Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-08-10


tions, for 1t was filled to its capacIty
mainly with ladies whose beautiful
summer costumes made it like a vast
garden. About $4,000 persons were in
this immense stand, as at its center
was a gorgeous throne on which sat
the acting grand master, William
Bromwell Melish of Cincinnati. who
became head of the order on the re.
cent death CT Grand Master Henry w.
Rugg of Providence. r. !. Mr.. Melish
viii be regularly elected grand master
before the close of the conclave.
Just north of the Art Institute the
parade passed before another review.
Ing stand in which were Mayor Busse
the city council and the park commits
sioners.
Beautiful "TempIar Way"
At Washington street the marchers
turned west to State. where they en-.
tered on the "Templar Way" This
stretch extended from Randolph to
Van Buren, street and was made beau.
tifnl by handsome arch and massive
Corlnthian columns of pure white
erected tlirty-three feet apart on both
sides of the street Festoons of natur.
al laurel connected the columns, and
the bright red cross and the shield
and coat of arms of the order were
prominent in the scheme of decors.
ton
Moving south to Jackson boulevard,
the knights again turned west, and
near the federal building passed be-
fore yet another reviewing stand
which accommodated Governor Deneen
and his staff. Marching north on La.
Sale street. the parade passed be-
meath the grand commandery arch Of
pure white which spanned the street
at the La Sale hotel, the headquarters
OF the grand commandery of illinois,
This was beautiful structure de-
signed by one of Chicago's most IA.
nous sculptors. Upon it's top stood
the figures Of mounted knights four
teen feet high. At the new city hail
on Washington street the parade was
dismissed, after marching forty-three
blocks.
Care For the Marchers.
Everything that could be thought
Of for the comfort of the paraders and
the spectators was done by the local
committees. In nearly every block
along the line of march were station.
ed physicians who were also knights
templar, with trained nurses and
equipment for emergency cases. In
addition. emergency hospitals to be
kept open day and night during the
conclave were established at many
points in the center of the city, and
at the West Side ball park which was
selected as the place for the competi-
tive drills.
Wednesday and Thursday were the
days set apart for the drills for which
handsome trophies are awarded, and
band concerts, sight seeing and many
receptions were on the program.
Enhancing Scenes at Night.
The scene in the streets at night
was especially beautiful. for all the
arches, festoons and columns of the
decorative scheme were brilliantly II.
Illuminated, and on State street, in ad-
dition to the 'Templar Way" the mer-
chants had nlt up decorations that
transformed the great shopping dis.
trict into a veritable fairly land.
Undoubtedly the most spectacular
feature of the night display was the
wonderful electric set piece erected
in Grant park on the lake front. re-
producing in colossal size the official
emblem or badge of thu conclave. 1t
was $50 feet high and its 5000 power
full electric lights of varied ~colors
brilliantly illuminated all that part OF
the city.
Much Of the success of the conclave
must be attributed to the efforts OF
John D. Cleveland, grand commander
OF Illinois and president of the tri-
ennial executive committee. Arthur
Macarthur of Troy, N Y, is the very
eminent grand generalissimo of the
grand encampment and w. Frank
Pierce of San Francisco the grand
captain general.
Among the most noted Of the visit
ing masons from other lands are: The
Right Hon. the Earl of Euston. pro
grand master of the great priory OF
England and Wales; the Lord Athlum-
ney. past great constable; Thomas
Fraser, great marshal; R. Newton
Crane. past great herald; F. c. Van
Duzer, past great standard bearer;
H J. Homer, acting grand master ban
ner bearer; John Ferguson. past pre-
-eptor of England and Wales. and the
Right Hon. Luther B. Archibald. most
eminent grand master of the great
priory of Canada. and official staff