The weekly clarion., 1880-04-21
The Knights Templar at Natchez.
Natchez Democrat, 10th.

their Grand Officers, repaired 10 the Meth
+ odist Church which was kindly rendered 10
them for the purpose, and for an hour en-
gagged IN the devotional exercises prescribed
. by the ritual of the Order. The services
were led by f. Prelate Woodward, OF Rosa
lie Comnandery, under the direction OF
the Grand Commander OF the State, Chas
N Erwin. The choir on this occasion was
composed of talented musicians from the diff
terent Church choirs Of the city. among the
members of which we may name, Miss Min
ME Lum, Ms Emma Price, Miss Mary
Veazie, Mrs. Benbrook, Mrs. Rose. Mr..
Henry frank. AIr. Ihos. Henderson, Mr..
Abe Moses. Mr.. w. B. Dicks Mr.. Wexler
and Mr.. Carpenter. The music as render
ed by this choir added much to the interest
Of the occasion.
After the exercises at the Church, the
Sir Knights moved in military procession
through some Of the principal streets, and
then marched to the Protestant Orphan
Asylum. 10 attend the Sixty-ffth Anniver-
sary OF this most useful and benevolent in
sritUtIon.
In response to a kind invitation extended
Us by the Lady Managers of the Asylum,
we visited the institution over which they
preside, 70 witness the ceremonies atten-
dant upon this visit Of the Commandery.
We were shown through the building by
the managers, who cheerfully and courte-
0u~ly explained 10 Us their system, the uses
of the various apartments, etc. To say that
we were well pleased with the scrupulous
neatness that peryaded the entire establish
meut would be faint praise indeed.
Noticing that the guests were EelnnIng to
gather in the room devoted to the exercises
of the dav- wa sIa1,dily e1'.leu . = e'o'l
ed US We were not disappointed; it was
rich treat indeed. The scene was a brilliant
one. The sir Knights in their handsome
uniforms, and the elite and fashion of
Natchez society lent their charms to the
occasion the handsome decorations, and
the pretty little children themselves made,
IN all, picture not easy to forget.
The festivities We're commenced by the
little folks themselves; and the welcome
Glee" as rendered by their sweet, clear
young voices, was as pretty a chorus we
have ever heard, creditable to them and a
high compliment to the ability of their
teacher.
Rev Dr. VIM. H. Watkins followed in
an earnest PRAYER, which moved his hearers
to tears Rev. Mr.. Woodward then read
the annual report of the Secretary, in which
occurs feeling tribute to the late Secreta
rv. the lamented Mrs. JAS. Carradine. The
Treasurer's report was then read by the
same gentleman, showing the receipts and
disbursements for the year.
just at this stage of the proceedings
Grand Recorder j. l.. Power, of jackson,
came forward ana, after apologizing for the
interruption to the regular order of the pro-
gramme, presented the management of the
asylum on the part of the Grand Lodge, /
with check for $500
Grand Captain-General William French, |
of Nicksburg, was then called on, and III
his happiest vein, though unprepared, re- |
sponded promptly. Sir Knight French is |
an effective speaker, and his effort on this
occasion was gem He paid a wellmeri
ted compliment to the managers, in praise /
OF whom too much cannot be said.
Then followed another chorus by the I
children entitled "A Happy Greeting" on |
the conclusion of which Rev. Mr. Wood |
ward introduced the orator of the day, Sir
Frederick Speed, If Vicksburg. The ora
ton was polished effort indeed. Sir knight /
Speed captured his audience i'll the onset
and they listened with enrapt attention
throughout.
The lady managers now took charge of |
affairs and we were led to the refectory on I
the ground floor. The tables were magnif-
Gently decorated, and the feast prepared I
was one that would have tickled the palate
Of the most fastidous epicure. This repast
was rendered the Sir Knights and guests by .
the lady managers at their own expense, and .
Is but another evidence Of the goodness of
these selt-sacrificing ladies.
The storm of last night seriously inter
fered with the reception rendered to the
visiting Knights TempIar at the Hall. A
fierce rain set in at an early hour in the
evening and continued late into the night,
vet despite this there was a fair gathering
Of lovely women and gallant knights, and
while the elements battIed without merri-
meut reigned within. Graceful testoOns
and wreathes of evergreens were hung and /
arched all through the Hall, interspersed I
here and there with the various Masonic /
embems, while over the main entrance I
were the words Welcome Knights Tenn
plar," etc. The decorations reflect great
credit upon all engaged in the work of
arranging them Had it not been for the
extremely inclement weather we are salts
fed that the reception last night would have
been one of the grandest and most brilliant
affairs of the kind ever witnessed in Natchez.
A pleasing and touching incident connect
ed with the visit of the Knights Templar to
the Orphan Asylum yesterday, was the bap-
tism OF a beautiful and interesting little
orphan child whose parents have recently
died. One of the visiting Knights, Com
panion Frank Burkitt, of Oklahoma, had his
attention strongly drawn to the little innO-
cent, from its strong resemblance to a loved
and lost boy of his own. so much was he
struck with the resemblance that he pro-
posed to the lady managers to contribute
4
child was baptized within triangle of Tenn
plars, by Rev. Alex. Marks, and the name
of Frank Burkitt was added TO its baptismal
coguomen. The ceremony was very i'm
pressive one.
In addition to the foregoing, we learn
that the next session of the Grand Comman-
derry will be held at Kosciusko on The third
Wednesday in April, 1881.
The following were elected Grand Officers:
VIM. G. Benbrook, Martin, Grand Com
mander
VIM. French, vicksburg, Deputy Grand
Commander.
J. T. Whitehead, Holly Springs, Grand
Generalissimo.
c. L. Lincoln, Columbus, Grand Captain
General
Rev. W. X. Douglas, Dry Grove, Grand
Prelate.
Ms Walker, Port Gibson, Grand Treas
urer
J. L. Power, Jackson, Grand Recorder
w. P. fowler, Grenada, Grand Senior
Warden.
JAS T, Meade, Tchula, Grand Junior
Warden.
G. J. Bahin, Natchez, Grand Standard
Bearer.
II, NJ. Romberger, Water Valley, Grand {
Sword Bearer
J. II. Gordon, Port Gibson, Grand War t
den
Jas. n. Taylor, Kosciusko, Grand Capt
Of Guard. ,
CLOTHING reduced at less than cost, at {
STApEKER's.
Horrible Murder in Lower Hinds-The
Victim an Orphan Boy.
Kinds County Gazette.I
One of the most brutal and cowarI1v ynur