New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-29
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.

Tradition comes down link by link rs
chain from remote antiquity to til prac-
teal present. We shall see to-day march
ing through our streets the direct and
lineal inheritors of those who in their day
defed the infdel, waged war Of centu-
ries for freedom of person and opinion.
civil and religious. If the founders Of
this tradition were to-day among US they
would see in the laws and daily action OF
our people the consummation of the prin-
ciples to which they owed their corp crate
existence. and to which they dedicated
their labors. 1t is strange how their faith
sacred to iberty--has been kept afame,
like light in tomb. through so many
weary and dreary ages-not much less
than thousand years. Men imbued with
a sympathy for human suffering. estab-
lished by permission of the 1nfidels,
hospital for the care Of Christians. Other
men inspired by faith and enraged at the
slavery Of their race. came and protected
the humble ':Hospitallers." These took
upon themselves the holy duties Of fight.
ing for faith and freedom. They acquired
territory. 1t was in the path OF the
pirates of human bondage. They adj
yanced to more commanding position.
In Cypress: in Rhodes: in Gambia: in
Malta, the Knights Templar Of Jerusa.
lem; of st. John: Of Rhodes: the knights
Templar Of Malta, maintained o mill
tary and maritime war for human free.
dom, against the powers of Saiadin and
of Solyman. Battles by land and sea,
illustrated by the most heroic devotion
the cause to which this institution was
devoted. History and romance TEEN with
the chivalrous deeds Of that order which
had dedicated itself to sacred duty.
Recognized as the champions OF faith
and freedom, donations of wealth. with
| recruits by thousands, poured in from
nations whose rights were thus defended.
The track of the Christian slave trade
was the Mediterranean, and these knights
were the outpost defenders Of civilization.
Hence the intensity of these wars with
the Paynim hordes. AS human liberty
became better assured the absolute need
of such defenders was perhaps migrate
! fully forgotten. The revenues were con-
tiscated and the recruits ceased. The or
canization had aided in rendering itself
unnecessary. Malta was no longer neces'
sary as frontier post Of humanity. OR 4
defense against bondage. Its mission
achieved. the agency was dissolved. and
the Knights of Malta passed from politi
cal history just when the universe
equality of man was enacted by France
and Just when the United States broke
the chain of tribute which had ignobly
bound every nation to the corsairs o
Turkey. With the American repeal OF thu
slave trade and the American lombard
ment of Tripoli, there was no longer neet
of a power to prevent Christian people
from being carried into slavery by inf
dels.
| 1t is now strange to see the depositaries
of this traditional faith gathering by
thousands in u nation and on continent
unknown to their founders. 1t is won
derful to observe the earlier purpose yield
ing to and superseded by the mild doc
trine of charity. fraternity and morality
These are the same fruits whose enjoy
ment the intelligent and respectable
Knights who assemble in New Orlean
may unconsciously owe to the grand ser
vices of their corporate ancestry. W
welcome them and congratulate ourselve
that they to-day enjoy the doctrine of tn
holy sepulchre in a land of universal free
dom, civil. personal and religious. TIL
founders tonight for the Cross against th'
Crescent. They will find here the Ores
cent surmounted by the Cross and tina
Crescent which was once the emblem Q
hostility will be here found to represen
hospitality and friendship.
notwithstanding the grasshoppers tn
wheat crop in Kansas will be good one.
100. CANAL STREET. ion
STYLISH SHIRTS, Six FOR - Is.