Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
AMONG THE FRATERNITIES

year after its organization the encamp-
ment struggled for existence against the
fanatical persecution of Masonry which
followed the disappearance of Morgan. In
1888. weary Of the long conflict. 1t dscon-
tlnued Its assemblies, and for twelve years
Its banners were furled and its tapers ex-
tinguished. At this time thirty-eight mem
bers were borne on its rolls.
In 1S47 eleven fraters. inspired by the
zeal Of one of their number-the illustrious
Benjamin Brown French-joined in a petit
ton to Sir JOS. K. Stapeton, deputy grand
master OF the Grand Encampment. for a
dlspensatlon to revive Washington Encamp-
ment. which was issued April % 1S47
On the Ath of the same month the reor-
gan1zation was effected by the election of
line of officers. Sir BENJAMIN B. French
was chosen most eminent grand command
er, and continued in that station, with an
interval OF one year, until 1885, when he
retlred TO become most eminent grand mas
ter OF Templars. His administrative genius
laid the foundation on which the splendid
supersfcucture of Washington Command
cry, No. 1, has been reared
Inc commandery took part in the cere-
monies OF the laying of the corner stone of
| the monument to Washington In 1S4S and
was present at the dedication of that i'm
posing obelisk In 1885. 1t acted as escort in
the funeral procession of President Lincoln
| In 1860 and assisted in like duty when the
remains Of President Garfield were removed
| from the Capitol to the depot in 1881
| The limits of this article preclude mar
| ration of the many pilgrimages and other
| events In which it has taken part Con-
| SENTATIVE yet progressive, it bears upon its
| roll the names of many representative men
| in the professional, business and social life
| OF the city. and many whose fame has gone
| beyond the limits of the jurisdiction. Among
| the latter we find the leonine Benjamin B.
French; Albert Pike, soldier poet, philos-
/ opher grand commander Of the southern
| Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite; the bril-
| !iant CnarieS r. Stansbury, whose mastery
h1or III
| the Grand Encampment at New Orleans in
| 1874; Albert G. Mackey, eminent Masonic
jurist: George c. Whiting, the able earnest
and eloquent grand master of Masons. and
| Wm X Singleton, the veteran grand secre-
| tary and Masonic writer.
In the throes OF civil war when Wash
| ington was a vast military camp another
commandery was born, January ID. 1868
A dispensatfon was granted by Most Emil
nent General Master Benjamin B. French
to twenty-one sir knights to form Column
bia Commandery, No. 2, and his action was
ratified by the General Encampment on Sep
granted Born in atmosphere of strife.
Columbia Commandery has ever been i'm
bued with an ardent military spirit In
the spirit of Napoleon's celebrated saying,
There shall be no Alps the commandery
has carried out many large ENTERPRISES in
the face of seemingly insurmountable diff
culties. Foremost in every undertaking
that enlists the energies Of Christian
gressiveness have won for 1t a command
ing position among the Templar bodies of
the world. Its record Of triennial Pilgrim
ages is unbroken from St. Louis in 1868 to
honor Of being the special escort Of Grand
Master Warren La Rue Thomas, and at
the present conclave 1t performed the same
duty for Its distinguished frater Grand
Commander George Gibson.
1.-TWO of its past commanders have been
shosen as officers Of the Grand Encampment
Sir Myron NJ. Parker as grand sword
bearer in 1889 and Sir Frank H. Thomas as
grand captain of the guard in 1896 Many
distinguished names are borne on the ros-
ter Of Columbia Commandery among whom
may be mentioned President James A. Gar
field, who was knighted by the command
cry in 1865, and whose remains were es-
corted by his fraters from Washington to
Cleveland; Ben: Perley Poore. the eminent
journalist who was the first commander
under dispensation: General H. c. CorbIn,
miral Winfield Scott Schley, the hero of
Santiago bay.
Potomac Commandery, No. 8. planted its
banners in GEORGETOWN under dispensation
encampment September %. 1871 While its
jurisdictions, in common with the other
communicates. extends over the District of
Columbia, it's distance from the centers Of
activity has limited its actual field Of opera
ton to West Washington, as Old George
town is now called. But NH Des-
perandum' Is the motto of the plucky little
commandery. and after many years Of war
fare. 1t bids fair to reap the rewards its
valor and constancy have earned.
de Moiay Mounted Commandery No. A.
was organized under dispensation February
10, 1872. and chartered December 2. 1874.
It's charter membership was drawn from
among the. substantial business men. of the
city: and the accessions to its ranks have
come from the same class. The .comman-
derry IL distinguished for It's open-hande
charity and genuine knightly hospitality;