The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1907-07-12

Knoxville Tenn, July 9.-The larg-
/, est delegation in the history of the
Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias, is
assembled to participate in the ninth
annual session of the Order as a
grand lodge under the jurisdiction of
Tennessee. Fully two hundred men and
seventy-fve women, representing the
best thought Of the race, are here to
work for the principles represented by
the mystic F. G.. and B. The person
mel of the delegation is of such a high
order that the whole body has received
words of praise upon all sides.
Ere the hour of meeting, ten O'clock
the Castle Hall of Roosevelt Lodge
was packed to almost the suffocation
point and when DR.. j. p Crawford, of
Nashville, Grand Chancellor, called
the meeting to order for the usual
opening services, it was hard to OBJ
tain and maintain order. Following
the opening ceremonies a Committee
upon Credentials and another upon
securing a larger hall were appointed
While waiting for the report Of com
mittees the Grand Chancellor called
rpon several new members of the
Grand Lodge for an expression Of
opinion Several orators from differ
ent parts of the states, most of whom
were preachers, responded but the one
to make the greatest impression, the
one to make the men forget that they
10, o1I -, L - 1ao1 Toxy
Sutton p. Griggs, Nashville's polished
preacher and renowned author. Dr.
Griggs called upon simply for an eX-
preston Of few words of greeting.
held the audience spellbound for fif-
teen minutes. and when he would have
sat down, the whole Grand Lodge as
one man demanded that he proceed
With renewed vigor. as it were, DR..
Griggs, in we'll rounded sentences, so
played upon the feelings of the Grand
Lodge that an ovation never before
witnessed in the history of Tennessee
Pythianism was accorded him. Griggs
was the hero of the occasion. The
rest Of the morning session was de-
voted to routine business. the Grand
Lodge adjourning at twelve thirty p,
m.
y Between the morning session and
the services welcoming the delegates
to the city, brisk shower fell delay
ing the parade. About three o'clock
the lodges assembled at the Castle
Hall and marched, preceded by batal-
lion of the Uniform Rank. under the
direction of Capt r. r. Gee and the
nGrand Lodge officers, through the
reets of Knoxville to Mt Zion Bap-
fist Church, where the local committee
had nrenared to welcome the visitors
to the city.
At Mount Zion BAPTIST Church, one
of the prettiest church ediflces in the
city. the ceremonies welcoming the
Grand Lodge to Knoxville were held
at 3 o'clock. w T., Mosbv master Of
ceremonies. in short address, called
the meeting to order, after which Rev
A. 7. Gorham offered invocation, which
was followed by an excellent selection
by the choir of Mount Zion Church
and other numbers on the program.
Hon. s. G.. Heiskell, mayor of the
city, delivered an address of welcome
Mayor Heiskell, unlike most Southern
mayors. left beaten path usually fol-
lowed on occasions like this, adj
dressed the vast assemblage, explain
ing how he has worked to make 1t
possible for every citizen, no matter
what his color. to secure an education
so as to fit him for a better citizen.
Mr.. Heiskell, whose labors have been
so consistent in behalf of right, whose
friendship has been so continuous for
the Negroes Of Knoxville that the
city has dedicated a school building
which bears his name, had the undi-
vided attention of all present and
brought forth unbounded applause.