The San Francisco call., 1897-10-31
Speeches and Music While Away
a Very Delightful Evening
for the Masons.
THE HALL WAS SUPERBLY DECORATED.
More Than Two Hundred People Par
took of an Elegant Repast-A
Reception at the Cliff House.
"And the night shall be filed with laughter;

HAnd the night shall be filed with laughter
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents. like Arabs,
And as silently steal away"
If the poet who wrote these lines could have
dropped into the Masonic Temple last night,
clad in q full-dress suit, he would have looked
upon a scene which was an exemplifcation of
his muse, for the cares of life were forgotten
and laughter reigned supreme
The occasion was a reception and bsnque t
rendered by California Comma ndery No. l,
Knights Templar, 10 the Drill Corps. The af-
fair the function of the season in Masonic
circles, and brought forth large assembly of
gallant knights and fair ladies, to the mum Der
OF 215.
The decorations surpassed any thing of the
kind ever before attempted by the Masons,
and that is saying a great deal. When Presi-
dent Harrison was entertained by that body
the Masons outdid themselves in the profuse-
ness and elaborateness of the display but
those who looked upon the decorations of the
banquet-room last night were both surprised
and delighted, for the ball had been trans
formed into sylvan retreat where the floral
beauty of every cline was represented.
1t seems if the ladies whose excellent
taste had produced such an enchanting effect
had the assistance of the fairies in gathering
the brightest and swee test-scented flowers to
give a charm to the scene. Red and white
streamers branched out from an ornamental
piece sus pended from tle center of the cell
ing. The ends OF the stTeamers were lost in
the ferns and American flags which covered
the gasjets along the walls. Looped above
and below these gas jets were red and white
bunting bespangled with stars, the lower
ends being caught up under American
shields. POtted flowers and tropical plants
were everywhere. The chandeliers were al
most hidden by soft foliaged ferns, through
which the electric light streamed with a
mellow glow.
The wall at the farther end of the hall was
hidden by a large American flag, in the center
of which was an oil painting of George Wash
ington framed by American flags and 1anked
on either side by the silk banners OF the COM
mandery.
In front of the eminent commanders chair
was a perfect mass OF flowers and tropical
plants.
In an anteroom which was hidden from
view by the American coIors Benefits Or
chestra was stationed and dispensed sweet
music during the intermissions between the
speeches.
1t was after 10 o'clock when the guests filed
into the banquet-room. Alter q few introduc-
tory remarks the toastmas ter, Eminent Sir
John P. Fraser, called upon Rev. Dr.. Sir w E.
Smith to respond to the toast of ''The Drill
Corps"
Among other things Sir Smith said:
Though the age of chiyalry, with its accom-
paniments OF tour nament and minstrelsy, has
passed, and though the time when knight I
errants poised lance and uplitted battle-aX has
become the theme OF song and story, there is
yet need for the equipment and maintenance
of commanderies of Knights Templar.
The cause OF innocent ma1denS, helpless or
phans, destitute widows and the Christian re-
ligion is 10 be champioaed by modern Sir
Knights, and this they VIII do as creditably as
did the old battle-scarred knights who won
immortality in the days when spurs were only
worn by. veterans.
There are many reasons why Knights Tenn
plar should be expert in sword exercises
Aside from the steFner aspects OF the Questio
there remains the fact that calisthenic eXer-
cises of whatever character tend to make men
well as ladies graceful The ;ill corps of
this mmsndery has illustrated the law OF
beauty in several competitive drills in this
State and by their brilliant maneuvers won
distinction. Their excellence in drill is
largely attribu table 10 the efficiency of their
commandanI +. Sir Reuben p. Hurlbut who is
recognized throughout this grand jurisdiction
tactician OF remarkable abiliLy.
This reception and banquet rendered to the
dill corps by the commandery tells the story
of how their loyalty and the successes won by
the corps are appreciated, and how highly its
members are esteemed.
To the commandant, tE. Sir &. P. Hurlbut
we must voice the sentiment of the COM
mandery in different way, and l have been
requested by the eminent commander Sir
John P. Fraser, on behalf OF the commandery
to present to the commandant of this drill
corps, E. Sir Reuben p. Hurlbut, this elegant
service OF silver.
lie then presented solid silver service
of 1873 pieces of the latest design, which
was made by w. h. Vanderslce.
Captain Hurlbut appeared to be daZed
cred himself, and in words full of feeling