The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-04-12
k. OF P. CONVENTION
Annual Convention of the 10Th Iowa
District Held in This City Tues
day With Large Attendance

udy WIlH Ldrye AllCnudHCE
Tuesday was gala day among the
Knights of Pythias in this city, the oc-
casion being the meeting of the Goth
Iowa district convention, comprising
the counties of Lucas, Clarke and Deca-
tur counties under the supervision of
d. Z. Morgan, district deputy gr nd
chancellor. The town was decorated in
honor of the convention every business
house in the city having appropriate
greetings painted on their windows and
the whole town was decorated with
flags.
The attendance was large, big delega-
tions coming from Charlton, Lucas,
Leroy, Weldon, Van Vert, Lamont and
Bethany, the only lodge in the district
which was not represented at the meet
ing being Osceola. The Garden Grove
lodge came nearly fifty strong and
brought with them their superb band
which furnished fine music during the
day.
AT IL o'clock the local members
marched t. the depot to meet the in
coming trains and act as escort for
Grand Chancellor j. w. Hunter, of New
ton, G. NJ. Axes acting as marshal of the
day. The knights made a fine showing
as they marched back from the depot,
and again when they went to the after
noon train to meet the trains from the
south. The Bethany lodge came AZ
strong, chartering special car which
was appropriately decorated with ban
ners and the lodge colors. They also
brought fine band and orchestra.
The convention was called to order at
the X. P. hall at $3.50 and after the in
vocation by Rev. d. f. Sellards, |. N
Beard of Leon made the address of well
come. He was responded to in happy
manner by w. B. Barger of Charlton,
and Grand Chancellor Hunter made
fine address, saying that he had attend
ed q district conventions since taking
his office, but that this was the best and
most enthusiastic convention of all he
had attended.
Following Grand Chancellor Hunters
address, the famous Custer drill team,
of Bethany, Mo-, under command of Geo.
w. Custer, former we'll known resident
of Leon, now one of the leading business
men of Bethany, gave the finest drill
ever witnessed in this city, the team
being drilled to perfection, and as a
drill master Capt. Custer is certainly
one OF the best in the country.
All of the visiting knights were serv-
ed with fine supper prepared by the
Rathbone Sisters, being guests of the
town of Leon, and promptly at o'clock
work was resumed at the lodge room,
which was filled to its utmost capacity.
The rank work was in charge of Mahas-
ka Lodge No. 2O4, of Bethany, Mo-, who
conferred the dramatic rank of Page
upon class of ten candidates, Lou
Pease, Claude Robinson, M. L. Wasson,
John Zimmerman, Miles Spargur and
Ward Potts of Leon, and W. G. Graham,
Q. ID. Stead, M. 7. Jamison and Roy
Wilson, of Lamont, and it was a rare
treat to all, as the work in this form
had never before been presented in Iowa.
The Bethany team did the work to per-
fection, and much credit is due Capt.
Custer for the work. After the secret
work was finished, by special request
the ladies of the Rathbone Sisters were
invited to the hall and witnessed
special drill by Capt. Clusters drill
team.
The work in the lodge room being
finished refreshments were served and
a couple of hours spent in pleasant
social intercourse, the north bound
passenger train being held at this sta
tion until II o'clock to accommodate
the visitors from the north.
NOTES.
The convention was certainly hum
mer, both in attendance and in the
fraternal spirit manifested.
Much credit is due district deputy d.
e. Morgan for the success of the con-
vention.
Editors E. II. Lewis, of the Charlton
Patriot, Sam Wightman of the Bethany
Clipper and r. G. Hoadley of the Car
den Grove Express were in attendance
at the convention.
The music furnished by the Bethany
and Garden Grove bands added much to
the pleasure of the convention.
Gen. ]. r. Kingsbury, of Belle Plaine,
attended the convention, representing
the Uniform Rank and made short
address, urging that uniform rank
division be instituted here.
All the Leon citizens entered into
the spirit of the convention and did all
in their power to make the visit of the
knights to this city pleasant one.
The visitors were all loud in their
praise of the hospitality of the people of
Leon.
The convention will put new life in
to the local X. P. lodge, and number
OF new applications will be received
at the next meeting.
The Bethany lodge was instituted by
the Leon lodge fifteen years ago, and
they now have membership of 26S,
being one of the strongest lodges in
Missouri.
Among the noted visitors at the
convention was Herman Roleke, of
Bethany, Mo-, Grand Master of Ex-
chequer of Missouri, one of the most
enthusiastic K. P.'s in the world.
The Missouri boys certainly "showed
u.s."
A beautiful big Angora goat decked
with the colors of the order was a
feature of the parade.
When the knights marched up from
the depot in the afternoon, accompanied
by the two bands the line reached
nearly from the square to the depot.
G. M. Axes handled the parade in
his usual fine style. Charley is hard
to beat as a marshal.