The Washington times., 1902-10-26

The joint committee, composed of
three representatives from each of the
constituent Communicates of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and three from the
grand commandery, appointed to de-
wise a plan of organization to assist
the Communicates in. making prepara-
tiors for the pilgrimage to San Fran
cisco in 1904, has prepared the follow
ing report:
Il. We believe 1t is the province OF
as far as possible, among the fraters
of the District of Columbia in the pill
grimage to San Francisco. We disavow
any intention or desire to supersede any
committee or committees that may be
appointed by any comnandery or COM
manderies for the furtherance of the
same object. On the contrary, our OBJ
ject is to aid the Communicates in OBJ
tanning information relative to the va
rious routes, cost of transportation, ho-
tel accommodations, music, and any
other matters that may be of interest
to the fraters contemplating the pill
grimage.
''2 We recommend that this organiza-
tion be made permanent until the close
of the triennial conclave in 1904, and
that the eminent commander of each
commandery be made ex ofncio q mem
Der thereof.
49, We recommend that the several
81 xLo z,,l hat
attendance of the fraters of the Dis
trict of Columbia may be secured, shall
form clubs. to membership in which all
fraters shall be invited, and be urged
to contribute a monthly payment as a
savings fund for the purpose of defray
ing their expenses to San Francisco and
return.
"a. Believing that joint action and
participation by the Communicates in
said pilgrimage would result in great
saving to their several treasures, We
recommend that all of the said COM
manderies travel to San Francisco in
one body, and that joint headquarters
be maintained, during the conclave. the
expense of which shall be divided
among the several Communicates pro
rata on the basis of membership, the
grand commandery bearing its full
share, as may be determined by this
committee.
"5. We recommend the adoption of
District of Columbia badge. which the
fraters of all the Communicates can use
for exchange.
&c. We reco mmend that music be en-
gagged not ony for the parade, but for
any reception that may be given. One
good band might be secured in San
Ero hat nit ~
ticable, to escort the District of Colun-
bia battalion in the parade, each COM
mandery marching as separate organ |
ization: and If the number in attend |
ance be large. the band might be di-
vided, or another band engaged for the
second half of the battalion.
-7. We recommend that if joint head |
quarters be determined upon, the same
be secured. if possible. in the hotel |
where the grand encampment may have |
its headquarters. believing that no mat
ter how commodious may be the quar- |
tiers obtained elsewhere. they can never
be made as attractive 10 visitors as
those at points where the main inter- |
est of the entire conclave is centered. |
"The procedure outlined by your COM
mittee has been followed by the COM
Jnanderies of several jurisdictions with |
excellent results. We think that the |
grand commandery should bear its fun |
share in all expenses which might be |
incurred by reason of the joint pilgrim
age, joint headquarters, badge, and |
music. We are confident that joint
action would be more satisfactory in the
end than If the several Communicates
acted independently and maintained sep
arate headquarters. and the cost of all
would be less than has been the ex-
pense of any one of the larger comman-
deries in attending triennial conclayes
IN the past The joint headquarters.
too. would facilitate the exchange of
visits among those seeking TO meet fra
ters from the District of Columbia. af-
fording one particular place at which
information might be derived relative to
those visiting San Francisco from this
jurisdiction.