Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-22
THE CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER
Which Will be the Prosperity Of
the COmmandery Last Win
ming il Prior 90 the Con-
cIave of 1883.
WHY DOEsD DE MOLAY DELAY
Courier journal, 20.

VIII YVES III "a
Courier-Journal, 20.
The first prize awarded to the best
drilled Commandery at Grand En-
campment Knights Templar of the
United States, held at Chicago, Au-
gust, 1880, was an elegant sword and
belt ito be the property of the Com.
mandery winningit." Accompanying
this was an extra special prize" sub.
ject to the following rules:
Rule 1.-The Commandery winning
thu first prize y = shall hold this
Championship Banner and shall
defend it against all corners within the
jurisdiction of the Grand Encampment
Of the United States of America, and
shall respond to each aud every chal-
loDge within ten days from its recep-
ton, naming the time and place for
the contest; provided that no date
shall be named earlier than twenty and
later than sixty days from the recep-
ton Of the challenge. Should the
Commandery challenged refuse to
accept il shall Immediately surrender
the banner to the challenging Com
mandery.
Rule Each challenge shall be
accepted in the order in which it was
received; provided, hat when two or
more challenges are in hand at the
same time, one date may be named for
all, and the Commandery making the
best record shall be awarded the
Banner"
Rule 3-Any challenge received
less than seventy days prior to the
meeting Of the Twenty second Trien-
NAL Conclave in August, 1888, shall
be null and void.
Rule Amy Commandery possess
ing this banner by reason of conquest
or forfeiture, shall hold the same sub
ject to these rules.
Rule 5-The C~emmandery last
winning the banner prior to the meet
ing OF the Twenty second Triennial
Conclave in 1888, shall become its
owner.
Rule GAIL contests shall be in
accordance with the rules governing
the competitive drill of the Twenty
first Triennial Conclave.
These rules" last referred to pro-
vide in substance:
First-Ranks, thirty six members
of Commandery drilling.
Second-Drill ia the order Of rank,
commencing with the senior, and for
thirty minutes Tor more, if 80 agreed);
also, provision for a two days contest
if necessary.
Third-"The first twenty minutes
OF the contest will be confined to the
execution OF movements and manual
as drilled IN the respective jurisdic-
tions to which the Commandery be-
longs" and remaining ten minutes to
movements desired, which are not
counted in the general result; three
judges, with control in the field, and
a schedule drill.
Raper Commandery, No. l, of In
%dianapOlis, won the banner ia 1880,
was challenged by st. Bernard, No.
80, of Chicago, which captured it on
the 9th inst. Alter the drill it is
charged that Raper did not treat St
Bernard with that courtesy usual
among Templars-among other things,
failed in its escorts and attentions,
even to permitting st. Bernard 10
climb to the third story Of the temple
to obtain the banner it had won.
Raper complained that st. Bernard
did not conform to rules among them,
by using Grants Tactics, which was
not the authorized" drill in Illinois.
The friends of st. Bernard claim
that Grants Tactics contain the
movements and manual as drilled in
the jurisdiction to which the Com.
mandery belongs" and, although
another system of drill was adopted,
it is not used by the best drilled Com.
manderies. Raper Commandery chal.
lenged st. Bernard eight days after
the contest, on the 9th inst, intend
ing, no doubt, to make the point on tao
tics used; but the Grand Commander
Of Illinois has cut the gordon knot
by issuing an order permitting the
use of tactics preferred in the iuris.
diction of the Grand Commandery of
Illinois, and st. Bernard will accept
Raper's challenge. By the rules.
other Communicates may come in and.
as there is little doubt that De Molay
Oommandery, No. IL, can cope with
st. Bernard or Raper, with fair pros.
poets Of victory, it ought to put 10 a
challenge, and bring the Banner to
Louisville.
Of course the banter about $4,000 to
be put up by Templars here was a
little %buneombe, as it is contrary to
the principles and teachings of the
order, and none of our Templars
would consent to bring such a reproach
upon the order as to entertain the
proposition. 1t would be scandalous
10 do so. Their ambition is for well
earned fame that spreads both Tar and
wide, for acts of charity and deeds of
pure benevolenee, with a glory OF
superior skill in the knightly war.