Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-26
T[MPLAR OBSERVANCE
Knights Of the District in
Christmas Conclave.
HIGH NOON GATHERING
HONORS PAID TO THE MOST
EMINENT GRAND MASTER.
Each Of the Subordinate Organizations
Conforms to Custom Of Order
Toast and Response.
HIGH NOON GATHERING

AdI III luc DlSlTlCt OI SUluuDid gave tutiT
annual Christmas Templar observance at
high noon today. In each of them the uni
versal toast to and response by the grand
master of Tempiars was given in the pres
ence of a large number of fraters Of the
chivalric branch of Masonry. The men,
bers Of the local communicates gathered
first with their own bodies, and later many
of them paid visits to other Communicates.
Visitors were present representing Templar
bodies Of other states at every libation, and
including some of those prominent In the
public life of the capital
The sentiment to the grand master and
his response were identical in each body
and were the same in every place in the
hour for the exchange of Christmas felici-
tations, and paying tribute and acknowledge
ing fealty to Most Eminent Grand Master
George M. Moulton.
Grand Commandery, Right Eminent An
drew w. Kelley, was unable to visit all the
subordinate Communicates at the Christ
mas day service. and responses for him
were made in several cases by past conf
manders designated by him.
The form of the sentiment and response
Is prepared each year by committee OF
the Grand Encampment. headed by
Stephen Berry of Maine. This year they
were communicated to the grand comman-
der of the District Templars as follows, by
Most Eminent Sir Berry:
will you join in these sentiments on
Monday December % (the 25th falling on
Sunday, at noon, eastern standard time
equivalent to pm. Greenwich), and Will
you extend the invitation to your command.
as well as to all true Templars and their
friends wheresoever dispersed, on land or
sea?"
Grand Commander Kelley sent the fol-
lowing to the subordinate bodies under his
authority: 1.-The grand commander recon-
mpNdS that In accordance with the long
established custom the communicates will
assemble at ~ o'clock meridian on Mon
day, December 26, and pledge anew their
fealty to the M. l.. grand master by join
ing in the foregoing knghtly sentiments.
He extends to each and every frater the
greeting of the season, and wishes for all
the fullest enjoyment of the occasion"
Toast and Response.
The toast and response as given in each
commandery consisted of the following
sentiments:
ITO our most eminent grand master,
George M. Moulton-May the Prince of
Peace reign in all our hearts ands his love
unite all the nations"
1.-THE response-An hail the day when love
divine shall ennoble and dominate every
heart, each for others and all for God"
Washington Commandery, No. l. knights
Templar, gathered at the Misses Budd's
Cafe on 9th street northwest. There was
a gratifying attendance of members and
visiting fraters. and the exercises passed
oft in very happy manner. Eminent Com
me- nder Jacobus s. Jones presided and Of
fered the toast to the grand master and
his response. --------
Eminent Commander Jones preceded the
Offering of the formal sentiment and re-
Spouse by remarks in which he paid tribute
to the commandery and it's loyalty to him
and referred feelingly to the origin of Tenn
plary and the Christian character Of the
organization.
Recorder Henry S. Merrill responded to
the toast of THE Grand Master Of Tenn
plars," complimentary to the grand master
and the Templar fraternity
The response to the toast to 1.-The Grand
Commander" was to have been replied to by
Grand Captain General George H. Walker,
but on account Of family aff1iction that Of
f1cer was unable to attend, and Grand Sen
ior Warden Thomas p. Morgan responded
in his stead, with a tribute to the grand
commandery and the present grand COM
mander. He referred to the grand COM
mander In fiattering terms a man, Ma
son and sir knight.
Eminent Commander Jacobus s. Jones
proposed toast to THE President of the
United States" which was replied to by
Past Eminent Commander William s. Parks
IN an address OF much force. The speaking
closed with remarks peculiarly appropriate
to the religious character of knight
Iemplary In general, Of the Christmas OBJ
servance In particular, and of THE Cap
tain OF Salvation whom Templars served
and who was lifted to the cross that His
arms might embrace the world"
Columbia Comm andery. No. 2, X. T., the
largest in this Jurisdiction assembled, as
has been the custom in recent years, at the
Queen restaurant. corner of It'll and q
street northwest. This observance was
was rendered interesting by the presence
of Most Eminent Frank H. Thomas who
as grand captain-general of the Grand En-
campment is one of the highest officers
of the ruling Templar body of the world
The attendance was one of the largest
In number of years. The eminent COM
mander. ]. Harry Cunningham, presided
and notable program was rendered
There were over 200 fraters at Columbia
observance. The eminent commander had
arranged the following series of toasts and
responses: The Grand Master of Tenn
plars," Frank H. Thomas, grand captain
general of the Grand Encampment; 1.-The
more, grand master of Masons: 1.-The
Grand Royal Arch Chapter E. St Clair
Thompson; 1.-The Grand Commander" Past
Commander Bennett A. Allen, responding
dent of the United States" ex-Representa-
tive William E. Andrews of Nebraska
Columbia Commandery, No. g. Past Com
mander Walter II Klopfer; Deceased
George Gibson; Our Living Past Com
manders," Walter B. Pettus; 1.-THE Ladies' /"
Sir Knight D. H. Fenton, generalssimo of
Columbia Commandery;. The commandery
Pittsburg Commandery of Pittsburg, Pa,
and Mary Commandery. with both of which
bodies it is on the most intimate relations
Potomac Commandery. No. 8, convened
for the lfbatiOn at the asylum OF that
body tn Masonic Temple. Georgetown. This
IS the smallest District Commandery III
membership. but there was a good turnout
of fraters. and the exercises of the occa-
sion. although brief. were much enjoyed.
Eminent Commander w. Ashby, who pre-
sided. proposed the toasts Of sentiment 10
and response by the grand master. Ha
then read fraternal greetings from each
of the sister commanderies of Washington,
ali of them couched In the terms of warm
est regard for Potomac.
Each commandery exchanged congratula-
tory communications with every other in
the jurisdictions through their enin ant
commanders. Each commandery also voted
to send telegram OF congratulation and
affection to the grand master Of Templars.
The Observances as q whole were more
largely attended than a year ago.
Mounted Commandery.
ia Mnlov Corncuo udorv Ma -.