Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-20
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE Masonic BOD
les OF The STATE OF VERMONT.
The Grand COmmandery.


THE PARADE-A FINE PRoCEssIoN-GREAT
CEowDs OF sPECTATORs-THE ANNUAL
CoNCLAvE.
The annual Masonic gatherings which Tor
so many years have enlivened our city In the
month of June commenced Tuesday, June
10th, A D., 1879, with the parade and
meeting of the Grand Commandery OF
Knights Templar. The day was everything
that could be desired The rain OF the pre-
vious night was Just sufficient to lay the dust
and render the walking good; the air was
clear and cool, and the raysof the sun, while
they frightened up things generally, were not
oppressively warm. The flags were up all
over the city, on public and private build
ings, and these and other hospitabe demon
strations were sufficient tokens of Burling-
tons welcome to her guests.
Shortly after ten O'Clock the line formed at
CITY Hall in the following order:
Detachment of Police.
Sherman Military Band.
Burlington Commandcry.
Plattsburgh Commandery-
Middlebury and Rutland Commanderes.
St Albans Commandery.
Meacham Drum Corp.
Brattleboro Commandery.
Grand Officers in carriages.
The police were IN charge of that good
looking and efficient officer, Oliver Lamora,
and did good service through the day. The
Shermans turned out in full force and evo-
luted "Pinafore" and other music in excel
lent style Their playing was most excel
lent and was very highly complimented.
Burlington Commandery had the largest
number of Knights and presented fine ap-
pearance. The Plattsburgh visitors were
few in number, but looked well and drilled
well. The consolidated communicates Of
Rutland and Middlebury made handsome
showing, and the fine banner of Mount CAL
vary Commandery attracted much attention
The painting represented Simon of Cyrene
bearing the cross, and the banner was OF
heavy white silk with gold bullion fringe.
Col. Thad. NJ. Chapman in command of This
Commandery looked every inch SOL
mandery were well filed, and the Knights
were n good looking body of men. They
bore new and magnificent banner, which
deserves special mention. On one side of
the banner is Knight Tcmpar in Il full
suit of armor on horseback, holding erect n
battle-aXe, while Il landscape view shows the
walled city of Jerusalem in the distance.
Over the top of the banner above the design
falls curtain of black silk with golden bor-
der, and on the black groundwork in gold
''old English" letters are the words ''Lafay-
ette Commandery." On the reverse side of
the banner is a cross beautifully finished and
standing out in bold relief, with fine sha-
dow effect and surrounded by scroll on
which is painted the inscription ''Non
Nobis Domino. Non Nobis. Sed Nomini
Tuo Da Gloriam." Over the top of the cross
is the familiar motto of the Order, ''In Hoe
Signo Vinces." The banner is wrought on
white silk of the finest quality representing
ground of silver, and is trimmed with gold
fringe and tassels. The banner was painted
ly Mr.. S f. Kirkpatrick, the well-known
St. Albans painter, and the fine needle-work |
was done by Mrs and Miss kirkpatrick.
1t is no discradit 10 the rest to say that al |
ogether the best drilled Commandery was |
hat from Brattleboro. Their discipline was |
,ood and their drill magnificent; and they |
we'll deserved the hearty applause that greet
d them along the line of march. They were
preceded by the Meacham Drum Corps, to
whose admirable playing we have before re-
erred