The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-12


America by the Imperial Parent Grant
Black Encampment of the Universe for
the founding of the Ancient aal Illus
trious Order, Knights of Malta Since
that time the order has grown to inn
mense proportions. In 1892 a grand
commandery was instituted in Penn
sylvania and now the state Is second
tn none in America in point of MEM
bership.
The History of the Crusaders and
knights of st. John of Jerusalem has
been written by many learned and able
historians of the past six hundred
years, the number of such writings
being over one hundred. and published
in several languages. This history is
that of fraternity of hospitalers
which afterwards became a military
society, and at last sovereign order,
instituted from motives of charity. and
prompted 10y Il zeal for the defense of
the Holy Land to take up arms against
IN" lnfidClS-an order which, amid the
noise and Clashing of swords. and with
Il continual war upon it's hands, was
capable of joining the peaceful virtues
or religion with the most distinguished
courage on the field
In lO4S the society of st. John the
Almoner opened hospital in Jerusa-
lem, near the Holy Sepulchre. From
this point three divisions begin. re-
spectively, Knights of st. John, Rhodes
and Malta. With the latter We have
To deal They get their title from the
fact that in 1880 Charles V. of Ger
many presented the order with the Isle
of Malta. which has since continuously
remained in their possession and over
winch tiOats the banner of the cross of
st. John.
VERY STRONG HERE.
The order is very strong in this city.
especially 50 on this side. The first
commandery of the order instituted in
thls county was Electric City COM
mandery, No. III. On November 16,
1893, within two days of the third an
niNersary of the founding of the order
in the state. this Commandery was in
stituted. one hundred and thirty three
members We're enrolled as charter mem
berS. The ceremonies were in charge
of Grand Commander A. II. Hamilton:
Grand Secretary George II. Pierce. as
sisted by degree team from John
Knox commandery of Wilkes Barre.
led by District Deputy Grand Com
mander Harris.
The officers elected for the first term
We're: Sir knight commander. William
D. Thomas; gencralissimo, Sir Edwin
Davies; captain general. Sir w. L..
Steenhack; prelate, Sir John +. Jen-
kins; recorder, Sir W. II. Powell; as
sistant recorder, Sir ID. f.. Williams:
senior warden, Sir John r. Hall: junior
4
w. W. Hayward. Companion d. w.
John, who had as organizer secured
the commandery's membership. was
made past commander and is now
senior commander in Lackawanna
county.
Since its organization the command
cry has grown to membership of
close to 400, and another class is al
most ready to so in some time next
| month. Some of the best men of this
side are found in the order, and it is
strong financially. Ten companions
nave died since the institution of the
commandery. They are: Eric Ander-
son, Allen Shifer John Fraunfelker
James Lewis. David j. Williams, DR.
D. q. Beckwith, Anthony Comstock,
simon Fox, Wymuur Pcarce and Alvin
l.. Evans
MEETING NIGHTS.
The commandery meets the first and
| third Thursdays of every month in Red
Mems hail. on North Main avenue.
From this cUmmandery alone thirteen
| companions went into the service of
| Uncle Sam Alvin l.. Evans, one of
| the thirteen. died The others are still
! IN the service. They are: George w.
! Beninger, Henry \. Hail. NJ. G. Biddle-
man, G. L. Bddleman, Daniel II. Will
| iams, John Godfrey, John w. Jones.
| CHARLES Hines and William j. Burschell
! are in the Thirteenth Pennsylvania
! volunteers: Herbert r. Nash is first
hugl"r in the Georgia light artillery,
! and Evan +. Davis il in the engineer
corps at Manila, Philippine islands.
/ The following are the present officers:
| Sir knight commander David j Jones.
/ generalissimo, Sir +. IL. Thornton: can
| tain general Sir CasS Morgan; prclate.
! Sir w. Il. Davies; recorder Sir ID. f.
! Williams: assistant recorder, Sir A. II.
! Bddleman; senior warden, Sir ]. w,
| staples Junior warden. Sir George W,
| Thorn; standard-bearer Sir Thomas II.
! Lewis; sword-hearer, Sir John NJ. Har-
! ris sentinel, Sir c. +. Robertson, p. c.;
| first guard, Sir Richard Price: second
! guard, Sir Chris Hess; trustees, Sir r.
! s. Gillingham, Sir Deville Fuotc and
| Sir +. II, kresge.
Following is a summary Of the prin-
| CipleS of tn" Order in general:
THE Order of Knights of Malta Is
a body Of men banded together. un-
der most binding forms, to comfort
! ole smother in the practice of the
Christian religions to offer mutual as
! tot In, h.,
mote Protestant unity; to defend the
! Protestant faith against all foes what
| soeVCr' 10 defend civil and religious
liberty; to exercise the fullest tolera-
tion and charity toward all men; to
practice benevolence, and to maintain
Il universal Protestant fraternity.
AN ANCIENT KN1GHTLY ORDER.
1T Is neither a national, political nor
sectarian association. 1t 10 the most
Ancient Knightly Order i'm existence.
and Is the legitimate descendant OF
the illustripUs religious and military
order of tho middle ages, heir 10 its
greatness ana fully endowed with all
its ancient rites and ceremonies. 1t is
frlternal, and its obligations bind to
secrecy and mutual protection. 1t is
military buJ drilling and uniforming
are optional.
II is a religious order, and welcomes
all Frotestants, by whatever name
knoWn,WhO love our Lord Jesus Christ.
to enlist under its banner 1t is bene-
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A Sc E4Sl8l.: MAN
Would use Kemp's Basam for the Throat
and Lungs. II is curing more cases OF