Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-09-12
Masonic

and busy men. e. II. -s5. -E-
Masonic.
The Knight Templars' Grand Encamp-
ment of the United States, recently held
at Cleveland, Ohio, has been one of the
grandest occasions which has occurred
for many years. The Masonic fraternity
throughout the lend may justly leok upon
it with pride. in the character and csndi-
ton of their membership. Such gather
ings as this serve to bind together in
stronger fraternal feeling, if possible, Ill
parts If the country. The Cleveland
papers are enthusiastic over it, and devote
a great deal Of space to a full report Of
proceedings. : =. 81 : z ,--' = =
We have too limited space to notice,
except in general terms, with one excep-
ten. As an old ldinnesotian wo take
pride in the success of Minnesota and
Minnesota institutions and men, AID
knowing the hearts of many of our read
ers will beat in response to this sent1me mt,
we publish the following from the Cleve-
land Plaindealer, which devotes more
space to Minnesota's than to the Com
manderies of any other State:
DAMASCUS CoMMANDERY, ST. PAUL.
One Of the finest appearing bodies of
men that took part in the parade on
Tuesday, and one that comes greater
distance, as a body, than any other, is
the Damascus Commandery, No. I, of St.
Paul, Minnesota. They left St. Paul in
a special train to Devils Lake, and from
that point came by the regular route.
They number sixty-fve swords, and are
headed by the Great Western Band OF
St. Paul, sixteen pieces. They are ac-
companied by male quartette, compris-
ing Prof: Lelb, first tenor, Mr.. Frank
Wood, second tenor, Mr.. Buckalew, first
bass, and Sir Knight R. c. Munger, c.
G. second bass. This quartette is tai
ented organization. and renders choice
music in a mastery style. Damascus
Commandery was the first organized in
the State of Minnesota, and numbers
some of the most prominent men in the
State among its members. It is of6cered
as follows: Eminent Commander, D.. A..
Monfort, 32d Past Grand Master of the
State of Minnesota; Generalissimo, B. F.
Wright; Captain General, R c. Munger.
In Tuesdays parade the Commandery
turned out sixty-fve swords and elected
considerable applause along the route for
excellent precision with which they
marched. Drilling on basis of fours
they marched at company front OF
twenty-four swords, which added consid-
'erably to the effect. They entered thirty
two in rank and three officers for the prize
drill Wednesday, and executed some very
fine maneuvers, which were greeted with
hearty applause from the immense audi
ence. Their formation of the Greek
cross was especially we'll effected and
fairly carried away the spectators.
AS compared with some other COM
manderies the Damascus have been able
to give little time to drill, and therefore
it is the more to their credit that they
were named fourth by the judges when
the prizes we're awarded. Eminent Com
mandant Moniort deserves much of the
credit for this fact, as he is their
drill master. The Great Western Band
which accompanied them, though small
IN numbers, is an organization Of which
St. Paul is justly proud, and the music
they rendered was not surpassed by any
band which was here in point of excel
lence. Socially, the members of the COM
nandery speak highly for the courtesy OF
the great Northwest, and we hope their
faces may often brighten our city, where
they leave most endearing impression
behind them.
IN THE PRIZE DRILL.
The judges we're Colonel Edward S.
Meyer, United States army; Colonel AL
bert Barnitz, United States army; Major
Nv. Claust, Of the Twenty-fourth United
States Infantry Corps of Engineers; Cap
tain M. B. Adams, of the Corps of Engi-
neers, Unite d States army; Captain F. A.
Kendall, United States army, First Lieu
tenant Twenty-ffth Infantry; Lieutenant
Burrows, late Of the Third United States
Artillery; Lieutenant L. D. Leffngwell,
of the Cleveland Grays.