Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-09
TEr SIR KNIGHTS. CELEBRATION

The ConeIave Of Palestine Commandery
AT Masonic Temple Last Night-fre-
sentation Of the state PriKe-An Inter
e<ting OeeasiOn-The banquet
twas not such weather last night a.
,oula have been wished for 80 pleasant
and interesting an occasion as the presen-
cotton ~ the Knights Templar's prize at
Masonic Temple
IT, nan however. was well filed with
E 1s,lias and gentlemen, and when Palestine
T Commandery marched in and took posi-
ZION in the space between the stage and
f audience. il was spectacle not often
witnessed.
The evenings enjoyment was begun 10y
. a song by a quarfette, composed Of Mrs
. HAYNES and Mrs. Ward and Messrs. Ward
and Harden. who also sang after the
F close Of the speaking.
The Commandery' being called 70 at
tention'- after the singing. >ir knight
F Roberts advanced 10 tire table on which
stood the prize and other trophies Won by
/ Palestine. and said:
/ -Fsfs Ladiss and Gallant hAigkts: In
rhe early DAYS. when tnls urder OF tle
Temple was Instituted. its founders We're
Kings and Princes. and mobiles. mghtg
T warriors all whose fame spread Tar ana
near and whose WOndrOus deeus come
+ down 10 rs. the theme Of many song and
story. The Templar Of to-day may Wen
I feel proud Of the unbroken Inks OF TINS
order dating back 10 that hon-hearted
King and his glorious cOmpeers. whose
. Names are vet familiar 10 Us as household
words. But they were men Of the sword
and had no other idea Of promoting the
cause tLey loved, or curing the evils they
+ deprecated. than bE the sword. and
I slaughter and destruction attended all
their steps
.-Weof this day, while retaining in some
degree the warlike panOply Of our prede-
+ eessors. the glittering steel. the rustling
. banner and the waving plumes, look on
these only a. symbOliZing a still more
noble and glorious warfare. With the
sword Of an eternal truth, tempered by
. mercy. We would destroy the principle OF
+ evil and Of outrage and oppression, and
We would save alive the personnel by
whom these dire results are wrought.
We come 10 save. not 70 destroy; II Is
ours 70 relieve and succOT, but not 70 Kill.
l. there not more glory in this than in the
shedding Of blOods Al, yes. there are
powers mightier than this sword which
slavs the body.
The depths Of the spirit are often stirred.
By the magic note Of one kind dcorf;
Ii s0ftens the stubborn heart 70 tears.
And dispels the gathered gloom Of years.
And I tell YOU. comrades. on the au-
th0rity Of Him whose name We profess.
that in the great hereafter. when the
I records Of this life are made up, there Is
purer Joy. there Is greater reward. there
J. a brighter glory for him who shall
. have succored some struggling. tOiling
widow. OF given food and shelter 10 some
1 helpless little ones, or saved from dis
honor some pure maiden, than for him
who shall have sacked and made desolate
a great city.
Comrades. let Us not forget these are
the objects Of the mission 10 which we are
vowed Of that warfare IN which we are
required ever % be engaged.
In the Olden DAYS il was custom
among those Knights Of high renOwn 10
meet at stated times and engage in feats
. Of strength and skill and daring, and in
presence Of the ladies Of their love they
would break a lance together in knightly
. courtesy and friendly encounter.
In memory Of this custom we also have
our friendly contests in order 10 display
and promote that skill and discipline
which. combining many under one direc-
F ton, gives a unity and strength equally
4 essential in all forms Of warfare. In this
. contest YOU. my comrades Of Palestin
calamity contested, and in all knightly
d courtesy your companions have rendered
/ their CONGRATULATIONS. In token Of your
we'll earned triumph / am deputed by
{ Right Eminent sir William :. Rock
well. Grand Commander Of your
( order, 10 present you, IN his behalf, this
mementO Of your skill. a beautiful en-
blem Of the faith we profess. Take it.
and take also our best wishes, and the as
4 suTance that as il was fairly and honestly
won. so we doubt not il will be well and
faithfully held by you 70 whom we now
commit it."
At the conclusion Of the address, that
gifted orator. Sir knight L. Z. Lester,
made an eloquent response. In behalf OF
the COmmandery he thanked the speaker
for his kind expressions and for the prize
then presented. He spoke Of the skill OF
the detachment that had represented the
COmmanderv. and the pride those
F who did not attend at Columbus felt
I in their achievements. Not only were the
sir knights-the laggards at home
anxious for their success. but the fair
I ladies. around whom Templarism, had
I thrown its protecting arm, were interest
cd in that friendly contest. sir Knight
T Lester spoke Of the pleasant association
which clustered round the order. and in
closing again thanked the representative
Of the Grand COmmandery for its hand
some prize.
At the close OF this presentation another
occurred. which was great surprise.
but doubtless a pleasant one 70 the re-
cipient, Sir knight r. H. Anderson, Cap
tain General, who commanded Palestine
COmmandery at Columbus. sir knight
Ballantyne presented a beautiful gold
Templar's cross to the Sir knight, and an
elegant silver ice cream urn 10 Mrs. An
dersOn. The presentation was made with
the following graceful speech:
Sir Knight Captain General: Palestine
COmmandery. DESTROYS Of putting inlO
enduring shape her appreciation Of the
sacrifices YOU have made and the faithful
work YOU have done in your late success
ful effort 70 return her TO her original pO-
sitiOn Of the banner COmmandery OF the
state, has entrusted TO me the pleasing
duty Of asking your acceptance Of this
Jewel. which will serve 10 you pleas
ant mementO Of the victory you have
Just won. and viii constantly be TO you
an enduring assurance Of the love, atfec-
ton and esteem with which YOU are re-
garded by every member Of this body.
''As in the ancient rite Of FreemasOnry
the Lodge presented a pair Of gloves to
the wife Of each Of its initiates or TO the
lady best beloved by him who might alter
wards become his spouse. so Palestine
COmmandery asks Of Mrs. Anderson to
receive this token. which like the gloves
Of the apprentice, viii be to her symbol
Of the purity Of true affection. and will
also be 10 her pledge on the part Of the
COmmandery that if she should ever need
assistance. consolation or encouragement,
an advocate or a defender, she will find
all among its members"
After sir knight Ballantyne's remarks
Sir knight Anderson made brief reply.
The presents, he said. were so uneXpect-
ed that he scarcely knew what TO say.
and could only at that time return his
heartfelt thanks for the valuable tokens
Of the appreciation of his fraters.
Rev. I. II. Strong, a member Of the
COmmanderv. made an interesting address.
He prefaced his remarks by stating that
il had been announced that he was 70 de-
liver an Grafton. but this was
a mistake. and must be attributed
10 that Jealous, that peerless Mason,
sir knight Ballantyne. who had on this
occasion assigned 70 him duty which
al this time he was unable TO perform,
but he was q Mason, and be felt il
incumbent upon him, believing as
he did that it was one Of the
best institutions ever organized by man,
10 speak for it whenever il was his pro-
vince so to do. sir Knight Strong
spoke Of Templarism in the past and in
the present; its epoch in history; how the