New-York tribune., 1876-06-01
FNIGH7HOOD AT THE CENTENNIAL.

ENTGHTHOOD AT THE CENTENNIAL.
The aSsociatSDns of to-day's obseTvances in
Phiadelphia are with an earlier antiquity than
that OF the Revolution. Our knights OF the
Temple, il is true, are no poor soldiers OF the
Holy City, nor are they banded together under
n medley of military and monastic discipline !;
nor vet are they commanded by Saint Ademar
or De Molay. The modern Knight Tcmplar
comedies something t. the spirit of the times,
and the costume which he wears Is of broad
cloth and not of iron. He carries no lance
and he marches upon foot, yet ho keeps
part of the old insignia. Covered by chape1u
instead of helmet he yet uses the old cross
rs the hilt Of sword which will hardly DO
drawn even in defense of widows and or
phans. He bears about the same rcla-
ton to the old Tcmplars which the lvanhoe
of Sir Walter Scott bears to the Chronicles of
Froissart or of MonstIelet. He calls himself
Sir; he is called "Sir Knight" and yet he
is. in private life, n perfectly peaceful person,
deporting himself as a good citizen should.
and sustaining, unlike many OF bis predecessors,
a good moral character. After the parade he
takes of bis trappings and goes back to his
business, in which he is much better employed
than if he were forever riding up aud down
the world upon Il charger, deiying all comers
to combat.
These Masonic orders-Knights Templar,
knights of Malta, Princes of Jcrusalem-show
how the legendary. the poetical, and the ro-
mantle still linger in the prosaic hearts of
modern times. We love to revive the past to
Use its rituals, to dramatize its traditions, and
to wear it's clothes; we renew its picturesque
ness, initiate its methods, and rcenact its deeds.
Ii is az natural for man to reproduce the
superficial aspects Of old kHghthood rs it is
for child to listen delighted to n fairy tale.
There is poetry in any organization which con-
meets itself, if only by name, with
distant ages, and plays the parts of
those who long ago modered into dust
The Irislman carries in procession a
banner which was tho standard of his islands
ancient kings; the Scotchman on gala days
will 90 about in kilt as his forefathers did ;
tho American militiaman organizes company
dressed in the regimentals of BraRdywine or
Yorktown. The old is always respectable and
impressive, and if we arc to be knights in
1876, it is well to be as nearly as possible
like the knights of I'LL, at least in all of
which imitation is harmless. The numerous
gentlemen who will walk in long procession
to-day are quito as charitable and friendly
as were any of the valiant equcstiians of the
Age of Chivalry. There arc thousands of
them joined in the bonds of good fellowship,
anxious to promote only peace and good na-
turc, and vowed to relieve each others wants,
or the wants of those whom they may leave
behind them. The desire of association, strong
and active as it is, seldom exhibits more
-. than will ha xuitnoScal in
Philadelphia While many men unite for evil,
1t is well that SO many should unite for good,
no matter by what name they may call them
selves OF whatever methods of beneficence
they may adopt. The outward display may
be pleasing, but still more so will be the spirit
which evoked it..