The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-05
MANY PYTHIANS
 IN BIRMINGHAM Grand Lodge of Alabama Con-
 venes This Morning WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY Mayor Drennen to Welcome Visitors. Election of Officers This Afternoon and Republication of se-
 cret Work Tonight.
WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY

Birmingham was well filled with repre- sentatives of the order of Knights of Pythias last night, and they are arriv- ing on every train to attend the thirty first meeting of the grand lodge of Ala bama, which convenes in this city today in the Knights of Columbus hall. It will continue in session until tomorrow after noon.
 The hotel lobbies presented lively scenes last night as the Knights mingled to- gether in friendly conversation and many were the fraternal handshakes ex- changed.
 Prominent Pythians from every part of the state will be here to attend the grand lodge sessions.
 The headquarters of the grand lodge are in rooms g, 10 and Il at the Hillman hotel There the officers were busy yes- terday making final arrangements to sub- init their reports this morning and this afternoon.
 Three Hundred Expected.
 Fully 300 visiting Pythians will be in Birmingham by noon today. Of this num- Der 175 come as regular representatives. Among the others are past chancellors who will attend out of interest In the or der, and while they will be admitted to grand lodge sessions they have no vote in the elections.
 In addition to representatives and past chaneellors there are many who come merely to be in the city at this time and c.,
 The first session of the grand lodge win be held at 9:3O o'clock a. m. The lodge will be thrown open for thirty minutes to the public. At this time Ell P. Smith, chairman of the general arrangements committee of the local lodges, will pre- side. Mayor W. M. Drennen will deliver an address of welcome on behalf of the city. Hume F. Jones will then welcome the visiting Pythians on behalf of the Knights of the local lodges.
 Grand Chancellor James B. Ellis of Selma will respond to both of these ad- dresses.
 The grand lodge will then go into execu- tive session and the first order of busi- ness will be to pass upon credentials of IepIeS6IlldllNG5 anu llc COillcAhiii OA tiS grand lodge rank upon those repre- tatives and past chancellors who have not received it. It is probable that the class will be large one.
 The Reports.
 The grand lodge officers will render their annual reports. These reports will show that great progress has been made during the past year by the lodges all over Alabama in substantial gains in membership, and also that number of new lodges have been instituted. The financial condition of the different lodges is also in good shape
 The reports of officers will be referred by sections to appropriate committees and the recommendations contained in them will be considered.
 The standing committees will then make reports.
 Garber to Be Elected.
 The election of officers will take place during the afternoon session and it is ex- pected that Col. A. M. Garber of Tallade- ga, grand vice chancellor, will be elected grand chancellor. He is vice chancellor by appointment. Only one other name has been mentioned in connection with a candidacy for this office, that of Walter c. Black of Troy who was elected grand chancellor year ago and forced to resign on account of ill health. Mir Black has telegraphed asking that his name be not presented to the lodge for the office. Colo mel Garber has, therefore, no opposition and as 1t has always been customary with grand lodges to promote officers, it Is expected he will be chosen unanimously to fill the high office.
 The race for grand keeper of records and seal will be an interesting one. For this position. made vacant by the death of one of Alabama's leading Pythians, John H. Donoho of Talladega, there are five candidates. as follows: L. H. Carre of Anniston, Hume F. Jones of Birming- ham. c. G. Miles of Montgomery, present incumbent, H. c. Pollard of Huntsville, and H. vogel of Mobile. These Pythians are in the city, having arrived yester- day.
 Supreme Representatives.
 Probably the greatest interest in regard to elections is centered in the race for supreme representatives. Two will be elected one to serve for four years and the other for two years. The candidates for supreme representatives are: D. c. Cooper of Oxford, Jesse B. Wadsworth of Birmingham. Dr. w. H. Wilder of Bir- mingham and J. M. Riggs of Montgom- cry. Only past grand chancellors are eligible for seats in the supreme lodge. Grand Chancellor James B. Ellis was