The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-14
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
RETURN OF RICHMOND CoMMANDERY.
A welcome from the knights uhs
StayeG ut Home.

Seaye0 0t Home.
The members Of Richmond Commandery
No. :, Knights Templar, who went on the
pilgrimage to Norfolk to attend the semi.
annual session of the Grand Commandery
in that city, returned to This city yesterday
on the steamer John Sylvester.
| A detachment consisting OF those Sir
Knights who were unable to take the
trip assembled at the asylum, on Franklin
street, an hour or two before the arrival Of
the steamer, with view to welcoming their
comrades of the Cross on their return: A
line was formed under the command of Sir
Knight A. s. Lee, generalissimo; Sir Knight
James 4. Scott, past eminent commander !;
and Sir knight Henry D. Danforth, acting
captain-general; aud, beaded by McCann's
First Regiment Baud, the column marched
to the wharf at Rockets. ~
At about A O'Clock the bugle-call an
nounced that The steamer was nearing the
wharf, aud as it was made fast the band
played "Carry me back to Old Virginia !"
| and the guDs on the Old Dominion steam
ship. at neighboripg wharf, burst forth in
an unexpected salute. AS the pilgrims
marched ashore they were saluted by their
comrades, and the usual coulteSies Of well
come were exchanged. tFf ss ~.
A halt having been ordered, Past Z. G..
James A. Scott made brief and happiy-ex-
pressed address of welcome. He said the
knights ut home had watched with the deep
est interest the course of tn ,se who had gone
| abroad, and were proud to know that they
had lot only been warmly and Hospitality
received, but had SO demeaned themselves
al to win the esteem of all with whom they
| came i'm contact, and had reflected the great
est credit upon themselves, their officers,
| their Commandery, and the city of Rich
mond. If there was anything to mar this
pleasure it was the slight momentary morti-
| tication felt by many ut home on reading in
the morning paper that they bad not won
the banner at The prize-drill; bit although
another Cummandery had carried of this
| trophv. he was well assured that this had
given the winner close contest. He vel
coined the pilgrims home, and not only our
own Sir Knights, but those gallant Sir
Knights of Charlottesville who had been so
| closely associated with them on their pill
grimagc.
On behalf OF the returning Sir Knights,
Colonel William b. Tanner, eminent conl-
mander of Richmond Commandery, No. =,
briefly but appropriately responded to tue
courteous Sllutation of Sir knight Scott.
| He spoke in high terms of the reception W
ceived by the Commandery ut the hands OF
the Sir Knights of Norfolk and Portsmouth,
and said the visitors would ever bear III
| their minds pleasant memories Of their rll-
grimage. AS to the contest, in which they
| lad not been successful, it was not for him
| to sneak; but be took pleasure in Saying
this much at least-that the Richmond SlI
| Knights had won the highest encomlums
from citizens aud soldiers who witnessed
their evolutions for knightly bearing and
| proficiency in drill. -. 49,,
Each detachment then gave three cheers
for the other, and line was again formed
with squad of police under MAJOR Poe, as
sisted by Sergeant Howard, at the head, anu
with the stay t-hOmcs }" as an escort to the
returning pilgrims. The former were attireo
in fatigue uniform-black clothes, cap. belt,
and side-arlns, while the latter wore the
full, beautiful. and elegant .regala of the
knights OF the Temple. On the march up
Main street the returning knights went
through great variety of eyolutions, which,
attracted universal attention and admiration
| Crosses, double crosses, triangleS, squares
and other figures were formed with great
celebrity ard military precision, ana all IN the
ranks bore themselves well.
| At st. lban's hall the whole party partooh
| of a bountiful and seasonable collation., ant
another address Of welcome was delivered
by Sir Knight N2ev. DrJJ. l.. Burrows IN
his usually happy and effective style. IG
this Sir knight (Rev. Dr. Biting was caieG
upon to respond, and he did so with real el
oauence. Both speeches were apriauueo
yehementlv by the enthusiastic Iemplars..
| While the collation. was being served, Slr
| Knight Biting proposed vote OF THANKS &c
the CAPTAIN General (Sir Knight l.. l.: Bass
whom he complimented in the most glowing
terms rs one to whom the Conlmandefv wan
indebted almost entirely for its excellence
| in discipline aud proficiency III drlll. In'
Eminent Commander heartily Joined in thl'
tribute to Sir Knight Bass, and the vote o
| thanks was passed by u unanimous anu al
most deatening AYE! The Captain.Genera
acknowledged these deserved compliment
modestly, aud returned his thanks to tue
Commandery for zeal and attention in tue
discharge Of duty.
| A. 2. Abel Commandery, No. ), guest:
on this occasion, were also toasted, and 81
knight Peyton s. Coles, Z. e., being cillet
Oh to respond, returned bis thanks ant
1 called upon Sir knight G. G. WerteilLake
to speak for. him. This, Captain Werlen
baker did most satisfactorily. incidentally
he took occasion to say that the drilling o
Richmonl Commapdery was FROM mllitar.
standpoint almost faultless, and that man,
persons, including sume officers Of distiuc
Iion in the regular army of the United States
believed that Commandcry entitled TO tn
prize. The Sir Knights of. Richmond hat
done nobly. For his own Conmandery b
had to say that they had received nev
spirit of enthusiasm from this, pilgrimage
and were resolved to be heard from here
after.
General William b. Taliafcrro responde'
to toast to tue Grand Lodge OF Virginia
after which, the assemblage was dismissed
The pilgrims had glorious time in Norloli
and Portsmouth, and only ask a chance t
return the magnificent hospitality oil tn
Templars in those cities.
! ESCAPE. AND SUBSEQUENT RECArTURE OF
PEs1rENr1ARY CONvICT.-About AZ o'cloc
Tbursd.v afternoon colored convict esca pc,