The Portland daily press., 1898-10-11
PITTsBURG ABLAZE WITH LLG 1T
Smoky City's Reception to knights
Templar Brilliant One.

Louisville Likely to Win in Contest for
Next Cono!ave-Reception and Ball by
Tancred Commandery Last Evening.
Pittsburg, Pa, October 10.-With
brilliancy of incandescenoe emanatine
from nearly half million electric lights,
the conclave of the Knights Tempiar has
now fairly started and tonight nearly
$4,000 pilgrims are revelling IN each
others hospitality.
Except a fsw stragglers, every COM
mandery which was expected to be repre-
sented, has now delegation on the
ground. The day was chiefly spent by
the different communicates in arranging
their headquarters and getting ready to
receive their guests and visitors.
The various delegations We'd with each
other in putting up the most inviting re-
freshments.
Souvenirs of oil shapes, sizes and de-
signs are in abundant evidence and most
of the knights are covered with deoora-
tiops The number of visitors Is larger
than the city has ever before had to en-
tertain, but there has not yet been COM
plaint for lack of accommodation. Al
though the business meetings of the gath
ering have not yet commenced, election
eering for the honor of holding the next
conclaye is in active progress. In this
respect the Louisville people are apparent
ly in the lead and confidently assert that
they will win. This afternoon the mem
bcrs of the Minnesota communicates VIZ
tually save up the contest they had ex-
pected to make in favor of st. Paul.
Northern New York delegations are work.
ing hard to have the next conolave held
at Niagara Falls in 1901. A decision Will
not be reached until Thursday morning.
The foremost event of today 8 pro-
gramme undoubtedly has been the recep-
iton and ball of 1ancred commandery,
No. 4S of this city, at its headquarters In
the court house. The affair com menced
at o'clock this afternoon and 1T Is ex-
pected the dancing and entertaining will
continue until - o'clock tonight.
The sights on the streets have never
been equalled in this city as far as the
crowds are concerned. Street car traffic
Is at standstill and vehicles of all de-
scription are banished from downtown
thoroughfares while every inch of ground
is monopolized by tens of thousands of
pedestrians.
The brilliancy of the city's street deco
rations marks an epoch in the history OF
electric illumination. Within a radius Of
four blocks from the heart of the city.
400. 900 incandeseent lamps burn every
night Huge electric crosses and other
emhlems of templarism are suspended on
the aides and fronts of the city's tallest
buildings and from nearly every store
or shop in the down town district. An
interesting feature in the informal pc
rade of the knights was furntshaGs by
the Boston communicates, who naageheu
up Fifth avenue, accompanied by their
ladies. The way in which they latter
kept step to the music evoked great en-
th husiasm. Should the weather tomorrow
be pleasant, the grand parade will be an
event that has never been surpassed in
the history OF Knight Templarism in
America.
MAINE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR ARRIVE
Pittsburg, October l0.-The triennial
cenciave Of Knights Templar is we'll un-
der way today and the streets are alive
with whits plumed knights. Over hun
dred communicates came in from norch,
south, east and west during the day and
Pittsburg men on reception committees
arose before the dawn to be in waiting at
the various railroad stations to act as
escorts to their guests.
Following were aluoHR oiio Oo1lihono
cries that arrived today: Sutton, No. 16,
New Bedford; Woonsocket No. y, Moon-
socket, r. l.; ST. Paul No. 40, North
Adams, Mass; ST. Omer No. 81, South
Boston; Berkshire No. %, Pittsteld,
Mass; Occur de Leon No. "a. Boston;
Boston No. 2. Boston; Hugh de Payens
No. 20, Melrose. Mass; w. Parkham,
Boston; Grand Commandery, Maine;
Portland No. q Portland, Maine; Pales-
tine No. 5, St. Johnsbury, VT; Hamil-