National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-15


in its behalf Washington Commandery always
occupied warm place In our Brothers heart. To
the DAY when he lay down 70 rest, he was always
and in the distribution Of his Masonic treasures 1t
was not forgotten"
April "a, 1s47, and at the same meeting code Of
bylaws was submitted by G. O. French and
adopted and remains the basis Of the laws OF this
tiGn, to this day. The FIRST petitions for orders
presented after the Reorganization were those Of
y Mcguire ;SS Geo. S " TnOmas and JSssPh o 8.
missioner Of the General Land Once. The first
meetings Of the Commsnd0rY were held In the
streets, which was then used as q Masonic hall.
The asylum was afterwards removed to the cor
ner Of Ninth and d streets, and finally TO this
Temple, Some variations in nomenclature, as we'll
as in methods Of transactlnK business from our
present habits noticed in these early minutes.
aS VIZ q s9s Of ne oCsr
WAS called 'M. E. Grand Commander" title
now reserved for the commanding oficer Of
State grand body; there was Q "standing commit
tee" to which an applications for the orders were
referred for examination and report; the Encamp-
ment was said to adjourn, instead Of TO '.be
order Of the Red Cross, instead Of that Of the
Temple, Ms now. A single delegate only-Sir
Charles Glnsn1aPPesrs % nave been appointed d
body in the g. G. Encampment, aud not the first
three officers, as is now the practice.
The first event Of national Importance In which
the Commandery took part was the laying OF the
cornerstone of the Washington Monument, on
the 4th Of July, 1s4s. The Invitation to particI-
the NJ. W. Grand Lodge Of the District, and the
arrangements were referred to Q committee. An
invitation was extended by the Commandery to
every Eneampment Of Knights Templars In the
United States, in regular standing, to attend in
full reRalia, and unite with US in doing honor to
the memSry Of washington 1E special invita-;
Grand Encampment of the United States to join
in the approaching celebration. Among the or
Senior Warden be charged with the duty Of "pro-
TdnR as many suits Of regslia as will clothe each
Sir knight with q collar and apron" V. Z. Sir
Joseph K. Stspleton, of Baltimore, d. g. NJ, &C
cepted the Invitation in letter glowing in every
line with patriotic enthusiasm. A silver plate,
engraved with the names OF the officers and men,
placed in the cornerstone of the monument.
The minutes Of July 1S4S, give full account Of
the grand procession, and OF the proceedings and
ceremonies Of the day. An address was made by
Sir b. b. French, who was then Irsnd Master Of
Masons of the District Of Columbia, as we'll as
Grand Commander Of this body, and at the close
the cornerstone was laid by him with the usual
Masonic ceremonies. In the evening q COLLATION.
was spread in Apollo hall, which was partaken
The record adds: "The Sir Knights separated
with heartfelt congratulations upon the aus
plciOus termination of the ceremonies designed
TO perpetuate through all future time the men,
ory Of our departed Masonic brother, George
Washington" Alas that the structure COM
meneed amidst so much enthusiasm should, after
upon beautiful city, still further stain upon
the patriotic character Of our country, and in
suit to the name it was designed to honor.
During the year 1S4S this body was under the
special orders Of the q. g. Encampment, and
made the depository Of the charter Of Maryland
Encampment, No. /, which had been temporarily
suspended by the act of that grand body. The
difficulty out of which the suspension grew hav-
ing been amieasly and satisfactorily settled the
charter was restored, and odd Marylan No. l."
was revived under favorable auspices and still
holds proud position among the Oldest and most
honOred Communicates in the country. Sir o. W.
Bennett was elected and installed Grand Com
mander on May Is, 1854, and held the office for q
year, when Sir b. b. French again occupied the
position. For many years afterwards Sir Knight
tant and laborious office Of prelate. On relin-
gushing the command in May, 1854, Sir Knight
French presented the Commandery with the sword
which is still used as the officers sword by the
Eminent Commander. In the vote OF thanks ac-
cepting this handsome present the Commandery
pledged itself "to keep and preserve the same as
founder OF our Order within this Jurisdiction" Sir
KIT. Geo. q. Whiting, the beloved and lamented
Grand Master Of this Jurisdiction for so many
years, received the orders in this Commandery
June II, 1854, and was ever jealous member
of it until his death. In acknowledgment Of the
long and faithful services Of Grand Master
French the Commandery voted him q handsome
testimonial Of silver plate, which was presented
to him at his own residence, 1.-THE whole Com
mandery being present, by Sir knights Bennett
count OF this presentation is found in the key
stone" of December l3, 1854, the addresses on the
occasion being reported In i1l; Inc conclusion f
his characteristic spirit that cannot forbear to
quote it. He said I'm my belief, Sir Knights,
there is no human institution go we'll calculated
to make men good and true, and to admonish
them constantly TO perseYere in the paths Of
honor, truth and integrity as that Of Knights
Templars. Viewing II thus, IL has been my ardent
desire TO do all that / could to sustain our En-
campment and to render It all that Christian
order, bound TO no particular creed, should be.
