Evening star., 1908-12-25

erhood of the temple as I respond to an
other Christmas sentiment. May the
sweet and holy influence of this joyous
season reach the hearts and affect the
lives of the constantly increasing men,
bership of our strong and prosperous or
der. Thus may each sir knight be prompt
ed to a chiyalric service for the right
and to. the cultivation and expression of
that love to God and love to man which
is the fulfilling of the highest law of
duty
The gatherings for this purpose are in
formal in character and unmarked by Sc
crecy or ritualistic work. yet as they have
grown more nearly perfect with the years,
the solemnity which marks them is fire.
quently impressive.
Celebrated by All True Knights.
The ceremony is known as the Christ
mas day observance" and every true
knight, wherever he may be. observes the
custom as best he may
Each of the FIVE communicates Of the
District of Columbia-Washington No. /;
Columbia. No. =; Potomac, No 3: De
Molay (Mounted), No. 4, and Orient. No. j
under it's respective commander, and
with its Masonic friends, duly observed
the day in this city.
In accordance with custom. each sil
knight. unless otherwise prevented, met
his associates of his commandery, either
at Its asylum or at the prescribed place
OF meeting. Eminent Grand Commando
w. II. II. CiSsel alone attended each of the
gatherings. and thus attested i'll person
his appreciation of the tributes paid tc
him and conveyed his message of good
will and fraternal greeting, Supplementin2
those already expressed by the eminent
knights whom he had designated to pre-
viouSly respond TO the toast to the Crane
Comma ndery of the District az Columbia
which was offered in each commanders
In addition To these toasts there were alSG
toasts to the GRAND Royal Arch Chapter
and Inc Grand Lodge of Masons OF the
District
Columbia Commandery.
Columbia Commandery. No. . as
sembled at the Queen Cafe, Seventh and
IG streets northwest. and Commanded
Charles T. SWEET called tie gathering to
order at II O'Clock in the morning. The
toast to the Grand Lodge of Masons was
responded TO by Past Commander Alex
Grant. who is also grand sword bearer III
the Grand Lodge official line; that to the
Grand Royal Arch Chapter. by Grano
High Priest l.. st. Clair Thompson. and
that To the Grand tommandery by
Deputy Grand Commander Walter II
h iopfer, who is also past commander OF
Columbia Commandery. The toas to the
most eminent grand master was drunk
at II O'Clock exactly and his response tc
the greetings sent him was read Remarks
were made. by Past Commander Charles
w. Hancock the senior past comma ndei
of Columbia. and others. Grand Com
mander Cissel was greeted cordially upon
his arrival and delivered a brief address
Potomac Commandery.
Potomac Commandery. No. 3. in ac.
cordance with its CUSTOM met in the
banquet room of its asylum in Masonic
| Hall in Georgetown, with representative
! from Potomac Royal Arch Chapter. No. =
and Potomac Lodge No. >, and George G.
Whiting Lodge No. -. and MiZpah Chap
| ter No g. of the Order of Eastern Star
| as it's guests Commander w. X. Reeve
| presided Past Commander Lem Towers
jr responded to the toast TO the Crane
! Commandery and the responses to tht
remaining toasts were impromptu.
/ Toasts were drunk to the various
| Georgetown Masonic bodies and the sis
| ter Communicates, and silent toast
| standing to those who have passed tC
| the other side A contribution was taker
| to make glad the hearts of some needy
members of the fraternity. In the Ian
| guage of tho eminent commander. 9TH.
| spirit of Him in whose service our or
| der was founded now prevails, and in il
we renew the Christmas joys anC
| strengthen our kniShtly courage and en-
| deaNor.
/ Orient ,Commandery.
/ DR.. w. III. Wunder. the emiAent command
er OF Orient Commandery, No. .. in open