The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-05-04
THE ANCIENT KNIGHTS or Malta,

The Supreme Commandery VIII Meet
in This City on Thursday-A Grand
and Imposing Parade on Wednesday
Evening.
On Wednesday. the largest gathering of
members of the Ancient and IlluBtrious
Order Knights of Malta ever held on the
continent of America will convene In this
city.
Delegates will he present from nearly
100 Communicates stationed In the States
of Massachusetts New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vanla, Maryland Ohio. Michigan. and
Illinois. There will be Il reception In In
stitute Hall in the afternoon, when the
Mayor of the city and Governor OF the
State will be present. In the evening there
will be an Illuminated pageant in which
some novel and unique features will be
introduced. The Venerable brothers, of
the College of tho Ancients, will take part
In the demonstration, clad IN their queer,
quaint. military, monkish costumes. The
Venerable Collegiates 30 into secret SEES
sion at midnight in the Masonic Temple,
when the Orders of Eagle, knight of the
Christian Mark, and Thrice lllustrlcus Or
der OF the Grand Cross will be conferred.
The occasion Is the annual convocation
of the Supreme Grand Commandery,
which will be held for the first time In the
history of the order in this cit,'. The il
Illuminated pageant will be formed at 100
O'Clock in the evening, on French street,
right resting on Seventh street. with Sir
Robert Keenan, chief marshal. and Sirs Il.
V. Rivard and Aaron W. Shaw, aids. The
line will be formed as follows:
Committee OF Arrangements mounted.
Band.
College of the Ancients.
Tahleau Car.
Supreme Officers In carriages
Committee OF Escort, mounted.
Rand.
Grand Standard.
Battalion Of Past Commanders OF the
Supreme Grand Commandery.
Ancient knights Ia armor.
Visiting Communicates in tho order of
Institution.
Tableau Car.
Band.
Kadosh Commandery. No. %, of Whining
ton.
Brsndywine Commandery, No. 81, of Will
mington.
Mounted Knights.
There will be a grand reception at lnsti-
tute Hall at $50 p. m, and at 11.O O'Clock
the venerable brethren of the College of
Ancients will visit the hall in body.
Shortly before ~ o'clock they win retire,
and proceed to the Masonic Temple. where
their solemn convocation will convene at
midnight.
The annual convocation of the Supremo
Grand Commandery will open at 10 o'clock
Wednesday morning, when considerable
business of interest to the order will be
presented and officers elected for the en-
Some of the standards that will be in the
parade on Wednesday evening will be mag
nificent and the finest ever seen in this
city.
This is peculiar order, and consists of
a body of men banded together under thel
most binding forms TO comfort one anoth-
or in the practice of the Christian religion n
to offer mutual assistance In the tlme of
need to promote Protestant unity; TO de-
fend the Protestant faith against all foes
whatsoever; to ever defend civil and relig-
lous liberty; TO exercise the fullest tolera-
ton and charity toward all men; TO be
neither national, political or sectarianl
association; to practice benevolonce, and
maintain universal Protestant frater-
nifty.
II is the most ancient Order in exls-
tence, with one exception, and is the legi-
innate descent of the illustTious religious
and military order of the middle ages;
heir to its greatness, and fully endowed
with all its ancient rites and ceremonies,
1t is fraternal and beneficial. paying both
sick and funeral benefits, and caring for
the widows and orphans OF deceased Sir
Knights
The order was established at Jerusalem
in 1913. and the Supreme Grand Commau-l
derry OF America was incorporated in 1884.
kadosh Cammandery was Instituted I'M
this city April II, 1883. and some two
years ago. Brandywine Commandery No.
IL was organized. Although there are
but two Communicates in this city they
have a combined membership of over five
hundred,