Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-05-03

I superior look lue titlo Vi AuDoo, io'Ai
the Syriac Abba, signifying father.
| Women and young girls formed them
selves into similar societies and called
themselves nuns, an Egyptian word
signify'ng mother.
In addition to the orders devoted
to the secluded and inactive life of the
cloister, others came into existence
after the twelfth century, seeking to
extend their usefulness outside OF
monkish retreats. The first of these
was the order of Mercy, established
by John of Malta, dedicated to the
Trinity, and having for its principal
object the liberation OF Christian
slaves. Other Orders had for their
objects the care of the sick. the study
and practice Of medicine, the instruc.
ton of the young, the propagation OF
the faith, etc.
Following these came the spiritual
orders of Knighthood called into ex-
istence by the same leading principles
of which clolsters and nunneries were
born. As early as the year lo4S some
merchants of Amalfi, in Lower Italy,
had erected near the Holy Sepulchre
hospital for the reception of sick
and destitute pilgrims. The hospital
was placed under the protection of ST.
John the Baptist; hence the name of
the association, Knights Of st. John,
though the monks were also called
Hospitallers. In connection with this
Order was established that of the
Danes of st. John Of Jerusalem.
Both these orders became very rich
because of the liberal donations they
received, land attained to high position.
A century later, or very soon after
the conquest of Jerusalem, change
was made in the constitution of the
Order of st. John, and we now find it
made up of three classes: knights,
Clergy, and Serving brethren. The
Knights protected the pilgrims against
the Saracenes; the Clergy performed
divine service; while the Serving
brethren administered to the suffer-
ing. For nearly two centuries this
Order stood like rock for the de-
tense of the Holy Land. When at
last the Turk prevailed against it, and
the Christian cause was lost in Pales-
tine, it retired first to the Island of
Cyprus, thence to the Island of
Rhodes, and thence to Malta which
name they took and bore.
The Order of the Knights Templars
was established very soon alter the
conquest of Jerusalem in l1l8. 1t
had its origin in the union of nine
Knights, who pledged themselves to
conduct the pilgrims through Pales-
tine, and protect them against the in
fdel. Baldwin, King of Jerusalem,
assigned them location near the site
of Solomon's Temple, whence their
name of Templars The Order be-
came very rich and powerful, and
fourished for nearly two hundred
years, when its ruin was caused by
Philip Nv. of France, who banished
all Templars in his dominions, sub.
iected them to painful imprisonment,
and accused them of unparalleled
wickedness. BY means Of torture he
forced them to confess crimes OF
which they were innocent, and order
ed many to be buried alive.
These several Orders all partook of
a religious or spiritual character, and
were designed to subserve largely re-
ligious or spiritual ends. Next were
introduced, for reasons, secret orders,
combining temporal with religious
aims; or perhaps of a strictly political
character. OF these the Alchemists,
Rosicrucians, and illuminate may be
named. There were also the Car
bonari. Virtuous Alliance, etc.
The fraternity of Free Masons is
supposed to have come into existence
early in the eighteenth century. It's
real origin is still, we suppose, a mat
ter of question. 1t first came into
public notice, when, in 1928, James
Anderson published book of constl-
tutions of which he was the author.
We learn from this book that the fra
ternity originated in the diverse as.
sociations Of architects of the middle
ages, from whom the masons had
separated in London, 17l7, retaining
only their symbols; and that their OBJ
iects were exclusively charitable and
educational.
Nearly allied to Free Masonry in It's
leading FEATURES, or similar in its or
panization, work and objects, there
came into existence in England some
time during the last century, AN Order
of Odd Fellows. 1t is asserted, and
very likely it is true, that under this
name was concealed very much O
bad repute, and that convivial pur
. poses occupied largely the foreground
And vet it was a benevolent Order
or. rather, mutual relief was among
! its prominent objects And so it grew
and flourished. II embraced all class
> es of society, from the noble to The
t bondslave Of the cotton mill and coal
mine; from Lords Brougham and
{ Landon to the humblest servant il
: their households; from the wealthies
land holder to the poorest peasant
: from those standing in the first rank
r of literature, to the neglected opera
D tive who is gathering his first knowl
D edge of letters in an evening Chart,
q School. A quarter of a century ag'
r the Order in Great Britain numbered
) three hundred and fifty Thousand
0 members, including over one hundred
It members of Parliament, more thai
$ six hundred clergymeD, and abou
r nine thousand honorary members VIII
had no claims to its funds.
0 But the exhibit that follows is Q
t the most Importance, showing wha
n from the first has been the centrs
e spirit and purpose of Odd Fellowship
D It is in relation to the amount 0
d money annually expended twenty-fiv
r or thirty years ago for the relief of th
II distressed and sick, the burial of tn
), dead, and the protection of the wido'
: and fatherless. It's annual income a
t that time was stated to be not muc
less than two millions OF dollars, an
"a I =. IL. a. r. II