Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-01-14

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Lodge room about two hundred people,
one-half of whom were of the gcntler
sex. While most of the latter were in
the North (the dark side Of Masonry
there was lovely femininity in the
East, y West" and South" too-but
tits certain that from ''the positions they
occupied" in the latter quarter of the
compass none supposed themselves
expert Master Masons.a If they did
the Illusion was not dispelled. The
goat = had been securely chained dur
ing the day, the ducking shute had
been bid and the branding irons were
safe from curious eyes. The occasion
was one Of the exceptions now and
then rendered by Old Dominion Com
iaandery, Knights Templar, TO their
lady and gentlemen friends, and, has
been the case on similar occasions, dur
ing the score or more years of its eX-
istcnce, it was conducted in the most
successful and satisfactory manner
About an hour was spent in social talk
and in the examination OF the relics of
Washington and other worthless of the
revolution which are treasured up in
this historic lofgc room, at the conciu-
sion of which the Com nandcry, attire d
i'll the paraphernalia of the order, in
charge of Eminent Commander J. Y.
Davis, assisted by Past Eminent Com
manders Edgar Warfield and A. w.
Armstrong, and Capt General J. Z.
Alexander, and Others, marched
into the room, and went through
certain evolutions in their man
nal in a most creditable manner.
After this Eminent Commander Davis.
in his usual gallant manner, raised his
hat and turning to the ladies present
accorded them a hearty welcome to the
festivities of the occasion. In the
course Of his remarks he said in for
eign countries kings and queens out
ranked the nobility, but here the men
were the aristocrats of nature and all
the women the queens. Turning to
those Of the masculine gender he cor
daily welcomed them also TO the re-
ception given by the Commandery.
Past Eminent Commander Hancock,
native of Alexandria, but for many
years a resident of Washington, was
introduced and welcomed by Eminent
Commander Davis The former re-
sponded in terms appropriate, during
which ne feelinGiy alluded to the asso-
cations Of his native home. Later ID.
q. c.. T.. 4. Downham was introduced
and received with honors due his sta
ton, TO which he made suitable re-
Spouse. Having some time to spare i'll
waiting for the call 10 refreshments,
the Eminent Commander further en-
tertained the company by reciting
Mare Antonys Grafton. Being Il nat
tuai-b0rn elocutionist, and throwing
his whole soul INTO the recitation, It's
effect was thrilling, The gestures and
tone Of voice being good and suitable
10 the selection. Past Eminent Com
lnandef Hancock, who possesses al eX.
bass voiee. then sang
'Friars Of Orders Grey in a mastery
manner, which was highly enjoyed
and he, as Eminent Commander Davis
had been, was loudly applauded. Mr..
sherman Fowler presided nj The organ,
and. as the occasion required. furnish
ed suitable music in his usual
artistic manner. While all this
was going on there WAS another
gathering Of ladies-not in the blue
room. bat IN the saRctaal sGact0rH3a, or
upper chamber OF the temple. They
were busiiy engaged in the preparation
Of the tables for the banquet which was
10 follow. They were working with
The industry Of beavers and with a
iidiness and taste which produced one
of the best set tables ever seen. 1t was |
not long before the gayel OF Captain
General Alexander called TO The tfalers
10 escort their ladies and their other
guests to the banquet room, and III q
few minutes the entire throng was
its way up the spiral stairs 70
the hall of feasting. where Mrs. j. l.. |
Miss Edna Alexander, Mrs
EDGAR Warfeld, Mrs. Geo. Mays, Mrs
G. b. Carlin ard Miss Mary Carlin had
succeeded in spreading feast meet fer
The gods and with Il taste and appro-
priateness hard to improve on. The
decorations were beautiful. There
were ferns and cxotics in abundance
and TO add to the splendor Of the scene
red parrafne candles glistencd through
and winters crimson berries.
Rev. Mr.. Carson, of the NJ. Z. Church
South, was called upon by the Eminent
Commander (and ca o9icj0 ruler OF the
FEAST to ask the usual blessing, after
which the jingling of glasses, the clat
ter Of cups, the clash OF cutlery, and
the hum Of merry voices announced
that the blessings of a bountiful Proyi-
dence were being enjoyed. And they
were enjoyed, not in reyeliy and glut-
tony, but in temperate, thoughtful,
manner. The menu COM
prised everything to tempt the
appetite. Oysters, of course, were
there, and the delicate paties made
from the lucious bivalves were especial
ly commended by many. Course after
course chased each other from the ia
bic until coffee, fruit and pound cake
and ice cream terminated the list of
edibles. Ladies being present, cigars,
the conventional adjunct TO teasts
spread for men alone, were omitted.
Speechmaking being the next thing in
order Past Grand Master VIM. II. Lam
bert made one Of his characteristic adj
dresses, which abounded in humor and
pathos and he was loudly applaudcd.
Past Eminent Commander Hancock
subsequently arose and made a few
suitable remarks, but owing to the late
ness Of the hour, he was compelled soon
after to take his departure for home,
highly pleased, as he said, with the
pleasant evening he had spent with the
fratcrs of his native city. Calls were