Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-26
KNIGHTS TEMpLAR.
Christmas Greetings from Grand
Master Mccurdy to Members
Who assemble TO-DAY at Noon, so. 900 Stfoas.
10 Return The Same.

PosrLASD, Me, Dec. %. The folApw'
ing was adopted at the late Triennial Con
eiave Of Knights Templar at Denver, Au
gust 18th
! Resotced, That the Grand Eneampmen
| approves AMI gives its official sanction Il
the Observance OF Christmas day by knights
I Templsr, either in their Official capacity ol
( as Communicates, and that aanualiy thers
be Christmas toast aud response prepare
and transmit to all Grand Commander
les and constituent communicates OWNS
allegiance To the Grand Encampment.
While life anil strength remain to him ,ttt
management Of the matter could not be ii
better hatds than those of the beloved fra
ter to whom credit is due of originating I'll,
/ beautiful idea, and we therefore furthei
recommend that he be charged with the dut,
of preparing the sentiment annually dur
ing the pleasure of the Grand Encampment
AMI that the expense thereof be paid on th'
order of the grand master.
! In obedience to that resolution the fol
lowing toast was prepared:
ITO our Grand Master Hugh McCurdy
/ From ocean to ocean and from the gulf Il
the lakes, ninety thousand templars sene
merry Christmas greetings.
| The grand master sends the following
response:
''Chfistmas The birthday of Him who ii
the embuiiment of al Templars' hopes
| The inspirer of that spirit which makes al
Knights Templar one, wheresoever dis
persed around the globe
\ circular WIS recently sent by Stephen
Berry of this city, the committee, inviting
all Sir Knights to join in these sentiments
on Monday, December 26th, at noon, East-
ern Standard time, equivalent TO . L. NJ
Greenwich, aul to extend the invitation te
their command, as well as to all true Tenn
piars and their friends, whcresocycr dis
persed, on land or sea.
Following is the grand masters com
municati1n in full
OFFICE OF ruE GRAND MASTER
KNIGHTS TEMrLAR,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
CoRuSSA, MICHIGAN, DIE. 26, 1899.
| To all Knights Templars of our Obedience
| Greeting.
| Acknowledging, with profound gratitude
the high honor which You tender me, b,
meeting in your asylums this day, at noon
and Joining in this Christmas toast ''T'
our Grand Master Hugh McCurdy from
ocean to ocean and from the gnlf to tht
/ lakes, ninety thousand Templars sent
merry Christmas greetings.
! In response to t,tis sentiment, | can oni,
offer YOU the promptings of a heart over
flowing with gratitude and goodwill to all
malice towards none. melowed and sane
| tilted by the Divine inspiration Of this hal
! lowed season of the year, when near
/ 20 ont to heart and reiolent JOY OF sweetes
| fragrance fills every memory.
| wouad not presume titly TO respond Il
greetings from ninety thousand Templar
from ocean to ocean, from gulf to lake
were il not for the truth that Templarism'
magic word is that little monosyilabi'
one. In this word what rcstful music wt
find. uf its charm all are conscious. Their
is no word in the language more powerful
il Is the first element of thought it hold
the first place in human life. II Is the be
ginning and the end of all things. Fh'
best words and deeds of men have beel
spoken and done in its spirit. In this SPIN
Sir Knights, your greetings come IN ms
s,,irit are they received. No greeting u
more in larmossy with all that TemplariSn
embodes than Christmas greeting with IT
inspiring memories of the angels song o
Peace on earth, good will to men. Only
so far as Templarism works for this end
has it claim TO the homage of men
The world cares very htiie to
elevation of sentiment IN greeting, u
sermon, or in song. unless 1t sees !
manife.te,l in some proof. 1t is not thea
ninety thousand Templars sending Christ
mas greetings to which aIn invited to re
spond: but TO the Templar unity which il
.he ever blessed spirit of this glad season
yreets all Templars and which all fempiar
greet.
The spirit of Christmas tide is the spin
of oneness. The spirit of the Son of MAJ
who ioined man and his God with sens
of companionslip. Woris, names, con Il
tions crrels divide mcu. These all be"m
/ meaningless in the presence OF the greet
ings of Christmas tine. How the walls o
n,r,ition fall ut the sound of this word on
| .l,e word of the eentury--the watcbwori
of our aay word which men may safei
,rust and safely follow, wherever it ma.
lead. whomsoever it may inclule. It rs th
mission OF Templarisn as it is the nllssIoi
Of Christmas to concilltate all aniagonism
III divi.iing and separating infinences, Z
m,kp more sacred the claims of the father
hood Of God and the brotherhood of man.
! Tem,Iarlsm is in this world AMI we ar
| ramnlgrs. to sock and to save that whic
IA eomraon TO all men, human needs ham n
1--we h1man sorrow, in these all men ar
one.
Ten,plarism is in the wor d today,
..Tb, hammer of tie Cross TO bear.
Ani iis s,reng,h with human weakness share
Here, like
.,rhe ,.,ar flower Of the Virgin Guild
sss,, hv somr wandering FFaek. TO tell 10
u,, lie story Of the >ay.og's BIRTH
And. as
..r,sm natures face ihs, simple flower,
Tse lines pf SIN and s,dne-s swept.
Aud Nsgt4p Ials aad paynim bower
III peace like that OF Eden slept
(, 'Templarism grows in all its truel
hs,,cr self TO ease the bnrslen of the work.
u t,s true life, like the life of its leader
,hs s,,r. flower of Bethlehem, i. perpetus
san,- Whose music Is tie gladBess of th
,so,li because an echo of that first Chris
mas sopg of a true brotherhood, Peace o
earth, rood will to niea.
And Sir Knights, in tbs the glatlrlest da
af ali the year assembled in your ssslnn'
anh stsnfIIug in magic circle around ou
sh-;,es we pledge each to the other an'i
ali Sir Knights throughout the world a nor
unswer,ing faith in the principles a0d rras
,;ees of ouyfnagnaDimous hTotheri.ool, Ii
N, siu., with one vaice AMI viii
.4issh,lsl the s,ripk ai god,
ttas, ,lriTk aud la in heart ail hgstiH
new glad life began;
rJ,,, crrv Of hair grrw YDBDg agafu,
TIN. sek man lsn-iisd asas f,s ptsit.
M cripple Icareci agd rap.
i,sns. sssprss,iss wits; stse ead- sssc g,rea
n, ir,nz ffs saiss gsGts fi-sf
Ana ut ntes ~ 70 hesvea.
An, at,y The one srir. of Chrietnas-til