The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia is a poignant exploration of a fading brotherhood, laden with humor and underlying tragedy. Set in the rundown meeting room of the Cattleman’s Hotel, the play captures the decay of a once-vibrant lodge now teetering on the brink of extinction. As the characters grapple with their own delusions and prejudices, the narrative unfolds with sharp wit and a sense of inevitable decline.

Setting the Scene

The play's opening scene introduces the audience to the dilapidated setting of the Knights of the White Magnolia's meeting room. Ramsey-Eyes, a character tasked with cleaning, provides a window into the neglected state of their surroundings. The room, adorned with worn-out furnishings and stained walls, is dominated by a podium with a grimy painting of a white magnolia and a light-bulb ornamented cross flanked by Confederate and Texas flags. This initial portrayal establishes the grim atmosphere that permeates the play.

Characters in Conflict

As members Rufe Phelps and Olin Potts enter in the midst of an argument, the dialogue quickly reveals the petty squabbles that characterize their interactions. Ignoring Ramsey-Eyes’ attempts at pleasantries, their entrance sets the tone for the contentious meeting. Red Grover joins the fray, further escalating tensions. Ramsey-Eyes, dismissed and accused of being "uppity," exits, highlighting the dismissive attitudes of the lodge members.

Pranks and Prejudices

The arrival of L. D. Alexander brings a blend of ribbing and conspiracy as the men plot a prank on Skip Hampton, known for his fondness for alcohol. They hide the bourbon and feign ignorance, though Skip quickly sees through the ruse, much to Red's dismay. The discussion turns to Floyd Kinkaid, the son of Colonel Kinkaid, whose absence from the lodge is a sore point. The friction among the members underscores the underlying resentments and prejudices within the group.

An Attempted Revival

When Rufe and Olin return with Colonel Kinkaid, an invalid, the scene shifts to serious proceedings as L. D. announces the initiation of a new member, Lonnie Roy McNeil, from Silver City. Despite the Colonel's disparaging remarks about Silver City men, the members hope this ceremony will rekindle the lodge's former glory. Yet, their optimism is fleeting, as Skip cynically dismisses their aspirations, igniting further arguments. L. D.'s assurance to Lonnie that the initiation will be a significant event in his life is met with skepticism.

Disruptions and Disillusionment

The meeting is rife with interruptions and confrontations. Lonnie, treated as a suspect, is brought in by Ramsey-Eyes and then Milo Crawford, both mistaking him for a spy. After a chaotic vote that passes in Lonnie's absence, he vanishes, leaving the members bewildered. The act closes with a sense of disillusionment as the lodge's history is recounted, revealing its decline from a flourishing organization in the 1920s and 1930s to its current, struggling state.

Initiation Chaos

The second act opens without pause in time, the members speculating about Lonnie's whereabouts until he returns. Preparations for the initiation are initially thwarted by the missing lodge book, but once retrieved, the ceremony begins with much ado. The ritual, punctuated by Lonnie's repeated "Stempco," the Colonel's wandering thoughts, and the members' jibes, culminates in the lighting of the cross. Rufe's cleaning temporarily restores its brilliance, but it soon falters, symbolizing the lodge's flickering legacy.

Spiraling into Disorder

Chaos ensues as the cross's malfunction sparks renewed arguments. L. D.'s attempts to restore order are interrupted by Colonel Kinkaid's catatonia and the ensuing madness — Red dousing the Colonel with bourbon, Skip retaliating with a tire gauge, and a melee that sends Lonnie fleeing in terror. Insults fly, tempers...

The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia is a play rich with symbolism, humor, and a sharp critique of racial bigotry. The narrative employs visual symbols and dialect to reflect on themes of decay and ignorance, while also weaving in comic elements to soften the harsh realities it portrays. The backdrop of the play—the shabby Cattleman’s Hotel—serves as a poignant symbol of bygone eras and deteriorating values.

Symbolism of Decay

The play's central theme is underscored by powerful visual symbols. Notably, the emblems of the movement, such as a brightly shining cross adorned with light bulbs and a stained painting of a white magnolia, reflect the fate and moral decline of the brotherhood. The cross, which shines only momentarily before extinguishing, is relit by the character Ramsey-Eyes. This act symbolically highlights his generous spirit, contrasting sharply with the other members' lack of moral integrity. Meanwhile, the dilapidated state of the hotel itself—with splintering floors and faded walls—serves as a relic of the past, echoing the decay of the agrarian myth.

Motifs of Disappearance and Degeneration

Other motifs within the play further illustrate the theme of degeneration. The mysterious disappearance of a book, missing a crucial scrap from which Ramsey-Eyes reads, represents the members' inability to embark on their "journey toward de truth." Likewise, the initiation ritual has devolved into a farcical travesty, further symbolizing the loss of original values and intentions within the group.

Comic Relief Amidst Serious Themes

While the play tackles serious issues such as racial bigotry, it maintains a comedic perspective. The use of regional dialect adds humor and color to the characters’ interactions. Red's sardonic remarks, such as Skip not passing up a drink "if he had to squeeze it out of an armadillo’s ass," add a layer of levity to the dialogue. This humor serves to soften the characters' underlying hostility and rancor, making their ignorance and narrow-mindedness more palatable to the audience.

The Role of Dialect in Characterization

The use of regional dialect is not only comedic but also underscores the ignorance and narrow worldview of the characters. Their language, often unlettered and uncultured, reflects their limited understanding of a world beyond their own. When Red suggests that the Cattleman’s Hotel could become a "hotel for Coloreds only," it reveals their obliviousness to the changing social landscape and the nation's mood against segregation. Their speech, disregarding standard English syntax, hints at their insularity and lack of education.

Provincial Perspectives

Character dialogues reveal much about their provincial perspectives. For instance, Olin's knowledge of local family histories is offset by a glaring ignorance of broader historical events. Lonnie's trivializing description of Adolf Hitler as "on the German side in World’s War II" showcases his poor education. Colonel Kinkaid, clinging to outdated views, still perceives the Germans as imminent threats, while Rufe’s misguided belief that "them Russians got old Hitler hid out in a little room over there in Moscow" further demonstrates the community's detachment from reality. Stuck in a small town bypassed by progress, these men remain unaware of the world moving forward without them.