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

"SNA\/1l~Tl, nst 23, 1902, and was
y&SW<pt H% ne of those bodies
n EAAS ~ (which afterwards formed
IN IN H. the Grand commandery
v NJ of Massachusetts, and
EN-. com. W. H. PERRY. Rhode Island aud later
on the Grand encampment of the United States.
and is therefore one of the historic bodies OF the
order. The Office of eminent commander has
been held by thirty-nine persons. the first being
Thomas Smith Webb. its founder. He was also
the moving spirit in the establishment of TIE
Grand cOmmandery of Massachusetts and Rhode
Island and of the Grand encampment of the
United States. He held the Office of eminent
commander from the organization to 1918. The
comnandery has taken part in many important
events
Many excursions and pigrimages have been
made by the cOmmandery. among the most nota-
Die nf which are the visits to Richmond. Va, the
first o. which took place in May. 1852 and the
second N Nay, 1851. curious tact in relation
10 these visits was observed. at the time of the
liter vsi.. by one of the Richmond brethren. viz:
That st. Johns commandery was the last organ
lied civ society which entered Richmond pre-
yOus t. and the first to enter that city after the
close OF the war. The style Of uniform is the
black, With silver trimmings. being the style of
this command from It's organization. The ban
ner OF the commandery is its coat of arms.
which Is baZOned as follows: Azure. on an eagle
displayed or an inescutcheon sable bearing
cross OF Malta argent: on chief of the last
cross OF the hospital gules. Crest an Agnes
Del. Motto. "Pro DeO 1T patria"
There will also be displayed at the head of the
command In the parade tomorrow an elegant
beausent or war flag presented by De Witt Clln-
ton cOmmandery of Brooklyn n. Y, between
which and st. Johns commandery the warmest
feelings of friendship exist
The present officers of the command are as fol-
lows: William II. Perry commander; Forrest A.
Peck, generalssmo George w. Pettis captain
general: Rev. William n. Ackley. prelate: Hun
e. White senior warden.
junior warden; John G. Massle, treasurer; Wal
ter Blodget. recorder; Warren II. Tinghast
standard bearer; Charles l.. Rogers. sword
bearer; Harry =. Smith, warder; Frank d. Liv-
ermore, J. William Moore. Wendell p. Anthony,
guards; William K. Greene, musical director;
Richard Chadwick, sentitel
The commandery has in its possession the first
Tempar banner ever displayed in this country
1t is OF white silk. about twenty-fOur by thirty
inches. and on it is painted several emblems OF
the order aud of the Masonic degrees upon which
the order OF the Temple Is founded.
The banner was carried in procession which
moved through the streets of Providence on the
9th day of January. 1890. the occasion being the
obseques of Gen. George Washington and this
banner and the fact that members of the order
took part in the procession is mentioned in the
newspapers of the day. This took place nearly
two years prior to the organization of the COM
mandery, and the attendance OF members OF the
order residing In and about Providence was
requested by advertisement. The meeting of
these men thus called together was the first step
towards the establishment OF the commandery
1t Is needless to say that this banner Is a cher
ished relic. The command has another banner
which has respectable antiquity, as shown by
the record that February Z, 1870, it was voted
that the encampment have a banner painted
This banner is of black silk, about thirty by
thirty. on which is the seven-pOinted star within
which Is circle inclosing cross with serpent
entwining 1t and the motto In hoe signo vim
ces."
AS above stated the commandery was organ
lied in 1902. Its commanders were as follows:
Thomas Smith Webb. John Garlic. Samuel Jack
son, Asa Bosworth. Jesse Clark, Josiah Whita-
ker, William c. Barker, Moses Richardson. James
Salisbury, Pardon Clarke, Barney Merry, William
Field Cyrus Fisher. Oliver johnson. Rev. Charles
II. Titus, John Shepley, Rev. Daniel Rounds, jr.,
Stillman White. Samuel 5. Ginnodo. A. Craw-
ford Greene Spencer p. Read, James H. Allen,
Rev. Henry W. Rugg. DID,, Albert ii. Cushman.
Robert E. Dwely, William jackson. Thomas A.
Doyle, George II. Buralam, Newton ID. Arnold,
Walter b. Vincent. William e. Husband George
II. Rhodes, Allied G.. Pierce, James G. Lester
Joseph o. Earle. George l.. Shepley, John
Heathcote. Darius b. Davis, William II. Perry,
The membership OF the command Is 49,
OF its members eighteen have held the office
of grand master of Masons in Rhode Island. COW
eriag period of flfty-two years; eight have held
the Office OF grand commander Of the grand
commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island,
covering period OF twenty-five years.
Among the noted men who have held member
ship in this ancient body may be mentioned the
Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, DID,, distinguished
divine Of the Episcopal church and father Of
Bishop Bedell, of Ohio: Rev. Alexander v. Girls
void. DID,. bishop of the Episcopal church,
Edward I. Taylor the celebrated ''sailor preach
or" commonly called Father Taylor" Hon.
Charles 7. James, formerly a Senator of Rhode
Island. st. Johns commandery claims to be the
oldest commandery in continuous existence in
the country, but does not claim to be the first.
IL has a continuous record from the first meet
ing In 1902. IL proudly places on its documents
the motto ''sine intermissione alb initio."
Washington, No. 4, of Newport.
Washington commandery, No. 4, K. T., New
port II. l., has an interesting history. As
Washington encampment. No g Kniphts Tenn