The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-18
SIR KNIGHTS IN coNCLAVE.
THE GRAND COMMANDERY OF
GEORGIA N SAVANNAH.

Two Hundred Sir knights in Attend
ance-The Grand Parade In
spring sfght-Thc Welcome tn the
City-A banquet by Palestine Com
mander,-The Devotional Service
at NfEht-Rev. Sir knight Good
wins Address-The BeautifuI Lit
urgy of the order Recitcd-The Wis
fting Ladies' Entertafncd-The Pro-
gramme To-day.
The Grand Commandery Of knights
Tcmplar of Georgia began its annual con-
clave in Savannah yesterday. over 2oO
knights are in attendance.
10 was an inspiring sight as the splendid
Iy uniformed communicates, bearing the
symbols Of templarism. formed in line
in front Of the De Soto for the parade.
The rich uniforms. the bright sabers and
the white waving plumes worn by stall
wart men, upo-. whose breasts were the
emblems of Christianity. called forth the
admiration of the crowds that had gath
cred.
a few of the visiting knights arrived the
night before but the greater number. the
Communicates from the northern part OF
the state. arrived by the morning trains.
detachment from Palestine commandery
and extended knghtly welcome to the
city.
The De Soto was the headquarters OF the
grand commandory and all Of the visit
ing communicates made their headquarters
there Upon their arrival they at once
deposited their rolls of knights and report
ed to the grand commander.
Palestine Commandery OF Savannah as
sembled forty-five strong a its asylum, al
$50 o clock and commanded by acting Capt.
Gen. w. S. Rockwell. marched 10 the DE
Soto to join in the escort to the grand
commandery. The visiting Communicates
were formed in line and a message was
sent to the grand commandery that the
escort was in readiness. The grand COM
mandery was assembled in the parlors OF
the De Soto and appeared at once. march
ing down the line in salute and taking it's
place In the rear Of the subordinate COM
manderies. The acting captain general
turned the parade over to Grand Capt.
Gen. Wiley, and the march was begun.
The route was down Bull street TO Lib
erty to jefferson, TO Broughton, to Bull
to Liberty to Masonic temple. Owing to
the threatening weather the route first
laid out was abandoned, and the shorter
route was SuDSLlLuleu. over 4pV kIlEulS
were in line and made a brilliant display
The streets and sidewalks were lined with
people as the -knightly procession passed
Arriving at Masonic temple the knights
at once entered their asylum where the
formal welcome took place. The address
was delivered by Rev. A. NJ. Williams.
preate of Palestine Commandery.
After referring to the valorous order Of
knighthood. its traditions. its Gus
toms, and it's high and noble
purposes. the Rev. Sir knight said:
1--WE welcome you to our beautiful Sa-
vannah. Note, do not speak Of our com
mercial Savannah; / want only pleasure
TO be felt here, If l were to dwell on the
glories of our harbor, our deepening river
our magnificent river front, our almost
unequaled wharfage l fear that the At
lanta spirit would be so aroused that her
worthy representatives would at once be-
gin to beseech the Almighty to send an
earthquake to submerge all the continent
intervening between US and the Piedmont
hills, so that she might look upon the
flags of all nations and welcome the tars of
all lands. If / should represent the great
wholesale interests of our city our Macon
friends would take out their pencils and
score memorandum to be used in some
future competition. If ] should dilate on
the grand factories our citizens industrial
committee are to build with somebody
else's capital, our brethren from Augusta
and Columbus would hastily leave us to
1naugurate a competing movement in or
der to sustain their pre-eminence in manu-
featuring. If / should boast of our hotels
and public buildings in existence and in
prospect, the wonderful architectural in
stinct of Americas would be so stirred
that the visions OF material habitations
would dispel the joys of social cheer.
IT l should point to our market gar
dening enterprises the bucolic memories
would transplant the minds of some Of
our members to the vine clad hills of
Rome and the luscious orchards of Hous-
I ~ MO Ifaf.rs
beautiful Savannah. Beauty does not
stand nrst in our hearts these days. 1t
is like goodness was in the experience of
horace Mann, the great schoolmaster.
He said that II you wrote to a father and
said, Your son is a. genius but a rascal"
he would be met by the parent with a
proud smile: but If he should write Your
son is perfectly moral and upright but a
dullard, the father would be filed with
indignation. 1t viii not do to boast Of
our well-established financial and business
position, but you will all be pleased with
our beauty. Welcome, then, to our broad
ana shady streets, our health-giving and
heart-enlarging squares, our noble mon
uments, perpetuating the greatness OF our
past; our flowing fountains, typical OF
the generosity Of our hearts Enjoy tho
full fruition of this beauty and take
hearts fun of its memories to rest you
fiict and visions that you can summon
TO displace the uresome scenes of after
life.
'sWelcome to Palestine commandery.
Our past record is known and read of all
mon. If there is any danger of your for
getting it am sure these noble and ancient
sir knights, who won the victories in the
days gone by, will gladly refresh your
minds ard exhibit to you the trophies OF
the older contests. / am a sort of transient
knight; a weary pilgrim travelling from
afar; and can. without the charge of boast
ing, assure you of the generous souls Of
these sir knights who are your hosts. This
is a glad hour with them and none could
give YOU a trucr or more hearty welcome.
We show you in our present sir eminent
commander our loyalty to the principles of
the order. He is not only a fine specimen
in his knightly form and graceful car
riage; he is not only noble type in his
courtly spirit and faithful adherence to
the principles OF the order: but in his
name he eTnbodies the alpha and omega
of masonry, from the entered apprentice
to the signs and due guards of the highest
expression Of the principles of the order
In the name of the sir eminent command
er and each and every sir knight of PalesS
tine commandery, give you cordial well
come"
The response to the address of welcome
MAS by Eminent Grand Commander Park
Woodward of Atlanta The roll of COM
nlanderies was then called. The following
ssara md e.