the consciousness Of having done right, and hope
of the approval Of Him who is to be my Judge In
another world. You have rewarded me-richly re-
warded me here-not only with this elegant testi-
mOnial, but with even richer gifts than this-your
confidence, your kindness and your courtesy to me
on all occasions. These rewards will stimulate
me to persevere in the effort which we all, as
true soldiers Of the cross, owe to mankind, to
make our fellow beings happier and better. Sir
knights, you are welcome here; While have q
home on earth Washington Encampment will
always De welcome to II, and add TO my own
the most cordial welcome Of her who participates
with with IN me nd aPPTScaUn q ySur RIiS
French continued in command till April Q, 1850
Being elected NJ. Z. g. Master Of Templars of
the United States in 1859, he declined further
service as our Eminent Commander, and was sue
ceeded by Sir Knight g. A SchwarZman, who was
elected and installed April 8, 1850. As Of inter
est, in connection with the costume question, I
note that the edlct Of 1858, in relation TO DRESS
together with Sir Knight DOyles resolution,
was read in the Commandery by Sir knight
Templars, September %, 1859, and the exemption
of our Commandery from the operations Of the
edict distinctly announced. l may add here, to
save further reference TO the matter that immedi-
ately upon the return Of Grand Master French
from the meeting Of the Grand Encampment in
1862, when he was reelected Grand Master, the
edict of 1862 was announced to our Commandery,
the question was put to him In open COmmandery
by Sir knight Bennett as to what the effect of
that ediet would be upon the dress OF our Com,
made by Grand Master French that the edict did
not affect our right TO continue in the dress we
had always worn. On May Il, 1859, the Com
mandery received q visit from our esteemed fra
tiers OF De MOlay COmmandery, of Boston, and
ST. Johns COmmandery, Of Providence, r. l.,
when our best efforts were made to render the &C.
casion one of enjoyment to our visiting friends.
October 10, 1859, the Commandery, acting as es-
cort to the Grand Lodge, assisted in laying the
corner stone OF the New York avenue Presbyte-
rian church. On the 18th Of the same month It
attended, as escort to the Grand Lodge, Grand
Master Whiting officiating, the dedication Of the
masonry. On the I'D OF February, 1850, IL as
sisted at the ceremonies Of tnRuKuratlnK the
Washington equestrian statue.
At the close Of Sir knight French's nine years.
service as Grand Recorder the Grand Encamp-
ment voted him q beautiful sword in recognition
OF his services. The presentation was made in
our Asylum March 2s, 1850, by Sir Albert Pike,
who, should mention, received the orders OF
knighthoOd in this Commandery Z. q. December
y, 1852, and K. T. January Il, 1858. He is now an
honorary member Of this body, and may add. in
this connection that 1t is subject OF proper pride
that the names Of three Of the most distinguished
Masons Of our time-Sirs French, Pike and
Mackey-are indissolubly associated with the his
tory Of Washington OOmmandery. In the address
on that occasion Sir knight Pike gave expression
TO q truth which, in this day OF testimonials, It
would be we'll for many to ponder. testimonials
OF Masonic regard, 4" he said, "like Masonic dig
mites and jewels, If undeserVed, disgrace the
Wearer. When earned by zeal, fidelity and indus
try, and then alone, they are honorable, and wor-
thy an honest mans acceptance. Nor are they
even then so II, while health strength and INTEL
lect yet remain, they are made the occasion Of
firing from active service and Of leaving the
great harvest field to be titled by others. Receive
this sword, /" he added, Has your brethren ask and
expect you to do, as pledge on your own part,
in addition to the pledge which your past life
gives the Order, that you Will hereafter red0uble
your exerttons In the cause Of Masonry enlarg-
Ing the circle Of your labors and your Influence,
and giving your powerful assistance to those who
are striving with energy and zeal to expound the
history, explain the morality and develop the high
philosophy Of the Royal Art" The conclusion OF
the response Of Sir knight French to this address
points clearly to state Of things then near at
hand which was present 70 his mind, and filed
him with q terrible apprehension, alas! too soon
Justified. "Sir," he said, while ! WELD this
blade under the Templar Beauseant as Tenn
plar will also WELD 1t, should occasion ever call
upon me to do SO, under the glorious Stars and
Stripes Of my country as . patriot. Yes, here
pledge myself to you and to all that when my
country is in peril, when her Constitution and her
Union are in danger, and arms are required for
their defence without stopping to ask who right
and who is wrong, this sword will leap from its
scabbard, and the hand that now grasps It will