The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-28
KNIGHTS TFMPLAR
FORECO A CUSTOM
Delegates Gust Grand Recorder
I. Montgomery and Elect
Flour City Kniqht.

Municipal rivalry vanquished the
fraternal spirit yesterday when Mime
apolis delegates to the thirty ninth an
nual conclave of the Minnesota grand
commandery, knights Templar, secured
by close vote the cleo
tion of Minneapolis knight
as grand recorder, or secretary, in
the place of a st. Paul incumbent, who
had held the office for fifteen years,
and who expected that, in accordance
with the practice of the grand COM
mandery, he would be reelected in
definitely. Minneapolis also retained
the only other post usually considered
permanent-that of grand treasurer.
The recorder thus unpleasantly sur
prised was Thomas Montgomery, for
merly alderman from the Tenth ward,
a past eminent grand commander of
the Knights Templar, and one of the
best known Masons in the state. His
successor is E. NJ. Van Cleve, of Min
neapolis. The change was accomplish
ed by a majority of four votes. The
twenty Minneapolis delegates not only
outvoted the fifteen st. Paul repre-
sentatives, but arranged their plans
with a skill so political as to enlist al
most a majority of the sixty-nine
country delegates in this attack on
precedent.
After the election and final adjourn
ment last evening Mr.. Montgomery's
friends displayed no less astonishment
than displeasure.
A Piece of Wire Pulling.
1T was all a piece of wire-pulling,"
said one Of them; "a very plain case of
Minneapolis against st. Paul Up to
this time it has been the custom for
the Twin Cities to divide the two per-
manent offices, those of grand recorder
and grand treasurer. Mr.. Montgomery
was our grand recorder and James G.
McFarlane, of Minneapolis, was our
grand treasurer. They were reelected
year after year. 1t was understood
that, pending good behavior so to
speak the two men would hold their
offices the rest of their lives.
But now Minneapolis has gobbIed
up both positions. In place of Mr. Nc
Farlane, who died last year, the COM
mandery has chosen for grand treas
urer Charles w. Drew, of Minneapolis.
A third Minneapolis knight, DR.. S. S.
k1lVlngton, has just retired from the
highest office in the commandery."
The St. Paul delegates could find no
excuse for the action Of the "up river"
knights in the fact that there are three
communicates and 1900 knights In
Minneapolis as against two command
cries and 600 knights in st. Paul.
The displacing of Mr.. Montgomery
was said to be especially unfortunate
tnasmuch as it would suggest that he
had been derelict in the performance
Of his duties, an assumption denied by
ell the delegates.
Duluth Man Succeeds KiIvinqton.
George w Buck, of Duluth, was
chosen, succeeding DR.. Kilvington. The
other new officers are: Eminent deputy
grand commander, E. P. Sanborn, st.
Paul; eminent grand generaIissimO,
Charles West, Austin; eminent grand
captain general, w. Hays Laird, Wi
mona; eminent grand senior warden,
Charles Ovenshire, Minneapolis; emf
nent grand Junior warden, John
Ffshel. st. Paul; eminent grand stand
ard bearer, w. c. Masterman, StillWa-
ter; eminent grand prelate, Rev. H. NJ
Green, CrookstOn; eminent grand sword
bearer, James r. Smith, Faribault; en-
inent grand warden, Joseph A. Eek
stein, New Ulm.
In the case of the grand commander
and most of the other officers promo
ton was given to the incumbent of the
next lower rank.
1t was decided that, hereafter, the
grand cOmmandery will make a per
diem allowance to one Of the three del
egates sent by each of the subordinate
communicates; the two other delegates,
unless they pay their own expenses
must be reimbursed, as have the three
delegates heretofore, by the command
cry that they represent.
The question of appointing an in
structOr general 10 teach drill and ritual
throughout the state was left to the
grand officers.
Guests of honor at the conclave We're
Charles J. Webb, eminent grand COM
mander Of Kansas, and Thomas Baker
Jr., past eminent grand commander of
North Dakota.
Announcement was made that no adj
ditional Communicates had been in
stituted during the year in Minnesota,
but that the twenty-ni communicates
had gained 108 knights, raising the
total state membership to 3,104
Minneapolis will also get the next an
nual cOnclave.