The Portland daily press., 1885-07-09
ST. ALBAN coMMANDERY,
How the Portland Knights were En-
tertained in Lewiston.

The Lewiston Journal says that the
knights Templar Of st. Alban and Lewis
ton Communicates paraded from go to Z
p. m, Tuesday on the return of st. Alban
from Lake Auburn. Everybody says that it
was one of the finest Masonic parades ever
seen in Lewiston. The st. Alban Comman-
derry is fine body of men, and everybody
regrets that so solid and substantial class
of citizens as they who compose Lewiston
Commandery cannot be seen more often un-
der their Knightly banner and wearing the
sword and plume. Lewiston Commandery
turned out seventy-five Knights in line
Headed by Perkins band they marched to
the head of Turner street, Auburn, where
they met st. Alban Commandery Lewiston
Commandery bore its new banner for the
first time in public. 1t was made in New
York for the Commandery at a cost of $175.
The line of march was formed on Court
street. A parade was made over both Au-
burn and Lewiston. The column was halted
at the residence of d. B. Stevens, and also
at the residence of Col f. NJ Drew for re-
freshments
The ladies and guests followed in carriages
provided by Lewiston Commandery
The Knights filed into City Hall at seven
O'Clock. Chandler's Band played a march
that delighted the crowds. Once inside the
hall, st. Alban Commandery was stationed
in line at the right of the hall with Lewiston
Commandery at the left-the two Command
cries facing each other
Eminent Commander Sleeper of Lewiston
Commandery, made an excellent address of
welcome to which Eminent Commander AL
bro E. Chase replied in a most felicitous
manner. An intermission of 10 minutes fol-
lowed for social enjoyment.
1t will be a long time before handsomer
lunch will be spread in City Hall, than that
of Tuesday evening. Others in the Com
mandery parlors of the Sir Knights may be
richer in the trappings of these modern pill
prinls, but none ever looked more inviting
beneath the glare of the electric lights of
City Hall. Four long tables stretched down
the hall. Plates were laid for two hundred
and fifty. The tables were bright and fra
grant with flowers and pyramids of fruit
A great vase of double bluebells branched
in a radiance of blue at the head of the CEN
tire table Down each table were bouquets OF
| flowers. AT each plate boutonniers were laid
| upon the souvenir cards Of the compliment.
ary escort and banquet. Thirty OF forty
hams, tongue, corned beef, rolls, tea, coffee
| cake OF various kinds, confectionery, fruit
| including oranges, watermelonS and bananas
| and ices made up the material things of the
| lunch. A dozen or more pretty waiter
| girls attended the wants of the guests and
| the hosts and their ladies. Over half of the
| party that sat at table were ladies. Many OF
the ladies wore white The preliminary clat
| ter was hushed for the words of grace anC
| the blessing upon the feast which were sale
| by Rev. W. FL. Washburn, rector of Trinity
church. AT the head of the centre table sal
| En-. Com. Sir Kt. Frank E. Sleeper of Lew
iston Commandery. AT his left sat En-
Com. Sir Kt. Albro E. Chase of St. Alban
Commandery.
Eminent Commander Sleeper said few
| words felictOusly at the opening of the ban.
| quet, remarking that the Knights had in
| tended to have in readiness q bill of fare.
| but that instead he would introduce a party
| of gentlemen who would tell them all abouf
| it, and what might, or could, or should have
| been done about it.
| This served to introduce the Mendelssohr
| Quartette, who sang an amusing medley sons
| entitled, 'The Bill of Fare" A discussion
| of the lunch had meanwhile opened. Tall
also opened across the tables. There was ;
| running fire Of comment. Perkins's orehes
ira, from the stage, opened programme 0.
| choice selections of music. The lunch houl
passed in music as well as in mastication.