、 And says: It is to be hoped that these Spaniards of the Charles II. era will continue the style of their Templar uniform, being one of the most graceful forms of dress that ever encased the human body. Its picturesqueness will break any sameness that may be aparent in the costumes of the assembled in 1883. Why would it not be a good thing to introduce at each succeeding triennial the dress of a former period, in retrogression, starting with the Templar uniform last at Chicago, and passing up the stream of Time's vanities, arrive in due season at the Edenized vegetable fabrics, with their prestine styles and fashions? Should each State jurisdiction select a different nationality of the period to be represented, it would add to the effect of street parades, and do much to solve the mystery attached to "the idea" of California No. 1. In view of the car .loads of delicate fruits and exquisite wines that were brought on to Chicago by the Templars of California, and which were dispensed with such undounded hospitality at the triennial meeting, it would appear that the Fratres of this favored section did not all of them believe that the Templar duties of the hour were confined to the subjects embraced in the appended quotation. The sage that said, "This is also vanity," followed the phrase with, "There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw that it was from the hand of God." He still thinks that our practice of requiring candidates to procure uniforms prior to conferring the Order of the Temple unconstitutional, and upon that subject says: Presuming the requirement of procuring the uniform is the practice in Michigan, and "works well," it may not be constitutional. It certainly is not a pre-requisite defined by the constitution of the Grand Encampment, and to make it a local pre-requisite by edict of the Grand Commandery, is to create an additional qualification to the requirements of the Order. It may be politic as insuring the uniforming of members, which is certainly desirable. But that is not the question at issue. Upon reflection, the Sir Knight will doubtless admit that if it be assumed to add to the constitutional requirements in one direction, that it may be assumed to do so in another, and that this compulsory measure is, in principle, as heteroclite as would be an edict that, in addition to being a Red Cross Knight, a candidate must also be an Odd Fellow, before it was competent for him to receive the crowning order. The additional requirement exacted in Michigan is without warrant of authority, being one not contemplated by the constitution of the Grand En campment, and is an exaction in excess of the law; therefore, New Jersey has said it is unconstitutional. Well, we will not quarrel with Sir Edwards; but constitutional or unconstitutional, that is our requirement "allee samee.' We are glad to note that Sir Edwards was reappointed chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence. We call that good "constitutional" law, any time and any where. Sir Joseph W. Congdon of Paterson, was elected R. E. Grand Commander. Sir Charles Bechtel of Trenton, was re-elected E. Grand Recorder. NORTH CAROLINA. We heartily extend most friendly greetings to this newborn sister. May long life be her's, and peace, prosperity and good-will be within her borders. This Grand Commandery was organized under the authority of the Grand Master of Knights Templar, in the city of Wilmington, May 10, A.D. 1881, A.O. 763. Representatives were present from the following Commanderies: Wilmington No. 1, Charlotte No. 2 and Dunham No. 3. A Code of Statutes was adopted. The following address was read from Sir Benjamin Dean, Grand Master of Knights Templar: GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. OFFICE OF THE GRAND MASTER, To the Grand Commandery of the State of North Carolina : SIR KNIGHTS AND BRETHREN: -You are now a Grand Commandery, having jurisdiction over the great State of North Carolina, one of the original thirteen states. Henceforth, subject to the Constitution and Code of Statutes of the Grand Encampment of the United States of America, you alone-and I mean by you this organization- this Grand Commandery just created-will have power to grant dispensations and issue chaiters for new Commanderies, and generally have charge of Templar Masonry within this jurisdiction. You are undertaking to rear a Temple of your own. It may be called a dual temple a Spiritual Temple and Temporal Temple - the Temporal Temple being the abode of the Spiritual Temple. The designs of the Spiritual Temple are given you. They are described in a few, a very few words. From foundation stone to its highest pinacle it consists of "The Christian Religion and the practice of the Christian Virtues.' What a noble Temple! How noble to "love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you!" The materials of your Spiritual Building are unchangeable and everlasting. The Temporal Temple, the abode of the Spiritual Temple, is changeable and mortal. It is composed of men, and "man cometh forth as a flower and continueth not." The materials of this Temple are constantly falling away, and must be constantly renewed. Never let the new materials fall below the standard of the old materials. Let the members of this Temporal Temple practice as they preach the Christian virtues; then, and then only, will it be the dwelling place of that Spiritual Temple, "that house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens." To preserve this Temple as a fit abode for that "House not made with hands," will require your constant care and watchfulness. If you are negligent of your duties, you indeed may have a structure, a Grand Commandery, subordinate Commanderies, and a greater or less number of members, but "that house not made with hands" will flee from your Asylum's aid and your ceremonies become as "sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal." But if you are active, brave, vigilant, if you put on the "whole armor of God," this Grand Commandery, its subordinates and its members will prosper; and the God of your fathers, who loves to dwell in the hearts of men, will visit, encourage, comfort and protect your undertaking. You will then indeed become a blessing to yourselves, and to your State and country. 