The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-05
KNIGHTS TEMpI.AR EVENT
ARRANGING FOR THE RECEPTION
IN HONOR or GEN. THOMAS.

Judge smith of sufield, Who Conferred
the Order of Knighthood on the Dis
tinguished Committees.
Hartford, March S.--The reception
which is now being arranged by Wash
ington Commandery of this City, in
honor of General La Rue Thomas,
grand master of the Grand Encamp-
ment of knights Templars, will be one
of the most interesting events that
has taken place under the auspices of
the Hartford Knights Templar in
years. General Thomas is to be the
guest Of the Connecticut Grand Com
mandery, which will hold its annual
conclave here, Tuesday March Is. The
reception in honor of General Thomas
will take place Monday evening. the
event preceding the conclave of the
Grand Commandery.
General Thomas was elected grand
master at the triennial conclave in
Boston in 1895. Past Commander Hugh
Sterling of Bridgeport was at the head
vi tllC SOunCCllCuI SOihiiAie"hN
cry at that time, and Past Eminent
Commander HI. B. Philbrick of this
city was the Connecticut representa-
tive on the Grand Encampment staff.
Washington Comandery, at the time
under Eminent Commander Edward
Mahl, was a participant in the grand
parade inBoston connected with the
triennial conclave.
The reception in honor of the distin-
guished head Of the order which Is to
take place here, week after next, was
in the main an outgrowth of the Bos-
ton visit three years ago. Past Emin-
emit Commander Mahl, who was at the
head of the comandery, while in Bos-
ton, was among the first to urge the
Importance of extending a memorable
tribute to the grand master, on the oc-
casion of his visit here this month.
Past Grand Commander John G. Root
most thoroughly seconded the idea and
the present eminent commander of
Washington Comandery Philo w.
Newton. has spared nothing in the
way of time or interest in advancing
I the arrangements for the occasion.
Grand Commander S. M. Bronson of
4 this city is most cordially cooperating
II with the Hartford knights Templars.
& He will receive the grand master on
y The afternoon of his arrival here and
Jan entertainment will be given in his
8 honor prior to the evenings reception.
y 1t Is an interesting fact that the or
y der of knighthood was conferred on
Il Grand Master Thomas of the grand en-
C campment by Connecticut man,
Judge Martin H. Smith Of Suff1eld. IN
~ 1855 Judge Smith was made master
81 Mason in Apollo Lodge of Suffiled, the
NJ Late David Clark Of this city acting as
Il master and Thomas III. Seymour as the
sasef1ior deacon and lecturer. In 1865,
with six others, he was made Knight
4 TempIar in Covington, Kentucky The
$Sespecia1 object was to establish a new
comrnandery at Maysville in that
Hstate. He was the first commander of
THE new organization and continued to
hold that position until elected grand
Ncomander Of Kentucky in 1871. From
1855 until 1880, with the exception Of
1.-TWO, who were made Templars by Wis
lifting grand commanders, he knighted
} every member of the commandery at
I Maysville. 1t is now one of the best
appointed Communicates in the coun-
TRY. While Judge Smith was a resi-
dent of Maysville he was a neighbor
d and one of the most intimate friends
sSof General Thomas. He was succeeded
by him as superintendent of the Sun
day school there, both being identified
with the work Of the Baptist denomi-
II nation In Kentucky.
Is Judge Smith is a life member of the
Maysville Commandery. Since his re-
turn East his old friend General La
Rue Thomas, the grand master, has
conferred most of the orders in the
commandery.
% Judge Smith was born in Suffield In
1888, and graduated from Williams Col
%iege In 1867. He taught mathematics
In the Connecticut Literary Institu-
8 ton for two years. Afterwards he
moved to Maysville, K, and lived
there twenty-one years. With the ex-
ception of two years of this time he
was the principal of the Maysville
Collegiate Institute. He returned tc
Suf1eld in 1880 to take the principal
ship Of the Connecticut Literary Insti-
tuition, and continued in that position
nine years. For many years he has
been the judge Of probate for the dis
rict of Sufffeld, and Is president Of the
Probate Assembly of Connecticut. He
IS the treasurer of the Suffield Savings
Bank. Judge Smith was here last night
and spent the evening with his old
friends in Washington Commandery
There was regular oonclave at the
L asylum and the Judge came down from
his home in Suff1eld to be present.
II At the conclave of the comandery
Tuesday evening, the following COM
2anittee were announced:
General Committee-Charles e. Bill
3 ings, s. M. Bronson, J. H. Jarman, Ed
3 ward Mafil A. D. Newton, Normand
b Allen, M. W. Graves, H. B. Phil
Brick, Samuel Bassett, l.. L. Ellsworth
George N Delap, John B. Clapp, F. w
Payne, r. p. Martin, w. G. Sim
mons, r. N. FitzGerald and r. S
Peck.
Hall and Decorations-Philo w
Newton, H. B. Philbrick, and Edward
51ahl.
dusic-Philo w. Newton and Nor.
Sfland F. Allen.
Collation--R. N. FitzGerald, with
lower to add.
Printing-Philo w. Newton, John B
lsElapp and r. p. Martin.
,s Reception-All past commanders Of
he commandery.
Invitations--Philo w. Newton
"A. ~ - r IT