Tombstone Epitaph

K. OF P.
Bisbee's Royal Hospitality to the Visiting Knights of the Grand Lodge.
May 6.
The Grand Lodge K. of P. met here yesterday, with the following officers:
G. C., F. P. Secrist of Winslow; G. V. C., J. C. Perry, Tucson; G. P., J. G. Pritchard, Bisbee; G. M. of Ex., Wm. D. Monmonier, Tombstone; G. K. of R. & S., E. W. French, Prescott; G. I. G. Fleishman, Tombstone; G. O. G., Frank Hare, Tombstone.
The following lodges were represented: Prescott No. 1, John Duke and Geo. Schereman; Phenix No. 2, J. J. Hickey and W. A. McGinnis; Arizona Lodge No. 4, J. J. Patton and B. Hattich; Benson No. 5, F. S. Webster; Tombstone No. 9, Fred Fleishman and M. Lamont; Rathbone Lodge No. 10, F. W. Vaughn and J. Pennepacker; Pinal Mountain No. 11, E. H. Cook; Nogales No. 13, W. W. Fleweling and J. J. Chatham; Grand Canon No. 14, W. H. Johnson.
Officers for the ensuing year are: P. C., F. P. Secrist; G. C., J. C. Perry; G. P., J. G. Pritchard; G. K. of R. & S., E. W. French; G. M. of E., W. D. Monmonier; G. M. of A., A. McGinnis.
The reports showed the organization to be in a flourishing condition.
There are now in Arizona fifteen lodges, being an addition of four during the year. In less than one generation it has increased from nothing to 350,000 members.
Members and guests met at the Castle Hall at 9 p.m. and were escorted to the Rink by the Nogales U. R. thirty-five strong, where they sat down to an elegant banquet. Three hundred plates were spread, and a flow of soul went on for an hour, when Toast Master Woodworth called the house to order and announced that we would now enjoy a "feast of reason." He then called upon J. G. Pritchard to respond to the toast: "Our Visiting Knights."
W. D. Monmonier then told in well chosen terms his impressions of Bisbee in general and Rathbone Lodge No. 10 in particular.
J. C. Perry being called upon, responded to the "Grand Lodge" in which he told, in his inimitable way, the how, why and doings of the Grand Lodge. He complimented the order on the appearance of ladies at the banquet, regretted that his own wife was not present, but compromised by appropriating, at the earliest opportunity, one of Bisbee's fair daughters.
E. H. Cook responded to the "Endowment Rank" during which he said that there had been distributed to the widows and orphans nearly $10,000,000 since its inception.
The next was a song by Miss Wittig which was heartily encored.
The Uniform Rank was responded to by G. W. Swain in eloquent sentences, in which he told of their bravery in boldly laying siege to the heart of any unprotected sister they might meet, and expressed a belief that the order was bound to extend its conquests from the Aurora Borealis to the Southern Cross, and from the Rising Sun to the Day of Judgment.
It now comprises 30,000 trained men and is the only organization of the kind recognized by the U. S. government.
Dr. Johnson esteemed it a pleasure as well as a duty to tell of his love for the ladies.
A song was rendered by John Reese.
E. W. French then told in well chosen words the origin and signification of the Pythian sign.
Lewis Williams responded happily to the toast "Our Sister Fraternities."
J. J. Chatham being called upon to respond to the toast "The Babies of Arizona" entered into an extended eulogy of a certain four months old baby in which he has an interest.
On motion it was voted to name this latest product of Arizona's matchless climate "Bisbee."
At 12 o'clock the audience adjourned well pleased with themselves and their fellows.
NOTES.
J. C. Perry was the wit of the evening.
G. W. Swain was the orator of the evening.
About a hundred visiting Knights are in attendance.
Next year the Grand Lodge will meet at Globe.
The Uniform Rank from Nogales were especially admired for their gallant and soldierly bearing.
Miss Eva McNeil is over from Tombstone, the guest of the Misses Camilla and Edith Hughes.
Ben Williams received a handsome compliment for his generosity in supplying five million dollar overalls to the visiting guests.
The Knights of Pythias, who returned last evening, speak most highly of the treatment received from the Bisbee Lodge, the Copper Queen Co. and other residents in that burg.
A stage load of K. of P. representatives of the different parts of the Territory came in last evening from Bisbee, and the streets look a little livelier in consequence. They were all shown a test of the water power of Tombstone and all were agreeably surprised.
Mr. Sherman, the proprietor of the Sherman House of Prescott, and the newly elected Grand Chancellor of the K. of P., was one of the visitors in Tombstone today. Mr. Sherman is Chief of the Fire Department of Prescott and he was also shown the force of the Huachuca water today.