Arizona republican., 1915-10-13
PYTH|AN GRAND LODGE BEGINS
 |TS SESSIONS


 i Grand Lodge of the Knights of PNthias and the Pythian Sisters was 1 held in Mes;t yesterday, and will be continued throughout today, the ses- sions Of the K. of F. being keld in | their own hall and that of the 1 Pythian Sisters taking place in the Masonic hall Mesa had been select | ed as the meeting place for the year | 1915 at the session which was held one year ago at Globe. A large number of delegates from all parts Of the state are present. many of ! the Knights being accompanied by ! their ladies.
 The members of the Damon lodge | at Mesa had made extensive prepara- 1 tions for the entertainment of the visiting Knights. and they were aided | in tfese arrangements by the Com | mercial club and the Ladies Give League. The mercantile establish ments Of the city were most hand somely decorated for the occasion with the colors of the Pythians-red, yellow and blue-and the color of the ladies auxiliary ordere. white Com bincd with tEese bright tints the red. white and blue of old Glory which was displayed with an equally elab- crate hand, blended into a most at- tractIVe riot of color which was very pleasing to the eye of the visiting lodge men and their fair companions The Masonic and Pythian halls were also appropriately decorated and ev- cry effort was made to provide for the material comforts of the dele gates while in the city.
 Yesterday morning at the business session of the lodge a resolution was presented asking that a change be made m the bylaws so as to permit the holding of the Grand Lodge in sessions two years apart instead of yearly as is done under the present plan- The proposition was carried by a majority of one vote in the committee of the whole but it IS understood that when the matter comes before the Grand Lodge for ratification. the change will not be approved and the meeting time will remain as it is at present
 Thomas NJ. Smith. tie present Vice Grand Chancellor of the order, is a candidate tor election to the position of Grand Chancellor. and will prob ably be named for that honor with out opposition.
 
 insurance department of the order. was present and delivered a timely and interesting address to those as semhled.
 telegram from Brig. $. Young, Supreme Chancellor, conveying lis greetings and expressing his good wishes, was read during the session
 The proposition to establish Pythian sanitarium in the Salt River valley received the hearty support of the convention. and efforts are said to he under way to secure tre in stitution for Phoenix if possible.
 In the matter of the selection of t.1e meeting place for the year 1916. lively contest developed between the citiesS of Tempe and Hayden. both places being very desirous of securing the next session This mat ter will he settled at today's meet ing Risbee had also been men tioned as q place of meeting for next year, but the lodge at that place decided not to enter the race on ac- count Of-the fact that a new rome is in the course of construction in that city. an1 there was a disposition to question the ability Of the lodge in BIsbee ro handle the convention ur- der these circumstances.
 An appropriation of S10O0 was made by the Grand Lodge toward the project of establishing the proposed Pythiap children home on the 40- acre tract south of Tempe. It is hoped that this sum will be aug mented by liberal donations from the local lodges so as to insure the building of the home
 
 from the delegates, were present at yesterdays session. among them be- ing prominent members of the lodge in the state Twenty-two members of the Mesa lodge took part in the dramatic presentation of the first degree. the seating capacity of the large hall being taxed to it's capacity during the presentation of. the work
 The opening session of the Pythian Sisters was held in the Masonic hall with an exemplification of their work. Following this an elaborate \ hanquet was tendered the visiting ladies. this function being held in the Pythian hall. After this came the grand ball hel6 in the Masonic lodge rooms.
 With Chancellor Commander Thom- as Peyton in the chair, the first de- gree was administered to the follow ing candidates: Leroy H. Stewart. Nate Hart. c. F.. Kellogg, George Gardiner. Axel Goldensohn and J. W. Burrows. The teams from the Mesa and Tempe lodges performed the work in a most creditable manner and following the conclusion of the Titualistic instruction, the members of the latter team gave a presenta inc story of Damon and