The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-19
Grand Masonic ConvecatiOn at St. Louis
ASSEMBLY OF mAGNa1ts OF THE Mystic TIE.
Opening of the Grand Encampment
of Knights Templari
Brilliant Procession and CrOwdS Of
Spectators.
spsesl corrsspond.nce Of the New orsan. Crescent

Special Correspondence the New Orleans CrescentI
SOUTHERN HOTEL, st. Louis, Sept Is, ls6o.
What are known as the general grand Masonic
bodies proper of the United States, are the Gene
rel Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and the
Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, both OF
which by their constitutions, are required to con-
vene once in three years only. and at suchlplace
as may have been previously determined on; and
from almost their very organization both have
assembled at the same time and place, thereby
attracting so large share of the attention of the
fraternity ss 10 become the grand centers of the
order, at which all the highest and best of the
brethren meet to renew their friendships, and to
exchange their opinions.
The last grand communications of these two
general bodies was held in Sept, 1866, st Colum-
bus, Ohio, aud althOugh there prevailed the
best Of good feeling, aud proper sympathy and
respect were shown where botn were needed, still
it was felt that things had not been fully placed
upon the old footing, and the delegations OF the
| southern States were all missing with the excep-
tion of those of Tennessee and Louisiana; but
three more years have efiectusly done their work,
| and those bonds of fraternal union which war
never severed, those heart-wermlDgs insniled py
Masonry which were never chilled, no matter how
severe the blow or how dark the night, have again
been enc ed and strengthened around the affairs
| of friendship, whose fires have never bnrned
| brighter than now
as 10 the locality OF the next meeting, and after
| much trouble, the committee to whom that sub
| jsct was intrusted finally agreed upon Phladel-
/
| but ST. Lous was represented by the venerable
and lsmented Anthony O'SOllivan, who never al
| lowed any of his favorite plans to be defeated,
| aud by his interchangeable exertIons the commit
| tees report was rot concurred in, and IT. Louis
was cLo sen. lhe propIiety and wisdom Of the se-
| lection have manifested themselves at every turn
| erspbieslly, politically and Masonlcaily' Tor
some years back, this has been nearer the center
| than any ether city of the Union.
| arrived here on Saturday the 18th, and have
had, therefore, very ample opportunities o5 meet
Ing the various delegations as they made Their ap-
| pesrai ce one by one, in couples, threes, guar
| iettss eousds companies and even battali0ns, the
| rnacnates of Masonry have assembled from every
| quarter of the LAND and body OF representatives
are present that for ability, intelligence, honor
| and inteI Iity, uneQualled by any leglsiatlVe
| bo6v In The world. The source OF the Mississippi
| prests its nc uth when the brethren Cf Minnesota
| and of Louisiana strike hands as they DID yester,
| day; sDd shaw, OF California, and Oardner, OF
Masssc usetts as they cordially give the brotheriy
| Rrip, show that much more subtle ne tnan
he electric current, unites the oceans, and one,
| too that csn travel more quickly and TO greater
| pufpose. Would that had the ability or 0ppor-
| iunity 70 name TO you the =" great lights " that
| beam GROUND NE, snd 10 recall 10 your recollec-
tob their invaluable services TO their country ana
Their fellow man, but time presses and mus
| has en- on 10 what has but recently occurred.
The Grand Encampment of Knights Templal
| was uuened Yesterday, with unusually impressive
! | and solemn ceremonies. At Z o'cock st. Louis
, Cou,uuuoery NO. proees.isd to the Ihneis banl
| of lie ryer fully equipped and numbering more
| than 100 men, and there received Sn henry IL
| Palmer OF Wisconsin, Grand master OF the Onlte'
! | States Sir William s. Gardner. OF Massaennseus
| deputy grand master, and Sir John =. y. FeHOWs
e. LoqisisBa ans uca GspeTgsfpbTg5e e pg5 ead eseorte
,hsn IN ,seir place in the line. The grand mas,e
J, | had beep escorted from his home by Miwauke
}, Commeudery No in full force, and which Is no'
sctinC as his body guard snd will continue 10 q
q | 60 SuIing the continuance OF the session.
s 4 TIC lines were then formed under the lmm'
IS ! diate superyision of Sir George Frank Goui!
j grand commander of Missouri, lmIheolstey J
1t | mont OF tie Southern Hotel, ana commenced =
march in the most beautiful and perfect orde
The day seemed to have been made on purpose
no dust slight clouds and cool reIfesnmg preeL
The streets were lined with people, ana eVel
window, balcony or other colgne ei Van.age,e "
6iIed with the fair faces Of the daughters OF :
| Tonis- wbcse loveliness can only be rvalled
those of Louisiana. The length of the line cou
scarcely be less than mile and half, and !
number ia estimated at between zoVy anu D., 80,
Tins exceeding the grand display made at bost
last lime In the dedication OF their new Masoi
Hail, Conspicuous among them mus, mo-,
n Apollo nnandery No. 1, OF Chicago; MnWs1h
C6muandery No. l, of Wisconsin Cyrene 20
~ mar6ery NO q of Memphis Leavenworth GO
mandery No l, of Kansas; st. Louis, IVanI
and Liberty Communicates, OF missouri, anu
eu. yery effective looking corps composed OF kngnu
PennsyIyania, led by that nlmltable gOod iehc
=, Sir JeIry Hutchinson of Philadelphls. Louisis
was represented by Sir }. 2. a. emows'
grand commander Sir Samael NJ Iouu,
ork grand commander; Sir Joseph + hornor, ueP
gtand commander; Sir John A. stevenson, gri
ed, genersllsslmo; IAN snu Ella on uii''AH'
After passing through several OF the 10
OF | s,reets tf the city, and experiencing one Ol
= | delights of the NicOsOn pavement, Dy long,
hin | by no means fsiiguing march, the hea1 Oh
coump halted at the new Masonic man, \
bs,eIv completed in time, and OF when q
the anCnj and the ranks were opened; ana tne 3.
,f6cers proceeded through the lines 10 thef
g.. lions with banners lying, music swelling ano
NON serted swords exhibiting at once one OF the
beautiful and expressive scenes that magma
few could possibly suggest.
The Grand Encsmpment was caled 10 orae
| the grsni MASTER a little afler meridian, the
oce cga,es and visitors in uniform completely hl
bra the large hall of the building, whose capscl'
estimated at two thousand. Sir Knight Evan
Rer | Pennsylyapia was appointed grand prelate,
a., with solemn and impressive praye amlu the
0oN intepse silence, the vast multitude stanulnB
been their feet in the presence Of the eco TnS
vho | our Saviour returned sincere and hearueH u
- | for the great mercy and kindness when perm
i mas The Iraterpal gathering A committee on ere
oVer' tisls was then appointed. and pending lts re
the Grand Encempment adjourned uhul tomo
ped morning. when its usual business WIZ ps PIocT s
d his | with. AA"ANh
y by g., D,,or Tho Q
=. - tion of our readers is directed to the card
-s,ob other column of Mr.. H. Haller, dealer in $
Tager anu bouse lui iH.onIe -, = ora q,
most complete in the South, and it will De re
bered by hundreds that Nr. Haller is the age
e eul' the celebrated Bucks Brilliant Stove, Whie
1ouls- its excellence in baking, ETC., and for its
'ou1h' ecopouyin fuel, took the premium at our Ia