The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-02
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
CELEBRATED ANNIVERSARY OF
FOUNDING OF UNIFORM RANK.
PARADE IN FATIGUE UNIFORM
WAS THE CHEF FEATURE OF THE
CELEBRATION.

Drill and Dress Parade Followed In
the Park ExtensiOn-After Return
to ArmOry knights Were Tender
ed Refreshments by Major Dree-
son, Who Commanded the Bat
taIion-Speech Making and Social
Session Closed Celebration.
The anniversary of the founding of
the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias.
was appropriately observed yesterday
with a parade of the members of the
three companies, a dress parade in the
Park Extension, and the serving of re-
freshments at the armory Immediately
following the return from the park. The
day was a success in every sense of
the word, and the showing made by
the members of the three companies
was excellent.
The members of the companies began
assembling at the armory shortly after
o'clock. All were in the new fatigue
uniforms, consisting of a close-fitting
coat reaching below the hips and of
the smaller army officers hats, which
hats with the long waving plumes. The
intense heat makes it practically i'm
possible to wear the heavier hats with
any degree of comfort. All the Knights
wore their swords, and the other re-
gala of the Uniform Rank and all
wore white gloves.
At 4:45 the first call was sounded,
and the three companies began form
ing into line for the parade through
the principal streets of the city. At
o'clock the adjutants call was sounded,
ana the march to the Park Extension
was begun.
DreesOn in Command.
The line was headed by a mounted
police officer, and Immediately follow
ing was the First Regiment Band. Next
in line came Mai II. l.. Dreeson, who
was in command of the battalion,
mounted, and clad in the full uniform
of the majors rank. Acting as his
aides were Mr.. c. o. Godfrey first lieu
tenant and adjutant, and Mr.. Henry
GarWes, first lieutenant and commits
sary. Both the last named officers
were also mounted.
Georgia Company No. l was the
first company in line, the place being
given them owing to the fact that they
had the greatest number of men in line.
They were in command of Capt r.
J. Davant. assisted by First Lieuten-
ant A. S. Cohen and Second Lieuten-
ant Victor Worthem.
Following the Georgia Company came
the colors. the American flag, carried
by the regular color bearer, Mr.. John
d. Monsees. The Savannah Company
No. Is was next In line. They were in
command of First Lieutenant l. Hallam
and Second Lieutenant Robert E Hall.
Teutonia Company No. was the next
in line i'll command of Captain H. F. e.
Cramer, First Lieutenant Herman
Lange, and Second Lieutenant ]. H.
Murken. Sergent Major John Stahmer
brought up the rear of the procession
From the Armory the knights, whose
total number was more than 100, march
ed to Broughton street, thence west to
West Broad. north on West Broad to
Congress, east on Congress to Whita-
ker, north on Whitaker to Bay, west
on Bay to Bull, south on Bull to Gas
ton, east on CASTOR to Drayton, and
out Drayton to the Park Extension.
On Dress Parade.
When the park had been reached the
three companies were drawn up in COM
pany front, and the officers put them
through the regular manual of arms.
Dress parade, in charge of Mai Dree-
son, was also given. and a very cred
liable showing of the Knights was
made. The work of the First Regiment
Band came in for a goodly share of
favorable criticism from the many spec
tators, who had assembled to witness
the dress parade. The music of the
band was of a high order, and was a
great aid to the several companies in
executing the maneuvers, through
which they were ordered by Mai. Dree-
son, and the other officers, and lin pre-
serving the dress line through the
wheels and platoon marching the band
was also of great benefit.
Following the dress parade and drill
the battalion left the park and pro-
ceeded to their armory. In returning
to the armory the knights moved
down Drayton to CASTOR, east on Gas
ton to Bull, north on Bull to
Broughton, west on Broughton to
Barnard, and south on Barnard to the
armory in Pythian Castle.
Battalion Was Entertained.
AT the armory the entire battalion
was rendered light refreshments by
Maj. Dreeson, yesterday being the
first time that he has appeared in
command of the Knights, having been
elected TO the office of major in Nav,
Following the serving of the refresh
ments the meeting was turned into a
social session and smoker and the
merry-making continued until a late
hour. Several short addresses were
made by the officers and many of the
knights present and the remainder
of the time was spent in the relation
of anecdotes connected with the his
tory and growth of the Uniform Rank
in Savannah.
Tuesday marked the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the founding of the
Uniform Rank in this city. the first
company being organized by Mr.. Nay
Tor of Brooklyn, who came here in the
interests of Pythianism and the first
uniform of the rank was worn by him.
The Knights who assisted him in or
AkSsaeetggg