The Portland daily press., 1877-06-25
ST. JOHNS DAY.
Observance of the Day in Portland.

Observance of the Day in Portland.
A finer day for outdoor festivities than Sat-
urday could hardly be imagined. The air was
cool and bracing, and the sun was not warm
enough to be unpleasant. 1t was the day Sc
lected for the observance of st. Johns day,
which fell on Sunday this year. AS usual on
such occasions the Sir Knights were early astir.
They met at the temporary asylum on Ex-
change street, and, headed by Chambers full
band, marched to the Eastern depot to receive
their invited guests, the st. Omer Commandery
of Watervlle, and the Bradford Commandery
of Biddeford Each of these Communicates
arrived at the Eastern depot at about $50, and
were accompanied with bands. The visiting
Communicates were received by the home COM
manderies and the procession marched through
State, Emery, Lewis, Cushman, Pine, Con-
gress, Free, Middle, Exchange and Commercial
streets to Portland Pier, in the following order:
Police, under Officer Harris.
Chandler's Band, % pieces-D. H. Chandler leader.
Portland Commandery. Marshal General G. L. Beal;
Eminent Commander j. c. Small. rs Sir Knights.
Biddeford Institute Band of Biddeford, 20 piecesP
Bradford Commandery. Eminent Commander John
S. Derby. So Sir Knights.
st. Omer Commandery. Eminent Commander /. s.
Bangs. 60 Sir Knights.
Carriages containing guests.
The following were the invited guests:
Guests of the Portland Commanderies-Rigb
Eminent ]. W. Ballou of Bath, and I. j.
Murray of Portland, Past Grand Commanders
of Maine; Alex. MargessOp Em. Commander
Of st. Johns Commandery of Bangor; Past
Commanders Franklin Fox and F. G. Stevens
Of Portland Commandery; f. E. Boothbyiand
t. 2. Shaw of Trinity Commandery, Gardiner.
Guests of st. Omer-J F. Pierce, q. B. Nor
man, Fri Wills, George Dow, George Graves,
81. A. B. Chandler, John Snow, S. A. Russell
and George Gross, all of Trinity Commandery,
Augusta, and P. Fl. Winslow of Maine Com
mandery, Augusta.
Guests of Bradford Commandery-H. Free
of Lewiston Commandery; and Charles Stew
ems Ira Chellis, Albert Thwing and E. Morrill,
of st. Paul Commandery, Dover, N III.
Arriving at the wharf the Sir Knights en-
batked upon the steamer Charles Houghton,
Capt. Chase, for Little Chebeague, this being
the objective point. The steamer left the wharf
shortly before II o'clock, and steamed down
the harbor in fine shape to the music of Chand-
ler's Band. A substantial lunch was served on
the steamer, and instead Of landing at once
sail was taken around both of the Chebeague
Islands. This pleased the visitors much, many
of them having never seen so much of Casco
Bay The different islands and points of inter-
est were pointed out to them, thus rendering
the trip doubly enjoyable. The steamer did not
land a. Little Chebeague until nearly l o'clock.
Jencks was in readiness for the company as
usual The three bands united, and under the
direction of Chandler led the procession to the
grove, playing Marching through Georgia."
as it is seldom heard. At the grove the rocks
were heating to receive the bake, and the crowd
gathered about to see the operation of prepar-
ing clam bake While it was cooking the
company roamed about the beautiful grove at
will.
At 2 o'clock the bake was opened and the
bugle.call summoned the Sir Knights around
the festive beard. Chandler furnished fine mu-
sic while the bake Was under discussion.
There were no formalities at the table or
elsewhere on the island. The Sir Knights of
the several Communicates mixed together in
the most cordial manner. No one wanted to
make set speeches, and consequently there were
none made. Small groups gathered about here
and there and told stories or listened to the
singing of John Andigee, who, by the way,
never misses st. john day. Football appear
ed to engross the attention of the majority, and
the Oldest Knights entered into the sport with
the zest of their more youthful companions :
Thus the time passed until the bugle called the
company to the steamer. When all were on
board Mr.. Durgan took Photographic view of
the steamer with her jc yful party. The steam
er made quick run to the city, reaching Rail-
road wharf at p. m. On the way commit
tee, consisting of Sir Knights Nathan Cleaves,
j. P. Lewis, Joseph A. Locke and j. Y. Holds
don, collected over $3.50 for the relief of St.
Johns Commandery. From Railroad wharf
the procession marched to the Eastern. depot,
where leave was taken of Bradford Comman-
derry, and they at once took the train for home,
st. Omer Commandery was then escorted to
the Falmouth, which was made their headquar-
tiers until the midnight train bore them homes
The occasion was most pleasant one through
out, there being not an unpleasant feature in
the whole days exercises.
The fire which burned up the uniforms also
destroyed both banners, and each commandery
appeared with new and elegant standard.
That of st. Adams was painted by Schumach-
or, at cost of $3.50. 1t is very rich and ele-
CANT The front is of white silk with red and
gold trimmings, the device being the Cross CT
Calvary in red. The reverse is black silk with
the seal and title of the commaLdery in gold
and silver. The banner of Portland Comman-
derry was painted by Harry Brown, and cost
$3.50. 1t is like the old Beauseant or battle flag
of the Templars, one half of which was white
and the other black, signifying that they were
fair and white to Christians but black and ter
rible to their enemies, adopted perhaps to meet
the significance of the black standard of the
prophet, which, in the hands of his amiable
proselytes of nautical tendencies, with the slight
addition of deaths head, has given us the
black flag of piracy. Ga the front, as upon
their former banner, is picture of Jerusalem
in the distance, with band Of Knights Temp
lar in armor, with whit, mantles on the left,
and band of Knights of Malta with scarlet
mantles, on the right, bearing battle flags and
advancing towards the city. On the upper part
is the Passion Cross and motto of Constantine,
I'm hoe Signo Uinces" This cross and motto
seen by the Emperor in dream, are said to
have occasioned his conversion, and it was
adopted by the Templars as their especial mot
to. AT the foot are four medallions bearing the
names of Godfrey de Bouillon, the first Chris
tan King of Jerusalem, Baldwin, leader of the
| first crusade and founder of the Knights of St.
John. or the Hosptallers, Richard Occur de
Lion) and Phillip the Fair, leader of the second
| crusade. On the reverse is the true Templar
cross in white, bordered with gold, on the black
| ground. This is an eight pointed cross formed
by uniting four equilateral triangles. Below it
L 10 fba Of tl,o -
| ground, with the name of the commandery.
The material is white silk, black velvet and
| gold, and it is probably the richest banner in
the state, and not surpassed 10 taste and ele-
| gance by any in the country.