech of about ten minutes One or
two other prominent members of the
order mhde remarks and at II o'clock the
Supreme Lodge settled down to business,
after the galleries had been cleared
The supreme Lodge is In Door financial
condition, having less than $4,000 on hand,
and this fact has caused some of the
members TO severely criticize the present
supreme officers, and some OF these
charges found their way into the public
preme Lodge late this afternoon appoint
ed an Investigating committee to ascertain
who furnished the charges to the papers,
1t is the intention to expel the offending
member not only from the Supreme Lodge
but from the Order, and there Is talk Of
suits against the newspapers that printed
It is this condition of affairs that has
caused a determination to change the
manner of raising revenues. 1t is the In
tention to have passed at the beginning
of each Supreme Lodge meeting an APP
preparation bill similar to the bills pass
ed by Congress and the State Legisia-
lures and to raise thfs money a tax will
be levied on each member of the order.
There is considerable opposition to this
plan and hot fight is anticipated. The
officers of the Supreme Lodge will be
elected Thursday morning. A hard fight
is being made against the present incum-
bents but it is thought they will be re-
elected. except that Charles 2. Shively, of
Richmond. Ind. is leading for the posi-
tion of Vice-Chanene elloS.
There are about 40 900 strangers in the
city, of whom 49, 600 are in uniform. More
than 5000 members of subordinate lodges
are in attendance The great Pytnian
parade this afternoon was witnessed by
about 1900 people. About 130s0 members
of the uniform rank and 5000 members
of subordinate lodges participa ted. The
parade was reviewed by the Supreme and
Grand Officers and the officers of the
State and city. 1t was the largest secret
society parade ever held in this city.
There is a strong fight between Louis
vile. KY. and Detroit. Mich. for the
next session of the Supreme Lodge. and
the delegations from both places have
opened headquarters and are making
things exceedingly lively. The annual
reports of the Supreme Officers were read
this afternoon. after which the Lodge
adjourned 10 witness the parade.