The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-13
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
PARADE AND PRIzE-DRILL In
&. NORFOLK. .#
PORTSMOUTH WINS THE MEDAL.
ADDRESS OF REV. DIR. BlTTENG.
THE PILGRIMAGE OVER.
Especial telegram to the DLspatch.l

knights Templar did not take place until II
/ O'Clock a. NJ, in consequence of the bad
weather. 1t rained all last night, and until
late hour this morning. ..i ...s ;,
The parade was under the command OF
Grand Captain.G General James G. Baiu, OF
| Portsmouth. The Communicates were re-
viewed at the Academy lot by NJ. e. g. W.
B. Isaacs, of Richmond. AS intimated in 8
previous telegram, only three communicates
participated in the drill. These. were Rich.
mond, Portsmouth, and Grice of Norfolk,
and they drilled in the order named. Hall
an hour was allotted to each drill, and the
parade was inspected by R. L. Peyton S.
Coles OF A. 2. Abel Commandery, r. E. W.
W. Allen of De Molay Commandery, and K,
E. J. r. Johnson of johnson Commandery,
of Christiansburg, who was substituted fol-
Colonel K. Z. Wither<, he being compelled
| to return home.
All the communicates did very well, cSpe-
cialy in what is called the fancy drili-viz:,
the formation of squares, crosses, and tri.
angles. The privilege to pick men for drill
was ayailed Of by each commaudery, and as
q consequence the number of men on drill
was small. Comparatively few spectators
witnessed the drill in consequence of the
threatening appearance of the weather, but
| the parade attracted great attention.
In the afternoon the Knights went Oh an
excursion to the Capes, stopping at Vue de
Pau.
On their return at $50 p. NJ. the COM
| manderics assembled at the Opea.Hotlse,
where "a large audience, composed of the
beauty, wealth, and fashion of the city was
present. The proceedings were opened with
prayer by Grand Prelate Rev. DR.. G. G.. Bit
ting. .; O.. ..... ........ ....
The special committee appointed to review
the drill and award the prize for the best
drilled commandery reported that they had
found great difficulty in deciding between
the three communicates contestiDg, but felt
bound to award tito Portsmouth Command
cry, No. 5. The reports concluded with
III expression of sincere regret that there
were not three prizes to be awarded instead
Of one.
NJ. 4. &. {. William &. Isaacs, in an
nouncing to the Eminent Commander Of
Portsmouth Conmandery the award of the
prize, which is a "beauseant," offered his con-
CALCULATIONS at their success, and adjured
them to guard it faithfully, aud transmit it
uusullied by faithlessness, iudolence, injus-
tice. or vice, to their successors.
The prize was received by i. c. G. w.
Murdaugh on behalf of Portsmouth Com
maudery in a handsome speech. Three
cheers were given for Portsmouth Com
mandery.
Sir Knight Rev. G. C. Biting, D. D., Of
Richmond, was then introduced TO the au-
dience. ,.E.t '-s '... &..Eilf
ADDRESS OF REV. DR.. BITING.
Most Eminent Communicated Sir knights
For this occasion am u conscripted SUBJ
stitute. With unaffected sincerity regret
the absence of the eminent aud eloquent Sir
Knight Rev. DR.. Burrows, who would more
worthily enjoy the honors and perform the
duties of this post, but, glad to speed your
progress, greet you with the exhortation
of the first guard !: {" Silver and gold have I
noue, but such as | have give I unto tllee."
The Order of Knights Templar is San insti-
tuition founded upon the Christian religion
aud the practice of the Christian virtues"
It aims ito correct the vices, purify the
morals, and promote the happiness OF
its members, and to "dispeHsc justice, re-
ward merit, encourage truth, and ditfuse the
sublime principles Of universal benevo-
lence." It is not religion, much less does
it usurp the sacred province of that Chris
tianity which it cXalts and vindicates az d.
vine. With barred feet and bowed head it
stands in reverential awe before the blazing
bush which betokens Gods presence, and
goes to busy itself in the humber human
sphere of that morality and virtue which en-
tiers into, the earthly life Of man, checking his
passions, curbing his selishness, and harmo-
MIXING his relations to his fellows. Our
Order faWns not at the feet of an in
fdel philosophy. No deistss indefinite
divinity commands its confidence. No
Moslem prophet or Jewish rejection OF
Jesus find sanctuary in its asylunlI. 1t 10
omen, clear, pronounced, emphatic In its /
declarations of the Messiahsbip, the diety and |
the redemption of Christ. For its precepts |
it goes to the Gospels, for its motives 10. the
cross. for its Immortality to the open
senuIcbre, for its future hopes 1t follows an |
ascending Redeemer. Its post is medal. l
With one hand it arrests q goddess, graceless |
humanity and gathers them 10 impress the |
morals and virtues Of Heavens commits |
stoned teacher; with the other hand tpoints |
to q higher and holier spiritual process, be-
yond and above itself, which only Jesus can |
control and which it never claims. 1t is not a |
religion; it is not ia system Ofphilosophy it is
humanizing, elevated morality, dictated by !
the precepts of Christianity, and employing
the symbols and secrets it adopts for the im- |
preston and cohesion of its members. II
The word Knight saxon, cniht) means |
q boy. Boys were used as servants, and
those who served the feudal kings were
armed, and hence We're called the kings |
knights. From the employment Ut the menu
bers Of noble families the service became
honorable, and the name knight was retained |
when the servitors became soldiers Of the |
kings guard and valiant men were substi- |
tllted for boys. When Palestine became |
land for Christian pilgrimage the soldiers Of |
the kings we're sent as guards to the pilgrims
for their defence against Moslem outrages,
and In process Of time an order was organ-i
lied for this special purpose OF protection,
ind from Its military features swaa called |
knights. They called themselves g Poor Fel- |
Of Jesus Christ" In 11Ia, |
Baldwin. king Of Jerusalem, gave them for
an asylum part OF church built by the Ro- |
man Emperor Justinian, inside the area Of |