The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-11
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
IN SESSION HERE
The Grand Commandery of
Alabama Convened Yesterday
RECEPTION AND BANQUET
Most of the Grand Officers and Many
Other Members of the Grand
commandery Present-EIeo-
ton This Morning.
RECEPTION AND BANQUET


The annual conclave of the grand COM
mandery of Knights Templars of Ala
hama convened in Birmingham yesterday
The headquarters of the grand officers
aid visiting knights are at the Hotel
Hillman
Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock Cyrene
Commandery No. 10 of Birmingham, as
sembled in their asylum in the Masonic
hall, corner of First avenue and Twen-
tieth street, and headed by a band of
music marched to the Hillman and escort
ed the grand commandery to the Masonic
hall where the sessions are being held.
Address of Welcome.
Past Grand Commander r. NJ. Cunning
ham delivered the address of welcome.
He spoke as follows;
Right Eminent Grand Commander,
Officers and Members of the Grand Com
mandery, knights Templar of Alabama
l feel that a welcome upon the part of
Cyrene commandery to the grand COM
mandery of Alabama is entirely for
, mality. The real welcome we extend to
you Is in our hearts In conformity with
a time honored custom we give you a
hearty and cordial welcome on this oc-
casion.
We invite your attention briefly to
your present home and your hosts The
city of Birmingham stands as the rep
resentative of these industrial and COM
mercial conditions that originated and
were made necessary everywhere. Bir-
mingham is In reality the most repre-
sentative city of the entire south. The
prophesy of it was written in the de-
fined plan Of the universe. Its relations
is the result and the enterprise of the
energy of our people 1t is to this city
therefore, that we extend to you hearty
welcome, sincere In quality and world
wide In quantity.
The Response.
In response to Past Grand Commander
Cunningham, Deputy Grand Commander
Robert S. league of Montgomery said:
Il feel highly honored by being called
upon to respond to the eloquent and YER
satile speaker who welcomes the grand
commandery of Alabama to this the for
ty-fifth annual conclave.
1T is seven years since the grand com
mandery met in this thriving city and
we still remember with feelings of great
est pleasure former conclaves held here
when generous hospitality and courteous
treatment accorded the visitors by the
valiant and magnanimous knights of
Cyrene commandery.
The grand commander meets by in
vitation at the homes of the several sub
ordinate Communicates. 1t is a duty as
we'll pleasure to the subordinate
communicates to contribute to the COM
fort of the officers and members during
these conclaVes. The principle is recog
nized, and at the same time the hospi-
tally is fully appreciated and enjoyed by
the recipients
Birmingham does nothing on small
scale, being the largest city in the state,
the center of the coal, iron and steel in
dustries she is destined to be the largest
and most prosperous city of the entire
south.
In Masonry as in other things, Bir-
mingham leads, and is looked to as the
leader. Her lodges, chapter and COM
mandery have the largest membership.
and are famous for the perfection of the
work; for interest manifest by the at
tendance at the meetings, for the high
character and the profound learning of
its leaders.
with such advantages 1t is not sur
prising that the grand commandery should
look forward to a eonelave here as an
event of importance In its history.
1T is a pleasure TO refer to the admin
istratons of Past Grand Commanders
Charles Wheelock, r. NJ Cunningham and
George F. Wheelock of this city, and the
interest displayed by them at all times
in everything that tended to promote
Templerism in Alabama. At this con-
clave we will miss our friend and fra
ter George f. Wheelock, whose love for
the order was unsurpassed and referring
to his memory we can say:
" There is no death,
The seraph hope whispers in words of
love;
Companions only part on EARTH
To meet again abover -
The Grand Officers.
The officers of the Grand Commandery
in attendance are: Charles r. Westcott
OF Montgomery, grand commander; Robert
S. league, Montgomery, deputy grand
commander: T. H. Mattocks, New De-
catur, grand generalissimo; Walter Smith,
Tuscaloosa. grand captain general; Ed
ward s. Gatchell, Selma. grand senior
warden; George A. Beauchamp, Mont
gomery, grand recorder; Charles r. Pat
terson, Birmingham, grand standard
bearer j. W. Phillips. Mobile, grand
sword bearer; c. G. Young. Birmingham,
grand captain OF the guard; II. II. Mat
thews. Montgomery inspector general.
Others Present.
Past Grand OnicerS-R. M. Cunning
ham, Birmingham; Henry II. Matthews.
Montgomery, and Charles Wheelock, Bir-
mingham.
Past Eminent Commanders-Cha L..
Ruth, Montgomery; F. NJ. Stillwell, Sell
ma Walter II. Trimby. Selma; George A
Blinn Jr.. Birmingham; c. e. Meglemery,
Birmingham; j. Y. Ray, Woodstock
James T. Brooks, Gadsden; ]. c. Harris.
Tuscumbia.
J. w. Phillips, Mobile; John w. Terry.
Montgomery; George A. Beauchamp.
Montgomery: Rev. Stewart Mcqueen,
Montgomery; II. F. Stearns, Selma; Will
liam Wildly, Selma; e. C. Gatchell, N. l..
Mewhinney, Birmingham; w. s. Scitt Bir-
niingham w. w. Ransom, Birmingham:
w. E. Bingham, tuscaloosa Charles C.
Simpson, Tuscaloosa; John 7. Bradford,
Tuscaloosa; e. o. Rollins. De Melay; A.
d Simpson. DIR. Isom, Etowah county:
Robert c. Johnston, Tuscumbia; J. F..
Hanks, Talladega; John c. Michael, Tai
ladega; Henry B. Jones, Talladega
Charles P. Hail. Brewton; E. e. Jones.
c p Martin. j. r. Weaver, Blocton:
W C. Hearn, Talladega.
Grand Prelate w. II. Waller, Grand
Treasurer f. s. Starr and Grand Warden
Lewis j. Wright were unable to attend
the conclave on account of Illness in their
respective families
The Rev. w. c. Hearn of Talladeea Is
acting as grand prelate in the absence