The San Francisco call., 1898-05-18
4 REGIMENT
 OF PYTHIANS Patriotic Offer Made by the Grand Lodge of
 California.
Message Sent to the President That EvOkes the Greatest
 Enthusiasm.
Uniform Rank Seeks the Privilege of Drilling and Parading With
 War Accouterrnents
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SANTA ROSA, May 17.-When Grand Chancellor W. H. Grant of Woodland called the session of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias, to order this morning in Odd Fellows Hall, he was greeted by an enthusiastic delegation consisting of ever 300 of the representa- tive citizens of the State. The usual formalities being over, the report of H. Schaffner, grand keeper of records and seals, was presented to the lodge. The report showed the order to be in a flourishing condition.
 Shortly before the adjournment at noon. the following telegram was sent by the Grand Lodge to the President of the United States, rendering the Serv- ices of a regiment of Pythians to the Government in case they should be needed. The telegram was as follows:
 SANTA ROSA, May r.
 To the President of the United States, Washington: The Grand Lodge of Cali fornia Knights of Pythias, now in session assembled at Santa Rosa, Cal, and repre- senting over 11,0O0 loyal American citizens, hereby tenders the services of full regi- ment, composed of and officered by mem berS of this order, subject to your call at any time. We will have ready for you a second and third regiment whenever the Government needs them. The men, ofIl- cered, after two weeks drilling in camp, Will De ready TOT any Quty assigned tnem. We await your order.
 The report was adopted amid the greatest enthusiasm, members cheering the reading of the message repeatedly. The action of the Grand Lodge shows conclusively that the Knights of Pythias is a thoroughly patriotic organization.
 Following close upon the heels of this resolution was another, somewhat of the same general tenor, providing that in case any member of a. subordinate lodge should go CT be called to the front in defense of his country in the present crisis, his per capita tax to the Grand Lodge should be remitted during the period covered by his absence This was introduced by Colonel H. R. Arndt of San Diego. and it's passage was the signal for renewed enthusiasm.
 committee of five was appointed to attend to the matter of redistricting the State, and the matter had hardly been settled before H. L. Clark of Lodi was on his feet with a resolution of approval of the action of the President and Congress in undertaking to assist the liberty-l loving residents of Cuba in their struggle for independence. The resolution also provided that subordi- nate lodges throughout the State do all in their power to assist in this noble cause, and the matter went through with a rush.
 Governor Jeter of Santa Cruz was then appointed a committee of one to interview Governor James H. Budd, and if possible get him to grant a license to the different companies of the Uniform Rank in the State, per- nlitting them to drill, organize and parade with guns and the other occou- terments of war.
 The introduction of a resolution in- dorsing Judge Stanton L. Carter of Fresno for the office of supreme vice chancellor of the Grand Lodge of the United States met with the hearty ap- proval of the delegates, and the reso- lution was passed unanimously.
 The action of Grand Chancellor Grant in the matter of allowing certain ex- penses incurred during the resuscita- tion of Vita Nuova Lodge was in dorsed by the Grand Lodge, shortly after which the session adjourned to tomorrow morning.
 Already the matter of place for holding the next session of the Grand Lodge is being agitated. Pasadena, Santa Cruz, Red Bluff and Oakland are in the race, and the chances are said to be somewhat in favor of Santa Cruz
 This evening reception to the dele gates was rendered at the Athenaeum by the members of Santa Rosa Lodge and citizens
 The delegates and visitors will spend tomorrow in the redwoods of the beau tiful Guerneville country. and a grand ball will be given in their honor at the Athenaeum in the evening.
 Grand Chief Mrs. Lydia Monroe of Riverside called the eighth annual grand temple of the Rathbone Sisters to order at Fraternity Hall this morn ing. The attendance was the largest known in the history of the order and the report of the grand chief shows that the affairs of the order are in highly satisfa ctory condition.