10/10/2026
On January 16th, 1827, three Sir Knights (James Cushman, Charles Cassell and Mark L. Cheevers), hailing from three different Commanderies, and acting under a lawful warrant (dispensation) from the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of Virginia did on that date conferred the Orders of Knighthood upon the following Royal Arch Masons from Mount Horeb Chapter No. 11:
Charles A. Grice | Robert B. Butt | Mordicai K. Cook | James Jarvis
George Reed | Henry Singleton | John Williston | William Bishop
J. W. Murdaugh | John Linn | John Reed | James B. Foster
All of whom, after useful, honorable, and well-spent lives, entered the asylum, where the Captain of Salvation forever reigns. Those twelve Sir Knights received a Grand Encampment of Virginia dispensation, dated January 16th, 1827, and proceeded to organize “Portsmouth Encampment, No. 5,” after which they elected Sir Knight Charles A. Grice its first Eminent Commander. The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of Virginia chartered Portsmouth Encampment, No. 5 on January 27, 1827, at Portsmouth, Virginia.
Sir Knight Grice was re-elected annually thereafter until the year 1866, when by reason of this declining years, he declined a further re-election, and made the mantle of office fall upon the shoulders of Eminent Sir Charles R. McAlpine.
We cannot let the occasion pass without mentioning that Sir Knight Charles A. Grice occupied many exalted positions during his years in the Masonic Fraternity:
Raised in Portsmouth Naval Lodge No 100 in 1818, he served Worshipful Master, Portsmouth Naval Lodge 1820-1821, 1835, 1839, 1859-1860, and District Deputy Grand Master, District No. 1 (Portsmouth) 1864-1867.
Exalted in Portsmouth’s Mt. Horeb Chapter No. 11 and served as its High Priest for many years
Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia in 1841-1843
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