The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1869-05-28
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR PREsRN-
TATION.

The knights Templar of Virginia CITY.
Commandery some fifty in number.
and strong in generous fraternity un-
excelled in the world, had another of
their frequent happy occasions on the
evening of May 20. Il was in the pre-
sentation OF a magnificent Commanders
uniform from the sir Knights of Vir-
ginia to Sir knight Hez l.. Hosmer,
Eminent Commander, and was a SUR
prise, in fact, to the worthy recipient.
The paraphenalia consists of chapeau,
sword and sword belt, baldrick, gaunt,
lets and fatigue cap, each of exquisite
workmanship, ordered from the East
expressly for this purpose. En- passant,
the Commandery has ordered from st.
Louis complete uniforms for the entire
Commandery, and propose on June Gath
prox.,-St. Johns Day-to have an i'm
posing celebration, at which the Sir
Knights of Helena Commandery No. 2
will be the guests of their comrades OF
Virginia.
By resolution of Virginia City Com
mandery No. 1, the presentation by p.
q. NJ. l.. w. Frary and the response of
Eminent Commander Hez. l.. Hosmer
were requested to be published in the
Posi- and Democrat, and were as follows
(BY p. G. NJ. L. W. FRARY)
EMINENT COMMANDER The men,
bers of this Encampment have imposed
upon me the pleasing duty of presents
ing you this uniform, as a slight testi-
monial of their regard.
This. Sir knight. is tende as an ex-
preston of their gratitude, Tor the val
liable service you have rendered in or
ganizing, and presiding over this En-
campment from its commencement to
the present time; for the faithful and
efficient manner in which you have
managed it's concerns, and for the ener>
gy and zeal you have displayed on all
occasions in disseminating the pure
principles of knighthood, according to
the constitutional regulations of the
Order. Sir knight Hosmer, be pleased
to accept these tokens as a memento of
the high respect and esteem cherished
for you by the Sir Knights of Virginia
City Encampment, and, rest assumed
that il is their earnest prayer that your
years, to preside over the deliberations
of this asylum, and to cheer US with
your counsel and advice.
BY EMINENT CoMMANDR II. L. HosMER.
SIR KNIGHT FRARY: The surprise of
this occasion, finds me without fitting
language to express my thanks TO you,
or through you, to the Knights of this
Commandery, for this magnificent token
of their regard and for the kind terms
in which il has been presented. / ac>
cept IL as a renewed evidence of that
friendship which / have ever expert
enced at the hands of my fellow Sir
knights of Montana. That they have
seen in in my conduct enough of steads
fastness and devotion to the principles
of our beloved Order, to deem at their
hands so valuable a testimonial, is. at
this moment, more precious to me
beautiful as il is-than the gift itself;
and the overpowering influence of this
consciousness must plead my inability
to give form and embodiment to my
feelings in a n amer suited to the oeca-
sion.
Associated with this Commandery
from the moment of its origin, / may, as
its only presiding officer, refer to its
history with pride and satisfaction. II
WAS q bold experiment, but how well 10
has succeeded, we all know. Com
mencing with three, it has swollen to
Fifty, thus slmost realizing in its growth
the experience of the first founders Of
Templarism. The few years of its ex-
istence have derived much of their hap
piness for US, from the social and con-
fdential relations, which knighthood
has introduced. We have learned, un>
der it's teachings. to love and trust one
another, and to cultivate those frank,
cordial and noble qualities, which go far
TO alleviate and soften the asperities o.
busy life. We have become united in
a bond of confiding brotherhood, which
can never be severed, but by death. We
have felt in our daily walks and con-
versation, all the benefits flowing from
such an association. None of US, am
sure. would willingly part with the
| privileges which the Commandery al
lords for frequent and happy eommuni-
nication, and associating with us such
as are worthy and deeirous of entering
| the ASYLUM of Templarism.
IL have been, as you are pleased to
say. instrumental in the promotion OF
our principles, il is because L ever had
YOUR cordial cooperation and support.
/ The effort to excel has been mutual, and
where all wrought for good, failure was
/ impt ssible. Let us continue, Sir knights,
as we have begun. Let Us be determined
/ to make Templar-Masonry worthy the
beautiful land in which we live; and
allow no stain TO blight the fair fame OF
I our loved and honored Commandery.
! Once more accept my sincere thanks
| for the beautiful gift with which you
have bopored me. ..