The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-05-01
IN THE OLD SOUTH

OIlcdnS. ears dilU years ago DlCHNHlC HOdt
ed down stream from up country making stop
on the site of the present great city. He recognized
the value of the location from a commercial as
pect, it being almost at the mouth of the great a
Their Of Waters and therefore secure and rcomy
seaport History has since demonstrated the &C.
curacy of foresight of the citys founder because
today there is in use along the water front of New
Orleans more than forty miles of docks and
wharves where giant commerce is carried on with
all parts of the world. Here are to be seen ships
from every country cn the face of the earth trans
ferring cargoes from the same lines of transporta-
ton. Aside entirely from this factor of world
wide commerce, New Orleans can lay claim to a
distinctive type enjoyed by no other city in the
United States. First of all, it is truly Southern
IN its hospitality its chivary. its graciousness and
its liberaty. These characteristics were empha-
sized to marked degree in the entertainment last
week of some twenty thousand Knights Templar
who gathered in the Crescent City for their thirty
fifth Triennial Conclave. There seemed to be
spirit Of cordial welcome that permeaed every
where and made the Triennial one long to be re-
illCulDCICO' OulcI ClISS HdNt III years past tA-
tended royal welcomes but it remained for New
Orleans to establish new precedent. It was a
case of open house, a generous Offering of the
glad hand of fellowship which made the visitors
feel they were tru y welcome. Lavish entertain
ment had been planned these plans were carried
out to the letter; nothing left undcne that would
contribute in any way to the pleasure and comfort
of the guests Miles of red and white electric ight
festoons that transferred the streets into fairy lanes
the huge Templar arch on Canal street surmounted
by the giant Crusader the reproduction of one of
the night Mardi Gras parades; the May pole ef-
feet secured by the festooning of the Lee monu-
ment in Lee Circle by mydads CT electric bulbs
all these things were but the outward manifestation
of the fact that New Orleans was glad and proud
to entertain the Knights Templar Of the United
States. Judging from expressions of the newspapers
and of the people generally the great parade that
marked the opening of the Triennial conclave last
Tuesday was an event Ct such impressive magni-
tude as tic outcass anything of the kind ever be-
fore seen in city noted for its parades and spec
tacles More than two hundred thousand specta-
tors looked on and applauded. AS for the conclave
interest in Florida naturally ceners in the selection
of Leonidas P. Newly of knightstown, Indiana
and St. Petersburg, Florida, to succeed James
Kyle Orr of Atlanta as grand master of the Grand
Encampment. The new grand master is a mem
Der of the Grand Commandery of Florida and
loyal and enthusiastic Flondan by adoption For
the first time in the history of the Florida COM
mandery this State sent a large delegation to a
Triennial Following the annual meeting of the
State conclave at Palatka. special train over the
Atlantic Coast Line cut Of Jacksonville afforded
transportation fer about one hundred and twenty
FIVE Knights Templar and their ladies to and from
New Orleans. All whose privilege it was to en-
JOY the trip were unanimous in voting it an event
of great enjoyment and one not soon to be forgot
ten. In fact. so enthusiastic was the Florida dele
cation that preliminary plans were formulated for
another splendid representation at the next Tren-
NAL which will be held in the far-away city of
Seattle. in the great State of Washington, in
August, 1925.
IA 1 4 Il 4