Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-04
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs.


 KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs.
 founding of the Knights of Pythias, which comes on Feb. 17th. the grand lodge of Connecticut is planning cel- ebration to be held at Hartford, whi41 will have many notable guests and be the largest Pythian affair held in this state in some fime.
 Supreme Chancellor George H. Ham, sen of Calais, Me. the chief executive of the order, will be tho most import ant guest. Among other guests will be executive officers from all the New England states and New York The third rank will be conferred upon a large class of candidates coming from the varmious lodges in Hartford coun- ty. Pythians from all over Connect icut will attend The reception com- mittee will include the board of off, cers of Connecticut and the past grand chancellorS of the state. The active reception committee will be Grand Grand Keeper of Records and Seal Horace O. Case of Hartford, Vice Chancellor Edward F. Cowles of Un- ionville. Grand Inner Guard John J. lilly of Watertown, Grand Outer Guard J. Fred Crangie of Simsbury, Grand Master-at-Arms George E. Wright of Hartford, Grand PreAate James H. George and Grand Master of Exchequer William N. Potter of Willimantic. The headquarters of the knights will be the Hotel Garde.
 It is anticipated that 2,000 will come. "A banquet will be served at the hotel at o'clock in the afternoon. move un High street, down Main street, to and around Barnard park, back to Elm street and the Park Ca- sino. The work of the evening, with beautiful scenery and ritual, will begin at. 8 o'clock. Afterward five or six drill teams from various lodges in Hartford county will engage in com petftive drill for two silver cups of fered as first and second prizes by the grand lodge of this state. The judges will be appointed later and will be taken from the military field. There will be vocal and Instrumental music. A band will be in attendance, The military auxiliary will escort the pro- cession to the casino.
 The Knights of Jythias is distinctly an American order, Nein8 founded in 1864, just before the close of tho war, by Justus H. Rathbone, and was com posed of government clerks. It pur- posed to assist in aIfaying the harsh feelings resultant from the Civil war. 1t has grown enormously since then until it's present membership is be- tween 7O0,Q0O and 500, O,000. It's strength is in the new states of the vest today. The New England states therefore are pleased that the supreme chancellor should be New Englander
 The Knights of Pythias is the only secret order incorporated by congress. President Cleveand signed the incor- poration papers These papers were amended later and the amendment was signed by President Mckinley.
 J.s Az
 Commissioner Walter B. Chaffee, Providence. to investigate the affairs of L'Union St. Jean Baptiste dAmer- fque, has found some of the missing books used by officers of the supreme bureau in the home ofYlces of the or- der at Woonsocket. The books will help the commissioner in his work, says Worcester exchange.
 It has been knzown in Worcester for some time that Commissioner ChafYee had been obliged to carry on his work of Investigating the affairs of the so- ciety under difficulties. Now that he has found the books which he needed, members of the order believe that 1t will be but short time before he will be able to give a complete report to the actions of the supreme officials.
 The books in question were records and were found in the cellar of the home of1ee in Woonsocket. The jan itor of the building while cleaning in the cellar found the books. The ab- sence of these books, it is believed, complicated the work of looking up the past business of the society, especially that part of it which dealt with the receipts of the supreme bureau from the subordinate councils did so by means of separate reports and individ- uaI reports from the time of the in fis,vn <.f n os1e ,>,x- aff1liation with the order.
 The financial reports of each subor- dinate council were taken up separ- ately. Each monthly report from each council was taken up and in that man. ner the exact figures for amounts re- mitted were ascertained In some cases the reports from the subordinate councils extended back to 1901 when the society was first given a charter to do business in Rhode Island
 Some members of the order are in favor of calling a special convention to elect new set of supreme officials. The plan to have no convention and between the present supreme officials and the insurgents, seems to be a dead issue. The Woonsocket meeting. which was called for that purpose, has failed, as the supreme officials have refused to accept the decision Ol t1l6 1ASu1SSulS, WHO aSkou l0dL g new executive committee of the su- preme bureau be named.s
 Hl1ERNEANS.
 By invitation from the Mystic di- vision, A. O. H., a large delegation from the two divisions in Norwich will go to Mystic Sunday afternoon to at tend the installation of officers which will be performed by County President J. c. Sullivan of New London. The Norwich men will make the trip by the Westerly trolley. leaving here at 12.45.