Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-18

gated when man first became aware that
human virtue and human truth and love
were his most precious possessions; it was
confirmed and strengthened and put into
lasting form, when the nations of Europe
in sight Of the holy sepulchre beneath the
walls of the sacred city of Jerusalem upon
former strifes and differences, pledged
themselves to one another in the great
brotherhood of Christ.
Ages have passed away, the wars of the
Crusades have become matters of history
We wonder today at the sufferings, the
tolls, the martyrdom of the men who
braved all dangers. suffered and died to
wrest from the infidel the tomb of the De-
spised Man of Nazareth, but the great
work then accomplished is bearing fruit
among us at this distant day. and here. in
this capital city of a nation then unknown
continent then unheard Of you have
met to renew the pledges made in that al
most forgotten day. Men must pass away
their deeds may be forgotten but the great
principles Of humanity are eternal. Through
all ages In every cline and in every land
of the civilized world the principles rep
resented by your organization have been
kept alive In spite of all the changes that
time has wrought in the history and des-
tiny of nations.
We therefore welcome you to this beau
tlful city. which Is much yours as ours
with Its grand streets and avenues, its
splendid buildings. its parks. it's statues
and fountains and generous hospitality Of
its citizens"
At the conclusion of Mr. TrimbIe's adj
Dress. Sir Knight r. B. Buckley stepped
Forward, and amidst applause pinned a
Knight OF Malta badge on his coat lapel
Supreme Commander Melville made the
response. He was profuse in his compile
n ents of washington city and its pretty
environments" and said a tour OF the city
and its various government esta blishments
was In itself an education.
Greeting From Massachusetts,.
Sir Frank Hayden, supreme prelate,
brought "a greeting to fair Washington
from Massachusetts" He said every true
American should visit the capital city, and
extolled the hospitality Of the residents of
tile most beautiful city under the SUM-"
Rev. Sir George w. Welsh described
Washington city as THE heart of this great
nation whose pulsation reach to the furth-
est extremities of the world"
Sir Perry Meindel Of York, Pa, said
there was commandery Of knights of
Malta in York with over 500 members and
another with q membership of 800.
SIR John b; Hoffman: P. 8. G.. grand re-
corder of Pennsylvania. paid a glowing
tribute to the memory of Alexander r.
Sheppard. He described him as the man
who transformed Washington from a mud
hole into the prettiest and best kept city in
the world.
Other addresses were delivered by Rev.
James E. Boughter P. g. c.; Sir Frank
Gray. supreme recorder: Sir Willie E. Hig-
gins. supreme generalissimo: Sir Robert G.
Stewart. imperial consul from Scotland; Dr.
Wilson ]. Rugh, supreme treasurer: Sir
Frank Flagg of Massachusetts. P. G. c.;
Sir John H. Hoffman. p. s. c. Of Pennsyl-
vania; Sir John Cairns, P. G. c. of Penn
sylvania. and Sir r. B. Buckley of this
city.
The announcement was made that the
Danes of Malta will hold a reception this
evening in the parlors of the National Hotel
in honor of the visiting DANES. Also that
President Roosevelt had invited several of
the principal supreme officers to meet him
at the White House this afternoon. Owing
to a press of business. Secretary Loeb
stated the President could not receive all
the visiting knights.
At the close of the speaking refreshments
were served in abundance in the adjoining
banquet hall.