Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-26
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR SERVICE
Nineteenth Annual Libation and Festival
Celebrated at the Temple.
SOLEMN AND IMPOSING CEREMONIES
George 9. Powell, Eminent Com
Mander Sir knight, Heads Entrance
Into Hall and Acts as
TOastmasters

Mount Calvary commandery No. l.
Knights Templar, celebrated its nineteenth
annual libation and festival at Masonic hall
Christmas morning with impressive and i'm
posing ceremonies The sir knights assem-
bed In the robng rooms and equipped
themselves in full regalia appropi late TO
the Christmas festival. In the meanwhile
friends OF the knights, both women and
men, had been seated in tho hall and
shortly after 1890 the commandery, under
command OF Eminent Commander Sir
Knight George s. Powell entered the hall
in stately march, accompanied by a grand
march on the organ. and took respective
positions, each knight carrying with him
glass of wine from which to drink to the
responses to the various toasts.
The services opened with PRAYER by the
excellent prelate, Sir Knight John Kelley,
after which the knights were seated. En-
inent Commander George s. Powell acted
as postmaster.
The first toast was that offered by the
committee on Christmas observance Of the
grand encampment Of the United States. 1t
vast
ITO the most eminent grand master,
George NJ Moulton: A Merry Christmas,
and may he always remember the love and
fellowship Of his fellow soldiers Of the
cross"
The toast was presented by Sir Knight
+. IL jackson, generalissimo.
Response of Grand Master.
The response by the grand master is; ITO
the $4,000 sir knights Of our jurisdiction Of
Christmas day, the most memorable of all
the days. In the Christian calendar, this
sentiment Is dedicated! Man should ever
seek his earthly reward for deeds done in
the approval Of his conscience, which is the
voice Of God. and next to gain the esteem
Of his fellow man. which, when worthily
won, is a priceless treasure
The response was presented by Sir
Knight William MacDiarmid, captain gen
eral
Music followed by a septet consisting Of
the Misses Lila Galloway. Alice McKen-
Eie, Mrs, ]. 8. Swanson, Messrs, A. t. CAL
loway. r. H. Landeryou, w. B. Graham
and r. G. Watson.
"The Nineteenth Christmas IAbation Of
Mount Calvary Commandery No. l." was
the next toast responded to, the response
being given by Eminent Sir Knight James
w. Maynard. He said, in parti
"Creeds are made to rule and save us
when we are dead, Our creed is the religion
of loving and giving in charity and doing
good deeds. May this votive spirit we in
whole year This beautiful Christmas Gus
tom originated in our order through the
suggestion Of Stephen Berry, member Of
our order In Maine number of years ago,
and has since become a general custom. IL
is the suggestion that everything that
tends to promote a fraternal spirit should
be encouraged. The formal observance Of
this custom throughout the Jurisdiction of
the United States was approved at the
triennial conclave in 1889, and has since be-
come general. Its observance is universal
wherever there may be a group Of Knights
Templar. be they on sea or land. May its
continuance be eternal"
sketch of the Commandery.
Messrs. G. c. Bdgerly, A T. Galloway.
w. Graham and r. G. Watson then
sang Good Night" after which Right EN-
inent Sir Knight Eben K Long responded
10 the toast, Mount Calvary Commandery
No. l." His response was in the nature of
historical sketch of the commandery
which had It's first inception on May 80
1865, and was finally established by special
dispensation of Most Eminent Grand Com
mander French OF Washington, D. c., Oc-
taber 3d. 1865 with Right Eminent G. w
Bell as tho installing officer and r. c. Jor-
dan and r. W. Furnas as the chief officers
Of the commandery. Among the charter
p Deuel., l. NJ. Kountze, George DeGran
and Andrew Murphy. The grand command
cry was instituted in Omaha, December q
1871, with II. p. Deuel. as the first grand
commander. There we're then but four com
manderies in the state. At the present tim,
twenty-eight of the original grand com
nandery are living in the state. The pres
ent membership Of the grand commander,
is 1913. Mr.. Long concluded his address
with number of "reminiscences pertaining
TO the early Masonic history of the state
in which he took a prominent part, and in
cidentally alluded to the fact that he cam
TO Nebraska in 1868, but mad become
Knight Templar two years prior to tina
time. For the last nineteen years Mr. Lon
has been recorder Of Mount Calvary com
mandery.
Miss Mckenzie followed with vocal solo
Newly Created knights.
Sir Knight Howard Kennedy responded {
the toast THE Newly Created Knights O
1905" His response was in verse and wa
an apt and witty takeof on many OF IN
more prominent members OF the command
cry, both old and young. Prior to readin
his poem, Judge Kennedy moved a toast I
Sir Knight Eben X. Long, who in conneC
ton with his duties in this celebration wa
celebrating his sOth birthday ANNIVERSARY
The toast was drank with the most heart
approval.
The male quartet then sang "A Might
Prince ia Born Today"
That Immortal Sentiment,
Tho closing toast was responded TO b
Right Eminent Sir George w. LAninger, Ii