The San Francisco call., 1913-08-13
TWELVE THOUSAND
SWORDS FLASH IN
TEMP[AR PARADE
San Francisco's Mounted
Comrnandery Special Es-
cort to Grand Officers
in Denver
"ONWARD, CHRISTIAN
SOLDIERS" WAR SONG
Thirty Thousand Spectators
See Pluned Hosts Enter
Great Stadium

DENVER, Aug. 12.-with standards
aying and keeping time 20 music by
scorea of bands. thousands of Knights
Templar today appeared in gorgeous
parade. which officially opened the
thirty second triennial conclave.
Down the line of march through the
streets. and between deep rows OF
eager spectators, into the great sta
dunn for review before 10000 persons,
passed the seemingly interminable
ranks
Three hours elapsed before the hosts
of Christ, from the first to the last,
had filed past their templar ruler, Most
Eminent Sir William Bromwell Melish,
grand master of the grand encamp-
ment. X. T., U. S. A.
Seated in the reviewing stand with
the officers of the grand encampment
were the officers of the sovereign great
priory, K. T., of Canada.
The 10000 spectators. many of them
women, in the octagonal stadium, in
laying it in a mosaic of f1uttering COL
ors, we're an imposing picture.
COWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS.
The first notes of Onward, Christian
Soldiers" played by the Orpheum drum
nier band of Trinity commandery No.
A, Cincinnati, brought the spectators
10 their feet to greet the coming
knights
First appeared the picturesque
mounted escort of the California com
mandery No. l. San Francisco. which,
dressed in black habilaments, trimmed
with silver and red mounted upon pure
black steeds. The California troop
was special escort TO the officers of the
grand encampment. and was followed
by the Trinity commandery of Gin
clnnat, foot escort to the officers of
the grand encampment
Behind them, riding in carriages of
state, came the grand encampment Of
ficers, Most Eminent Sir william Brom-
we'll Melish. Immediately after came
the carriages bearing Right Eminent
SIR Arthur Macarthur of New York. dep
uty grand master of the grand en-
campment. and Most Eminent Sir PhiIin
D. Gordon, supreme grand master of
the sovereign great priory. Very Emil
nent Sir Lee S. Smith, captain general
Of the grand encampment, and Most
eminent Sir William p. Ryrie past
supreme grand master of the sovereign
great priory. followed
The arrival Of the grand encamnment
officers and their distinguished visitors
from the great priory ended the pa
rede's first division
1t remained for Detroit commandery
10000 with something OF their own
militant zest as soldiers of the cross
DETROIT CoMMANDERY LEADS
The knights from Detroit, 112 strong
In handsome uniforms marched IN the
entrance Of the stadium in column ~
sections, and when the wide entrance
was reached swung into column Of
platoon. with swords at rest Stately.
military, precise, the knights halted
before the reviewing stand. when at
command from their captain general
their swords sprang to the present and
as quickly rested. as though the 112
blades were one.
Commandery after commandery fol-
lowed. giving exhibitions of excellent
drilling, chiefly among which were
those from Chicago (Englewood com
mandery), Milwaukee Gvanhoe). De-
troit (Damascus). Washington, d. c.
(Columbia), Kansas City (OrienD and
Indianapolis (Raper).
Among the spectators were thou
sands of Sir Knights, who decided at
the last moment to watch the parade
from the vantage ground OF the stad-
tun. 1t is estimated the marching
knights numbered 10000
After the parade the canvass of can
didate for senior and Junior grand war
den. to be filed at this conclave. be-
gan. 1t Is generally conceded tonight
that Leonidius Newby of Knightston.
IND, will be chosen senior grand war
den, as he is the only known candidate
for the ofice.
Interest centers, however, in the
election OF the junior grand warden,
and today It seemed as though Samuel
p. Cochran, Houston, Tex, would be
the successful candidate, with George
w Vallery. Denver. and W. H. Norris,
Manchester, Ia, pressing him hard for
victory.
That Los Angeles viii secure the
next conclave was the general predic-
ton among members today. New York
and New Orleans are also in the race,
with New York the strongest con-
tender.