The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-31
Celebration of Founding OF Win
chester Commandery Is No
table Occasion.
EMINENT MEMBERS ATTEND
Old Writings, Silver Jewels and
Copper Seals Objects OF
Great Interest.
Especial to The rimes-Dispatch, !

iHCneSteT, V IL, May SV.-lSarRc mum
hers of members of the Knights TEN
plar branch of Frcemansonry from va
rious sections of the East, including
several officers of the Grand Encamp-
nent of the United States of America
and a personal representative OF Crane
Master William b. Melish, of Cincin.
natl, o.. the grand master of the CRANE
encampment gathered to-day in. Win
chester and joined with Winchester
Commandery. No. 10. X. T. in celebrat-
ing the -hundredth anniversary OF
the founding of Christian Knighthood
III Virginia. No such event has ever
before been observed in the old Com
monwealth not even excepting the
Grand Commandcry of Virginia. for
the Winchester Commandery was duly
and formally instituted ten years be-
fore the former body was organized in
Richmond
Winchester Commanders. according
to well-preserved documents found in
lcaden box in the northeast corner
of the old market-house, when that
building was RACED about twelve years
ago to make way for the present City
Hail. was founded on May so, 1913. by
the Officers and members of Winches-
ter Grand Encnnipnient of Sir Knights
Templar. No. i, held in the fields of
Winchester, State of Virginia" The
order flourished here for many years.
and when the Grand Commandery OF
Virginia was instituted in Richmond
in 1923. the Winchester Commanders
was still recognized as No. /. 4Aftcr
the Civil War, however. n reorganiza-
ton Of the State body took place and
the mother commandery of the Com
monwealth was then designated as
Winchester Commandery No l2,
Knights Templar." The old writings.
silver jewels and copper seals Of the
first commandery in Virginia are still
.n1 IN 1nc
somely equipped asylum of the Win
chester Commandery. where they were
the objects OF great interest to-day on
the part OF visitors from many sister
State communicates and the officers of
the Grand Encampment of the United
States who gathered there
Dedicated by Lord Fairfax.
The local commandery has it's asy-
lum in the City Hall which is built on
ground dedicated by Thomas Lord Fair
Tax. Baron OF Cameron and proprietor
of the Northern Neck of Virginia who
In deed, stipulated that members OF
the Masonic fraternity. of which he
was an illustrious patron, should al
ways have n meeting place there, no
matter what kind OF Il building may be
erected on the spot. At one time all
the local Masonic bodies held their
meetings in the old Market House. but
In recent years Winchester Hiram
Lodge. No. 81, a. L. & y. Masons which
incidentally, conferred the blue lodge
degrees upon President Mckinley when
he was a major in an Ohio regiment
during the Civil War. has since erect ed
magnificent temple on North Main
Street and the Masonic apartments in
the present City Hall are now occu-
pied by John Dove Chapter, No. u.
Royal Arch Masons, and the command
cry of knights Templar, which to-day
celebrated its onc-hundredth birthday.
Winchester Commandery of which
Eminent Sir William Ewing Cooper is
commander, has n membership of over
100, practically all OF whom are uni
formed. II is also equipped with para
phernalia made as near like that Of
the templars of old as could possibly
he designed, and its degree team, clad
in the ancient templar costumes. was
summoned 10 Richmond some years ago
to confer the knights Tcmplar degree
upon candidate in the presence OF
the officers and members OF the Grand
Commandery of Virginia at its annual
conclave. All the work" done by Win
chester Commandery is in accordance
AS near as possible. with the customs
and style of regalia which obtained
when the order was first founded.
All OF to-day. has been devoted to
the carrying out 'Qf the centennial pro-
gram. All the grand officers, visiting
communicates and Sir knights coming
as individuals were met at the rail
road stations and escorted by detach-
ments Of the local organization 10 va
rious hotels and exclusive boarding
houses while some others are being
entertained in private homes OF their
Winchester friends
Concerts on city HILL Plnzn.
From TO l:45 o'clock this after
noon a concert was given in the pres
ence OF a great gathering OF visiting
knights and other people from the
~ Il
Cumberland Valleys and OF Winchester
and vicinity on the City Hall plaza by
the MartinsburG CIV. Na.J City Band.
and another concert was given by
the Charlestown CIV. Va City Band.
reception for all the grand officers
and visiting comma nderies was held in
the City Hall until o'clock shortly
after which the largest parade OF
Knights Templsr ever held in the Shcn-
andoah Valley, If not in the State. was
held. In the parade Were n platoon OF
city police, Sir Knight Walter IT. Gore.
Of Winchester Comma ndcry. mounted rs
a herald in ancient tcmplar uniform:
the Martinsburg city Band Winchcs-
ter Commandcry and I'll visiting com :
rnandcries. the Charlesto,vn City Band
and automobiles decorated In tcmplar
colors and emblcins containing pa
and present officers OF the numerous
grand Communicates and officers OF
the grand encampmcnt together with
the banquet speakers
The parade moved through many OF
the principal business and residential
streets. and at = late hour returned Ia
the City Hall. when final arrangements
were made for a brilliant banquet. at
tended only by resident and visiting
knights I'm full uniform and their ladies
which was held tonight in the large
dining hall OF the Winchester Inn
Covers were laid for about 800 per
sons Hundreds or knights who par
ticipated in the parade left for their
homes on early evening trains and die
not remain for the banquet All the
grand officers, however stayed for tn,
festivities OF the night A reception
was held from 7:3o 10 shortly after
O'Clock. when the banquet was served
in courses. large orchestra. undel
the direction of Professor James Madi
son Spur OF Winchester, rendered
program Of attractive and appropriate
music during the reception and ban
quet. The lower floor OF the hotel was
lavishly decorated in knights Templal
colors, cut flowers, tall palms. pottel