Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-20
KNIGHTS TO BE 10000 STRONG.
Preparations for the Great Gather
ing of TempIars I'm Boston.


a Boston telegram says: An army of
5000 knights will capture Boston without
n struggle on August 18th and 9TH, and
the people will welcome them and take
deep interest in the proceedings OF the
twenty-sixth triennial conclaye of the
Grand Encampment knights Templar,
Of the United States. Like their pre-
decessors OF old these warriors Will bear
banners with the red cross and the mot
10 I'm Hoe Signo Ninces."
OF all the cities I'm the United States
II seems most fitting that Boston should
be chosen by the Templars as place Of
meeting. Here Masonry, so far as Amer
lea Ia concerned. was Graded pilgrim
age to the ground hallowed by the found
ers OF the Revoluti0n-national and Ma
sOnc-should be OF more than ordinary
interest. For. while our forefathers were
struggling to throw off the yoke OF Eng
land and TO build nation Of their own,
il is no less true that those connected
with the fraternity were engaged in
like struggle. And the leaders who strove
for one kind OF liberty were at the head
Of the other movement.
The seeds OF Masonry were sown here
In 1913. when 81. Johns Lodge was form
ed, and in the same year. July LIST,
Provincial Grand Lodge was instituted.
with Henry Price as Provincial Grand
Master. Its jurisdiction extended all over
New England and the British provinces.
The first lodge exists I'm substantially
its original form at the present day. II
met in the Bunch Of Grapes Tavern, on
what is now the corner OF Kilby and
State streets The original authority for
its formation was received from Lord
Montague Grand Master OF the craft In
England.
Joseph Warren and colleague or
ganized st. Andrews Lodge in Boston,
November 80 1885, authority coming from
the Grand Lodge OF Scotland. The Green
Dragon was its abiding-place. and was
long identified with the fraternity, being
afterward purchased by the lodge and
remaining In it's possession more than a
century. In regard TO this historic place,
1t may be mentioned that Daniel Web
ster styled the Green Dragon the head
quarters OF the Revolution, a name to
which it has an undoubted claim.
EARLY DAYS OF THE KNIGHTS.
The principles and organization OF
Knights Templarism began TO enlist at
tention early I'm the history Of the Grand
Londge of Massachusetts, Templar de-
grees were brought 10 America by the
British army officers prior to the Revo
luton. They were conferred irregularly
One OF the Oldest records is of ST. An
drews Royal Arch Chapter OF Boston
working its Knight Templar degree. In
connection with others. History indi-
Gates that an encampment of knights
Templar was established in Newbury-
port, Mass. in 1875. 1t was founded by
an unconstituted association OF Knights
Boston Encampment, knights OF the
Red Cross, was formed March ~. 1872
and the Green Dragon was their asylum
At an assembly. September II. 1906. a
communication from the Grand Encamp-
ment. Knights Templar. In Providence
was read. 1t was resolved that for the
good Of the superior degrees Of the order
In particular and Of the institution In
general, It was expedient TO establish ar
encampment Of knights Templar in Bos-
ton. Sir Winslow Lewis was the first
commander.
Beside the Knight Templar movement
the craft engaged in other important mat
ters that sndeared il 10 the outside world
The order had the honor OF participating
with Lafayette In laying the cornerstone
OF Bunker Hill Monument with Masonic
ceremonies. Then 0lme the agitation
| against Masonry, eliminating In a great
meeting I'm Faneul Hall December 30
| 1873 IL was at the height OF this excite
| ment that the FreemasOnS purchased th'
site, now the corner Of fremont stree
and Temple place for a Masonic Temple
| the cornerstone Of which was laid October
II. 1890 The United states purchased il
| for a courthouse In ls5S. Winthrop
House. adjoining the present site, wa
then taken, and was occupied until IL
destruction by fire, when the presen
Oh Of. ha Of TIRE
mont and Boylston streets.
The cornerstone was laid october II
1864. The temple was dedicated June z
! 1867. among the participants being An
| drew johnson, President OF the Unitef
| States.
once before. in 1898 Boston had th'
honor that IL has attained this year. o
| having the triennial conclave within II!
gltes The great contrast with the pres
| ent year is seen in the fact that at tina
time only four grand encampments wer'
| represented, and dissolution was feared
| But on that occasion new life was gtver
the order. and its progress has been up
ward and onward ever since
A YEARS PREPARATION.
For a year or more a committee of tn
| Grand Commandery Of Massachusetts
and Rhode Island has been mapping III
| plans for the reception of its guests. A
| the head is Grand-Commlndsr Samue
| c. Lawrence lie is sparing neither tim
nor expense in making this the srandes
reception ever accorded the Grand En-
campment. In every respect Mr. Law
| renee is amply qualified to uphold tn
| dignity OF the Athens OF America. Ill
! great wealth enables him 20 draw oil
his purse TO any extent that Will con
| tribute to the success OF the undertaking
| His genial, lovab.e ways endear MIN u
every member OF the craft, and the corp
| OF workers with which he has SURROUNDED
| himself seem to have been imbued will
his spirit.
| Many Of the visiting Sir Knights Will b
accompanied by their families.
| Beginning Sunday, August 18th. he
ligious exercises will be held in al
| EVANGELICAL churches. 4 special service
will be held in Trinity church, at wnici
Very Eminent Sir and the Rev. JOSEPH
NJ. McGrath, Grand Prelate OF the Crane
Encampment, will officiate. Grand Maste
McCurdy and his escort, Detroit Com
mandery, will attend.
Headquarters Of the Grand Commander.
OF Massachusetts, will be opened Monda.
In Hotel Brunswick. and the local com
manderies will devote themselves 10 tn
escort of visitors on arrival The hrs
| OF a number of excursions down the har
Dor will take place.
Tuesday at 10 A. NJ. the parade an
escort to grand master. officers, and suit
will start from Commonwealth avenue
The procession will be made up OF thir
teen divisions In columns OF double sec
tons. and will be reviewed at Columbu
Square by Grand Master Holmes. OF Mas
sachusetts: at blackstone Square. Wash
tngton street. by Grand Master McCurdy
of the Grand Encampment OF the Unite
States. and Governor Greenhalge;
Adams Square. by Grand-Commande
Lawrence. chief marshal OF tia narad'