Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-11
In any land and In any period OF tn
worlds history.
FIRST VISIT TO BOSTON.

49,
In any land and In any period Of the
worlds history.
FIRST VISIT TO BOSTON.
Twenty long eventful years have passed
since the Sir knights OF Richmond. under
took pilgrimage 10 the Boston Com
mandery. During that period, time. the
tomb-buiidcr," has been at work In the
ranks, and many of the gallant ones who
Joined In the happy scenes and brilliant
entertainments on that occasion have
gone before on their final pilgrimage.
and are now at rtet In that house not
made with hands" But some Of those
Knights who met the Richmond pilgrims
upon that occasion still survive, and the
nantes OF those who have ceased TO an
swer the roli-call have fallen upon the
shoulders OF other worthy Sir knights
whose names are household words In the
communicates OF this city. Neither time
nor death nor internal changes have
weakened the attachment between the
two branches which has Its origin III
that obligation which links them together
around a common altar the very granite
foundation and Keystone OF all the tenn
pies, that Masonry that was porn
fer down the corridors OF time,
that has ever moved maJes'lcaly
and noiselessy onward and up
ward. having for it's clarion cry and
shibboleth the brotherhood or man,
and Of that knighthood that received Its
new birth and another baptism as the
cry from hoary England TO the banks OF
the eacred Jordan rose on the air, on
ward 10 the Sepulchre OF Holy Jesus,
and legions bearing aloft banners win It's
red cross and It's "In Hoe Signo Ninces.'
moved towards the coveted tomb.
DE MOLAY AND ST JOHNS.
As organizations De Molay Command
cry, Of Boston. and ST. Johns Command
cry, OF Providence, have FOR many years
at intervals exchanged visits with Rich
mond Commandery No 2. and the Com
mandery Of 81. Andrew In this city.
These visits were always the source OF
renewed admiration On both sides. and
the tie between the Boston aId ProVi-
dence knights and those Of Richmond
has been made stronger than that or any
other communicates so far separated IN
territory.
when the Boston and Providence
knights came to Richmond the reception
was always cordial, and especially nos
pitabie. The meeting was like the emil
dren Of Massachusetts, Rhode island ana
Virginia clasping each other In pro-
therly embrace. IT was a pilgrimage
from the patriot shrlnes of New England
10 the laUl OF w dSIliiS iplif VI "NAA''''
Of Henry, and n host OF noble spirits.
1T was the descendants Of the pupils
and disciples Of Cotton Mather and Roger
Williams. Of Warren and Greene, go
ing down to the sGcred places where
they might listen 70 the undyinS echoes
OF Patrick Hanrys cry for liberty, ana
Washineton's farewell address
And when the Virginia knights re-
turned the visit there was nothing too
good for them in the beautiful cities Of
Boston and Providence. A royal reccp-
ton was rendered them 10y New Eng
land knights, and they returned TO Viz
GINA feeling closer to their brethren in
the land of the Puritans.
THE TWO FORMER VISITS.
The proposed visit of the knights Tenn
plars Of this city to Boston the latter
part Of this month recalls to the minds
OF the older Virginia Masons the delight
full visits made by Richmond Command
cry. No. Q 10 that city In the year 1855,
and then again in 1876. both times in the
month OF June on the first
occasion celebrating ST. Johns
Day. ard on the second the
Bunker Hill centennial, and each time as
the guests Of De Molay Commandery.
Boston. on both occasions the Rich
mona VemplGrS were also invited 10 1TO-
whence (only about forty miles from Bos-
toni, the Grand Communicates of Rhode
Island and Massachusetts being COM
bined IN one
The hospitality dispensed by the
knights of Boston and Providence was
of the most lavish and whOle-sOuled
and the ties then formed between
the Temple Of Virginia and of Massa-
chusetts and Rhode Island have been Of
the warmest and most enduring nature.
As one evidence OF this, the first time
that De Moiay COmmandery OF Boston
and Richmond Commandery. No. 2. net
after the close of the war. was on the
occasion of the trennial cOnclave of
the Grand Encampment Of the United
States, held in Baltimore. in 1s1, when,
during a countermarch in the grand pa
rade. they first caught a glimpse Of each
other. they broke ranks, and falling into
each others arms. shed tears Of Joy.
The visits Of the Richmond Knights
Templars We're. upon cordial invitation,
by their fraters Of New Eng
land in May 1859. end the same month
In 1881. the day Of the month selected for
their starting 10 Richmond. i'm 1859, be-
ing The 18th, "the anniversary of the mar
trydom Of the wise and virtuous James
De Molay."
1t r. interesting to read over a list Of
the names Of members of Richmond Com