The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-17

Masonic Hall was the scene or n
very delightful and successful enter
tuinment last evening in celebration
Of the fftieth anniversary of the
founding Of Mankato Commandery
40 t. knights Templar The walls
were particularly decorated with the
glorious Stars and Stripes, and the
lnrrorm was beautified with masses
of american Beauty roses. and foil
aCe. With the knights appearing in
the handsome full uniform of the or
der. and the ladies i'm dainty cos
tunes. The scene was one OF gaiety
and hrauty. and the affair proved such
q dc,idrd success that the Command
cry plans on holding two social par
ties each year hereafter. The scene
~ the dining room was especially at
rracti.c. and Artist J. X. Snow was
called 20 photograph the room and
guests Ladies Of the Eastern Star
served an elegant dinner at $50. and
about fifty members and wives
marched to the dining hall. led by
Eminent Commander J. ]. Flachsen-
bar. Captain General \. u. Scott, and
rh. honor guest OF the evening. RI.
Rev Samuel Cook Edsall. ID. D.. rlu-
ic for the march being furnished b.
Sandon Brothers Harp orchestra.
which continued to render melodiCus
selections during the serving Of the
banquet. The tables were decorated
with American Beauty roses. and as
The knights and their ladies were
,,ated the scene presented was bril-
liant and beautiful, and a worthy
Subject for Artist Shows camera.
Following the serving of dinner Cap
tain 4. o. Scott announced the pro-
gram for the evening. which was
opened with selection by the Or
phous Male Quartet. composed Of
Messrs. Davies. Jones, Griffith and
Johnson. They were enCOred and
curing the evening rendered several
pleasing selections. Miss Dorothy
Scott rendered a piano solo. and gra-
ciously responded to the applause
with an encore number. Miss Scott
is Young musician of merit, and
T-eaides at the pipe organ i'm the
Episcopal church. Her charming
manner. and mastery Interpretation
Was 4 delight 10 Ill.
Address BY Bishop EdsaII
Bishop Edsall's address teemed
18th patriotic sentiment. and was n
scholarly. able and fOrceful talk 70
knights Templar members. He spoke
Of the PAST days of the commandery.
which was organized about the time
that Lincoln was assassinated. and
told of many interesting incidents
Tho bishop Is great favorite with
MankatO audiences, and especially
with members of the Masonic fra
;ernity
Charles A. Chapman, the oldest
living member of Mankao Com
mandery, was unable TO be present.
owing In illness. but sent n letter ex-
pressing his regret. which was read
by Secretary F. L. Soaring. The
reading proved most interesting as
the letter contained some amusing
"reminiscences OF the early days OF
Templarhood
Miss Lora Lulsdorff and the Or
pheus quartet favored the guests
with the. beautiful solo. Virginia, 4"
which she rendered in her usual
charming and magnetic manner. Miss
Lucille Fisher, young violinist OF
marked musical ability. played the
violin obliga.o, the piano accompani-
ment being played by Miss Dorothy
Scott, and the young ladies proving
artistic accompanies. After very
enjoyable evening / the affair was
brought to n close. the hope of all
present being that this fiftieth ami
versary celebration was the fore
runner OF many equally as pleasant
social functions.
Fifty Years Old.
Mankato Commandery No. 4,
Knights Templar has been in exist
ence in Mankato for half a century.
the dispensation issued by VI. E. Sir
Kt. b. B. French. grand master. on
April Is, 1865, and the charter grant
ed September of the same year.
The commandery was constituted
October 4, 1865 by II. r. Sir Kt. A.
7. {. Pierson, the meeting being held
in log cabin at that time. The
commandery will soon have its home
in handsome temple at the corner
of Hickory and Second streets, where
the presents hall now stands, show
ing the great advancement of the
times and order from the old DAYS.
ht biuhhhS VIII Dt TtilO0tlle0 mo
modern lodge temple, where the
various branches OF the lodge and
the Eastern Star will hold their
meetings.
The charter members OF the Man
kato Commandery numbered nine
teen men, who have all passed to
the fold Of the Eminent Commander
of the Universe. They were w. p.
Boardmap. w. J. Cullen, Loyal Dud-
ley, William Frisbie, Andrew Hanna.
George Maxfield. +. ID. b. Porter, J.
j. Porter, Sr, John A. Willard, s.
j.. Barney. George A. Clarke. J. T.
Furber, Ira Hawley. b. n. Laird.
Basil Moreland. o. o. Pitcher. b. F.
Smith. n. Woloben, John c. Wise.
Among the out OF town guests
present were Mr.. and Mrs. F. II.
Barnes OF Vernon Center; Mr.. end
Mrs. ]. c. Perkins. st. James: Mr..
and Mrs. c. s. Boswell, Mrs. Minnie
Boswell, Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Chase,