The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-07
10000 KNIGHTS MARCH
Templars Parade Over Seven Miles of
San Francisco Streets.

San Francisco, Cal. Sept. THE pre-
liminary meeting of the grand encamp
ment of the Knights Templar was held
today. The opening address of well
come was delivered by Governor Par
dee of California on behalf of the
knights of the state, VINO was followed
by Mayor Schmitz on behalf of the city
of San Francisco.
The routine of the first meeting con-
sisted of appointing committees to han
die the many questions which will come
before the body. The reports of the Off
GERS on the current events of the week
three years were received and referred
to the committees. The grand masters
of the priory of England, Ireland and
Wales were present as guests.
The twenty-ninth triennial conclaVe
of the Order of knights Templar was
inaugurated with grand parade
which brought into contrast the thir-
teenth and twentieth centuries and re-
Richard Occur de Lion and no less
knightly Saladin battled for possession
of the holy city. With f1uttering gon-
falons with richly compariSoned horses,
thousand men who have passed through
the vigil of the squire and nave SYM
bolically received the golden spurs of
marched with nodding white
and black plumes, with white Maltese
crosses on their left shoulder, with
swords flashing and with banner of the
cross flung to the breeze, over seven
miles of the city's gaiiy decorated
thronged streets, as marched the knights
and esquireS of old through the streets
of Lyons and Touraine to the rescue of
the holy sepulchre.
A striking feature of the parade was
the presence in the line of the earl of
Euston and six other officials of the
order representing the knights
Templar of England and Wales. Their
uniforms attracted special
at q EtuSfOn o.
cupied a seat in a carriage with Grand
Commander Stoddard wore a white
cloth loose tunic reaching down to his
knees and having on the front of it a
large red cross. Over this he wore the
white cloth templar cloak reaching al
most to his heels. This cloak was trim
med with ermine and had a loose hood
lined with crimson. On the left side was
a triple cross. On his head he wore
red velvet skull cap with a golden band.
About his neck was a triple cross and
pinned on his tunic was the grand
cross of the Temple and the grand cross
ingly warm and the long march was
wearisome to the older Sir Knights. A
great many dropped out before passing
the reviewing stand.
Joseph Leath, of Occur De Lion COM
mandery, Knoxville, Tennessee, drop
ped dead during the parade while start
ing to do a knightly act He was rid
ing in a carriage and noticing COM
rade who seemed to be almost over
come he stepped from his carriage to
offer MIN a seat. AS he reached the
ground he feIl dead from an apoplectic
stroke.
Mr. Simonoff a local Sir Knight, was
thrown from his horse and seriously in
jured An incident of the parade was
the marching out of line just before the
procession started of Boston command
ary No l. Being the oldest command
cry in Massac husetts they thought they
were entitled to a position Immediately
behind the grand commandery of Mas
and Rhode Island. This place
had been assigned to De Molay COM
nandery of Boston. The members of
Boston commandery No 1 refused TO