WELCOME VISITING KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS

The Cortland Democrat, July 31, 1891.

WELCOME VISITING K. OF P.

The Latch String Off and Doors Wide Open—Election of Grand Lodge Officers—Other Details.

   Preparations for the annual session of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Knights of Pythias, with St. Bernard Lodge, No. 217, K. of P. at Cortland, had been carefully made for some time prior to July 28 the opening day, citizens aiding the local brethren to a great extent. A few decorations were in position as early as Saturday preceding and Monday was generally devoted to arranging the red, orange and blue—emblematic of the order—in pleasing harmony with the national colors and other banners, until with the dawn of Wednesday morning every business house and numerous private residences imparted a holiday air to residents of the village as well as the stranger within her borders.

   The delegates to the Grand Lodge assembled in Vesta Lodge, I. O. O. F. hall on Tuesday and transacted a large routine of business of interest to the order, and electing the following officers:

   G. C.—Samuel T. Hull of Kingston.

   V. G. C.—William Ladew of New York city.

   G. Prel.— S. H. Salisbury of Seneca Falls.

   G. K. of R. and S.—John J. Acker of Albany.

   G. M. of Exc.—Peter W. Mead of New York city.

   Supreme Rep. (long term)—James C. De LaMare of New York city.

   Supreme Rep. (short term)—Dr. O. M. Shedd of Poughkeepsie.

   The contest during the balloting was very exciting and considerable feeling was manifested, yet as each result was officially declared harmony again reigned and brotherly love prevailed. No member of the order who is not qualified as a past G. C. is eligible to the office of supreme representative. District-Deputy Nathan S. Long of No. 7 New York, the silver tongued orator of the Pythian Knighthood, was accorded great credit for work accomplished upon the floor during the session of Tuesday. D. D. Gurney is credited with rendering the ablest decision ever made by a district deputy in the case of the Hudson River lodge.

   The origin of the order of Knights of Pythias dates back to 1863, having been founded in Washington, D. C. during the civil war by Justus H. Rathbone, the initials upon the badge being F. (friendship), C. (charity), B. (benevolence). To-day the order claims a membership of 200,000 in the United States, and the lower provinces boast a large membership, and throughout the states lodges are being instituted.

   A movement is now being carried forward to establish a Pythian home within the borders of the Empire state — the site for which is not yet selected, on the same plan as that of the Masonic home at Utica, in support of which lodges of the ninth district of New York under the leadership of P. D. D. G. Cs. Mier and Klee [sic] have set the ball in motion and realized the sum of $800 from an entertainment given on July 4 and 5 at the metropolis.

   Wednesday was devoted to matters of import to the order.

   Thursday morning was taken up with the disposal of unfinished business among which was the approval of the project to establish a K. of P. Home in this state. The following committee being appointed to prepare and draft plans for the furtherance of the project, establish rules and report at the next annual session of the Grand Lodge to be held in Troy: A. B. Gardinier, H. Lemmerman, J. C. DeLaMar, N. S. Levy, H. Meier.

   A committee of nine was appointed to have charge of the moral support of the institution, viz: F. J. Martin, J. W. Van Demark, H. C. Kanski, C. W. Hinson, M. Selonick, A. Muller, G. Seims, I. P. Hubbard, C. Manners.

   The following appointed officers were also designated:

   G. M. at A.—J. C. Ladow of Mechanicsville.

   G. L. G.—John V. Tibbals of Kingston.

   G. O. G.—W. D. Crittenden of Freeville.

STANDING COMMITTEES.

   Laws—J. T. Robertson, H. Lemmermann, N. A. Calkins.

   Finance—A. Bedell, J. H. Callanan, J. A. Kehlbeck.

   Appeals—J. W. Root, C. T. Goodrich, H. E. Plaisted.

   Returns—G. H. Guardeneer, E. L. Requa, M. D. Beneway.

   Printing—S. T. Hull, J. J. Acker, P. W. Mead.

   Foreign Correspondence—James L. Baker.

   Transportation—J. Irwin, M. Selbuick, C. Brickmayer.

   The 9th district reported having $1,000 already in readiness for the project of the home. Franklin lodge of Kingston came to the front stating that their lodge of 400 members would come to the rescue at $1 per member. Other lodges and districts reported various amounts which gave great impetus to the undertaking.

   At 12 o'clock the session adjourned, having completed its business.

   Owing to the heavy rain the field sports were omitted, but a magnificent fancy drill was witnessed at the armory yesterday afternoon. The parade was declared off.

                                 PICKED FROM THE KNIGHTS.

   Among the prominent delegates are D. D. Price of Brooklyn; Assemblyman Aaron B. Gardinier of Yalatia, S. R., and influential Knight; John T. Robertson the retiring G. C., whose rulings have met full approval throughout the state; Grandfather Grant, as usual, is on hand boasting of his 26 grandchildren and filling the atmosphere with brightness; Dr. David Randall of the famous lodge No. 266 is hard at work; P. C. Frank Wolfe of John Logan lodge; Thomas W. Tomlinson of Allegany lodge and a hundred other lights in this order.

   The uniform rank K. of P. from Oswego, Syracuse and Amsterdam were on hand as advertised and made a favorable impression while executing fancy military maneuvers. Delegations were present from Ithaca, Freeville, Susquehanna, Homer and other lodges in addition to those previously mentioned.

   Music was furnished by the Hitchcock M'f'g Co. band until Thursday when the Homer Cornet band appeared upon the street and the air resounded with sweet strains throughout the day.

