The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-06-22
Kmfght TempIarfsrn.

In consideration of the great prepare
tons that are being made throughout the
United States by the Order of Knights
Templar in view of holding grand tri-
enniaI conclave in the city of Baltimore
on the 18th of next September, it may
not be amis to refer to the primeval his
tory of. the order, and to the time when
the Sir Knights went forth armed cap
a pie to do deeds of valor for the
cause of the Christian religion. Then
the Sir Knight often Jared roughly, being
| in a wild country, far from their native
land, few of number, battling with a
treacherous infdel foe, their bed often
the hard ground, with no covering save
the heavens This was somewhat differ
ent from the life of the Sir Knight of to-
| day. Now rooms are engaged, months
in advance, at the principal hotels; a
complete train of Pullman palace and
commissary cars bear the Sir Knights to
their journeys end. But although hard
ship has given way to luxury, still the
tents of the order remain materially the
same. History tells us that "about the
year 1865, Jerusalem was conquered by
| the Turcomen, and over three thousand
of its citizens slaughtered. This fact be-
ing brought to the knowledge of the
| christian world, created a great desire
that the Sepulcher of our Savior should
be protected from the polluting hands of
the infidel hordes, and to such height
did the religious enthusiasm arrive that,
during the year; over seven thousand pill
grims from all parts Of Europe assembled
around the holy sepulcher.
The Holy City being under the rule of
Emir Ortok, chief noted for cruelty, the
Christians experienced great oppression
| in their endeavOrs to protect the sepnl-
cher, until they were finally driven from
| the city and their venerable patriarch
was dragged by the hair of his head over
| the pavement of the Church of the Res
direction and cast into dungeon to die.
The intelligence of these barbarities
aroused a feeling of religious chivalry,
and from all parts of Europe flowed a
stream of pilgrim warriors Fastening to-
wards the Holy Land.
This enthusiasm was not confined to
i, the military portion of the Christian world,
| but.extended to all classes and ranks, and
even priests and monks could be seen in
cowl and cassock winding their way foot
sore and weary, towards Jerusalem. In
the year 1899 Jerusalem was captured by
the Crusaders, and this being made
known, the zeal of pilgrimage blazed forth
| with renewed ferceness. Although the
| infidels had been driven out of the city
still the lofty mountains bordering the sea
coast, afforded many places of conceal
ment to bands of fugitive Musselmen,
who issued forth from their impregnable
strongholds to revenge themselves by an
indiscriminate pllaging of travellers, and
often cutting communications between
Jerusalem and the sea ports.
At this time nine noble gentlemen, who
had distinguished themselves at the siege
and capture of the city, formed them
selves into brotherhood in arms, enter
ing into solemn compact to aid one an
other in clearing the highways, and pro-
tecting pilgrims through the passes and
defiles of the mountains, to and from the
Holy City. At this time they took the
style of 'The Poor Fellow Soldiers of
Jesus Christ" and by their opportune
presence and great valor protected and
saved the lives Of many poor pilgrims
from the ruthless outlaws.
Baldwin H., who was King of Jerusa-
lem, A. ID. 1118, granted the Brother
hood habitation within the sacred en-
closure of the Temple ON Mount Moriah,
and they were theneeforth known as The
Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon.
The Order now received large increse
in numbers, and added to its profession
(that of protecting poor pilgrims) that of
defending the Kingdom of Jerusalem
and the whole Eastern Church from the
Infdels, and chose Hughes DePayehes as
their Master of Temple, and he has con-'
sequently been termed the founder of the
Order Of Knights Templar. The name
of the Order and its reputation spread
rapidly through Europe, and many Prin-
ces and noble gentlemen from England
France, Germany and Italy, focked to
its Cross-emblazoned standard. In A.
ID. 1923, the Knighthood received their
rules and regulations from the Pope, the
same having been expressly arranged for
them by St. Bernard. The Order of the
Temple has through many vicissitudes,
been handed down to the present day.