New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-01-09
For the Crescent.l
All About the Order of Kniehte,

The Order of Knighthood of the Garter was in
stituted by King Edward III in 1874. Some his
torians report that it was upon the occasion of a
public ball, that the famous device of hont soft
qui mai y pense, or shame upon him who evil
thinks, was first pronounced by the Kng-some
courtiers having seen him picking up the garter on
the floor and handing it back to its owner, the
beautiful Duchess Of Salisbury. Afterwards, this
symbol Of q true Knight of the Order was dis
played at the royal banner staff in the battle of
CFessy, fought in l3iG, t28th August, against
Philip WIS French army, which latter met n total
rout.
Since the Institution of the Order of Knighthood
many Emperors, Kings and other high potentates
have been received among its members, and the
sovereign Of Great Britain being always its head,
the present Queen Victoria is its acknowledged
chief and commander paramount. One of the
obligations of this institution binds its members
never to undertake unjust war or contest, and
always previous to the undertaking of any such
emprise, to first obtain the permission of the great
chief or commander.
The Emperor Louis Napoleon being one of its
members, this explains why he has always first
sought the assent of the British monarch before
embarking in any of his several expeditions, in
Italy, the Orient, China, aud even Mexico.
We shall here transcrlbe the written admonition,
addressed to the newly received member, at his
initiation ceremony, according to the formal
ritual:
Wear this ribbon about thy neck, adorned with
the image of the blessed martyr and soldier Of
Christ St. George by whose imitation provoked
thou msyest so overpass both prosperous and ad-
verse adventures, that having stouty vanquished
thine enemies both Of body and soul, thou mayest
not only receive the praise of the transient com
bat but be crowned with the palm of eternal
glory"
From this ritual, it will be seen that st. George
is the patron saint Of this order, he who is said to
have slain in Cappadocia terrible dragon, the
dread and dismay Of the whole country and
thereby liberated the kings princess, of that re-
gion.
Our readers need not be informed that under the
symbol OF terrible dragon, is understood the
parsonage of some cruel tyrant andalsurper at the
time, from whom the people were delivered by the
prowess of the Christian knight.
The number of knights is restricted to but
twentysix, and this being even a more ancient
and important order than any other in Europe, the
honor of being received therein is mark of the
greatest distinction indeed, always very rarely
accorded, except upon the mostpressng occasions
and important circumstances of the time.
Another obligation Of the members of this cele-
brated order, to whom, sometimes, foreign mon
archs have been adjoined is not to make war or
strife against one another, but to submit their diff
ferences to the decision of the order
This is by far the most important one, if actually
observed by all its members, and religiousy
abided by. But in this respect we fear that the
politics and interests of the various European
States have often caused great devations from the
rule, and hence we must not place too much re
ance upon the efficacy of this restraint in case of
collision between the great monarchs of Europe
Seven should they be members of this potential
association; for, if we mistake not, Gar Nicholas
the late Emperor of Russia, was also wearer of
the Garter, and yet this did not prevent the other
members, France and England from making war
upon him.
1t is true in this case il was alleged that the war
undertaken by the Russian Gear against Turkey
was an unjust one, but must rccollect that this
was the view of the Western European Powers,
but that the Muscoyites looked upon it in differ
ent light, their manifest destiny being the repos.
session of the ancient Greek empire, once held by
their ancestors, and wrested from them by the
Asiatic INVADERS the nfidel Mussulmen of the Tar
tar steppes.
Should new political revolution take place
over the Atlantic Ocean, and the situation of Eu-
ropeaE States be anew placed in question, there
can be no doubt that in such a case Russia weald
again endeavor to carry ont the old testament of
Peter the Great, that say the conquest or an
nexation of Constantinope and European Turkey
4 In such an emergency the cross of st. George
would again be displayed, it may be, in beth the
opposing armies, for the Gar of Moscow has this
symbol also in his national weapon, and the Greek
Church, we know holds vigils night and day in the
holy city of Jerusalem.
Singular to say of this latter one, the present
King of Italy, Victor Emanuel holds the title as
King of Jerusalem, and defender of the holy Sc
pulchre.
But whats marveloussp spectacle to modern cyili-
zation should European ConScss decide, with
the assent of the Sultan, the Fope, the Gar of
the Auscoyites, and all The christian nonarehs and
= bankers TO restore the city of Jerusalem to the
dispersed children of Israel, and sec them re,
united under the protection of The Rothsohilds
and Montifores-actualyr yreinstalIed by the help of
the knights of the Golden Circle!
h. 4s----44--
A Minnesota land spccuiator, in describing
lake in that State, says it SO clear and so deep
that by looking iuto it you can sec them making