Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-09-06
The knights TempIar.

ennlal Grand Conclave yesterday forenoon
In the Hall Of the House OF Representa-
tives. Previous to the meeting the Colum-
bia Commandery OF knights Templar of
the District Of Columbia, which had come
to this triennial meeting of the Encamp-
ment as an escort to the M. E. Grand Mas
ter, Sir B. B. French, formed a procession
and moved up High street to nearly opposite
Capital University, where they awaited the
approach of the Grand Master and the Past
Grand Master, w. b. Hubbard.
The Bodies from the different States ad-
vanccd in front, leaving the Columbia Com
mandery, the special escort Of the Grand
Master and the Past Grand Master. The
procession then returned down High street
and proceeded to the Hall of the House.
where the Encampment was organized for
the transaction of business. -s'rt
Here 1t may not beinappropriatet to make
abriefnotice of the Columbia Commandery.
1t isan ofshoot of the old Washington Com
mandery of the Districtof Columbia, which
had so largely increased that in 1862, appli-
cation was made to the Grand Master for a
dispensation for the working of new
Conmandery-the Columbia. The dispen-
sation was allowed January 16, 1868, under
which it has been working to the present
time. Its first Eminet Commander under
the ajispensation was Ben. Perly Poore,
upon whose retirement from the.jurisdic-
tnin nf I'm M, r.. Il
volved upon Sir Knight Z. L. Stevens, who
was subsequently appointed by the Grand
Master Eminent Commander under dis
pensation. ,,r",, t,''
The prosperity of the Columbia Com
mandery has been very great without any
Infringement upon the rights of the old
Washington Commandery. Its Eminent
Commander, Sir e. L. Stevens, is represent
ed as one of the most able exponents of the
work of the orderih the United States.
The, Grand Master, knowing the efficien-
cy of this Commandery in the work of the
order, selected it as the escort of the Grand
Master of the United States at the meeting
of the Grand Encampment in this city.
Welearn that all the States, North and
South, East and West were represented in
the Grand Encampment convened in this
city yesterday, with the exception of three
only-Florida, Georgia and Texas.
But to return to the public proceedings
of the Grand Encampment yesterday. Be-
tween IL A. M. and 12 M. the Knights
Templar in the costumes and with the ban
ners of their order, moved in procession,
headed by band of music, to the Congre-
gational Church on Broad street. There
was aYconsiderable number of ladies and
gentlemen gathered to witness the ceremo-
nies at the Church. ., D. /. .-.
These ceremonies consisted in the form of
service prescribed for the Grand Encamp-
ments on public occasions, and were con-
Quoted 10 an impressive manner by Rev. R.
McMurdy, d. D., of Washington City, M.
e. Grand Prelate, the knights assisting,
The5services were principally made up of
prayers, select passages from scripture, con-
fessions of sintulness and of faith In. Chris
tianity, with responses by the knights, and
singing by choir, with accomplishments
from the Church-organ. They were impress
sive, as reminding us of the liturgic services
in the ancient Christian Church, and of the
solemn preparatory rites in which the an
!cient knights engaged before going forth
to battle for the upholding, as they believed,
of the Christian faith, s2-
2 These services being ended, an address
was delivered to the knights by the NJ. E.
Grand Master, Sir B. B. French, of Wash
ingtong City,. The address was brief but
appropriate, and consisted chiefly in well
coming the Knights to another triennial
meeting, and congratulating them upon
the return of peace and the restora-
tion of the Union, which, the speaker said,
was now stronger than ever. He welcom-
ed the Knights as fellow soldiers of the
Cross, and ayerred that the foundation of
their order was the Christian religion and
the practice of all Christian virtues.
The address being over, the Knights re-
turned in procession to the Hall of the
House, displaying as before a large red
cross upon their banners. Much curiosity
was shown by people upon the streets at
the sight of the singular, but rich uniform
Of the Knights. Their dress, equipments
and banners, seemed to those not initiated
into the mysteries of the Encampment, to
be rather those of the knights of the Red
Cross than of the knights Templar.
The degree of a Knight of the Red Cross
is, ,it is said, conteTedin an Encampment of
the Knights Templar, and is preparatory to
initiation into theilatter, though the former
order, we believe, is of much the earlier
origin, dating back to the time of the Per-
sian King Darius, while the Knights Tenn
'plar are understood to only claim an organ
izationi as far back as the Crusades. Sir
Hugh De Payens is said to have been the
first Grand Commander of knights Tenn
plar, and was elected in Ills, though the or
Iganization had then been in existence about
fifty years. fogDii slpasro# .aL.L-->
aN0PERA HousE.-The drama Of "Quasi-
modo, or the Hunchback of Notre Dame"
was well performed at the Opera House last
night, Mr.. Harry Seymour personating
Quasimodo with great power and skill, and
eliciting frequent applause. Miss Jose
phine Tyson was also successful in her rep
resentatioafof Esmaralda. Mile victoria's
81. y rH a e.