Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-14
KNIGHTS TENIPLAR.
murfreesbOrO COmmandery No. II
the Champion OF the state.


the champion OF the state.
From the Murfreesboro News, May II.
At the annual Conclaye of the Grand
Commandery of Tennessee held one year
ago, it was resolved that magnificent
templar's banner should be awarded at
the Grand Conclave to be held this year
to the Subordinate Commandery most
proficient in the Templar drill and tactics,
and that the successful contestant for the
banner should be known as the "Chsm-
pion COmmandery of Tennessee.
Accordingly when the Knights of this
order of Christian Masonry assembled in
Nashville on Tuesday last, four Command
cries, stimulated by a generous rivalry,
presented themselves and announced that
they were ready to enter the honorable
contest for the beautiful and elegant prize
The column was formed at 104 o'clock,
A. NJ, and moved promptly to the Public
Square, DePayen's Commandery, of
Franklin, in front, Clarksville Comd'y
second, Murfreesboro Comd'y third, and
Nashville Comd'y fourth. After passing
in review and the inspection of the lines
by the Or. Officers, the drill began, and
for two hours or more, the most spirited
and interesting exhibition of Templar
drill ever witnessed in Tennessee took
place. Warmly and earnestly the battle
went on notwithstanding the rain, until
each Commandery was satisfied.
The Judges, Governor John c. Brown
being Chairman, occupied a position on
the balcony of the Courthouse, where
they could distinctly observe every evOlu-
ton, and the movements of each Knight
in the column. The drill having ended,
the several Communicates returned to the
Masonic Hall, where we learn it was an
nounced that the decision of the Judges
would be made public at night, at the
Banquet to be given by the Grand Com.
mandery.
At O'Clock the Knights assembled and
repaired TO the banquet room, where they
partook of a splendid collation.. At about
g. o'clock, Gen. John {. Brown, Chair
man of the Committee of Judges, arose
and amidst death-like silence announced
the decision. As the distinguished
speaker proceeded to compliment the
several Communicates on the efficiency
and correctness of their drill, etc., the
suspense and anxiety to hear the final re-
port was almost oppressive. No one out
side of the committee knew what the de-
clsiOn was to be.
All were listening most attentively as
the chairman closed his remarks by say
ing thst after full. calm and cOasiderate
deliberaGoD, the committee were con-
strained to
,,y.pr, Tup pANN-vp To MupEpFFsRopO
COMMANDERY no. 10.
This announcement was followed by
loud and generous applause from the
knights of every Commandery present,
and we are informed that not one Knight
among the large number present, and not
one citizen of the vast crowd who were
in the city and witnessed the drill, has
vet been heard in the slightest manner TO
criticise the Justice of the award.
To have won that banner would have
been an honor TO the oldest COmmandery
in the General Gvand jurisdiction of the
United States; how much greater then is
the compliment when Commandery, the
organization of which does not dste back
one year, was with so much unanimity
awarded that honorf
1t now only remains for the gallant
Knights of the
CHAMPION OoNMANDEY OF TENNESSEE
To cvince by their exemplifcation of
the general Christian principles of their
order, in the daily walks of life, the same
perfection they did in the contest for the
banner, and the honors and rewards of
the valiant Templar will surely in the end
be theirs.