The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-05-27
rur RETURN OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAK
III" HOME


The Waiting Knights Templsr. who were Iafol'
"a Hammond, arrived In Providence, H. l., or
MONDAY last The Knights who had remained o.
home gave them q handsome reception. Mr.
poyIe, Of Providence, welcomed the returning
Knights 10 the following language:
We. Who were obliged to remain at home, havs
read over and over again the glowing account,
which have come to a. Of the incidents connected
with your trip, and are compelled TO believe that
they after all convey but slight impression o.
the realities Of the journey.
Never sir, has body OF men been 30 elegantly
90 muuihcently entertained; all that taste Of re.
fncment could devise, or wealth procure, have
been lavished. upon you. Profusion has marked
your progress and il has seemed II there really
was danger that you might be killed with Kindness
The measure meted by De Molays and st. Johns &c
the Knights OF Virginia, has Indeed been returned
TO you "fnl, shaken down and running ovor."--
Never did band of Knights In the brightest days
chivalry, on any tour Of Pilgrimage, find warmer
hands or more loving hearts than you have found
among yourlbrethren, and never did Knights Of old
get sweeter smiles from woman's lips or brighter
glances from their eyes, than have fallen to your
share from the ladies Of the South.
The hospitality Of Virginia. Who that has ever
heard Of her, has not heard Of that famous 10 the
oden time, her children of the present have prov
ed to be worthy OF their sires, and now In every
portion Of our land the name OF the mother oil
statesmen and heroes, 10 being sounded with new
praises, and a new lustre, Frightening her escut'
cheon.
Noble Virginia. knowing no section, no North or
South, come from whatsoever quarter the stranger
may, her homes are open to receive him, her
hands ready to welcome him. How could 1t be
otherwise? TIE State that gave birth to a
Washington can never be unfsthfui to her trust
And, sir, for Whist they have done unto you we
thank them, as citizens of Rhode Island We thank
them, and az Masons, in the lame Of Masons
thank them. Let the obligations We feel bind
us still stronger TO each other still stronger te our
country, to Masonry.
Sir Knight Park man, OF the De Molays, respond
ed In the following speech on behalf Of the return
ed knights
stand before this large audience. asd had i not
for few days past exercised severely my vocal
powers, I should fear to raise my voice to respond
to sentiments which have Just fallen from the lips
of the Cir Knisht who has T,Somsa q have besn IN
a land where no msn.is afraid to speak, and where
have felt full liberty to free our minds and Dave
selves eighteen hours out Of the twenty four from
day to day. began to fear we could not stsnd eucn
Overwhelming hospt.l,tss pnt after irial q
and brighter 10 spirits than when We departed;
We had heard OF the fair h1wers Of Virginia. put
I am pleased to cay that I shall &c proud to
s sessh OF INC IS'''' u N "
II virginia till we bid them farewell, were over
whe;med with kindness Gov Wise welcomed US
with such areech as only virsinisn can make,
of Virginia wish we're at home. but as il H. n,
house my table my beds, are at your service"
Our path WAS literally strewn with h)wers and
chr atte ntioIs were 80 numerous ana 30 aounosnt
that single tongue could By no means recount
them.
our way our brethren the KNIGHTS of st. John. ct
John has been patron saint and we have trust.
ed in Providence all the way on our journey, and
To the ladies of Virginia we were lar gey indebted
for cur comfort and enjoyment. hey were with
us wherever went, and tn ir fair hands decora-
ted the places of reception with the beautiful en-
blems of cur Order. We were literally overloaded
With bouquets; the last browning expression OF
their favor lust reached the cars, was to put
into hands two bu: hel baskets full OF the most
beautiful bouquets to be strewn en- the tomb OF the
| ilustriOus W Washington. tGreat applausa
Sir Knight Winslow Lewis, of the De MOlays,
also responded to the welcome, saying:
Sir Kni hts OF both Encampments-Our tour oil
pilgrimage 10 now nearly complete. and as we are
about to part certainly leave behind the better
h slf of Us. Though that tour has been some hat
prolonged. ask every Sir Knight present II that
| pilgrimage was increased to seven yesrs whetnef
Grand Commander We have been engaged in q
glorious warfare with the South as to who should
bestful tn duties of hospitality but. slr nights
must say they took the advantage of us. They came
to Bos on and showed our feeole cards, and when
| we arrived in Virginia. We found every one was a
| trump; the whole pack contained not single
| low card. Every man was man, and as dod knows
my heart, every lady WAS q lady.
What we saw and what we experienced leave
| for others to tell who could enjoy creature com
forts better thanI.
| There is vulgar phrase used to excre5s our won
der at gre at sight;-ws say we have seeL the ele
but hsEs seen an ' asnsa1 so
as my perisI goes, such an elephant has never
been witnessed in any hospitsble mensRerie in the
United states. We sGW him. and what ls more
strange We tasted him and felt him at every grasI
| Of the hand.