Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-03-22
TINE couR De LION DRILL.
A Splendid Exhibition and Elegant
Presentations by the Drill Corps
and Commandery.

sembled at the Rink last evening to wit
ness the exhibition drill Of the Drill Corps
of Coeur do Lion Commandery No. 8,
which proved to be one Of the finest ex-
hibitions Of military movement ever wit
messed in this city The Corps was in
command of Capt. 7. s. Ritchie, visiting
drill-master from the DeMolay Command
cry, of Kentucky, and comprised the
following eighteen Knights; T. Inward,
J. D. Bicknell, Vim. Rounnell. M. San
tee, s. waksling, C. w. Gibson, N. H.
Murray, E. Bsrman, Frank A. Gibson,
A. Brown, Samuel A. Tuttle, ]. 5. Baker,
w. W. Ross, E. H Freeman, W. G.
Furrey, B. w. Lee and Thos. Strohm.
From the first movement it was evident
that the Corps had been thoroughly
drilled, and strict discipline was OBJ
served, that enabled them to perform
each evolution with rare precision and
remarkable uniformity.
During the various movements many
different evolutions were executed amid
continued applause from the audience.
Among the unique features were no.
ticed the forming Of the cross, which
was splendid representation of skill
and knightly bearing; threes right and
LETT about march, was good test to the
regularity Of execution; and the display
from q center, and countermarching was
superb and could not be excelled by any
corps on this Coast. After drilling for
nearly on hour, without one serious err
ror, the corps was brought to parade
rest and the Eminent Commander, E. F.
Spence, stepped forward and requested
Captain General T. H. Ward to step to
the front. He then presented to Past
Eminent Grand Commander, J. D. Bick-
nell, magnificent jewel as an insignia
of his rank. He said
There is law unwritten which, in
rart, governs the world. The ruler
upon his throne, the judge upon the
bench, the lowest Of the low, are actu-
ated, though insensibly and unknown to
themselves. by its heaven-bor impulse.
When God spake the world into exist.
ence, set the stars in their places and
the planets in action, the same law gov
erned then as now.
It is not the law Of force or electricity,
or heat, or centrifugal or centripetal ac-
ton; it is the God-given law of love,
that is the incentive now to q cheerful
| obedience 10 all humane and legitimate
orders 1t is the genius Of Knight
Templarism.
Acting upon this theory it is my desire
that my predecessar in Office be now pre-
sented before me by our Captain General,
Sir Knight T. H. Ward.
| Sir knight Past Commander J. D.
Bicknell: By unanimous consent of
Ceur de Lion Commandery No. 8, 1
take the greatest pleasure in presenting
| to you small badge or jewel emblem
ATTIC of your rank in Masonry, in token
Of the esteem and friendship in which
you are held by the members of the
Commandery over which you presided
for many years.
/ utter no word Of Aattery when say
that for kindness of manner, correctness
Of ruling and uniform knightly courtesy
you have had no superior. The jewel,
though small and inexpensive, we hope
will be priced by you, because it is the
| offering of grateful hearts.
In the name of each and every mem-
ber, we wish you a long and happy life,
praying that you will make jewel in
the crown placed in the Temple not
made with hands, eternal in the heav-
ems. / will now place it near your hea5,
and may its possession ever be as sweet
incense to you. your wife and your chill
dren.
At the conclusion of the remarks Cap
tain General Ward placed the jewel
upon the breust of the Past Eminent Com
mander with a few appropriate remarks
and the honored recipient was too much
overcome with emotion and gratitude to
make reply.
The jewel is unique and elegant in de-
sign and decorated with beautifully fin.
ished insignia of the Masonic Order.
The upper part is Q golden shield, upon
which is engraved the words, 'To Sir
Knight J. D. Bicknell. Past Eminent
Commander, b. the Ceur de Lion Com
mandery of Los Angeles" In the CEN
ter is the "Masonic Eye" Of wrought
gold. the pupil being a large diamond.
To the shield is attached the Cross of
the Order made of gold and ornamented
with beautiful crown of oynx and dia-
monds, below which are two crossed
swords. Altogether it is one of the
most expressive and admirably finished
jewels ever presented by any Masonic
Order in this country.
Following the frat presentation, Sir
Knight Moye Wicks requested Captain
I. s. Ritchis to step forward and made
the following appropriate remarks:
This being the last time that you will
meet this Drill Corps before your return
to your homo in Kentucky, have been
requested to express to You sincere re-
grets at our parting. feel that I am
giving utterance to the sentiment Of
every individual member Of the Com
mandery when say that in parting from
you we feel the loss to be irreparable.
We console ourselves somewhat with
the hope that you will come to Los
Angeles again and would suggest that
your visits be made twice every year and
that you remain six months each visit.
| Not long time ago you came to Los
Angeles as . stranger, but you found
yourself surrounded by brothefs in the
persons Of the Los Angeles Masons, and
they WED with each other in showing
you cordial attentions, for every Blue
Lodge and Chapter Hall and Command.
cry is an Ararat, to afford rest and re-
freshment to the pilgrim Knight travel
ing from afar. and the sense OF fraternal
obligation is the dove that carries the
olive brauch between the members of
the great brotherhood of the Mystic Tie,
wheresoeverdispersed beneath the canopy
of heaven. This may seem far-fetched
allusion for the present occasion, but
this season of rainfall naturally suggests
thoughts Of the Deluge and Noah's Ark.
For our efforts to make your stay among
| us agreeable, you have repaid us many
times by your painstaking services to
our Drill Corps. In all our relations
with you your conduct has been dis
tinguished by that courtesy which is the
peculiar characteristic of the ideal
Knight Templar. Your constant de-
meanor has been Indicative Of the true
metal Of your knightly qualities, in the
same way - the glittering polish upon
your sword-blade IL indicative of the true
metal Of its composition. We ask that
when you return to your comrade Sir
Knights Of the Do Molay you will give
them our friendliest salutations and tell
them that we cherish with gratitude the
recollection of their Commandery
by reason Of our obligations to
you as one of its honored members.
In the name OF the Drill Corps l now
present to you this time-piece, and ask
that YOU wear il as as continual re-