The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-26
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
THE PERSONNEL OF THE NEW ORLEANS CON-
WANDERERS.

Public interest is now centered on the great
reunion of Knights Templar from all parts of
the United States, which will shortly take
place in this city. Our streets will soon re-
sound with the tread of Sir Knights of every
State, sect and opinion, united in the bonds
Of bro'herly love, whose victories are those of
peace, and whose wars are against vice, igno-
rance and superstition. We have published
statistics relative to the Grand Encampment
OF the United States, and now give brief
sketch Of the New Orleans Communicates:
NDIvI2BLE FRIENDS NO. l,
Under the command of Sir John A. Peel,
Eminent Commander, has about 14O mem bers.
There are only five Communicates in the
United States having a continued chartered
existence ct older date than this one. 1t re-
ceived its character from the Grand Com
mandery then Encampment) Of New York In
1916. The charter bears date "May 4, 1916,
Just seven weeks prior to the formation OF the
Grand Encampment of the United States.
The communicates IN the United States
which have had a longer continued existence
than this, are st. Johns, at Providence, Il. L.,
chartered May 9th, 1905 (the first ever char
tered by grand body Boston No. 2, at
Boston, Mass, chartered March 7th, 1906 !;
Maryland No. 1, Baltimore, Nd. chartered
May 2, 1914; Rising San (now Columbia No.
~, New York city, chartered May 3, 1914 /;
Temple, OF Albany, n. Y, chartered June,
1914.
in this commandery, the present Grand
Master Of the United States, Sir j. Q. A. Eel
lows, was created Knight Templar August
9Th. 1856. It has had among its members
two Grand Commanders of Louisiana, Sir
Fuleence Ricau in 1861 (who died in 1917 },
and Sir Richard Lambert in 1872. Its pres
ent En-. Commander, Sir John A. Peel, is
the Deputy Grand Commander Of Louisiana.
JACQUES DE MoLAY NO. 2
was chartered in 1852, and has about $50
members. Sir Henry Rufus Swasey, OF this
commandery, and who died in December,
1873, was the first Grand Commander of Lou
isiana in 1864. 1t has had from its members
Sir Samuel Manning Todd, Grand Com
mander for 1866 and 1867. Sir John A. Ste
venson in 1871 and Sir Joseph 81. De Grange
in 1873, of this commandery, also held the
position of Grand Commander in those years.
ORLEANS NO. 3,
was chartered in 1862, and organized in 1864.
Among its members are the present Grand
Commander of Louisiana. Sir Joseph P. Hor-
nor, and the Grand Master of the United
States, J. Q. A. Fellows. 1t has about 40
members.
IN CONCLUSION.
Outside of New Orleans the only command
ery in this State is Girard No. 4, which vas
chartered February IA. 1873, with Michel E.
Girard, the present Grand Master OF Louis
lana Masons, as EN- nent Commander.
Although the Masonic Order in Louisiana
will compare tavoraby in point OF numbers
with other jurisdictions, the number Of Lou
isiana Templars is small. Masonry, like
everything else in Louisiana, has suffered
from the hard times and unsettled condition
OF affairs in this State. Many, who are the
most ardent admirers Of the tenets Of the Or
der, and who are among its most Jealous adj
vocates and workers, are unable to obtain the
higher degrees, by reason Of the expense
necessarily attendant in SO doing, being less
able than their more favored brethren, III this
respect, in other jurisdictions.
| With a return OF the good old days of plenty
and prosperity, Templar Masons in Louisiana
will be as proud of their numbers as they now
are Of their good material, their deeds OF use.
fitness, and their devotion in sustaining the
principles of Masonry.