Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-13
THE KNIGHTS WELCOMED To the Magic City Through Sir
 Knight N. N. Polk. THE GRAND COMMANDERY Now Holding Its Thirty-Seventh Session At Masonic Temple-Some of the Nota-
 bIes Present-Shrlners Today.

state are in the city and the thirty-sev- enth grand commandery is now in ses- sion at Masonic Temple.
 According to the programme as printed in yesterdays issue the members of Cy- rene Commandery No. 10, assembled in their asylum yesterday morning at Il o'clock and marched in a body to the Morris where the grand officers were quartered. The sir knights with plumed hats and glittering uniforms presented a magnificent spectacle. Arising at the Morris the grand officers. under escort, marched to Masonic Temple when the grand commandery al once entered upon it's duties.
 si- Knight N. N. Polk, of Cyrene Com lhandery, delivered the address of well come which was bristling with happy and timely remarks. In befitting terms City.
 Grand Commander R. L. Douglass, of Mobile, in a happy manner responded on behalf of the grand commandery.
 GRAND COMMANDERY OFFICERS.
 Following is the roster of officers of the grand commandsry:
 Sir Robert l.. Douglas right eminent commander.
 Sir Henry H. Matthews, vice-eminent sdeputy grand commander.
 Sir Phillip Newhouse, eminent grand generalissimo.
 Sir William E. Oakley, eminent grand captain general.
 ] Sir Rev Owen P. Fitzsimons, eminent grand prelate. ==...--.
 Sir Russell NJ Cunningham, eminent grand senior warden
 Sir Robert Mouthrop, Jr., eminent grand junior warden.
 Sir John D. Wilkins, eminent grand treasurer . #-
 Sir H. Clay Armstrong, eminent grand recorder.
 Sir George r. Wheelock, eminent grand standard bearer.
 Sir Louis W. Hubbard, eminent grand
 Sir Charles R. westcott eminent grand warden.
 Sir Newton N Polk, eminent grand captain of the guard.
 AT NIGHT.
 The Knights Templar were transported from their Temple to the, First Mei.hodist. church in the Royal Red ear. which the Birmingham Railway and Electric com psny had kindlysplaced at their service. They .fQund a .goodly audience assembled, inrspEe Of the down pour of rain The knights entered at each door, and, meet ing in the central aisle, took the seats deserved for them in the center. It was a beautiful sighl as they filed in, their white plumes and bright regalia gla ncing in the light. They made handsome and imposing body of men. It was an inn portant occasion a grand church, and splendid music. The choir was directed by Prof. Guckenberger, and Miss Mccoy presided at the organ IL was dhe first time that these leaders in their re- Speetive musical spheres have acted con- Jointly, and it is to be hoped that it will not be the last. The great organ, the well-selected choir and these two lead CTS formed memorable union. The choir was composed of such well-known vocalists as Mesdames Thompson, Chan dler, Randall, Misses Hayes, Meyers, Benson, Macon Bell. Roberts, Stafford, Handley, Miles, Stowe, Yeates, Lanier, Drennen Lyons Orr, Thomas and Staff ford. The following programme was rem dered
 Te Deum (Buck)
 Chorus, Lift Up Your Heads" Mes
 Book marked Nos. 22 to 38.
 Gloria Patri, by Dudley Buck
 Gloria In Excelsis-Chant book, page POP.
 .Bonum Est (Andre).
 Nunc DimDttis.
 Amens after prayers.
 Hymn.
 Solo by Mrs. Chandler.
 Halleluiah Chorus from Messiah-Book No. fl.
 Rev O. P. Ffzsimons, grand prelate, conducted the devotional exercises Dr. G. c. Kelley read the second chapter of Kings and also the twenty-fourth chap ter of St. Luke.
 I z. ANNUAL ADDRESS.
 Grand Prelate Fitzsimmons delivered the annual address on nemplar secre- cy, taking IS the basis of his remarks the text, Which Things the Angels Desire to Look Into" He said in substance that he would answer the argument some times ignorantly brought against secret societies. If we can't explain why our order is secret we have no right to ex- ist. Secrecy is consistent with the glory of God, who is the greatest of all secrets, and who glories in concealing a thing God kept things secret from the angels. Secrecy cannot be bad thing. Only the young man from college with compass of the universe in his pocket thinks he knows all things. The Great Jehovah is as much a secret as nature, and Is secret In the manner of revealing Himself-re- veaaing Himself little by little. The se- cret of Gods incarnation in the flesh was not made manifest until in the fulness of lime. A secret cannot be at all times bad. If God keeps secrets from angels, His creatures have the right to have se- crets, provided they are in harmony with God. The order of Knights Templar has, the love of its members and has a grand destiny. Nature is modest, and secrecy is consistent with nature.
 Religion was a secret thing in the past each household had its ritualistic se- ctets. It is natural for man to keep to himself his religious onvictions-when converted he does not tell it all around The wounded deer seeks the shade. 2 Secrecy is consistent with the salutary ends of any organization, for any secret not understood becomes inimical or dis credited. Christ invested truth in the veil of parable He would not cast psarls before swine.
 Secrecy is consistent with the consum- niation of Christian unity. It Is fash ionable to say we all love the brethren but beneath the velvet glove is the mailed gauntlet. Ecclesiastics are at war. The Knights Templar represent nea rly all Christian denominations. It is never asked What church do you belong to?' The Templar ritual may be- come the rallying point of the Christian world The exposure of Christian truth, like the expos-:-e of acids in the sunlight. may cause it to dissolve.
 Secrecy is consistent with the generic iden and historical development of Tenn pIarism, which Is a military organiza-