TRIENNIAL CONCLAVE OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1502, 6 October 1883, Page 4

TRIENNIAL CONCLAVE OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.

San Francisco lias been the soene during the 'present week of the most splendid pageant llr; country lias over witnessed. Of its kind is is, perhaps, without parallel. Tin last triennial conclave of Knights Templar was held in Chicago, at which the attendance of Knights was larger than it is at the twenty-second triennial in San Francisco.; but-the reception accorded to tho visiting Sir Knights by the Lake City was not at all equal to their greeting by the chief city of California. San Francisco is absolutely dressed with banners, flags, Masonic and Templar emblems, mottoes and devices, The red cross, with its legend "In hoc Bigno vinces," is to be seen everywhere, Even Jews parade this sign of the Christian faith; and Catholics, although less generally, manifest their recognition of the importance of the occasion by exhibiting here and there emblems of tho Templars, it may be business-sense, it may be imitation, but tho fact remains. Two handsome arches have been erected—one on Montgomery-street, opposite the Ma- . sonic Temple ; and one spanning Market street, above Third. The Paliict', Grand, and Baldwin Hotels are crowded by visitors, Sir Knights, their wives and daughters, many of whom accompanied them from the Dast. There are over 2300 guests at the Palace alone- All other hotels and boarding-houses are crowded, because, in addition to our visitors from afar, all the country towns of California, Nevada, and Oregon have sent contingents. There are fully 100,000 strangers in the city, yet the capacity for lodging accomodation, owing to private hospitality, is unexhausted. The floral decorations at the headquarters of the variom commanderies are very costly and elaborate, the gift of ladies and rich citizens. Fruit and flowers am liberally showered upon the visitors, and every possible facility has been placed at their disposal for seeing (lie sights of the place. The California commanderies keep " open house." as it v-we, and feast their visitors right royally. There are between

SIX AND SEVEN' THOUSAND KNIGHTS. ill tlifi city, but only about 5000 fell into lino on Monday, and after a competitive drill on Yan Yess Avenue, one of tho main thoroughfares in the Western Addition, and a review by Grand Master Dean, escorted by a brilliant-cavalcade, consisting of the Grand Rneampment of the l'.i'«' States, inarched through the principal streets, preceded by bands of music, to the pavilion of the Mechanics' Institute, where the exercise during Conclave week are held. The scene was one''of unsurpassed brilliance: The Grand Master was. mounted upon a white charger, nearly all other Knight Commanders and their staffs being mounted on Mack horses suitably caparisoned. Every Sir Knight wore the uniform prescribed in the Temjiliim manual, and made a splendid showing, with cocked hat and white plumo of ostrich feathers, black velvet cloaks, trimmed with silver lace, white baldricta and red belts, yellow gauntlets, silver scabbards and glittering swords, as they inarched in stately step along tho crowded streets, before applauding spectators, who occupied every available spot whore a site of the procession could be had for a space of live miles. Some of the commanderies excelled in drill, frequently changing th ■ order of march, now forming tho Templar's cross, now a hollow square, ii-iiin a triangle, then a Latin cross, or the Grand Commander's double cross, with a precision and celerity which elicited bursts of applause. At points along the lino of inarch halts were called but seldom. Passing the Evening tost office on Montgomery-street, tho Grand Master and Sir Knights saluted, several comnianderies forming front and coming to the present. It was most appropriately decorated. . several of the commanderies, notably Mary's Commandery of Philadelphia, had superb banners of silk and gold, which taxed the united strength of half a dozen negro ushers to bear them, All the commanderies with anything like a complete representation had elegant silk standards. Florida was represented by a single knight, who was loudly cheered as lie boro the Hag of his State along the line of march. St Bernard Commandery of Chicago, had a tame eagle perched upon a spar in addition to its standards; and the Maryland Commandery, with becoming sentiment for the Union, bore the stars, and stripes in the knightly procession. Every State in the Union was represented in the parade, which was viewed by not less than 150,000 people, many of whom kept their places for five or six hours before the procession appeared. The line was formed of 10 divisions, each division preceded by a band, conspicuous among which was a Chicago band, brought overland by the St. Benard Commandery, and Kin" Kalakaua's band from Honolulu, There were 269 bandsmen in the procession. The weather was superb.

