Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-14
The Late knights Templar Conclaye.


pressions Of our neighboring press on Knox
villes great demonstration last week. and
her creditable display of hospitality in the
entertainment of the Grand Commandery,
knights Templar.
Mr. Geo. w. Ochs, city editor of the
Chattanooga Times, wrote to his paper of
Saturday, as follows:
cat the conclusion of the secret service,
the knights were escorted to the beautiful
grounds of Mr.. Perez Dickinson the mag
nifcent park surrounding his mansion was
Illuminated with myriads of lights; large
arches, sparkling with hundreds of jets,
glistened in all parts of the grounds, and
the scene was glorious beyond description !;
The Atlanta band was upon the ground, and
discoursed number of choice airs. From
thence the visitors were escorted to Mr.. Jas.
D. Cowan's palatial mansion, where recep-
ton, never before surpassed IN the State,
awaited them. The evening was closed with
a magnificent reception and banquet at the
elegant residence of Maj. Thos. O'Conner,
the prince of hosts, which, if such were
possible, even exceeded in grandeur and
magnifcence the previous entertainments
The Knights, coming from all parts of the
State, are unanimous in the opinion that
the receptions were as superb as any ever
before given in Tennessee"
Again he writes in Sundays Times, re-
garding the closing reception and banquet
as follows:
1.-The entertainment was by odds the
most brilliant ever given in Knoxville, and
| has rarely been equaled in the South. About
TOD hol
room and reception parlors fairly dazzled
with magnificent toilets, and the youth,
| beauty and chivalry of Knoxville bent their
uttermost energies for the thorough enjoy
ment of their guests, and they succeeded.
'The banquet hall surpassed all powers
of description it was supremely grand,
with its gorgeous decorations, superb Or
lamentations and elaborate festooning the
| immense auditorium seemed transformed to
some fairy fest, interspersed here and there
| with ely5ium flower gardens, never before
| equalled in any city in the South. The
| floral tributes of Knoxville's princes were
gorgeously splendid, rising high in glorious
magnifcence, in representation of all the
symbols of Knight Templarhood, and mod
deled into every character appropriate to
| the occasion. The stage was perfect
bouquet of rarest plants.
Before the tables were uncovered, it was
announced from the stage that the Memphis
Commandery had won the prize, which an
nouncement was followed by various happy
addresses by representatives of several com
manderies, and at the ''witching hour of
midnight" the onslaught on edibles begun
by fully six hundred guests. Everything
pleasant to the taste, all variety of luxuries
fruits, ices, &c, were offered, and the fare
was NOT in INV IaUraa eoI;nGed nv tba
rations The Ladies' Industrial Association
had the banquet in charge and realized a
very large sum, So entry fee having been
, charged all residents who attended
| "Knoxville's treatment of her guests was
| unexpectedly cordial and munifcent, and
/ proves that there is life in the old town yet.
Such entertainments could perhaps be given
nowhere else in the South
| The correspondent is in error about IS
entry fee" being charged any one. 1t was
free as air to everybody, the expense being
borne by Ceur de Lion Commandery, who
gave the contract to the ladies for a specified
sum.
Hon. ]. Harvey Mathes wrote to his pa
per, the Memphis Ledger, as follows:
The banquet was served at midnight
more than six hundred Knights, ladies and
citizens being present. The supply OF
everything tempting to the epicure was SC
abundant that all were filed, and it was
little more than half consumed. The bal
was a brilliant affair, where beauty and
| ehivalry mingled in gay dance till long after
midnight. Visiting Knights and ladies are
enthusiastic over the hospitable reception
here. The Memphis Commandery held a
meeting this morning and passed a resolu-
ton and expression of thanks for the atten-
ton received and hospitality bestowed
which rendered their stay here so pleasant
as to never be forgotten. The Knoxville
people are delighted with their visitors, and
universal regret is felt at their departure.
A special correspondent telegraphed to the
Nashville American, of Saturday. as fol
lows:
Gallant knights and mountain beauties
make the scene one that must be seen to be
appreciated The entertainment has been a
grand success, surprising by far any previ-
GUS entertainment given the Grand Com
mandery. All praise is due the citizens, Sir
Knights and ladies of Knoxville.
And to Sundays issue the following:
The Nashville party have gone home, ex-
| cept Mr.. and Mrs. Fuller, w. 81. Morrow,
J. L. Moore, Ewin Burney and Professor
Goodman, some of whom leave tonight
| Others remain several days. Knoxville has
not so great a crowd as for the last few DAYS,
but is still decorated and the loveliest place
| in the South.
| Church Dedication.