   The Oswego duster and broom martial band was no small factor of the convention's music brigade, during the late twilight.

   Banks, the Railroad street barber, was awarded the most novel decoration.

GOLD IN ABUNDANCE.

Nuggets Weighing from Six to Thirty-Eight Pounds—A Bonanza.

   GRANDA, Nicaragua, July 23.—The famous placer miners of Prinzapolka have again started the gold fever throughout Central America. Gold nuggets weighing from six to 38 pounds, 22 carats fine, were lately found there. A Nicaraguan soldier stationed at the mines discovered a nugget weighing 18 pounds, which he sold at Leon for $2,800.

   Senor Cabezas, who has just come from the mines, has with him rich specimens of native gold. He says there are numerous pockets distributed in all directions obviously caused by a volcanic upheaval of the lower strata, throwing the gold mineral to the surface. The excessive heat melted the gold, causing it to flow over the ground like a stream of lava. He states that this district, which is near Bluefields, is destined to become as celebrated as the bonanza mines of California. The land environing Prinzapolka for nearly 30 leagues in circumference is a rich primeval pasture where numerous wild cattle graze.

Mining in Honduras.

From the N. Y. Press. July 19.

   I met yesterday Mr. A. F. Safely, a Colorado miner, who has been operating for some time past in Honduras, and returned from that country within a few days.

   "Mining operations are looking up," said he, owing to the number of Americans going in there to invest capital.

   There are valuable gold and silver mines all over the country, which have been worked by hand labor for centuries at great profit to the natives, but are capable of still further development, and even marvelous development, with modern machinery and methods. The building of the Nicaragua Canal will bring these properties into as much prominence in New York as the mines of Colorado, Nevada and Montana.

   There was great excitement in the country, just before I left, over the shooting of ex-President Charez. He was sitting in a car at the railway station when a bullet struck him in the head. It was at first reported that he was killed, but the wound appeared afterward to be only trivial. He was President from January to March, what is known as the intermediate period. The old President had been re-elected, but under the Honduras Constitution no President is allowed to hold a second term without an intermediate period of three months, during which time some other citizen occupies that office. No one seems to have been able to discover whether this affair was an attempted assassination or not."

   BEN ABOU.

Watch the Little Ones.

   The Dryden Herald says: "Louie, a five year-old son of [railroad] Section Boss Joe Basil, choked to death upon a piece of meat which he obtained from the pantry without the knowledge of his mother, Thursday afternoon. When the condition of the child was discovered, the mother made every effort to remove the obstruction, and likewise to force it downward, but to no purpose. Upon the arrival of Dr. Montgomeroy, who had been speedily summoned, life was nearly gone, and the child survived but a few moments. The child was buried at McLean, Saturday afternoon.

Baptist Church Items.

   Dr. Cordo returned in time to occupy the pulpit Sunday morning, but receiving a telegram announcing the death of his mother, there were no services in the evening. Mrs. Phelps was in the choir as soprano, Mrs. Abbie Crandall Hughes, of Parish, sang the solo "I Need Thee, O, My Jesus."

   Ladies' Home and Aid Society met on Wednesday with Mrs. Will J. Perkins. Preparations were completed for providing for the fresh air children at Freeville two days.

Causes the Clouds to Weep.

   CANTON, O., July 26.—Rainmaker B. Melbourne was exultant to-day over the success of his experiments. He set to-day for his eighth experiment and it was a wet and unqualified success. He now claims to his credit seven successes against one failure, and that is set down to a broken machine, as he calls his mysterious, rain producer. The weather this morning was clear and cool, but about 2:30 o'clock this afternoon the skies clouded and rain fell at intervals until evening.

Edwin Booth.

Edwin Booth Doomed by Tobacco.

   BUZZARD'S BAY, Mass., July 28.—There is a well authenticated rumor here that Edwin Booth is dying from the effects of too much smoking. Though he is aware that it is killing him he cannot shake off the habit. Ex-President and Mrs. Cleveland and Joseph Jefferson have striven to reform Mr. Booth in this respect and for a while they partially succeeded, but the habit had too strong a hold on him and his indulgence became more unrestrained than ever. It is because of this relapse and because he knows he cannot recover that he left here suddenly on Saturday and went to Narragansett.

Uncle Rufus Peck's Canvass.

From the Syracuse Courier, July 25.

   Uncle Rufus Peck of Cortland is still hustling around Onondaga [Co.] building Senatorial fences. But he must be careful or he will make himself ridiculous and become the laughing stock of the town. One day he is consorting confidentially with the leaders of the Hiscock faction, and the next day he is reported to be dallying with the leaders of the Belden faction and confidentially informing them that he has his suspicions of the Hiscock men.

   In fact Uncle Rufus seems to be endeavoring to blow hot and cold at the same time. He should remember that between two stools one falls to the ground. Which side does he train with, anyway? Or is he all things to all men?

   The story comes from Cortland that Uncle Rufus' canvass for the Senatorial nomination has not tended to harmonize the Cortland Republicans worth a cent. Indeed, some of the Cortland leaders go so far as to declare that there will be a contest in Mr. Peck's own district and that the Cortland Republicans are by no means united over the question of his nomination. In fact, some of them say that

Uncle Rufus couldn't get the nomination in any event, if Cortland were to be given the Senatorship. If these reports are true, Brother Peck had better return to Cortland at once. It is evident that there is more need of missionary work in that county than in Onondaga.