The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-04-07
DISTRICT CONVENTION HELD AT
FAIRMONT A SUCCESS.
Ranks Conferred on Class; Ban.
quet Served to Visitors; Festivi.
ties Prolonged Until Morning.

ties Prolonged Until Morning.
From Fridays Daily.
The largest, most enthusiastic, en-
pertaining and instructive lodge func-
ton that Fairmont has seen in many
a long day was pulled off Wednes-
day evening by Fairmont lodge No.
154, Knights of Pythias, says The
Sentinel
At that time the local lodge en-
tertained about 100 visiting Knights
from various towns in Southern Min
nesOta at a district convention and
put on the work in the ranks of
page and knight in their justly cele-
brated manner.
The visiting brothers were all un-
stinted in their praise of the way
in which the Fairmont boys put on
the work and their efforts to suit
ably entertain their guests.
The "doings" begun at 1880 o'clock
and continued until quite while
after most people were in bed and
fast asleep. In the early hours of
the evening the rank of page was
conferred in it's amplified form upon
a class of seven Neophites. A recess
ers sat down to a fine banquet.
Banquet Served BY Sisters.
The big feed was pulled off at
Daniels hall and was prepared and
served by the good ladies of the
Pythian Sisters. The banquet and
all the appertaining details could
scarcely be improved upon. The ia
bles, which seated all of the big
company at once. were arranged
in the form of huge triangle. this
formation having it's peculiar ritual
istic significance. The hall and ia
bles were tastefully decorated with
the emblematic colors of the order,
blue, yellow and red The tables
were made attractive by profusion
of cut flowers and other decorative
effects. While the three course ban
quet was being disposed of, the
splendid Knights of Pythias orches-
ira dispensed their famous music
to the delight of all. A bevy of the
good looking sisters, attired in snow
white, waited upon the tables and
saw that no Knight wanted for any.
thing wherewith to satisfy the inner
man. The banquet was a magnifi.
cent success, in keeping with the
many other events of the evening.
Work Was Resumed at Midnight.
At twelve o'clock work was re-
sumed upon the third rank and
four esquires were proven i'm the
armorial rank Of knight. There
were inspiring speeches by the Wis
iting grand officers and other local
and visiting knights of prominence.
Especially fine was the eloquent
address of Grand Chancellor Whar-
ton, who paid the local lodge the
highest encomiums for their sue.
cess in impressing and practicing
the beautiful lesson of friendship,
the cornerstone of the order.
AS there were no hotel accOmmO-
dations for SO large a number of
visitors, about 100 of the brothers
prolonged the ceremonies informally
until daybreak called them to other
tasks.
The total attendance was close to
200. Attendance from outside lodges
was as follows: Luverne. 20, who
came by auto; Edgerton, Is; Man
kato. TO- Winnebago-members of
Fairmont lodge-15; Lamberton, 6;
Albert Lea, 6; Owatonna, 5: Gar
den City, 5; Lyle. 5; Sherburn, 4.
There were also delegations repre-
senting the Canal Zone, Lake Crys-
tai, Saltwater, Illinois, Austin and
some other points.
Grand Officers Present.
Grand lodge officers present were
as follows: Grand Chancellor, James
A. Wharton, Duluth; vice grand
chancellor, A. l.. Sperry. Owatonna;
grand prelate, Rev. F. S. Atwood,
Minneapolis; grand keeper of rec
ords and seal, p. w. McAllister,
Minneapolis; grand master at arms,
Jake Peterson, Albert Lea; past
grand chancellors, F. f. Ellsworth,
MankatO; DeFOrrest Ward, Fair
mont.
On the whole the occasion was
a splendid success and added new
laurels to the reputation of Fair
mont Lodge No. 154 for doing things
up with an auger of large caliber
and exemplifying the teachings and
influences of the magnificent order
of Knights of Pythias.