SUNDAY, SERVICES AT TUB PAVILION. The Conclave week began by regions services lust Sunday at the Mechanics' Pavilion, which had been draped and decorated for the occasion. The spectacle was very striking, and the religious services, conducted by Episcopal clergy, were most impressive. A choir of 200 voices assisted by several bands, was employed. The Grand Chaplain, Rev, J)r Locke, preached an admirable sermon. The crush to obtain admission was very great, several women fainting in the press, The pavilion seats 15,000 people, and it was full from the topmost seat in the gallery. Its acoustic properties are so perfect that tho chaplain's vcixs tilled the vast space; and the benediction, pronounced by (he venerable Bishnp Kip, was distinctly heard. About 4000 knights in full regalia, weie present Thov

marched from the Masonic Temple to ■q the Pavilion and back again before ,',! dispersing, Immense throngs of spectators lined (lie street, and from first to last their appearance was a pcrj' feet ovatioti.

I \ I should add : that stands had been !: wcted ftt various points along the line

op Monday's procession, places on winch were eagerly paid for. Windows commanding the line of march ■>: i Kearny wero rented tor from lOdol. .to iodol. each, . A great deal of money in this way changed hands. Concerts, inceptions, banquets, excursions, <fcc, lillnd the intervening time up to Friday, which had been proclaimed a public holiday by Governor Stonema'n, io enable citizens at large to participate in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of

THE GARFIELD MONUMENT in Golden Gate Park. In addition to the Knights Templars, the Masonic Order, of which Garfield was a member, paraded in full regalia, the deceased, President having been a 32nd degree Mason. The State Militia, Grand Army of the Republic, military veterans, and civic officers wore in attendance, The procession was far larger than that of Monday, considerably over 10,000 men taking part in it. All business being suspended, the throng was great on the streets along the line of march, and at Golden Gate Park, where the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone, with full Masonic honours, took place. The spectacle was one never to be forgotten by those who participated in it. : Tho monument will be erected in Conservatory Valley at the Park—a place of great natural beauty, which has been improved to the utmost by art. Everything passed oil pleasantly, as per programme, not a hitch occurring. It is almost remarkable that so many people should congregate in so many exposed positions without accident. The horse of one of the Templars stumbled and fell on him early on Monday morning, breaking both his legs. He belonged to San Francisco, and was carried home. The Mechanics' Pavilion is full every evening, drill parades, promenade concerts, and dancing tilling up the time. At the headquarters of the various commanderies champagne flows like water. The halls are elaborately decorated, a fresh supply of flowers being provided every morning. The excursions on Iho bay and to the wine-making sections of the State have been peculiarly agreeable, and formed a pleasant break in the incessant round of gaiety, The business of the Conclave ends on Saturday with a competitive drill for the trophies, which have been manufactured here, and are choice works of art, the like of which have never before been seen on this coast, either imported or otherwise. Local artists designed and executed these magnificent trophies of gold, silver, and bronze, onyx, and auriferous quartz. Every onn of the five is characteristic of California. Their intrinsic value is several thousand pounds sterling. They arc the gift of California, and will be the absolute property of the winning commanderies. I need not attempt their discription, as I have no doubt it will appear in the illustrated papers of Knghmd and America. Personally, I may add that I have never seen anything of the kind to surpass, and very few to equal them in design, execution and intrinsic value. A Virginian knight has been elected Grand Commander of the Order, and the last Governor of California, George C. Perkins, has been elected Grand Junior Warden. The other officeis of the Grand Commandery are distributed among the Eastern States. In conclusion, Concave week was a revelation to most folk of the strength, organisation, wealth, and social influence of the Masonic Order in its various ramifications.