The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-24

.
of the Boston and Providence knights AT
Richmond, After an Absence OF Twenty.
Two Years-Received by the Military and
knights OF the City Mid the Booming Of
Cannon-Address OF Welcome by Eminent
Commander Sir Thomas J. Evans-The
March TO Their Headquarters-A Brilliant
Reception OF the Lady visiters at the Thea
ire Last Evening Decorations, etc.
The Boston and Providence Knights have
arrived on their second pilgrimage TO Rich
mond. After an absence OF twenty-five
years they enter our city, which was once
before pleased to throw open its gates with
a hearty welcome in the name OF her then
sole Commandery, and which has since
then passed through devastating war,
with i;s attending hardships and sorrows.
All visible traces OF the unfortunate inter-
mediate visitation have been happily OBJ
liberated. and Richmond In festive attire
welcomes these northern brothers of her
sons with a mothers affection, proud to
show in some wav her deep appreciation OF
the warm hospitality and princey generosity
which they have twice showered upon her
children Knights.
Mid all great reioicipgs there come mo-
menlS for reflection 10 most men, when
the occasion fails not 10 furnish tempo
rary feeling Of sadness at the absence OF
those who once joined in our triumphs and
joys; aud we imagine that few OF those
who haye participated in former rCdnions
OF these brotherly Communicates and wit
messed tbeir reception yesterday afternoon
could help recalling some fond friend now
no more. Time thins out the ranks almost
imperceptibly, since the vacant places are
filled by the ever-growing generations. Yet
tits reflection at such times that shows the
havoc. For 1t is sad TO note that since the
last visit Of these Communicates here, OF 16S
members numbered on the roster OF Rich
mond COmmlndery, No. =, ninety-two OF
that number are now no more. While OF
the two visiting communicates only six
veterans are present TO call back the days
OF yorc.
THE COMMITTEE OF RECEPTION,
or rather those who did not go on 10 WASH
ington Saturday, left on the S:l2 O'Clock
tram Yesterday morning TO meet the visitors
ai Fredericksburg. Tney were Eminent
Commander William T. Allen. Captain-Gen-
erGl j. J. Wright, Sir j. f. Mayer, Sir
Henry Bodeker, Sir c. w. p. Brock, Sir
James L. Vaughan, Sir George B. Steel. Sir
George A. Hundley, Sir e. w. Macfarlane,
Sir Edgar d. Taylor, and Sir Maurice
Evans. Arriving
At Fredericksburg
at 1915 they found Fredericksburg Com
manderv, No. |, drawn up in line, under The
command OF Eminent Commander X. ;.
Chew, aud headed by q brass band, all III
readiness TO receive the coming guests. AT
Il:2j the whistle Of the locomotive was
heard. and soon thereafter the train OF seven
coaches which had borne the visiting
Knights from jersey City steamed into tile
dep0t mid the booming OF guns, the pay
ing of bands. and the hurrass OF the large
crowd which thronged the streets.
The knights soon disembarked, ana lOrf1.
ing line marched through all the principal
streets of the cIty, which were every where
beautifully and lastefully decorated. Ar
rlyinq IT the residence OF Eminent Com
mander Chew, picturesqueiy situated anna
the grateful shade OF fine grove, the ioi-
lowing appropriate address OF welcome was
made by
JUDGE J. T. GOODRICH:
would not. il could, pander to any
desire for display OF wordy pyrotechnics.
| would not. il could, air my vocabulary
with gIittering but cObwehbed generaIltles
ON this occasion and in this presence In or
der To give expression to the great pleasure
and high appreciation that we are sensible
Of by YOUR coming among Us, or TO empha'
size the warmth Of our wecOme-rainef I'D
FnpHsh unadorned hemely but honest ola
Anglo Saxon, would more faithfully and
trufbtullv represent the sentiments OF my
neonle and respond more cordially 10 the
impuIses of my own nature by saying unto
Won simply vet sincerely, we are glad 10
NEE, yon-glad that you have allowed Us the
niob privilege OF giving expression ~
our sentiments Of yOu-glad that we VINO
live i'm different sections OF common coun,
try have the opportunity OF mlnglin@ ana
comminglng together, whereby we may
know each other better and love each otner
more. We think that 1t is right ana proper
that your first rest should he here on your
nresent pilgrimage TO our caplla' cly-a
nilorinaGe from the land Of Lexington TO
the land of YorktoWn-tbe very Alpha ana
;he very Omega of those struggles that
commenced for and eliminated In cement
inc together the Continental States Ia Tree
ana great repubIc-a pilgrimage from
whe;e Warren barred bis breast to the
storm Of battle and lighting fell to where
Washington struck, with
HIS sPoTLESS AND STAINLESS SWORD,
from the TOO tenacious embrace OF the
then crouchlng Lion thirteen stars that nave
attracted to their orbit the grandest con-
crallation that has ever existed In the tide
~ time. say 10 this pilgrimage from the
section OF our country thus represented 10
onr own. we conceived it right that your
first rest should be here-for this spot. be
il said. is sacred, hallOwed, and consecrated
NOT only 10 the hearts OF all the patriotic
neopIe Of this great land Of ours, but it Is
euinentlv and prominently so to the great
Masonic heart: for here he who was first IN
war and first in peace first saw Masonic
light: here be first trOd tue te>sellated floor,
and TINS is the alma mater Of Masonry to the
warrior-statesman " Washington, and bis gall
liant lieutenant, Mercer, and thinking you
would gather fresh inspiration as Masons and
os citizens, We bade you come TO us-Gweli
even. but for a too. short moment In our own
tents-and i'm the name OF that obligation
which links us together around common
altar. the very granite foundation ana Key
stone OF all the temples, that Masonry tnat
was horne far down the corridors OF tlme,
that has ever moved maieslically and noise
Iesslv onward and upward, having Tor us
clarion cry ana sbibbOleth, "The brother.
hood Of man" and OF that knlgbthood tnat
received lis new birth and another baptism
as the cry from hoary England to the banks
Of the sacred Jordon rose on the air OF
Coward to the Sepulchre OF Holy Jesus"
aud leeions bearing alOft banners with It's
red cross and its
GIN HOE sIGNO vTNCES,"
n
name OF our own great republic. that has
been welded together anew by the martyr
dom and the blOOd-treasure OF the best OF her
SONS. which bids us be united. though p0liti-