Evening star., 1899-03-07
KNIGHTS AND LADIES
Brilliant Reception of Columbia Com
mandery, No. 2.
FEATURES OF TIE ENTERTAINMENT
Large Party Enjoys an Evening Of
Hospitality.
FINE DECORATIVE EFFECTS

Expectations which had been toned so
high in anticipation of the reception of Co
lunbia Commandery, No. 2, Knights Tenn
plar which was underlined for last night
at the Arlington, fell far short of the actu-
al event From every standpoint, the So
cial, the artistic, the fraternai and the en-
joyable, it was decided and delightful
success, and will doubtless long hold high
place in the list of such occasions at the
national capital. The three parlors at the
Arlington were opened at 0 o'clock and
guests entering through Vermont avenue
passed a line of white-plumed, badge
bosomed and sword -girded sir knights, who
directed them to the dressing rooms on the
second floor. Within the main entrance to
the parlors stood the receiving party, head
ed by Eminent Commander ]. H. Small jr..
and Mrs. Small, to whom the introductions
were made by Sir Edwin B. Hay. The
others in the receiving party were Miss
Miriam Davis. the Misses Small, r. E. Sir
E G. Davis. V. E. Sir w. T. Galliher and
daughter, En-. Sir H. Dingman and wife,
Sir W. H. Klopfer and wife, Sir w. B. Pet
tus and wife. En-. Sir George Gibson, wife
and daughter, EN-. Sir c. W. Hancock and
two daughters, EN-. Sir E. G. Ell
more. En-. Sir NJ. Trimble and wife, EN-:
and daughter, EN-. Sir e. B. Hay, En-.
Sir E. H. Chamberlin and daughter,
Rt. En-. Sir Frank H. Thomas and wife,
En- Sir Bennett A. Allen and wife, Sir E.
s. Thompson, Sir Alexander Grant, Sir
Wallace Streater Sir Milton E. Allies and
wife, Sir ]. j. Narrower and wife, and
Mrs. Rogers of Chicago, Sir A. H. Van
Deusen and wife, Sir Benz. Parkhurst and
wife. Sir w. H. Otterback, Sir stephen M.
Ryder, Sir j. Henry keiser and wife, Sir
Harry F. Riley and wife, Sir John C..
CLANCY and wife, Sir R. R. Cooke, Sir
Jerome ]. Wilber and wife, Sir J. r. Garri-
son and wife, Sir j. Harry Cunningham and
wife. Sir Geo. H. Getz, Sir ]. J. Costinett
and wife. Sir John B. Ward.
The guests then passed on to greet many
sir knights and ladies, who made them
feel welcome as they all were. The parlors
were decorated with artistic touch. The
mirrors were wreathed with southern smf-
lax and banked with multi-hued blooming
plants. The walls were decorated with
broad ribbori-en twined Smiiax and foifage
plants were banked In corners and window
recesses. The orchestra played in the mid
die parlor and when the large company
had assembled the striking uniforms of the
sir knights and the handsome toilets OF
the ladies combined with the surroundings
to make a striking picture.
Guests of Honor.
The guests of honor were the knights Of
the Grand Commandery, Potomac Com
y,
4; Orient Commandery No. 5.of the District,
and visiting templars from st. John Com
mandery, No. /, Providence, r. l.; Mary
land Commandery. Baltimore; Beaucant
Conmandery, Baltimore: Mary Command
cry No. SO. Philadelphia; Palestine Com
mandery, New York city: ST. John Com
mandery Philadelphia; Kadosh Command
cry, Philadelphia; Grand Commandery of
Maryland, Grand Commandery of Virginia,
Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania, Grand
Commandery of New York and General
Joseph Wheeler.
Handsome souvenirs were presented to
each guest in the shape of an artstcaily
embellished program, and fans hoIGlhe
punches of roses were given 10 tne iadleS
who joined in the dance that closed the
evening.
The reception in the parlors continued
until shortly after 10 O'Clock, Wnen the
sir knights of Columbia entered the pan
quet hall by the side entrance and FORMED
for the formal ceremonies of the evening.
beautiful Decorative Effects.
The scene from the parlor entrance when
the banquet hall was opened will ever be
a memorable one to those who witnessed
it. The gallant sir knights, with drawn
swords cleaning like silver blades in the
dazzling light of electricity, and white
plumes nodding were ranged in regular
lines down the center under ceiling COW
cred with gracefully festooned smilaX am
bushing shimmering incandeScent globes.
The mirror-lined walls. divided into arches
by columns of ribbon and smilax, the bases
massed with aZaleas and other beautlfui
blooming plants, were lined at the corn1ce
with designs reproducing the emblems or
the Templars made of immortelles and
bursting with electric effulgence. At the
east end of the hall, opposite the entrance,
were suspended three notable pieces, the
center one being an immense reproduction
of the Knights Templar badge in flowers
1fe.1nt tn1 b1- az
lamps. To the left was a similarly ilumi-
mated floral reproduction of the flag pre-
sented by Mary Commandery to Columbia,
and to- the right refulgent floral counter
felt of Columbia Commandery's shield. On
the northern wall hung an exquisite silk
American flag.
Beneath the badge of beauty stood Emil
nent Sir ]. H. Small. jr., commander of
Columbia, surrounded by the other officers
of the commandery, together with Past
Eminent Commanders Myron NJ. Parker
and f. G. Gilmore. Down the aisle formed
between the lines of the sir knights the
distinguished guests of the evening were
escorted.
These included Grand Commander f. G.
Davis and the officers of the Grand Lodge
of the District who were Deputy Grand
Commando w. ]. Galliher, Grand General
isslmo Harrison Dingman and Captain Cen
eral George Gibson. Commander Smalls
greeting to the grand commander was a
happy one recting the loyalty Columbia
cry. The visitors from Philadelphia then
entered and marched through the lines, es-
corted by body of sir knights. With them
went Cie1. Joe Wheeler, who received a
rousing greeting.
Address of Welcome.
Eminent Commander Small greeted them
as follows:
Our ladies and friends join with us in
bidding you hearty welcome, coming, as
you do, from the city of brotherly love and
beautiful homes to this capital city, yours
as well ours. of our mighty nation;
headquarters of Its chief executive, our be-
loved President and sir knight, William Nc
kinley, who during the past year has her
aided to II world the mighty edict that
wherever old Glory floats there shall be
Justice and liberty.
Mary Commandery, No. &c. Is to us the
synonym of all that is true and knightly.
Her sir knights have ever been found in the
front rark. fighting for the principles of
our glorious order.
I'VE OF Columbia Commandery are proud
to have you with US our guests remem-
berlng. as We do, the many knightly cour-
teSies received at your hands. Prominent
among them we remember that magnificent
banner. the beauceant, the battle flag of
the ancient ter9lars. presented to us by
You on the eve of our recent pilgrimage to
PittsbI rg.
a.