The Worcester spy., 1898-10-12
The Parade of
Tennplars.
A GREAT SUCCESS
Fully 10000 Knights in the
Line.


Pittsburg. Pa, Oct. 1.-THE parade Of
the 9th triennial conclave of the
Knights Templar is now an event Of
history. Whatever had been anticipat-
ed in the way Of gorgeousness, spIendor
and general all around success was am
ply realized, despite the rain.
In point Of numbers-there were TO-
900 marchers in line-the parade easily
doubled similar occurrences of the past,
and as far as the appearance of the
men, their uniforms, the trappings of
their horses, and the perfection Of
their movements We're concerned, Pitts
burg has never seen anything to equal
it.
The day started with not cloud in
the sky and long before the booming
cannon announced the start of the
marchers, there was a multitude of
people packed together along the line
Of march, extending from the heart of
Allegheny City over into Pittsburg, out
on Fifth avenue to Schenley park, a
distance of seven miles. The number
dows, on the roofs and in the reviewing
stands has been variously estimated at
from 10000 to 100000.
| AT 10 o'clock the cavaIcade had COM
| pleted Its formation and the march be-
gan, and three hours later the last de-
tachment passed the same point The
rain commenced at 1.30 o'clock and for
a time it looked as If the parade might
be broken up, but the knights walked
ol !, ,.,.sk
| ed the same martial dignifed bearing
in the rain as they had done under the
sunshine.
The arrangements were all perfect.
The Detroit eommandery, the winner of
many trophies at the different prize
drills, went through various marching
evolutions at some Of the prominent
| places along the route, for which the
members were always heartily cheered.
| The social features Of the conclave
took place tonight at the Duouesne
garden. This was the reception ex-
clusively for members of the different
knights Templar Communicates, and nc
llaymen, or any one except ladies, with
out Templar uniform was admitted.
The guest of honor was Grand Master
of the Grand Encampment Warren La
Rue Thomas. After the reception there
was grand ball, and the gathering did
n
quesne garden is an immense building,
and it seemed that more than 5000
knights with their ladies attended the
reception.
Immediately after the parade the
grand commandery met in Carnegie
hall for the first actual business session
of the conclave. After addresses of well
come by Chairman Arthur B. Widgley,
Mayor Ford of Pittsburg and State
Grand Commander Kuhn, the grand en-
campment was declared open and
Grand Master Warren La Rue delivered
the annual address, after which the
reports of Grand Treasurer Lines and
Grand Recorder Mills were presented.
The report of the grand treasurer
| showed receipts $26,791 and disburse-
ments of $9727. The net cash resources
are $42,154.
The report of the grand recorder con-
tained much statistical information.
The gains since the last conclave have
been: Knighted, $685.; affiliated, 973; re-
instated, 406; total, 1874. The losses have
been: Died, 1858; admitted, 1888; sus-
pended, unknightly conduct, "a; sus-
pended for non-payment of dues, 2060;
expelled. 81; total 563S. The net gain
was 2736
The total number of Communicates in
the United States are 99S, and the mum
Der of templars are 114,5 ,536 Include the
19 subordinate Communicates, the total
membership is 1889. The receipts of
the grand recorder were $17,5S9.
After the hearing of these reports the
meeting adjourned to reconvene at 1l
o'clock tomorrow morning.