Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-05-21
ASCENSION DAY.

KING HTS TEMPLAR-DEvoTIoNAL EXERCISES
| The Knights Templar organization which
exists under the fostering care of Masonry has
become blended beauty and excellence IL
| the work of the more ancient order Ihs
Stevenson Commandry of this city is one Whlcr
well illustrates those characteristics IN it'
growth and the honor II reflects upon the par
| ent which nurtures it. Its opportunities ioi
| appearance In public are not as 1requen' as VIC
Lodge of Master Masons. where the louhdation
of the strength of the rising degrees are lalo
and the completeness of the lower are fitted fol-
| their places.
The purpose of celebrating Ascension Day In
public was a beautiful and happy conception
of Stevenson Commandry and its effect must
| have been, ss intended, In its devotional fea-
! lures upon the Knights, as it was interesting
| to the large audience which was present ct the
First Presbyterian Church on the evening of
the 18th instant where the observance of the
day took place.
The committee of arrangements were Sir
Knights William A. Burke, j. Howard Wayt
B. B. Eskridge, W. B. McChesney and B. F.
Hughes, the two first Past Eminent Command
ers, third Eminent Commander, and the fourth
Captain General oShe Commandry.
10 appear in this service Rev. s. s. Lambeth,
DID, of Richmond, of the NJ. F. Church South,
and Prelate of the Community in that city,
and Rev. r. J. McBrgda. D D., Rector of the
Episcopal church at Lexington, and Prelate of
the Fredericksburg Commandry, were invited
to conduct the exercises, the first as prelate
and the latter as assistant prelate
The Knights were in full equipment. but not
mounted and. escorts of their guests who were
to lead in the service. The column of march
was formed and the Stonewall Brigade Band
was the escort to it. and thus moved from the
Asylum of the Knights to the church, which.
before O'Clock, the hour for commencement,
was well filed with spectators.
The music for the occasion was arranged in
selections most appropriate in accordanbe with
the liturgy of Knighthood and rendered in that
excellence which need only be referred to- by
saying that Professor Webb. of the Virginia
Female Institute, was orgauist and the vocal
lists, members Of the First Presbyterian church
choir, and the quartette choir of Trinity Epis-
copal church.
The services opened with the hymn COM
mencing "All hail the power of Jesus NAME"
after which followed the reading of the pro-
phetic and historic lesson, and the several parts
of reading prayers, and responses, and music
and the reading of the gospel, of the ascension
and the singing of the
ASCENSION HYMN.
The rising God forsakes the tomb;
In vain the tomb forbids Him rise;
Cherubic legions gard Him home
And shout Him welcome to the skies.
Break off your tears, We saints, and tell
How high your great Deiiverer reigns !;
Sing how he spoiled the hosts OF hell
And led the monster Death in chains.
Say, Live forever, glorious King
Born to redeem and strong to savel"
Then ask the monster "Where's thy sting?
And where thy vict'ry, Boosting Grave?
THE SERMON
was delivered by the preate. The text was
quoted from Acts chapter l, verses 8, 10, IL. The
subject was sublime and the delivery graceful
and eloquent.
The birth of the saviour, his early lie, his
baptism, ministry, betrayal, cruciixion, death
and burial, his resurrection, his days on earth;
afterwards, his last appearance. the blessings
on his disciples and the ascension were sketch
ed.
The history of men from earliest revelation;
the ascension of Enoch and Elijah and the im-
agined glories which awaited their entrance
into Heaven were part of the discourse before
he commenced the special address to the
Knights as to their obligations as Masons and
Templars. Charity, kindness, and all good
work, an mistaken and devoted faith in the
Christian religion were of their duties, and to
live up to and act them out in life were re-
quirements of their sacred VOWS.
In this connection the speaker drew COM
parison between the Knights who consecrated
themselves to the work of taking possession
of the sepulcher and the Holy land and the du-
r.I1lir
sors now, which enlarged their responsibilities
aud rendered their accountability grea ter now
than then.
After the sermon, followed the reading from |
the ritual and responses from the templars
touching hope, promise, triumph. and thanks
giving, including the commemoIation of the
departed. And then, after the music of Gloria |
from Mozart twelfth mass and Old Hundred, |
the services were ended-the benediction by |
Rev. DIR. Mcfarland
Dfs. Lambeth and McBryde were received on |
their arrive ct the railroad stations by COM
mittees of the Knights. DR.. Lambeth was the |
guest OF Mr.. William L. Lushbaugh and DIR.
McBryde was entertained by Capt. G. G.. Gooch.
-S -s--
THE VALLEY HIGH ScHooL.-We acknow1~
edge the receipt from the Board OF Directars of
an invitation to attend the closing exercises |
Oh the valley High ScnCol at Spo ttSWOOd on |
the 22d instant. At the celebration at that |
time of the I'd anniversary of the Grier Litera-
ry Society the questlon-"Has the United
States anything to fear from Roman Catholi
cism?" will be debated. in a contest for the
debaters medal in the affirmative by T.. C. |
Walker and C. D. Mccormick, and in the :
negative by j, A. Mcclure and J. ]. Fix. The
will make declamations in the con-
test for the Declaimers Medal: T. B. Brown,
A. W. Mcclure, B. o. Shultz G. W. Wallace, |
and A. B. Whftmore.
The Debater's and Declaimer's Medals will !;
be awarded by Hon. Edward Echols.
THE BASIC CITY BUILDING AND INVESTMENT
CoMPANY.-One of the building companies, |
that will commence operations at Basic City |
Immediately, is named above. The officers are
Isaac Witt, President; ]. N. Quarles. Press
ident; j. F. Wilson. Secretary and Treasurer;
and ]. M. Lambert, manager. With the above
named Messrs. f. l.. Henkel, j. T. Lightner, ]. |
N. Mcfarland. Jno. Winter, and ]. E. Sanger
are the directors.
The company have So residence and 2S BUSH
ness lots. The capital of the company is $780,
900, the lots placed at COO and the S5O,O 900
made up by stock Will constitute the working
capital. 1t is proposed to have the residences
ready in ninety days.
WAYNEsBoRo TIMES. The last issue Of the