Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-09-03
Constitution Of Mount Zion commandery


Constitution Of Mount Zion Commandery.
On Thursday Of last week occurred, at North
field and Montpelier, the public exercises con-
nectod with the Constitution Of this new Com
mandery, and with il, we believe. the first pub
lie appearance Of procession Of knights Tenn
plar, in uniform, in this county.
Since the revivaloft the Masonic order in this
State, after the anti masonic excitement had
died away, there have been instituted in this
county ,lodgesa at Montpelier, Mortified, Water
bury, Moretown, Cabot, Planfed and Barre ;
while chapters and councils have been put in
operation in Montpelier and Waterbury all
of which institutions are in nourishing con-
dition
During the last winter measures were taken
by various masons in tho county looking to the
Constitution Of a Commandery Of knights
Templar in this section Of the State, and
Mortified was finally designated as the place
in which Il should be located On the Goth
day Of March a dispensation, in answer to the
prayer Of the petitioners, was granted by the
Eminent Grand Commander Of Vermont, Sir
Joseph l.. Perkins, Of St. Johnsbury, " to
open and hold Commandcry Of Knights Tenn
plar and Councils Of the appendant orders at
Mortified" This dispcnsation was granted
to j. l.. Mack, joel Winch, II. d. Bean,
Stephen Thomas, f. II Bascom, H. Bart Cross,
j. NJ Poland, j. w Brock, Emory Town, G. G.
V. Eastman, G. w. Tldeu, c. c. Abbott, and
Allen McGlliyray, who arc the charter mem
bers of the Commandory The first meeting
was held April 9th, and since that time il held
regular and stated concayes until the session
Of the Grand Commandcry in Burlington last
june, when a charter was granted and Thurs
day, August 25th, Fixed on as the time Of It's
public constitution.
Leaving Montpelier on the nine a. NJ train,
the Montpelier Sir Knights met at the junction
delegation from tie Burlington Commandery,
who had come up by special invitation, to par
ticipate in the exercises, and stand godfather TO
the new commandery which was almost wholly
composed Of members originally from their
own. The Burlington delegation consisted Of
twenty-sx Of the Sir Knights Of that Com.
mandery, most noted for wisdom and virtue, and
was accompanied by the Queen City Band
The following is their roster
Ormnnd Cole =. G., WIN. Brlnsmaid, Generalissuo,
Geo o. Tyler, Captain General Rev. r. 2 Stuart
pfeleie Louis II Turk, Treasurer ThoQ S. Peck, S.
Bearer r. c. Rowe, sword Bearer e.. p. Currer
warden luman A. Drew l. ID. Tnuill and II W.
sentinel aud Sir Knight. y c. Barber Bonneti
Turk, =. ID. Hallou, Geo. W. Bcckw.th, n. VI. Good
win, z. +. storrs, q. a. Bgelow, s. s. Brown, A. G.
WEIGH Daniel A. Murray, i. J. Lord and j. l.,
Barst0w
At Mortified the line was soon formed in
the following order Mortified Cornet Band,
Mount zion Commandery. Queen City Cornet
Band, Burlington Commandery
The route OF the procession was up Central,
through South, down Main, up Vine. down
Pearl and through Water and Main streets to
Depot Square. The day was charming, but not
so warm as to seriously incommode the Sir
knights, although tie march was somewhat
lengthy. The procession was said by those
who had better opportunity than we to OBJ
serve, to have presented a remarkably fine APP
pearance, to which, no doubt, the fine, new
uniforms contributed to no small degree.
After the parade the Sir knights were pho
tognphed while in line, and an Informal re-
ception by Mount Zion Commandery Of their
guests took place at the Mortified Hotel, for
half an hour, when the procession reformed
and marched to the Methodist church on Main
street.
Here the formal exercises of Constitution
took place After prayer by the Grand Prelate,
Rev T. F. Stewart Grand Commander Per
kins installed the officers, the presentation
being made by Sir Knight Col. T. S. Peck, Of
Burlington, acting as Grand Marshal. After
the proclamation, Rev. and Sir Knight G. c.
V. Eastman delivered an able and impressive
address in defense of the institution of mason.
ny. Of which the following is brief summary
The drift Of the address was to show the grounds
upon which the Masonic Fraternity was entitled 70
public liberation and respect. Their objects we're
highly praisewOrthy, and mlly pronounced and pub
lished In their written aswe as unwrtten lectures and
instructions It's character was best known by II,
collective membership. All classes and all types OF
religious and political faith In the order, com
prslng the actors in all the diversified institutions Of
society. They felt duty at stake in caring for the
prosperity Of the country and In looking after the
healthy life Of scientific moral and Christian or
CARNATIONS, we'll at any portion OF the community
The conclusion Is inevitable that 1t forms part OF
their design TO subyert the order Of society to i'm
/ pede the administration Of justice. The lodge, the
| chapter and the cOnmandery are the last place,
where proposition would be INDUCED disloyM e
morality or the Christian religion. Mr.. Eastman
then took up and ably answered In detail the several
objections ur ged against secret societies He eloquent
| ly spoke Of the obligations Of Knights Templar tC
defend woman, as q most honorable sentiment They
were most solemnly pledged to their protection
Masonry difiuses truly republican sentiment by
proposing no conditions Of admission save those which
involve worth Of character Mr.. Eastman made
happy conclusion making most pat quotation from
Burn..
With this the services at the church con
cluded They were interpreted with appro
pirate music from both the Queen City ant
Mortified Cornet Bands.
After this the procession repaired to tn,
Mortified House, where they sat down to al
elegant banquet prepared by mine host Ran
som, and to which each and every Sir Knigh
did the fullest Justice At the conclusion o
the repast the sentiments were read, and yariou
members Of the fraternity were called out
their responses being uniformly in eAcellen
taste.
Owing to the fact that the train was some
what lhttf Tue ptIhut " N1uAHtlltI WIS ~
ceedingy brief, the march being from the de
pot up State street, and up Main street to tn
old academy grounds, aud return to the Pa
yilou, where ranks were broken, and the 81
Knights partook Of an impromptu lunch, ful
nished by several Of the prominent masons {
the village
At about six O'Clock the Burlington 81
Knights took their leave for home, well pleas
ed, we trust, with the reception they had herr
and carrying with them, VIC know, the heart
thanks of the Sir Knights in this section fc
their kindness in visiting us, and their COURT
sy and good wishes toward us.
In the evening the Mortified Band serena,
ed Sir Knight John W. Clark, at his residenc
he having been prevented from participatin
in the exercises by illness They also serena
! ed Sir Knight James w. Brock, who arrive
e home from distance that evening, and we
4 cordially and elegantly received.
All in all, it was a day to be marked with
G white stone in the annals of masonry in &c
' trail Vermont, and will long be remembered
one of the pleasantest and brightest in m
q sonic experience.
10. OF o. F.-GRAND LODGE OF VERMONT
|. The Grand Lodge of Vermont, Independe
n Order of Odd Fellows, met in its twenty-six
= .o.,;o. - ndd EaIl,,raf Hall in R,,