The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-10
SIR KNIGHTS.
Fine Sermon Preached at
Pittsburg To the Craft.

Pittsburg, Oct s.--Not in the history
conclave ever been opened on more
beautiful day. The sun. after having
been hidden behind rain-filled clouds
for several days, rose clear upon the
awakening city this morning. The in
flux Of knights 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 ever before
held.
The first formal event on the program
Of the 9th triannial conclave took place
in Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church
it was the official divine service Of the
knights templar and was as usual very
impressive and largely attended. Most
Eminent Sir Knight Warden La Rue
Thomas, grand master, was escorted to
Trinity Church from the Monongahela
Hotel by leading Pittsburg templars
and as many more crowded the church
yard unable to obtain admittance. The
old church was filed to its utmost CO.
pacity. Rev. DIR. Alfred W. Arundel,
rector of the Trinity, read the service,
and the sermon was delivered by Rev.
Dr. c. L. living, rector of Calvary
Church. Brooklyn, n. Y, and grand
prelate Of the grand encampment
After graphic description of templar-
ism as related to the relief of distress
and the uplifting Of the fallen, DIR.
living said: To-day we meet in this
beautiful temple erected to God and
consecrated to His worship to ask His
presence and blessing upon the labors
in which we shall be engaged and upon
the pleasures we shall enjoy. From
every part of our land there comes to
this goodly city thousands Of knights
templar. We are not a beleaguring host
nor an advancing army; no trumpet
sounds summon us to battle; the
CLEAN of our swords awakens no hos
tile emotion, nor do they incite any
fear.
I'VE come in peace from all parts of
q land that is at peace. The sound of
war has ceased, the strife is over, the
bravery Of our army and navy has won
glorious victory and a war that has
lasted about 100 days has advanced
civilization 100 years in the lands that
have been freed from the power of a
nation that has always prosecuted free
masonry and tried by inquisitorial
methods to suppress it.
Thank God for the victory Thank
God for the loyalty and patriotism Of
the United States. Thank God for the
good example of the brave boys who
have given up their lives for the cause
Of humanity and progress and liberty,
'The grand encampment soon to as
semble in triennial conclave arc repre-
sentatives Of great and glorious order
Of Christian knighthood. Like our an
cient brethren we are marching toward
Jerusalem, but not the one OF Judea,
but the Jerusalem on the hills Of heav-
en-. In Hoe Signo Vinees was the mot
to of the heroes of the cross in the
past They put the precepts of the
Christian religion into practice end it
bore fruit in their lives and action.
We must do likewise or our profession
Is q 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 grand
comnnandery of Massachusetts arrived
today