The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-21

upon the shoulders OF other "of,hy % 81
Knights whose names are household
words i'm the communicates OF this city.
Neither time nor death nor internai
changes have weakened the attachment
between the two branches which has its
origin In that obligation which INKS
them together around q common aitar,
the very granite foundation ana Key
stone OF ali the temples, that masonry
that was born far down the corridors OF
time that has ever moved maJestlcally
and noiselessly onward and upwaru, nay
ing for its clarion cry ana shlppois.n
"the brotherhood OF man, ana Oh tnas
knighthood that received It's new Dlrlh
and another baptism as the cry rom
hoary England 10 the banks OF the sac
red Jordan rose on the air, "OnWarc 10
the Sepulchre OF Holy Jesus, ana ieglons
bearing aloft banners with its red cross
and its "In Hoe Signo Vlnces, moNeu
toward the coveted tomb.
DE MoLAY AND ST. JOHNS.
As organizations, DE Molay Commandery
OF Boston, and 81. Johns Commadnery
OF Providence, have for many years az
intervals exchanged visits with Richmond
Commaudery, No. 2, and the Command
ery oil st. Andrew in this city. These
visits were always the source OF renewed
admiration on both sides, and the tie De-
tween the Boston and Providence knlghts
and those of Richmond has been maze
stronger than that OF any other COM
manderies so far as separated in territory.
WI enthe Boston and Providence knights
came to Richmond the reception was al
ways cordial, and especially hospitaDle.
The meeting was like the children OF
Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and Virginia
clasping each other in brotherly em-
brace. 1t was pilgrimage from the
patriot shrines of New England to the
land of Washington, OF Jefferson, OF
Henry, and a host of noble spirits. ut
was the descendants OF the pupils and
disciples OF Cotton Mather and Roger
Williams, OF Warren and Green, going
down TO the sacred places where they
might listen to the undying echoes of
| Patrick Henry's cry for liberty, and
/ Washington'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 recep-
| tion was rendered them by New England
| Knights, and they returnd to Virginia
| feeling closer to their brethren in the
land of the Puritans.
THE TWO FORMER VISITS
The proposed visit OF the Knights
| Templars of this city TO BC q. on the latter
| part of this month recalls to the minds OF
| the older Virginia Masons the delight
| .ul visits made by Richmond Command J.
ery, No. z, to that city in the year 1898,
1
month Of June on the first occasion cele-
brating st. Johns Day, and on the Sec
| ond the Bunker Hill centennial, and each
time as the guests OF DE Molay Command
| cry, Boston. On both occasions the Rich-
| mond Templars were also invited TO Provi-.
dence (oniy about 40 m lies from Boston)
the grand conimanderies OF Rhode Island
and Massachusetts, being combined in
one.
The hospitality dispensed by the
Knights of Boston and Providence was OF
the most lavish and whole-souled nature
and the ties then formed between the
Templars OF Virginia and OF Massachu-
setts 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, met after
the close OF the war, as on the occasion
OF the triennial conclave OF the Grand
Encampment OF the United States, held
In Baltimore, in 1871, when, during q
countermarch in the grand parade they
first caught a glimpse OF each other, they
broke ranks, and, falling into each 9th
ers' arms, shed tears OF JOY.
The visits of the Richmond knights
Templars were, upon cordial invitation,
returned by their fraters of New England
In May, 1859, and the same month in
1881, the day of the month selected foi
their starting to Richmond, in 1859, being
|
dom OF the wise and virtuous James DE
Molay."
COLONEL TANNER, THE VETERAN.
From the lists OF the Virginia Sir
Knights who made the pilgrimages to
Boston and Providence in 1858 and 1875,
1t will be found that Sir Knights Will
liam u. Tanner, william Il. Allen and
John Perry are the only three who made
both pilgr.mages, and of these three
1 a.. n.,
the occasion OF the first time he had been
created Knight Templar (being barely
of age), and on the second he went as
eminent commander. Colonel Tanner is
one of the best known members of the
craft in Richmond. He was made a mas
ter Mason in Richmond Lodge, No. 10,
in the spring OF 1865 and was rapidly ad.
vanced through the capitular degrees,
and made Knight Templar within six
weeks from the time he received his first
degree. He was elected master OF Rich.
mond Lodge, No. 10, in June, 1868, and
served three years, doing great deal o
"workn as such, 10 master Masons having
been made in No. 10 during his admins
tration, which em mbraced nearly two yer'
J of the war period. Upon retiring IRON
the chair he was the recipient OF a most
complimentary set OF resolutions from
the lodge, handsomely engrossed upor
parchment, and also costly gold past
J After serving in several offices in the
Royal Arch Chapter he was elected emf
nent commander OF Richmond Command
, cry No. 2, In which position he servec
three years, and in the fall of the yea
, 1877 he assisted In the organization of tn,
Commandery OF st. Andrew NJ f3, wa
elected its eminent commanaer and, a
such, also served three years. Upon re
tiring he was honored by the command
ery hanging his portrait upon the walls
OF their asylum. He is still active in com
, mandery work, and IL member OF tn,
committee OF arrangements for the ap
preaching "triennial' pilgrimage. III,
Is the only Templar who has been emi
nent commander OF both comanderie
here.
Colonel Tanner Is member OF Acc
Temple, Mobiles of the Mystic Shrine, an,
has passed through the degrees OF tn
Scottish Rite up TO and including TN
thirty-second. IL Is understood tha