The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-02
X LIGHTS TEMPLAR,

The beautiful and brilliant display of
the Knights Templar in our streets on
last Thursday afternoon, and the excel
lent and eloquent address of DIR. Blackie
in the Hall of the AthenRum, in the
evening Ofthe same day, desire a more
extended notice than that given in our
last issue. The occasion was one of fes-
tivity-a banquet was given by tie
Knights of the DE Molay Commandery
fthis place to those of the Nashville
Commandery, and the celebrated DIR.
Geo. S. Blackie was invited to deliver an
address before the Knights and the
public. ... . f.. .r- ...
THE APPEARANCE OF THE COLUMBIA
KNIGHTS.
Just before the time for the arrival Of
the late train from Nashville, the knights
of the De Molay Commandery made
their appearance, defiling out of their
Asylum and forming in front of the Ma
sonic Temple. They marched off toward
the depot in the most splendid military
order, a finer looking and more impos-
ing company of men were never seen on
our streets. AS we looked along the
lines we recognized many of the most
prominent and leading citizens of Column
bia and Maury. The old, the young,
the middle-aged, and men of all the
leading professions and vocations of life,
were to be seen in the ranks. The cause
that can enlist such men, must be good
and noble; and noble and good cause,
supported and prompted by such men,
can not fail to become an influence in the
community and power in the land.
THE DRILL BY THE NASHVILLE COM
MANDERY.
The appearance of the knights on the
streets excited quite an interest, and
soon word flew from house to house, that
the knights Templar were on parade.
The time they returned from the depot,
escortirg the visiting knights from
Nashville, there was thrOng of ladies
and gentlemen on the street in front of
the Masonic Temple, where it was un-
derstood the Knights would 90 through
their peculiar drill. In due time they
made their appearance in the most adj
mirable military style. The column
halted, and!the Nashville Commandery
went through the beautiful and peculiar
drill of the order. We shall not attempt
to describe their brilliant movements.
The evOlutions were beautiful, brilliant,
rapid, surprising, and perfect. The
then suddenly deplOyed into an extend
ed line, and then, with amazing rapidity
and intricacy of motion, successfully
form into crosses, squares, triangles, &c.
Those rapid changes in the evolutions OF
the peculiar drill, which was admirably
performed to the delight of all behOlders,
made an impression on the eye similar
to that produced by the rapid and beau
tiful changes in the Kaleidoscope. After
winning thr admiration and applause OF
the ladies' and gentlemen that thronged
the street, the Knights entered the Ma
sonic Temple, and the delighted specta-
tors dispersed.
DIR. BLACKIE's ADDRESS.
Notice had been circulated that DIR
Geo. $. Blackie, of Nashville would de-
liyer an address in the Hall ofthe Athen-
eum. At an early hour that large Hall
was filled with the beauty and intelli-
gence of Columbia. About O'Clock the
knights made their appearance. Past
Right Eminent Grand Commander,
Sir Joseph NJ. fowler, introd ICED to the
audience Eminent Sir Geo. 5. Blackie,
Knight Commander of the Grand Priory
of Scotland and Assistant Grand Recor-
der in the United States, who then inter
ested and entertained the large audience
for about an hour i'll an earnest and elo'
uuent address. Hissubject was MASON
ic Knighthood." He gave the history Of
the rise, progress, prosecutions, decline
and renaissance of the Knights Templar
In France, Spain, Portugal, the German
ic States, England and Ireland, this or
der was at one time suppressed. In