MAGNOLIA COMMANDERY, NO. 2. STATIONED AT VICKSBURG, MISS. COURTEOUSLY INVITES "SIR GEO. M. MURRELL" [in script] TO THE RECEPTION TENDERED THE GRAND COMMANDERY WEDNESDAY, MAY 15TH, 1878, AT 8 1/2 O'CLOCK, P.M.
[Cincinnati, OH: Peter G. Thomson, Arcade Book Store], 1878. [3], [1 blank] pp., folded, printed in red, green, black and gilt. Front of invitation ornately decorated in gilt and colored ink with several fancy typesettings and decorative banners. Second page contains the list of officers printed within a gilt border in the shape of a cross. Third page contains names of committee members printed within a gilt border. Two horizontal folds, very short split at edge of one fold [no text loss]. Very attractive and Very Good.
Several members had served in the Confederate Army. E.C. Carroll was an owner of the Vicksburg Sentinel and the President of the Board of Directors of the Merchant's National Bank in Vicksburg. Frederic Speed was an officer of this Lodge. and an Honorary 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was involved in the great explosion of the ship Sultana at the end of the Civil War which resulted in the deaths of over 1700 Union prisoners of war. The steamship had been overloaded to several times the ship's capacity in an effort to make as much money as possible from the $5 per prisoner rate paid by the government. Speed was indicted and found guilty; the verdict was reversed by Brig. Gen. Joseph Holt on the ground that Speed's involvement was remote.
Officers listed: Sir Wm. A. Fairchild, P.E.C., Prelate; Sir H.W. Bowen, Treasurer; Sir W.G. Paxton, Eminent Commander; Sir. Wm. French, Generalissimo; Sir F. Speed, Captain General; Sir J.W. Powell, P.E.C., Recorder; Sir I. Hardy, Senior Warden; Sir H. Denio, Junior Warden; Sir T.J. Thompson, Warder; Sir J.H. Berresford, Standard Bearer; Sir. E.P. Jones, Sword Bearer; Sir Wm. Murry, Sentinel. Committee on Invitation: Sir C.C. Floweree, Sir E.C. Carroll, Sir W.M. Vosburg, Sir L.C. Moore, P.E.C., Sir T.G. Birchett, P.E.C., Sir W.H. Andrews, and Sir M.R. Payne. Reception Committee: Sir J.W. Gray, Sir T.J. Harper, Sir H. Wilkerson, Sir Jas. H. King, Sir C.A. Manlove, P.E.C., Sir Wm. French, Sir W.S. Harris, and Sir Simes Coate. Floor Managers: Sir Geo. M. Klein, Sir G.G. Manlove, Sir W.M. Chamberlain, Sir A.G. Russell, Sir M.C. Klein, Sir S.H. Childress, and Sir C.H. Nathan. Item #25697
Price: $150.00