Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-15
WATCHED.
A Prominent knight TemPlar's Treat.
ment at the Hands OF Party Of
Fellow KnIgbts-A Well Executed
Surprise at a Vine street Residence
Last Might.

Surprise at a Vine street Residence
Last Night.
1t will be remembered tina. while Capt.
w. V. Richards, of the Sixteenth Infantry,
was in attendance upon the Triennial Ses-
sion of the Grand Encampment of the
United States, at New Orleans, his room
was entered by a thief, who stole his
watch. diamond breast-pin, and several
articles of value. His brother Knights
from this city, learning of his loss, de-
termined to present him with an elegant
time-piece as a testimonial of their esteem,
and accordingly adopted the following res
olution:
tCNEw ORLEANS, Dec. 2, 1S74.-We, the
Knights of Tennessee in attendance upon
the Triennial Session of the Grand En-
campment of the United States at New
Orleans, having learned of the misfortune
of our fellow Sir knight Wv. Richards
in the loss of his watch and other valuablss,
propose IN this manner to testify our ap-
probation of, and our regard for, one who
has contributed so much tothe advancement
of the Knightly Order in our State.
Signed-H. NJ. Aiken, w. F Foster, c..
C. Giers, Morton B. Bowel, w. A.
Knight, g. a. Dicl1el, w. Z. Eastman, T.
G.. Rock, Vim. C.. Smith, NJ. B. Pitcher,
Thomas F. Perkin:, Jr., Walter McComb,
Henry Sheffield, VIM. Porter, J. n. Brooks,
George G.. Connor, John Frizzell, T.. II.
Eastman, S. A. Duling, w. Ii. Morgan,
Edw. Willard, Horace Smith, John d.
Kerr, Ed. Worsham.
While in the Crescent City, circum-
stances prevented them from carrying out
their design and the presentation was
necessarily postponed until they reached
home. ......
Last night was tie time selected, and a
very pleasant episode it was that transpired
at the residence of DR.. Henry Sheffield, No.
2I South Vine street. Quite number Of
the Knights were seated in the Doctors
coy parlOr, talking over the incidents of
their excursion, when DR.. Sheffield rose and
calling Capt. Richards attention said:
"Sir w. V. Richards: 1t becomes my
pleasure to speak in behalf of our .trdtres
who were pilgrims with us at New Orleans.
While there we heard of your loss, and at
once concluded to present to you a sUbstan-
tial testimonial of our regard and sympa-
thy. Circumstances prevented its being
done before we left that city, therefore you
have been invited here to meet those gem
erous Knights, and receive their prOfered
gift. II is this watch-to mark alike your
hours of pleasure and pain, and when you
look upon its face may its hands direct you
Alright, and may it also remind you of the
face of every friend here, whose hands, as
well as those Of every worthy knight, will
be always ready to help, aid and assist you
as long as you practice the precepts Of our
magnanimous order"
The Doctor then stepped forward and
placed in the Captains hand a magnificent
gold watch, bearing upon its cap, the in
scriptiOn: 'Sir W. V. Richards, from the
New Orleans pilgrims, 1874"
Capt. Richards, taken completely by sur
prise at what had tranSpired, with evident
embarrassment and much emotion, replied:
'Sir knight Sheffield-Fellow Pilgrims:
You have the advantage Of me on this
occasion; you knew what this meeting
meant; l did not-cOuld not. l could talk
for another on an occasion like this, but |
am overwhelmed myself. This is the sec
ond time this Knightly Order has placed
me under SO great a disadvantage. Once
while III the midst of our drills, my kind
frdter, Sir Foster, presented me with my
Templar's regalia, and now, tonight!
can only say that your conduct exceeds
humanity and falls short of Divinity. HUI
mainly knows bound to generosity, you
do not. Divinity is guided by justice and
merit, in this case You are not. take the
Gift, Sir Knights, assuring you it will
ever be a souvenir of a relationship,
to possess which is life's
triumph. Assuring you, Sir Knights,
that the act Of tonight will be a cement to