The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-02-26

Grand Commandery OF Ohio, the follow.
ing letter from Sir Enoch 7. Carson
was read. -
CINCINNATI, O., February %, 1874.
Sir F. c. RTnship, Chairman Of Com
mittes on Correspondence. Wheeling,
West Va.:r T5g ~ 1890
Your courteous and fraternal invita-
ton to be present on Wednesday next
at the constituting OF the Grand Com
msndery OF KING hts Templar OF the
State of West Virginia, and to be the
guest OF Wheeling Commandery No.
/, was duly received. l regret that q
previous masonic engagement renders
it impossible for me to avail myself OF
the pleasure of being with you, and
participating in the ceremonies, upon
this interesting occasion.
In behalf OF the Grand Commandery
OF Ohio, send you Knightly greeting
to the new Graud Commandery OF
West Virginia.
In conclusion allow me 10 offer the
following: e..
May the banner uniurled by the
Grand Comm ndery OF Knights Tenn
plar Of West Virginia, on Wednesday,
February 25th, 1874, ever be recognized
az the symbol OF unsullied honor, anr
devotion to the grand principles OF
Christian Knighthood, and never be
surrendered to the infiiel."
Thanking you for your courteous re-
memberauce and consideration, l am
respectfully and fraternally,
C. T. CARSON.
Grand Commander Knights Templar
OF Ohio.
The programme was here varied by
the introduction OF toast in honor oil
! the Grand Commandery of Kentucky,
which was briefly responded to by Sir
Charles R. Woodruff Past Grand Com
mauder OF that State.
The next regular toast: THE Grand
Commandery OF West Virginia." was
responded to by Sir 0. S. Long, OF
Wheeling, Grand Commander, as .fol-
lows:
The Grard Commsndery OF West
Virginia is almost too email to talk
about as yet. We have celebrated to-
dey it's birth and its christening, and l
doubt not that those who have stood
sc its God.tathers will watch over its
growth with anxious eye and see that
| it is duly instructed in the catechism
and that il reveres the Commandments
lis beginning is as small as IS possible
under the regulations of our
order, but it seems to be healthy
and feel assured that it wiH groto
Starting with only the constitutions
number OF constituents, it will gather
fresh aud vigorous accretions year after
year, and will, l tervently hope, prove
itself worthy OF the high companion
ionsbip toto which it has been admit
ted to-day.
The reasons Tor the organization Of
the Grand Conmandery OF West Vir-
einia are the same as those heretofore
given to the Masonic world for the for
nation Of Grand Lodge aud Grand
Chapter OF this State, and believe
they are properly understood and ap-
preciated by cur brethren OF the Old
Dominion as we'll as by all well in
formed Masons wheresoever dispersed.
The Masonic fraternity is an eminent.
" conservative organization. 1t holds
fast TO the ancient landmarks, and while
it never changes its essential character
| it is slow 10 alter it's minutest forms
The new State government Of West
Virginia had been nearly two years
established and recognized before
Masonic severance was contemplated ;
more than seven years had elapsed be-
fore the new Grand Chapter was form
ed and more than ten years Of politi-
cal independence have paced away
prior to the separate organization Of the
Grand Commandery Of West Virginia.
And l may be permitted in this con-
nection to say thai II the interests OF
the fraternity had not demanded that
Masonic separation should follow the
erection OF q new State and the conse-
quent centering here OF all our political
and social, anI commercial relations,
our Masonic connection with our breth-
rem OF the Mother State, for whom we
| entertain the kindest OF lraternal feel
ings, would still remain intact. That
the cause OF Masonry has been
advanced by the separate Or
organization OF Grand Bodies
is shown by the fact that the Grand
Lodge which was organized in 1865
with but nine constituent Lodges rep
resented at its first communication,
now has sixty flourishing subordinstes.
The Grand Chapter which was organ
lied in 1871 with but five constituents,
now has fifteen thrifty Chapters OF
ROYAL Arch Mssons. And may we not
expect that in like manner, through not
80 RAPIDLY perhaps. the Communicates
OF knights TEN plar, stimulated by the
result OF our action here to-day, will in
crease and multiply in West Virginia
aud disseminate in fruitful soil the sub.
lime principles OF our order.
To the Grand Commsndery OF Vir-
GINA from whom We are this day for
mslly discovered, we tender our since
rest filial thanks for the consideration
which has been bestowed upon her
ultramontane constituents, and we will
ever look to the Virginia household as
the bride looks to her childho0d's home
forsympathy, counsel and good example,
assured that. if we but follow in the old
paths We may share tie renowu Of
those valiant knights whose well earned
fame has spread both far and wide for
acts Of charity and pure benefcence.
1t is a singular coincidence, circum-
stance not thought OF when invitations
were sent to our neighboring Com
manderies to participate in the ceremo-
MES and festivities OF this day, that
| p,ttshproh Conomarderv Steuhanv;Ila