Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-10-08
The Knights Templar Conclave.

The decorations in Washington 10 honor
OF the Knights Templar parade which took
place to day were on a grand scale. Yes
terdsy YVES day OF receptions, and the va
rious city conmande.iee and committees
were busy all its hours, aud the music from
arriving aud from escorliug bands gave the
city great open air concert that kept COM
pany with the hours aud filed them all with
harmony. at both the railway depots
crowds filled not only the interior CT the
buildings but the streets in The neig hborhood,
and through this jam, assisted sometimes by
the police, the Z: corting bodies made their
way and brought out the visitors and carried
them to their headquarters.
The vsili0g Knights and their friends
fairly took possession OF the government
buildings, and it is estimated that fully ten
thousand Visited the White House.
The principal feature of the day was tbe
public reception about l o'ciock. For over
twenty minutes the President went through
the Misunderstanding process, and when the
crowd was thickeGt he shook hsDd with pee
| ole at the rate or forty i've and forty.s
per minute.
The crowd In the city grew larger as the
| day grew older, and At night the main
avenues and the hotel Hobbies were throDged
with visiting knights and their ffiencs
| Receptions and sere nades were tue order OF
The evening, and good music and good fel.
loWship a6ounded. General Albert Pike,
| sovereign grand commander of the South
ern Jurisdiction, Scottish Rite. was called
upon By large delegation The General
sived them kindly. made brief address,
and presented each Of them with book.
A noticeable fact connected with the as
semblng of this coDclave is the manner in
which the parade day holiday is sanctioned
by the department officials. Not only have
| tney decorated the public buildings 10 the
| nendsom, st manner possible, but all she
| clerks of departments were granted d holt
day from twelve o'clock, and ali MEM
bers Of the Masonic fraternity were allowed
to take the entire day.
One very striking and pleasing feature Is
the excellent character of the bands which
accompany the visiting Communicates.
Their music is better selected and perform
ed in better tune and with more sweetness
of expression than that of the average
marching street band.
10 the description OF the various COM
manderies 10 the concave the following is
given Of Old Dominion Commandery OF this
city, Tine commandery was organized 10
1872, with Francis Avery Reed as eminent
commander. He held the office Until 1878.
when be was succeeded by Sir Joseph
Hopkins unit! 1879, and by Sir j. T. Beck
ham until 1880 Again Vice Eminent Sir
Francis Avery Reed held the office until
49,, Sir E. E Downbam until 1888, Sir Ed
gar Wartield until 1856, Sir X. Kemper uD.
I'll 1857, and again Right Eminent Sir Fran
cis Avery Reed until 1889, aud now EDi-
nent Sir A. W. Armstrong is the eminent
commander. The anDGa! conclaVe OF the
Grand commapdery of Virginia Was held in
Alexandria in 1876 and was entertained by
this commandery. 1t has participated In
all the conclaves of the Grand commandery
of Virginia; was also at the laying of the
corner stone at Yorktown in 1881, and was
at the Graod annual encempment at 81.
Louis. The uniform consists of g chspeau,
with white and black plumes, black velvet
baldric and apron, with silver fringe and
braid, black kid gloves and black velvet
gauntlette. The present officers are Emf
nent Sir A. W. Armstrong; eminent COM
pander: Srs ]. V. Davis, generalissimo
w. w. Athie, captain general; James E
Alexander, preate A. a. Wsr6eld, senior
warden; a. G. Uher. junior warden
French Smoot, treasurer; VIM. NJ. Rear
don, recorder Geo. Mays. standsri bear
er: 8. II. Lunt, sword bearer John r.
Chapman, garder, and James Grigg, senti
nel."
The Commandery, headed by the
| S.opeTal Band of Stanton. left here this
morning for Washington to take part in the
| parade. Their march through the streets
attracted much attention. The command
cry is quartered at their asylum here.
The weeks programme, as sketched by
the com mttee in charge, is as follows:
Tuesday, October S.-Mornug-Parade
of all Templar organizations. Five p. ~,
excursion on the Potomac in four steamers.
Seven p. M, grand procession OF WI slmeD.
Local reception.
Wednesday, October -Exhibi ion drill
at baseball grounds.
Thursday, October 10. excursions through
the city to public buildings, &c.; 3 p. M.
barbecue at the Schue,zen Park: reception
by Mrs Gen. John a. Logan at Calumet
Park; a. m. and 2 p No., excursion on the
Baltimore steamer Columbia, to Alexandria,
Fort Foote, Fort Washington and Mount
Vernon. 1t is expected that there will be a
reception at the Presidents House in the
evening.
Friday, October H. visit to public build
ngs; excursion of Grand Eacampment to
Mount Vernon banquet at Wizards Hotel
In the evening; various receptions.
Saturday. October II, including receptions
and general hospitality to the Knights still
in the city.
O1e of the most important and interesting
events of the conclave will be the memorial
services to be held on Thursday at Mount
Vernon under the direction of the grand
commspdery of Illinois. Preparations of
the most elaborate kind have been made
for this patriotic pilgrimage.