The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-06-21

l9U2, while our late ldmented fratUT.
Eminent Sir Forrest Goodwin was in
command thirty applicants were made
Sir Knights. OF whom sixteen candi-
dates from Pittstield We're knighted at
a single remarkable conclavc.
In 1908 the hall which had so long
served the masonic bodies in Skow-
hogan was destroyed in the Coburn
Hall fire, and the Commaudery. in
common with the other organizations.
was dependent upon the hospitality of
the Odd Fellows for quarters until
October "a, 1907, when they met for
the first time in their present asylum
At a general meeting of the masonic
organizations in Grand Army Hall on
October 16. 1906 the trustees were in
structed to close a contract with Sir
Knight Dunlap for lease of the third
story and half of the second story of
the block which he then contemplate
ed, Somerset Lodge. Somerset Chap
| ter, and De Molay Commandery each
sharing one third of the expense of
fitting up the new quarters.
In 1910 a move by st. Omer Com
mandery for concurrent jurisdiction
) over Ira Berry Chapter at Pittsfeld
called forth a vigorous protest from
De MOlay, and resolutions setting
forth the various losses of jurisdiction
which this Commandery had suf-
fered and increasing jurisdiction
of st. Omer were adopted and a COM
mittee appointed To present the reso-
lutiOns to Right Eminent Sir Warren
c. Philbrook. then Grand Commander.
The protest was effective. and the eX-
elusive jurisdiction of De Molay re-
manned until the present year Mean
while a change of opinion had been
taking place among our own members,
and during the past year the applica-
ton was recommended by De MOlay
Commandery. which now shares the
Jurisdiction over the chapter at Pitts
field with its Wateryille brethren.
In 1916, in common with the other
masonic bodies, the annual conclave
was changed to the June meeting, at
which time the officers are now regu-
larly elected
De Molay Commandery now has a
membership of $50, and is in every
respect strong. vigorous organiza-
ton 1t has been specially fortunate
in the type of men who have been at
tracted to its active duties and whose
persistent energy, often long after
in its power to bestow, have done per-
haps more than anything else to main
tain its standards This persistent
interest has brought to some of them
as we'll as To the Commandery, hOnors
in the Grand Commandery. Among
the list of our Jealous knights the
following have been members of that
organizations
Right Eminent Sir George w Cow
, er. Past Grand Commander; Eminent
3 Sir Isaac Dyer, Past Grand General
, issimo; Eminent Sir VIM. II. G.. Estes
r Past Grand Generalissimo; Eminent
: Sir Frank W. Bucknam. Grand Senior
e. Warden
De Molay numbers among its living
| past commanders a father and son
- Eminent Sir Albert q. Blunt and Emf
nent Sir J. Wallace Blunt. An UNI
} usual privilege Was recently accorded
= two Of its members when Sir W Fol
som Merrill and Eminent Sir Edward
f. Merrill shared the honor of pre-
siding successfully in the Red Cross
and Temple degrees While their faith
er, Companion Edward y. Merrill, was
the candidate Two of our members
have been honored by election to the
United States Congress, the late Emf
nent Sir Forrest Goodwin and Sir
Samuel W Gould.
The name of the Commandery is
that of the twenty-seeond and last
Grand Master of the Templars at the
destruction of the Order in the four
teenth century, who distinguished him
self in the war against the infidelS in
| Palestine. and who, after an imprison-
maj of EtFn al Ittr tY,fr
which he was subjected to the utmost
e indgnties and sufferings for the pur-
pose of extorting confessions of the
guilt of the Order of charges pre-
ferred against it. suffered Il martyrs
| death, being publicly burnt in front
: of the cathedral of Notre Dame in
: Paris, March Il, 1914.
/; The following list of pilgrimages
Z dedications, entertainments, etc, will
be of interest to all members of De
Molay, and will recall many pleasant
: memories to the older members:
October -, 1S6S De Molay Com
mandery, accompanied by Skowhe-
: gan Band, and joined by Trinity Com
: mandery, assisted in the services in
: constituting Drnmmond Chapter
q Royal Arch Masons, at West Water
Vile
March L. 1SG9, Chambers Band OF
= Portland MAS engaged and played in
promenade concert in SkoWhcgan
In August 1869, De Molay partici-
patcd in the only State Encampmcnt
of all he Maine Communicates ever
/ held in the State The Sir Knights
Of De Molay We're publicly compli-
mentcd by the Grand Commander for
proficiency in drill The Encamp-