The record-union., 1899-04-21
THE GRAND coMMANDERY.

The Grand Commandery of knights
Templar of California convened in its
forty-firs annual session yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock in the Masonic
Temple, Grand Commander Robert M
Powers presiding.
All the Grand Officers We're present
as follows: r. E. Sir Robert M. Powers,
Grand Commander; V. E. Sir John f.
Merrill Deputy Grand Commander;
E Sir Frederick NJ Miller, Grand
Generalissimo; E. Sir George B.
Mckee, GRAND Captain General; E.
Sir Charles E. Stone, Grand Pre-
late; E. Sir William Frank
Pierce, Grand Senior Warden; E. Sir
William D.. Knights, Grand Junior War;
den; E. Sir Edward Coleman, Grand
Treasurer; E. Sir William A. Davis
Grand Recorder; E. Sir George Sinsa-
baugh, Grand Standard Bearer; E. Sir
John B. De Jarnatt Grand Sword Bear
er; e. Sir Brilsford P Flint, Grand
Warden; Sir Samuel David Mayer,
Grand Organist; Sir William Hewson
Davis, Grand Captain of Guards
The following Past Grand Comman-
ders were also present: Sir Frederick
F. Barss, Sir William A. Davis, Sir A,
A. Redington, Sir w. NJ Petrie, Sir
Samuel G. Wegener, Sir J. H. Neff, Sir
Edward S. Lippett, Sir T. H Ward
The Grand Master appointed as Com
mittee on Credentials Sir E. w. Hale,
Sir Noble w. Mountain, Sir Charles H.
| Eddy. They reported the Grand Off
| GERS and delegates present entitled to
their seats.
| The Grand Commander appointed
committees as follows:
| On Reports of Grand Oficers-Samuel
H. Wegener, J. H. Neff, Henry Hay
Knapp.
Appeals and Grievances-Charles F.
Lott, George w. Merrill and Charles J.
Willett.
| Returns-Milo S. Davis, VIM Downie
and John Yardley.
Pay of Delegates-Frank c. Prescott,
George H. Monroe and Samuel Ewen.
Sir Norman w. Conklin was appoint
ed by the Grand Commander to fill a
vacancy on the Committee on Jurispru-
dence.
Sir E. w. Hale. on. behalf of Sacra-
mento Commandery, No. 2, addressed
cordial words of welcome to the Grand
| Commandery, and rendered the hospi-
tality of the citizens of Sacramento in
addition to its Masonic element to the
Templars now with them as guests and
| friends.
Sir Edward Myers Preston Past Com
mander of Nevada Commandery asked
permission of the Grand Commander
to present the thanks of Nevada Com
mandery, set forth and engrossed in a
resolution of thanks, to it's. Past Com
mander and Past G and Commander
Jacob H. Neff, for his presentation of a
beautiful set of national colors to the
Commandery.
Sir Knight Neff was taken by sur
prise, but responded to the warm greet
ing of Sir Knight Preston in feeling and
eloquent words.
The Grand Commander delivered his
annual address, which was well re-
ceived and applauded, and was referred
to the Committee ON Reports of Grand
Officers.
Among other things he said, after well
coming the veteran workers of the order
the Past Grand Officers, the officers OF
the Grand Commandery and the mem
bers, that the Templar year, now clos
ing, had been an eventful one IN the
history of our country. The Triennia
Conclave of the National Grand En-
campment had been held in Pittsbure
in October, the display being magnifi-
cent and the work accomplished by the
session will result in great good to the
order
| while we, as Californians" said he
may have reason to congratulate our
selves on having secured much needed
legislation, we have still greater reasor
for qualification in the fact that one Of
our own loved and esteemed fraters wa.
elected to the highest place in the gffi
of the Templars of the United States.
When this Grand Commandery was in
session a year ago a feeling of appre-
hension pervaded our country. The
Maine had been treacherously blown I'D
and it was apparent that war was in
| evitable. One year ago to-day the
President had signed the resolution oi
Congress declaring war with Spain. H
said in reference to this:
''The ready and enthusiastic response
to the call for troops from all parts OF
the country-North and South-dispell-
ed the prevailing gloom and aroused
the patriotic impulses of the nation te
the highest pitch.
From that eventful May morning
when the cables flashed the news 81
Dewey's magnificent victory in the bay
of Manila, until the destruction of Ad-
miral Cervera's fleet at Santiago. or
July Sd, the course of events pointed
to but one conclusion
During those three eventful months
the navy of a recognized sea powe,
was annihilated, the map of the world
was changed, and our country emerged
from position of comparative obscur-
ity to a place among the great nations
of the earth.
These events are matters of recent
history and familiar to you all. and
mention them only to show that in this
record making epoch our fraters
whether on land or sea, nobly perform.
ed their part, adding greater luster an6
greater meaning to the term 'Ameri
can
i I'VE had gallant Sir Knight McArthul
at Manila, Sir Knights Goblin and Moul.
ton in Cuba, and at the front. on ths
fighting line at San Juan Hill and f
Caney, could be found the moderr
Coeur de Lion. our honored frater
Fighting joe Wheeler.
! But, as Knights Temp1ars and as citi
zens of this great republic we recognize
one grand, central figure, who had pre-
viously proven himself patriotic sol
der and stainless statesman, and who
| whether in the field or in the forum
on the bench or at the bar, has always
manifested that unselfsh devotion tc
| duty which touches the heart and
rouses the enthusiasm of the American
people.
HE stands before us to-day a mag
| nificent personality high I'M on tbe