The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-07-15
l796--WASHINGTON--lS96
CENTENNIAL OF HARTFORD COM
 MANDERY, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.


 In Honor of the Occasion the City Was in r Gala Dress, the Decorations Being Very ' Pretty-Over One Thousand Men Were in the Parade-New Haven Commandery \ Addresses by Grand Commander L II . Johnson of This City and Historian J. l.. Barbour One Thousand Knights Sang Hartford, July 14-The city was gaily derorated to-day and hundreds of Knights Templars from all over the state and Massachusetts thronged the streets clad in their showy uniform, the occasion being the tooth anniversary of the fo6pding of Washington command cry, No. 1Aof Knights Templar, and the dedication o8, the new Masonic temple on Ann street. sssaas
 There were ten visiting commander ies including the famous Springfield commandery of Springfield, Mass
 Every comnandery in the state but one, Palestine of New London. partici- pated in the festivities.
 The decorations are on very elabo- rate scale. and indicate the heartiness of the welcome which the people of Hartford have given to the Sir Knights, Grand Commander Johnson of New Haven reached here on the 9:17 train from New Haven. He was accompan- jed by H. w. Lines of Meriden.
 At 10:s0 Grand Commander Johnson consecrated the new Masonic temple and asylum of Washington command cry. He was assisted by Grand Prelate E. s. Davis of Middletown, Eminent Commander H. H. Stoddard of Palas- tine commandery, New London, who acted as grand generahssimo and Grand Captain General w. B. Risley of Waterbury.
 The consecration ceremonies were brief, being the regular formula and ritual of the order. A large number of Washington commandery members were present at the services. At noon the Grand Commandery officials were banqueted at the Hotel Hartford by the Washington commandery. Emi- nent Commander Newton acted as host during the dinner, which was bril- liant affair. There were over 1000 Sir Knights in the city.
 General John B. Clapp of this city 1. was the chief marshal and his aides were Eminent Sir James H. Jarman, Washington commandery; Sir John F. Stevenson, St. Elmo commandery; Sir Paul Rhodes Hawkins, Springfield com mandery; Sir J. B. Doherty, Clark com mandery: Sir C. E. Rounds, New Ha- ven commandery: Sir w. H. Stratton, St. Johns cornmandery Providence; Sir Irving N. Clifford, Columbian com- mandery: Sir Gordon W. Stewart, Cy- rene commandery; Sir George F. Aus tin, Crusader commandery; S:rs J. E. Root, Henry Bickford, John McClary, R. P. Kenyon, Cayton H. Case, H. A. Tyler, Louis c. c. Hills, c. c. Cook and F. S. Kenyon, Washington command cry.
 The chief marshal and his staff dined at the United States hotel at noon.
 At o'clock the aides reported to General Clapp at the asylum. All were mounted for duty. The line was form ed at 1:15 on Allyn street in the follow ing order:
 Washington commandery, No. l, Hartford.
 Springfield commandery, Springfield, Mass.
 New Haven commandery, No. 2, New Haven, Conn.
 Clinton commandery, No. 3, Norwalk. Columbian commandery, No. 4, Nor wich.
 Hamilton commandery, No. 5, Bridge port.
 Clark commandery, No. z. Water bury.
 Cyrene commandery, No. 8, Middle town.
 St. Elmo commandery, No. 9, Meri- den.
 Crusader commandery, No. 10, Dan- bury.
 St John conmandery, Mo- Ii, Provi- dence.
 The line so formed received Right Eminent Sir l.. H. Johnson, grand com mander and associate officers at 1:45 D. m. At the conclusion of this recep- tion the communicates escorted the grand commander and his officers to Foot Guard armory to attend the liter ary exercises.
 The armory was superbly decorated in honor of the occasion. The galleries which had been reserved for ladies were crowded to their utmost capacity and the scene of beauty and inspiration was one to be remembered for life tine The assemblage of Sir Knights occupying the main floor was one of great brilliancy.
 Nothing like it was ever witnessed in this state since the introduction of Knights Templarism within its borders. The invocation was by Sir Frederick w. Payne, prelate of Washington com mandery.
 This was followed by selection by washington commanderys double quartet and the Eminent Commander A. D. Newton delivered the address of welcome.
 GRAND COMMANDERS RESPoHSE. Right Emi,ert si: Lyman H. John son of New Haven, grand commander, state of Connecticut, responded to the welcome that was so heartily extended by the gallant young leader of Wash ing Commandery. He said: Eminent Sir and Sir Knights of Wash
 ington Commandery:
 Tn behalf of your fraters of Connec- lieut. thank you for your warm words of welcome. That the communicates of this state. grand and subordinate, take a lively interest in the ceremony com-