Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-25
ASSEMBLE AT NOON
DISTRICT KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
HOLD SPECIAL SERVICES.
In Accordance With Their Custom at
the Christmas Tme-Pro-
grams Observed.

The five constituent communicates OF
Knights Templar of the District OF Column
bia each assembled at noon today for the
Christmas observance which has long been
a distinctive feature of chivalric Masonry.
Washington Commandery, No. /. assembled
at Sautter's restaurant on 9th street north
west; Columbia Commandery, No. 2, at
Fred & Brockway's restaurant, corner OF
7th and G streets northwest; while Poto-
mac, No 3: De Molay. No. 4, and Orient,
No 5, gathered at their respective asylums.
Each of the libationS was ATTENDED by
large number of fraters of the several COM
manderies and visitors from other jurisdic-
lions.
Grand Commander George E. Corson. es-
ccrted by Past Grand Commander Harrison
Dingman, Grand Generalissimo Andrew w.
Kelley and Grand Junior Warden A. w.
Kelley, visited each Of the subordinate COM
manderes in the following order: Potomac.
Washington, De Molay. Columbia and
Orient. He was everywhere received with
honors and was formally toasted by the
presiding officer Of each commandery.
In response he spoke feelingly and ap-
prOpriately at each libatiOn. At Columbia
Commandery's libation his remarks were
peculiarly effective, and more extended
than at the others. for he was obliged to
work hastily in order to complete the
round In season. But the grand comman-
der and his associates accomplished 1t in
little over an hour.
At i.igh noon in each commandery Of the
District and III all communicates in the
world the presiding officer proposed the
anniversary toast to the grand master of
Templars
Grand Masters Response.
In response to the toast there was read
the answer of the grand master. Gen.
Henry B. Stoddard,. which had been for
mally prepared by the committee of the
Grand Encampment In advance. In this
respect the services OF each commandery
were the same, but after this toast and re-
Spouse each proceeded according to it's own
program.
The libation of Washington Commandery,
No. 1. was presided over by Past Eminent
Commander Thomas P. Morgan. He al
luded to the serious illness Of the venerable
Behrens. and the commandery drank ST.
lent toast to her recovery, to which the
eminent commander replied. Expressing
warm thanks for this remembrance.
Past Grand Commander Harrison Ding
man paid a handsome tribute to the grand
master of Templars, which was followed
by the arrival of Grand Commander Cor
son. the toast in his honor and his response.
Past Commander w. 8. Parks gave a brief
but able address on Templar Masonry.
Remarks were also made by Sir knight
Froebel of Baltimore, Past Commander
Jesse F. Grant, Colonel E. B. Atwood Of
the regular army, anu OIu6TS. Inc llDaClOu
closed with toast to the health of an
absent frater, Sir knight William f. An
min, now at Phoenix, AriZ.
The President Toasted.
Eminent Commander Alex Grant presided
at Columbia Commandery libation, and the
attendance was the largest at any Of the
five. After the toast to the gand master
and responses there was series Of formal
toasts and responses, all fitting to the day.
They were: Theodore Roosevelt, President
of the United States" by Sir knight w.
E. Andrews, ex-representative from Ne
braska: 1.-The Grand Encampment of the
U. s. A." by Past Commander c. w. Han
cock; 1.-The Grand Lodge of the District Of
Columbia by Past Commander w. b. Pet
tus; 1.-The Grand Chapter of the District"
by Grand High Priest Harry Standiford;
1.-The Grand Commandery." by Grand Com
mander George E. Corson; Our Sister
Communicates of This and Other Jurisdic-
tions," by Past Grand Commander Harri-
Past Commander Walter II. Klopfer,
Grand Master Of Masons George H. Walker
and others
At the other libations the proceedings
were less formal, but none the less inter-
estng. At Potomac Commandery., No. 3.
Eminent Commander ]. 8. Raeburn pre-
sided. The feature here was the presence
of the grand commander. who Is a member
of Potomac. The toast to his honor and
the response therefore had a peculiar sig
nificance. At De Molay Commandery. No.
4, Past Grand Commander W. T. Galliher
presided, and at Orient Commandery E. b.
Hesse was in the chair. The latter COM
mandery was the last one visited by the
grand commander, and his visit here closed
the libations.