Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-12
The Sons OF MALTA.

There are, perhaps, no set of men, no or
ganization, public or secret, religious or politi
cal. that attract as much attention, draw forth
as many surmiseg and speculations as to their
doings and objects, as the order of the Sons
of Malta. Having the facts before US, we here
propose to lay before our readers a short ac-
count of the order from the beginning =
In the year of our Lord, l04S, some merchants
of Memphis trading to the Levant, obtained
leave of the Caliph of Egypt to erect house
for those who went on pigrimages to Jerusa-
lem. They erected hospital for the sick in
/ A. D. ll04, whence they obtained the name of
Hospitallers. In A. D. Ills, they became a
military order, and many persons of noble blood
entered their ranks. After the Christians had
/ lost their interest in the East, and Jerusalem
was taken, the Knights returned to Margett,
and then to Acre, which they defended In ll50
John, King of Cyprus, then led them to Lin
nisson, which country was bequeathed to them,
and became their home until 1910, in which
they took Rhodes, and the next year defended
it against the Saracens. Since then they have
had for motto, F. E. R. T.; Fortitudo Gus
RkOdun tenuu Rhodes, however, was taken
by Solyman in 1852, when the knights re-
turned into Canada, and from thence to Sicily.
Pope Adrain VI granted them Viterbo, as
retreat, and in 1880 Charles Y. granted them
the Isle of Malta.
The order of the Sons of Malta, which en-
braces so many of our distinguished fellow cit
liens, is understood to be the present represen-
tative of this formidable military religious Or
der. The hospitality which once greeted the
pilgrim on the shores of the holy land is now
dispensed with liberal hand In the lodges of
American cities TO the natives of every cline
The motto remains the same as when Grand
Commander Foulques de Valeret held Rhodes
against his enemies, although some writers as
sert that the F. E. r. 7. is interpreted by mod
ern Sons of Malta as Funny Exorcists of Rue
ful Thocghts. The Interpretation of the motto
D. N. o. l. S. L. A, which appears on their
initatory tablets remains locked in the breasts
of the accepted Sons of Malta.
The Isle of Malta is still in the possession of
the ''Sons," who rent it to the British Govern
ment as place of deposit for military stores.
1t is, however, contemplated by the Grand Logd-
es in the Union, having the controlling in
fuence, to erect thereupon a magnificent re-
treat for those whom long service in the order
and old age have enfeebled
An SONS" familiar with the history of the
order, will remember that it was one ofthe ear
ly Sons of Malta, Publius, who entertained in the
most hospitabie manner St. Paul, when he was
shipwrecked on the Island whence they derive
l0eir name nS uOu EkDOU dS uC nCAo VI
fee in the order, but he is described as "chief
man of the Island
The Sons of Malta evidently have deep de-
sign in their organization. They may some
day startle the world with an achievement so
brilliant, having all the attributes of nobleness
and purity, which are the prime functions of
the order, that all mankind will look on with
blessings and applause Many of their wonder
full charities are known to the world, but how
MANY more remain secrets in the order, and with |
those that receive Verify, it is blessed to glad
den the desolste heart.
Among the most noted sons of the order in |
this country may be mentioned our most worthy |
President, James Buchanan, who we believe |
now holds the responsible Office of G. R. J. Al
All the Cabinet officers are members, and some
of them, MIR. Cobb, we believe, holds very high
Office. Among the Senators prominently stand
Douglas, Seward, Hunter, Pugh, Yulee, Si-
dell, Benjamin, Davis, Green, Blair. In the
House, nearly every member belongs to the Or
der In the different States, nearly all the Gov
ernors have been initiated into the mystic Sc
crets of the order, and there is now scarcely
town of any size in which the order is not grow
ing with rapid strides. 1t promises to become the
most formidable order ever known to the world.