1 As you, as subordinate Commanderies, leave the parental roof upon this great and good mission, the Grand Encampment bids you "God speed," and as you return in your new sphere of existence to join again in her councils, you will be received with a hearty, a knightly welcome. I enjoin upon you that you never fail to be represented at any Conclave of the Grand Encampment of the United States. May the God of our fathers have you in His holy keeping. BENJ. DEAN, Grand Master. At the election of officers the following Sir Knights were elected: Sir H. H. Munson of Wilmington, R. E. Grand Commander. Sir James C. Munds of Wilmington, E. Grand Recorder. The Thirty-ninth Annual Conclave, according to adjournment, was held at Masonic Temple, in the city of Cincinnati, commencing September 7, A.D. 1881, A.O. 763. Sir J. Kelly O'Neall, R. E. Grand Commander. The Grand Commander welcomes the members of the Grand Commandery to their Annual Conclave as follows: SIR KNIGHTS - Another year has passed, and through the favoring care of an All-wise Providence, we are again assembled in Annual Conclave, to exchange fraternal and knightly greetings; to deliberate upon such matters as shall properly be presented for consideration, and to adopt such measures as may tend to perpetuate and advance the true interests of Templar Masonry in this grand jurisdiction. The year just closed has, to us, been one of more than usual prosperity; and rarely if ever has the Grand Commandery of Ohio assembled under more auspicious circumstances. For the blessings and privileges we are thus permitted to enjoy, it is our duty and as christian Knights it should be our greatest pleasure, at the commencemet of our Conclave, gratefully to acknowledge the protecting care of the Giver of all good; to invoke His blessing upon our present meeting, and to implore the guidance and support of His spirit during all our deliberations. It affords me pleasure to inform you that our Order throughout the State is in a prosperous condition. The accessions to our numbers during the past year have been much less, it is true, than under the unusual stimulus that operated during the last year preceding, but sufficient to indicate a natural and healthy growth. The returns show the number of Knights created to be two hundred and four, and the present number of members in good standing three thousand six hundred and sixty-four. The following decisions made by the Grand Commander. were referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence, who favorably reported upon them. The report was adopted: 1. An election by ballot can not be reconsidered. But in an election for officers when a Knight who has been elected, at the time of such election announces that he cannot serve and will not be installed, the election may by common consent be treated as void, and a member elected to fill the office declined. 2. In balloting on a petition for the Orders but one re-ballot can be ordered. (Code, Sec. 533) 3. In balloting on a petition for the Orders a member cannot be permitted to announce how he voted. Before the result of even a re-ballot is declared a member may announce that by mistake he has voted contrary to his intention, and the Eminent Commander may in his discretion order the ballot taken over again. 4. An objection to conferring the Orders on an elected candidate is not required to be in writing. 5. An objection to the advancement of a petitioner, made to the Eminent Commander by a member of the Comniandery before a ballot is had on the petition, must be regarded, and if the objection is not withdrawn before being entered on the minutes, it has the effect to reject the cadidate. A ballot may be had notwithstanding such objection, and if the ballot result in the election of the candidate, it then becomes the duty of the Eminent Commander to announce that objection has been made, and that the candidate can not receive the Orders. 6. A Companion presented his petition to the Commandery within whose terriritorial jurisdiction he then resided. It was regularly received and referred. He then removed into a foreign jurisdiction where he has since (about three years) continued to reside. I am asked: Has the Commandery jurisdiction of the candidate; may it ballot for, elect and confer upon him the Orders? I answer, no. The prohibition in Section 8 of Article II. of the Statutes of the Grand Commandery of Ohio, and also Rule 5, Section 2, Article IV., of the Constitution of the Grand Encampment refer to the residence of the candidate at the time the Orders are con ferred. The Grand Commander concludes as follows: And now, Sir Knights, having as is required by our statutes reported to you my official acts, and called attention to such matters as I deem worthy your present consideration, and for the best interest of our institution, permit me again to tender to all of you, and without an exception, my acknowledgments of, and thanks for the unwavering courtesy by which your intercourse with me whether social or official, has been characterized. And having for two years occupied the position of Grand Commander I desire to lay aside the baton of command and retire from the |