The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-17
PYTHIAN LODGES
 ARE PROSPEROUS Many Picnics to be Held in the
 Near Future COMING TO ENCAMPMeNT Montgomery Will Send About One Hundred and Sixty Men to Encamp- ment-other News From
 the Capital City.
COMING TO ENCAMPMeNT
BY HERvEY w. LAIRD.

Montgomery, July 16-(Special )-From Grand Chancellor F. P. Nichols and Grand Keeper of Records and Seal G. G. Miles, it is learned that the order of Knights of Pythias in Alabama is making great pro- gross at this time. In most every town and city excellent work is being done. Several official visits have been made by the Grand Lodge officers. and they say they have found great enthusiasm for the cause
 The two grand lodge officers named above were at Georgiana this week, where they held public installation of officers and enjoyed pleasant social time with the citizens of the community. The meet ing was presided over by Thaddeus Rose, who has long been a leading man of the county. Both MT. Nichols and MT. Miles addressed the assembly and talked of the work of the order. After the speeches and work there were refreshments, and a general good time. MT. Miles says the people of Georgiana are experts along the line of entertaining.
 Progress at Wetumpka.
 An official visit was made by Grand Chancellor r. P. Nichols. accompanied by Past Chancellor J. l.. Holloway of Gen. tral Lodge, No. 9, to Wetumpka, last night. Officers were installed and the sec ond and third ranks conferred. Both wis., itors spoke and they came pack encour- aged to believe the lodge at Wetumpka is going to do fine work this year.
 Housing Pythian meetings are sched- Iad nd da " fiubtG e at Anniston and Oxford, respectively. Be- sides Grand Chancellor Nichols and Grand Keeper of Records and Seal Miles, Past Grand Chancellor Garber of Talladega and Past Grand Chancellor Ellis of Selma are expected to be on hand. There will be public installation of officers and picnic features Pythians from other states will likely be in attendance.
 Nichols Picnic.
 What promises to be one of the most enjoyable and profitable things for the Pythians of the Fifth congressional dis trict, is the picnic and all-day-in-the- woods entertainment planned for July 2, at Roanoke the home of the Grand Chancellor, F. P. Nichols. It Is expected that most of the leading members of the order in the state will be there. and that speeches and lodge talk will be q 61uCld ltdtutC OL lnc QdJs A PAChic diA- Ter wlll be served in old )untry style on the grounds, and the women and children will te on hand to make the valiant knights" feel comfortable. Past Grand Chancellors Garber, Ellis, Wadsworth. Wilder, with all the supreme lodge off, fleers accredited to the state, and all the grand lodge officers will be on hand-or at least, they are expected. The grand chancellor is banking heavily on this meeting c ha hnnac hp a h1p In m his neighbors what fine looking set of fellows the Pythian order can claim.
 Journal Is Out.
 The journal of the last grand lodge of the Knights of Pythias has just been de- livered from the press of the Brown Printing company of Montgomery. It is document of BPS pages, and is full of valuable information Besides the regu- lar minutes of the sessions held May 3 and at Birmingham there are a number of pictures of leading men in the order. The total receipts for all the lodges of the domain for the term ending June 30, was $26,57S29.
 Grand Keeper of Records and Seal Miles is busy sending out the journals and will soon have them In the hands of every one of the subordinate lodges.
 Alexander City Fire.
 Secretary of State and Insurance Com missioner b. R. McDavid has received a report of the investigation of the recent fire at Alexander City, which destroyed about $10,000 worth of property. It was thought at the time, July 7, that the fire was of incendiary origin and on the rec ommendation of the mayor MT. McDavid ordered an investigation. large number of witnesses were examined but no evil dence was adduced to show that there was criminal action on the part of any one.
 As a rule these investigationes are worthless. It is next to impossible to convict anybody of incendiarism and the state officials are disgusted with the re- suits obtained. The law requires that the investigation sha-- begin within forty eight hours after the fire, and that al- most invariably proves too short time to determine whether suca action is ad- visable. It is hoped that the law will be changed so as to give the commission CT full discretion as to time as well as other things, and the opinion is that something can then be accomplished The Germania Life Insurance company of New York has become q licensed com pany in Alabama with Bascom W. Tor renee of Montgomery as state agent.
 kyIe's Resignation.
 The resignation of Hon. Osceola Kyle, judge of the Eighth judicial circuit. has been received by Acting Governor Cum ningham. It was wired from Washington where Judge Kyle was yesterday commis- stoned one of the canal zone judges in Panama. He sails from New York to take up his new duties next Tuesday. Judge Kyle was appointed to the judge ship in the eighth circuit by Governor Jelks. and was nominated for full term by the democrats at the April primaries by large majority He will be the only judge in Panama for a while, serving all the circuits.
 It is not yet known who will succeed him in the Eighth. r. E. St. John and George II. Parker, both of Cullman, are candidates, and were here yesterday with friends to see acting Governor Cunning ham. The appointment will be made next week.
 Watermelon Cutting. Chief Clerk Walter R. Brassel of the state health department, and recording secretary to the governor, M. H. Screws were hosts this morning to a genera watermelon cutting at the capitol. They | served half dozen big melons raised on their farm eight miles from the city and the occasion proved very enjoyable all the way through.
 | Acting Governor Cunningham, who had been out with Commissioner of Agricul ture Poole and his chief clerk, Jesse Adams. was unable to take care of more chan half of a big fine fellow, because n haa ar