Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
and excels in the cultivation of the social

and excels In the cultivation Of the social
features Of the order
The long-felt want of commandery in
the populous eastern section of the city led
to the formation of Orient Commandery
No. 5. chartered by the Grand Encampment
August 20. 1895, without a previous exist
ence under dispensation; 1t entered at once
upon a career Of phenomenal prosperity.
Starting with a charter membership Of 30,
In the first year of it's existence Its ranks
were increased to 50. and at the last return
1t numbered 143 swords. Young, vigorous
and enthusiastic. this commandery looks
forward to a future as full of promise as
the past has been Of success.
From the chartering of Washington
Encampment in 1925 to the chartering OF
Orient Commandery In 1895 the Templar
bodies of the District of Columbia were
borne on the rolls of the grand encamD-
n,ent. In the fall of 1895 the five COM
manderies, believing that their interests
would be better served by a governing
body of their own creation, voted to form
a Grand Commandery; and through their
representatives petitioned Most Eminent
Grand Master Warren La Rue Thomas for
a warrant for that purpose. which was Is
sued December 2, 1895
January a., 1896, the seventy-frst an
niversary of the charter of Washington
Encampment the Grand Commandery of
Knights Templar and the appendant orders
of the District of Columbia was consti-
tuted, Grand Master Thomas presiding over
the ceremonies and installing the officers.
ne veteran, NODle u lIdTHeT, W HO Hal
received all the honors Of Masonry that
could be conferred in the District OF Co
lumbia. and had presided over the General
Grand Chapter of the United States, was
chosen the first grand commander, and has
been succeeded in the office In turn by Sirs
Frank H. Thomas, Rein w. Darby, Ell
dred G. Davis VIM. T. Gallfher. Harrison
Dingman and George Gibson.
I'm the organization of the Grand Com
mandery the communicates enjoy the bene-
fits of home rule. which Is unknown in the
political government Of the District of Co
lumbia. Remote from the Grand Encamp-
ment, the communicates formerly legis-
lated for themselves, with the result that
there was lack Of uniformity In their reg
ulatfons, and sometimes a misconstruction
Of the statutes But under the supervision
Of the Grand Commandery the constituent
bodies have been brought into closer rela
tons with each other, uniformity Of dress
and equipments has been established, in
spections have been Instituted. and the reg
ulatfons Of the Grand Encampment have
been rightly construed and enforced. Ac-
cording to date Of organizatio the Grand
Comma dery is No. AZ. or next to the last
on the register Of the Grand Encampment:
but in the number of sir knights returned
Q,49D it stands No. "a. and in the average
membership of communicates (299) 1t is No.
1. The growth of Templar Masonry from
fourteen sir knights, under Grand Com
mander Nicholas Blasdell, IN 1925, to .497
George Gibson. in 1901, has kept pace with
the growth of Washington from the stray
Cling village Of MonrOe's day to the mag
nifcent city of McKinley's. The splendid
possibilities of the expansion of the order
in the future are beyond calculation
At a meeting of Columbia Royal Arcl
Chapter. No. 1, held Wednesday evening,
February 4, Mr.. Charles w. Otis was elect
ed excellent high priest. The report of