Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-07

&@ other parts of the coun-
try are always welcome.
The evidence that Templar Masonry existed
n New York prior to 1855 is found in the col
umns OF the newspapers Of that day. The
records OF the bodies themselves are lost but
the notices of public demonstrations are con-
yincing proofs The Independent Journal of
Wednesday. December %, 1856, giving an &C
count of the celebration of the anniversary of
st. John the Evangelist the day before, says:
"A numerous and well-conducted procession
moved about IL o'clock through the principal
streets with the insignia Of their several ranks,
to ST. Georges chapel in the following order:
tylers, knights Templar, lodges" &c.
Other notices at different times record q SIM
liar fact. The Templar bodies were independ-
ent. and were formed by certain knights agree
ing to form an encampment and acknowledge
Ing allegiance to their inherent right alone.
The most prominent of these bodies was Nor
ton encampment, named after and presided
over Tor number OF years by Gen. Jacob
Morton, Familiarity known as ''The Little Giant
OF War" This encampment dourshed until
1907, when it is lost sight of.
Kissing Sun encampment, No. 1, was estab-
lished in New York city early in the present
century 'by number of knights of the r. 8.
ID. H. A. c." Cthe Specification of these initials
we are unable to give.) This body passed
away about 1917. The knights of Rising
Sun probably organized Columbian encamp-
ment No. s, now Columbian commandery, No.
1. Rising Sun encampment was never repre-
sented in or recognized by the Grand encamp-
ment of New York
The Grand encampment of New York was
founded by the Sovereign Grand Consistory of
Chiefs of Exalted Masonry for the United States
OF America, its territories and dependencies,
January ~, 1914. The organizing meeting was
held June IS, 1914. At this meeting Jonathan
Schieffelin oficiated as thrice illustrious grand
master, James B. Durand acted as senior war
den, and Toussant Mildly as junior warden. The
Grand encampment was opened in due form
and after an address by the grand orator upon
Templarism and the history of the order, the
following officers were installed:
DE Witt Clinton, thrice illustrious grand mas
ter; Martin Hoffman. grand generalissimo: John
W. Mulligan grand captain general James B.
Durand, grand senior warden; Jacob Schieffe-
lin, grand junior warden; Elias Bicks grand
orator; Anthony Rainetaux, grand recorder;
Joseph Gouin, grand treasurer: Jonathan
Schleffelln, grand marshal.
constitution for the government of Grand
and subordinate encampments was adopted
(which defined who should beofficers and mem
bers thereof, viz. the grand officers of the Su-
preme council OF Grand Inspectors General of
the thirty-third degree, the grand officers and
members of the Sovereign Grand consistorv.
and all past thrice illustrious grand masters
grand generalissimos. and grand captains gem
eral, together with the grand master general
issimo and captain general of all subordinate
chartered encampments, and one delegate from
each independent council OF Knights Of the Red
Cross"
Thus the Grand encampment came into exis-
tence without the representation, as now re-
CURED, OF certain number of subordinate
bodies. Indeed there were no bodies subordi-
nate to this grand body for some time after it
was organized. The first encampment to apply
for charter or warrant was Columbia encamp-
ment, No. (now Columbia commsudry No. IL,
e.. ant 49, L
1916. On May 8, 1916, warrant was granted
to certain number of knights Templar,
Royal Arch Masons, and members of tho Sow
ereign Grand Council Of Princes of the ROYAL
Secret for the state of Louisiana, sitting at New
Orleans, under the title Of Indlvisible Friends
encampment, No. g." So matters rested until
1923, when Utica encampment, No. 7(now Utica
commandery, No. 81, was formed on Februsry
II, and Morton encampment, No. 4, on August
10. Lafayette encampment (now Lafayette
commandry. No. y was chartered September
g. 1924 and SO year after year were added new
members to the Grand encampment A season
OF prosperity, although brief, was enjoyed, and
the Templars increased throughout the state.
In 1926 occurred the abduction of William
Morgan. This was followed by bitter anti
Masonic crusade, which spread rapidly all over
the country and depleted the membership of
all Masonic bodies. Many-trembling, fearful.
weak-hearted- seeded from the encampmsnts.
The bodies quietly continued their Organize
ton without seeking to increase their num-
bers. Ope notable Instance was that of Gene
see encampment, No. 10, then located at LIE
Roy. Teh members Of this band organized
January %, 1920 left the body and weakened
their resources The encampment removed to
Batavia, and subsequently august 81, 1897
was located at Lockport. For ten years this
body maintained bare existence.
The noted Monroe enca npment, No. 70, was
organized June IA, 1926, at Rochester. Febru-
airy "a, 1929, the encampment passed resolu-
tons surrendering their charter This was
caused by the bitter anti Masonic Morgan war
fare. For eighteen years the encampment
slept but was resuscisated January %, 1S4S,
rels in every part Of the country.
About 1909 body known as Jerusalem en-
campment was formed, having no regular au-
thority, but, like other bodies formed before
the Grand encampment, it existed by reason of
inherent right" or was formed "by virtue of
the power and authority vested in somebody in
the town OF Dandy, Tompkins county. In June,
1927, this body was chartered by the Grand en-
campment as "New Jerusalem encampment.
No. Is, at Ithica. 1t has long since ceased to
exist, probably swallowed in the Morgan ex-
element.
Clinton encampment No. IA, was organized
April 10, 1928, in Brooklyn. This ends the
formation Of Templar bodies until 1889, when,
on August 26 Of that year, Apollo encampment.
No. 10, at Troy, was formed. Another lapse of
time ana period OF inactivity occurred until
November 4. 1S4S, nine years after the organi-
cation OF Apollo, at Troy, when Town encamp-
ment, No. 16, was established. February 9,
1856, the name was changed to "Salem Town
encampment, No. 49," About this time there
was revival Of interest in Templar matters,
and bodies were organized in Pen Yam, New
York city, Emira, and elsewhere The excite
ment incident to the disappearance of the
famous William Morgan had subsidized, and
Masonry once again began to flourish.
In 1856 the titles of the bodies were changed
by the General Grand encampment, the gen
eral body became "Grand encampment."
dropping the word general" A state BODY
was styled "Grand commandery," and SUBJ
ordinate body "commandery."
The Grand commandery has held regular
meetings every year since its formation in 1874
Among those who have graced Its Official ros-
ter may be named Dewitt Clinton, first grand
master-a man Of national reputation, an able
and just executive John w. ST.
mons, for number OF years grand treasurer of
the Grand encampmsnt Of the United States:
Charles Roome, present grand master of the
Grand encampment
The membership Of the Grand commandery
OF New York has steadily increased from the
time when the interest in Masonry was revived
In IS41: There are ffty-six Communicates and
over 1000 sir knights.
The present officers Of the Grand command
cry are: Sirs Austin G. Wood, grand commanded.
Foster N. Mabee, deputy grand commander:
george McGown, grand generalissimo; George
Z. Loder, grand captain general; Sir and Rev,
Cornelius y. living, grand prelate; Edward L
iaui, grand senior warden; John II. Bonning-
ton, grand junior warden: Ralph C. Christi
ance, grand treasurer; Robert Macoy grand