The Washington times., 1904-05-13
TENPLARS OBSERVE
ASCENSION DAY
Interesting Ceremony Held
at st. Marks.
PROCESSION TO THE CHURCH
Led by Haiey's Band-Four Choirs
Provide Music Program at
Services.

More than 800 knights Templar as
stumbled at their eommandery, Ninth
and L Streets northwest, at Z o'ciocl:
last night and marched to st. Mark 5
Church, Capitol Hill, where their an
nual Ascension Day service was hell
with interesting ceremony.
The knights were accompanied by
Haley's Band. which did not enter the
church, but remained without until af-
ter the service and escorted the COM
mandery back to its hall.
Annual Festival.
ascension Day is the festival of the
H ishts Templar. and is observed each
year by local communicates at one OF
the Washington churches. Last night
was the third time in the history OF
st. Marks that the church has been
chosen. The celebration was one of the
most impressive ever held within tbs
picturesque little edihce.
Every available bit of space IN the
church was filed Many. unable 70 find
seats. stood in the aisles and vestibu;e
throughout the service. Special seats
were reserved for the knights. When
they reached the church the organ took
up the march played by the band and
continued it until the guests were
seated.
Forr Choirs.
At the conclusion of this ceremony
the four combined choirs of the
church marched. in the usual manner.
to their places and the service was
begun by the singing of the professional
hymn The musical portion OF the
-, of he int INC f..
lures. S.. Marks utiIizes four choirs,
winch include a senior and junior male
ehoh, St GATHERINGS choir of girls, and
ST. Cecelia's choir of women There
are about eighty voices in all.
The song service last night was most
effectively given by these combined
choirs. The numbers on the program
included the triumphant Gloria from
Mozart's Twelfth Mass William Bay
ley's First and Second Canticles, and a
group of Psalms.
The sermon OF the evening was deIiv-
cred by the Rev. DIT. ". L. DevTies who
spoke on Christian love. the keynote of
the Knights Templar organization. DIR.
Devries delivered a practical and inter
esting address appropriate to the day
which celebrates this feast as its spe-
cial day Of religious observance.
Participating Clergy.
Many Washington ministers sat in the
chancel. and. in addition TO DR.. Devries,
several participated in the service.
Among these were Mr. Johns from
Christi, Church southeast Washington:
DR.. Hafding. from St PauFs: Mr.. Brate-
nahl from St. Adams; Mr. Peter. OF St
Marks. Chaplain Pierce. T. s. A. and
the Rev. r. p. Williams, Of Trinity.
The celebration OF Ascension Day by
the Knights Templar in a service like
that at St Marks last night was begun
by Bishop Pinkney. of Maryland. and
has been continued each year since il
was instituted
St Marks never presented such
pretty sight as il did last night Large
palms and ferns formed 8 solid back
ground throughout the chancel and
church. The abundance of dogwood
used might warrant thdfbelief that ev-
cry available sprig in the country about
Washington had been utilized. The
blossoms were woven into solid mass
about the walls. choir and chancel and
a more picturesque decoration has rare
~ been seen