St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-11
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Auspicious Opening of the State Com
veniiOn-Brilliant DecOrations--The
Parade and Uniform Rank Drills
Public Meeting in Music Hall.

iHS SiCNcHlu hHuudl COHNeuLiOH VI tuC
Knights Of Pythias of the Grand Domain
of Vermont, and the fourth annual Field
day of the First Vermont Regiment, Uni
form Rank, Knights of Pythias were held
in st. Johnsbury, the former continuing
to-day with the annual business session
of the grand lodge.
The village has rarely ever been more bril-
liantly arrayed in honor of any occasion;
business blocks, stores, public buildings,
and residences are fairly afame with
decorations of the national colors
mingled with the Pythian. The Pythian
building is beautifully draped with
profusion OF the stars and stripes and the
symbolic blue, yellow and red OF the or
der. An arch set with electric lights over
the entrance bears the word welcome"
and in the evening ilumines the entire
front of the building. Other places es-
pecially noted for their decorations are the
Brooks-Tyler store, St. Johnsbury House,
bank block including special decorations
in Bingham's drug store, and E D. Steele
& Cos. clothing store, ]. c. Gray's mar
ket, Bundy's shoe store, Flint Bros. drug
store, Standard drug store, N. r. Swift
ser's furniture store, the Republican
block, Avenue House, Citizens bank,
James Ritchie's store, c. E. Simanton's,
Lougee Bros. & Smythe's, Randall's,
Belknap's, and there are many others
almost and perhaps just as fine as some
of those mentioned. The best displays
are probably those of the Pythian build
ing, Lougee Bros. & Smythe, Brooks
Tyler Co., the Republican block, and
Bank block.
The occasion is OF unusual interest in
the history of the grand lodge as this is
the first meeting held in St. Johnsbury
since the institution of the grand lodge
here eleven years ago. Not only is st.
Johnsbury the birthplace of the grand
lodge, but our Uniform Rank company
was the first to be organized in the state
and Apollo Lodge was the second in or
der OF organization among the subordin-
ate lodges.
The visiting Knights number about
three hundred and fifty, including supreme
lodge officers and grand lodge officers
from other states, and many of the
Knights are attended by ladies.
The ST. Johnsbury band welcomed the
guests from the incoming trains with
martial airs, yesterday morning, from the
Railroad street park, and large number
arrived Monday afternoon and evening.
The Grand Lodge headquarters were
at the Avenue House, but all the hotels
were filled with the Knights and ladies.
The forenoon was occupied in fraternal
greetings, sightseeing, and a general
good time.
THE PARADE.
The parade formed at two O'Clock on
north Railroad street, headed by the St.
Johnsbury band and including the staff
and companies OF the Uniform Rank,
Knights of the Order by Lodges, Grand
and Supreme Lodge officers. Moving up
Eastern Avenue, the parade proceeded
up Main to Church, to Summer, to Mount
Pleasant, to Main, to Union school
common, where the companies and lodges
were reviewed by the supreme and grand
officers.
THE PUBLIC EXERCISES.
A goodly number Of the townspeople
assembled with the Knights in Music
Hall in the evening to enjoy the public
exercises.
Music was furnished by the St. Johns
bury orchestral B. Frank Harris, pianist;
and Mrs. P. F. Hazen, contralto. The
songs were by Mrs. Hazen at her best,
and were charmingly rendered.
A hearty welcome in behalf of the town
was extended by Judge Walter p. Smith,
to which fitting response was made by
Grand Chancellor G. M. Rowell, of Rut-
land.
A very interesting feature of the even
ing was the presentation of the prize cup
to Capt. Bates, of the Rutland company,
Uniform Rank, followed by cheers and a
song in tribute to the captain by the
members Of the company from the audi
ence.
The speaker of the evening, DR.. r. c. L.
White. Supreme Keeper of Records and
Seal, of Nashville, Tenn, was introduced
by Major N. p. Bowman. DR.. White
gave an address full of the Pythian spirit
and all agow with patriotism. He set
forth in pleasing way the history and
principle OF the order and as it is dis
tinctively American order he naturally
turned to the great questions of the day
and made an eloquent plea for expansion
and worldwide Americanism. A more
extended account of the address will be
given next week.
A public reception followed at the
Fairbanks Museum to the Supreme and
Grand officers and after that the work O
of the Page Rank was exempli6ed in fin,
style by Apollo Lodge, No. 2, of st
Johnsbury.
The business session of the Grand Lodg,
takes place this morning at 9 O'Clock ant
will include the annual reports and elec