The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-12

The Annual Address of the Grand Master, Sir Knight Warren La Rue Thomas, and the Reports of the Grand
 Treasurer and Grand Recorder.
 Pittsburg, Oct. 11.-Immedately after the parade Of the Knights Templar to- day the grand commandery met in Car negie hall for the first actual business session of the conclave. After ad- dresses of welcome by Chairman Ar thur B. Wrigey, Mayor Ford of Pitts burg and State Grand Commander Kuhn, the grand encampment was de- Knight Warren LaRue Thomas, deliv- cred the annual address, after which the reports of Grand Treasurer Lines and Grand Recorder Mills were pre- sented. The grand masters address follows;
 "The gathering together of the nigh ty hosts in this city at the present time demonstrates the affection and regard our membership has for our order. From every state and territory in this great land has this mighty host come, bearing aloft our beautiful banners, on which appear the insignia and notices of our order. Great multitudes look on in wonder and ask themselves and each other the meaning of this large assem- blaze. They cannot understand the motives that would induce prominent men from every station in life to cast aside all business affairs for the time being, and, leaving their homes and families, travel hundreds of miles to mingle again with friends and brothers. They know nothing of the sacred tie that binds the hearts of all these Sir Knights so closely together They have only seen them as they have ap- peared in public clothed in their beau tiful uniforms, marching to the strains of delightful music. They know noth- ing of the sweet moments in our lives, when in our asylums, to which the eye of the world is closed, all the purest and noblest emotions of our hearts are aroused. It is there that the better parts of our natures show themselves. It Is there that the noble precepts of our order find 1odgment in our hearts and the seed Is soWn that brings forth the richest harvest. It is here that we hold sweet communion with each other and renew our pledges of devotion to our principles. It is here that the life and character of the Saviour of the world is shown forth and we are taught to take Him as our example through life and our hope for the life beyond. Our hearts are stirred to their greatest depths by the recitals of the life and death and resurrection and ascension of our Saviour, and one must verify be hard hearted whose better emotions are not aroused when witnessing such scenes. It is then that we feel our ut ter helplessness it is then that we feel our absolute dependence; it is then we feel closer to our brethren; 1t is then we forge still tighter the chains of love and confidence that bind us together; it is then we exclaim, 'Emanuel-God with us.'
 'It is in the interest of such principles and motives that we assemble to-day Actuated by a strong desire to build up our order and as evidence of our love and devotion to the pure teachings on which it is founded, we come together to renew our lodges and take counsel
  of accomplishing our objects. Let us enter upon this work with pure and loving hearts, laying aside and forget ting all else save the good of our or der, and the up- building of the Masters Kingdom.
 ''It is my pleasure to inform you that our order is in a prosperous and four ishing condition. The growth during To- otrryst1, 1,etr ,I; ,or many discouraging conditions, has ex- ceeded anything in our history. Peace and harmony have reigned supreme throughout our Templar jurisdictions, and nothing has occurred to call forth any exercise of the power and authori- ty vested in the Grand Master. The most encouraging reports have come to us from all quarters, testifying to the love and loyalty our members have for the order and for the grand encamp- ment. A good and healthy increase is shown in most of our grand comman- deries, and the officers of these grand bodies have shown themselves to be thoroughly alive to the best interests of our order, and are doing all those things necessary to maintain the high standard we have attained.
 "But while we as Knights Templar have been moving along in the quiet even tenor of our way stirring events have been transpiring around us in which one and all have been deeply in- terested. The star spangled banner, that emblem of liberty and justice, has been unfurled and kissed by the breezes blowing from every section of our beloved country, has been borne a1oft by loyal and brave men ready to die in it's defense. The cry and vail of the down-trodden and oppressed-yea of the starving men and women-so near our own shores at length awoke a strong and powerful nation to a sense of justice and duty. Whatever was left of sectionalism was wiped out Party lines were forgotten. Patriotism asserted full sway and each section vied with the other in demanding that the dastardly crime of the destruction of one of our noble ships freighted with American seamen be avenged The ex- ecutive chair was occupied by one who had been taught never to draw his sword save in a just and virtuous cause and, who, believing that beauti- ful teaching should apply to nations as