The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-03-15
JUDGE KNIGHT AT ROANOKE.
HIS Speech Before the Grand Lodge knights
of Honor.

We print below the speech delivered
by Councilman John T. Knight before
the Grand Lodge Of Knights of Honor,
at Roanoke last week, in placing FRED:
ericksburg in nomination for the neAt
annual meeting place of that body.
Being recognized by the presiding oiii-
Ger, Judge Knight said
&" Grand Dictator and members OF the
Grand Lodge Of Virginia, l arise to
place in nomination as the place for the
next meeting Of this grand body the
historical city OF Fredericksburg. and
| hope that you and the members OF this
grand body will bear with me a few
moments while try to give you soEe
Of the reasons why your next session
should be held there, and which l trust
will induce you to give 1t your unani-
nous support.
"Grand Dictator, / called our city
historical Yes sir, we have q history
aud want this body to know, and not
only this body, but the world at large.
that we are proud Of our history. When
you come we can show you the boy hood
home Of him who was first in war; hrst
In peace and first in the hearts OF his
oountrymen- -George Washington. APP
plause } We can show you the house
where his loved mother lived and where
she died we can show you the beauti-
ful granite monument, the erection OF
which Is unprecedented probably, in
the history Of the world, certainly In
the history Of our country, as 1t was
erected by the women OF onr fair land
10 perpetuate the virtues OF this noble
and venerated woman we can show
you the home Of James Monroe, whose
wonderful doctrine, although hundred
years have past since 1t was first enun'
ciated, has grown with our growth as q
nation, and is more vigorous and f'r'
reaching to-day than when 1t was hrst
given TO the world, and only three
years ago it was applied to that mighty
animal, the British Lion in his designs
on poor little Venezuela, and causing
him to halt in his mad career. and ac'
cord to those people the God.given
rights they were entitled to; (applause)
we can show you the place where an
other worlds benefactor, Mathew
Maury, delighted to call his home ; he
whose Heaven inspired and Heaven
born genius gave to the world the chart
and compass which enables the mariner
to navigate his vessel through the path
less waste Of waters with as much pre-
cision. and certainty as you do in trav'
ersing the streets Of your cities.
~ could tell you Of Paul Jones, OF
Mercer, Of Wallace. Of Weldon, of
Herndon, Of Forsythe, and OF many
others, whose lives and deeds shed bril-
liancy and lustre on the pages OF our
country's history When you come
there we hope to show you what can be
truly called National Memorial Bat
tlefields Park, because on its 6attlehelds
men fought for their convictions from
every State and Territory in the Union
and cemented and hsllowed with their
blood to that extent that more men fell
ut Fredericksburg and within radius
of twelve miles than have fallen In the
boasted armies Of Great Britain in all
her wars for over one hundred years.
But, sir, time will not permit me TO
dwell any longer on the history OF our
city. have heard on this floor time and
again those In advocating their cities
aud towns for the next place Of meet.
ing say, come to our place and we will
give you the biggest oysters, and others
would say, come with rs and we Will
give you the finest beef Now l wish
to say and repeat with emphasis that
our city in taking care Of you or OF
any other grand body or anyone else.
does not content itself with and will
not sit you down to table with only
one dish or set of covers. but II You
come you can get as good oysters as
You get at Norfolk. as good beef as you
get at Roanoke, and In addition to
these so many other good things and
such an extensive bill Of fare. that l
must confess am unequal to the task
of enumerating them.
"Grand Dictator, are there any
brothers on this floor who are too old
to appreciate the beautiful2 / hope not /;
yes believe not. Then l say, come
to our city of Fredericksburg and your
eyes will behold the lovliest and sweet
est women in all this fair land Of ours.
(Great spplause). In behalf OF Fred
erioksburg Lodge No 1897. l extend to
you an earnest, cordial and loving In
yitation to meet with them at your
next session.
At close Of Judge Knights re-
marks he was greeted with applause
and many members crowded around
him with congratulations. When the
question was voted upon, Fredericks-
burg was selected unanimously, even
those who had nominated other places
voted for it