The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-15

Yesterday afternoon and evening was the occa-
sion of the reception and hnrqueting OF mum
Der of communicates Of the KnightssTcmplar
from Joliet, Marscillcs, Peru and Aurora, and
Sir Knights from various places, by the Sir
Knights OF Ottawa. At noon the commandery
here formed in procession, preceded by the Otta-
wa ely band, and met the delegates from various
directions as they arrived at the railroad depots,
and escorted them to the Masonic hall. In the
evening, after the exercises peculiar to the order
had been performed at the hall, the Ottawa COM
mandery and their guests proceeded To the Cliff
ton Hotel where magnificent banquet awaited
them, spread in such splendid style as only Mr.
Howard of the Clifton, knows how to achieve.
The tables We're set in the most convenient
form possible to do equal honor to each com
mandery. The order of arranging the tables
on such occasions is in the form of Il cross
The great number of guests prevented the plac-
ing of the tables in single cross, and at the same
time give ample eating room, To avoid this II
table was placed at one side of the room for the
Grand Officers, making that the head of the BAN
quoting hall. At the sides were tables running
the length of the room on the opposite sides, and
al the head of each cross, while table running
the same direction, parallel with the two other
tables, formed with the officers table at the head
nearly third cross. The two tables where
the cross was perfect, were adorned with
splendid pyramid of flowers, while small ever
green wreatIs and beautiful crosses adorned the
tables everywhere at convenient distances. The
guests and the Ottawa cOmmandcry being scat
ed, grace was said by Prelate Moore, OF Joliet,
and then the company addressed themselves to
the task of dcmolshing the tempting viands in
great abundance before them. The hi, Of fare,
which would have done honor in quail quaint
ty and variety to amy occasion, having been test
cd and found wanting i'll no Particular, the pyra-
mds of rich cake and the desert disposed OF,
ending the feast, tOasts were in order.
The Grand Commandcry of the State Of Hi
noio" was responded to by Eminent Sir Knight
Daniel Dustin, Grand Commander, who, in con-
chl,ion, toasted the Ottawa Grand Commandery,
which elected happy response from Eminent
Commander j. +. Nash. ....
"The Joliet Commandery No. 4" brought out
Eminent Commander Denkcr and Prclatc Moore
"Blancy Conmadcry, of Morris" was respond
ed to by Eminent Commander c. H. Goold and
Sir Knight Sanford, whose speech was one Of the
best of the evening. .. ...t
"Aurora Commandry No ~ was done JUS
ticc to by Past Commander Walker, and Sir kt
White
"St. Johns Commandcry No. 81, Of Peru" OBJ
tanned response from Eminent Com. lattcn-
haucr, and Sir 1t. Powell, afterwards in response
to calls, short and appropriate speeches were
made by Col Gibson, of Ottawa, and G. d. Trim
BILE Clerk of the Supreme Court. The banquet
crs then sang ''Old Hundred" and adoumcdj
The Knights from abroad expressed themselves
as delighted with the hospitality of Ottawa Com
mandery No. TO- and were profuse in their com.
mendations of the perfect arrangements and the |
elegance of the banquet, under the management
of the proprietor of the Clifton Hotel.
The guests present from abroad, besides Grand
Commander Dustin and Grand Captain of the
Guard Osborne, were ~ Sir Kits. from Aurora, 20
from Joliet, y from Norris 10 from Peru, and
few from Marscilles and other places,
In short, the grand banquet Of the Grand Com
mandery of Ottawa was n grand success.