Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-21
KNIGHTS TEmPLAR.

s
The Annual ConeIave OF the Crane
GeEnRaandery at HartEord-The Nan
quet-The Election OF ORsers Yoster
day.
HARTFORD, March 20.-The annual con
claye of the Grand commandery of the
| Knights Templar in this State was held here
Saturday, the session opening at a. m. TIL.
| annual address was delivered by Grand Com
mander Charles E. Billings of this city
After brief introductory remarks the grand
commander spoke feelinely of the deaths Of
the year in the body, the late Sirs Joseph
Risley, Truman S. Foote and William w
Smith of New Haven commandery being OF
the number, also Sir Eiihu Geer Of Hartford
who was knighted in New Haven eommah.
derry and afrerward became member OF
Washington commandery No. 1, of Hartford,
in 1874 The visitations of lodges were
next spoken of. On the subject of decisions
the speaker recalled but one, and that in
reference to the Hiram lodge difficulty pub.
lished last Nav
The Grand commandery officers and guests
were given a banquet ct the United States
Hotel last evening by Washington comman-
derry of this city. The grand officers present
were Charles E. Billings, c. B. Ware, F. A.
Swartz, j. B. Wildman, w. R. Highly, J. K.
Wheeler, Ct. H. Wilson, h. Stirling G. S.
Billings, L. 81. johnson.
The past grand commanders present in
cluded Hon. David Clark of this city, who
is the Oldest in rank of the grand comman-
of Meriden, Fred 81. Waldron of New Ha-
ven, John G. Root of Hartford, Henry
Woodward of Middletown and Henry j.
Welton of Waterbury; H.Wales Lines, grand
treasurer OF the Grand encampment OF the
United States; P. B. Hovey, William II.
Bentley and Fred W. Smith of New Lon
don; William q. Miller and DIR. g. H. Will
son of Meriden. The representatives
from outside jurisdictions were ::
George w. Walgrove, grand rep
resentative of the Grand com
mandery of New York; John bloomington,
grand standard bearer, Grand commandery
of New York; Eminent Sir knight George Il.
Rowe of the Brooklyn Times, representative
of the New York Press club; Rev. D. Henry
Miller, past grand prelate of the Grand COM
mandery of New Jersey, ana Past Commander
George Nicholson of Brooklyn, N. Y
The festivities connected with the banquet
were followed by a number of speeches from
distinguished Templars present and the occa-
sion will be one of long and pleasant remem-
brancss.
At the annual election of officers this fore
chosen grand commander, Fred A. Spencer
of Waterbury deputy grand commander, Ira
L. Gardiner of Middletown grand generalissi-
mo, Costello Lippitt of Norwich grand cap
tain general, Christian Swartz of South Nor
walk grand prelate, James B. Wildman of
Danbury grand senior warden, G.. Herrick
Wilson of Meriden grand junior warden,
Wm.R. Highly of Bridgeport grand treasurer,
J. K. Wheeler of Hartford grand re-
corder, Hugh Stirling of Bridgeport grand
standard bearer, Lyman Il. johnson of New
Haven grand sword bearer, Charles James
Fox, M. D., of Willimantic, grand warder,
Samuel NJ. Bronson of Hartford grand senti-
mel. Charles w. Slzif and James H. Welsh
of Danbury and Stephen Bell of Hartford
were appointed standing committee on by
laws. The officers were installed by Past
Grand Commander George w. Walgrove of
New York. The next annual conclave will
be held at New London on the third Tuesday
in March, 1889.