The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-25
ADDRESS TO THE
KNIGHTS OF MALTA
Delivered by State Supreme Recorder
Pierce, Of Philadelphia.
WAS PRECEDED BY A BANQUET
Over 600 of the knights Marched
Over Some ofthe Streets of the Gem
trail City, and Then Proceeded to
the Penn Avenue Baptist Church,
Where Anniversary Exercises Were
Conducted--Order Is More Than
500 Years Old.

On st. Johns day $40 years ago the
traditions of the Knights of Malta say
that organization was ushered into ex-
istence. Last night the local knights
celebrated the birth of their order at
a meeting held in Penn avenue Bap-
tist church. State Supreme Recorder
George II. Pierce, who came up from
Philadelphia to participate in the cele-
bration gave excellent proof of the an
cient origin of the organization. Prior
to the meeting in the church the
Knights paraded the streets of the GEN.
trail city.
About 900 men were in line and
Crumps band was in evidence at the
head of the column. The West Side
Commandery, Electric City No. III,
numbering 100 knights, met the other
communicates on Wyoming avenue.
w. H. Powell, captain general of the
Electric organization, was also chief
marshal of the parade. He was as
sisted by c. T. Robertson and Thomas
S. Davy, both of the West Side organ
ization. The other organizations in
line were Anthracite Commandery No.
II, of the central city with 200 men.
under Captain General Beemer; Gen
eral Grant Commandery No. $780, of the
South Side, with SO men under Captain
General Houser. and Eastern Star
Commandery, No. 213 with 100 men,
Captain General Smith commanding.
THE LINE OF MARCH.
The route of march was down Spruce
street to Penn avenue to Lackawanna,
to Wyoming to Penn and to the Penn
avenue church. The knights en-
tered the main auditorium in twos,
taking the central division of pews
and remaining standing until the or
der to "be seated was given. The
colors were placed in front of the pull
pit and facing the audience.
The scene was striking. The pulpit
had been draped in the red, white
and blue and over it hung a magnif-
icient flag gracefully looped and a row
of potted green plants formed the railing
between the choir gallery and pulpit.
Along the sides in the two stripes of
Dews non-members of the order, la
dies and gentlemen, were seated, and
in the center were the knights taxi
ing up the whole space.
The soul stirring Onward Christian
Soldiers!" was sung, Professor Haydn
Evans playing the organ. Rev. Jo-
seph K. Dixon, D. D., then cordially
welcomed the knights, and requested
Rev. George Walsh to offer prayer.
The reverend gentleman is a member
of the order. The knights Joined in
the "Our Father" at the close of the
eXhortation.
RECORDER INTRODUCED.
Rev. Dixon then introduced Supreme
Recorder Pierce, "who," said DR.. Dix
on, mot only has his head full of
Malta history, but also his heart. He
will speak on the History of the Or
der" Mr.. Pierce then arose from his
seat on the platform and began his
address. He is one of the leading spir-
its in the American knights of Malta
and is past supreme grand COM
mander of that order. His address was
as interesting as his personal appear
anCe. He is an erect, soldierly-look-
ing man with kindly blue eyes, and is
altogether a genial appearing person
He wore the regalia of his exalted po-
sition and a beautiful maltese en-
blem adorned his breast.
Recorder Pierce talked in an inter-
esting way for an hour He chiefly re-
throughout held the interested atten-
tion of the knights.
In introducing his subject he spoke
| of the "Old knights of the Hospital
lers, Knights of st. John of Jerusalem
Knights of Cypress, knights OF
Rhodes" who for centuries have beer
known to Christendom and are now
the Knights of Malta" This was this
history of the order on which the
speaker eXpatiated.
GOOD DOES NOT PERISH.
He said that men do not willingly
let that which is good and true perish
from the face of the earth. Then he
took his hearers "away back in the
Dark Ages when mems minds were in
darkness and people had an idea that
the Holy Land was a holy place" He
described the pilgrimage to Palestine
and among the pilgrims was one Peter
the Hermit He it was who laid the
foundation for the great perennial or.
der. Recorder Pierce spoke of the
crusades and traced the growth of the
| order from a small band of men wor.
shipping at the tomb in Jerusalem Il
the present day.
lie also referred In passing to tht
knights Templars who he said were
branch of the original Knights OF
Malta. Recorder Pierce recited history
to show that the knights Templal
became extinct, Their leader at the
time of the alleged demise was SHARED
into the hands of the King of France
and he was beheaded. THE knights
Templar charter was taken from them
their property was given away anC
they ceased to exist" said the speak.
er THAT was the end of the Tenn.
| plars. The body we have today Ii
simply a representation of it,"
THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
The address had other equally a.
combatitive points. Recorder Piercs
| afterward told of the American spir
| it" which caused the accession of th'
American Maltas from the Scotch
head. Since that time the order IL
this country has grown wonderfully
| Eighteen months ago there was not {
single Maltese Knight in Scranton
| now there are S11.
This statement was followed by ap
| plause. After the address a quartet,
sang and the meeting was dismissed
| with benediction by DIR. Dixon.