Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-08-01

Ehs srzua 7sarnzaszs.
ssanday, The day 81 apart fsr sl.c grsnd i0ur-
aament Vas usherea IN ~ Clouds. and many
we're The r1xress and fears tllss the main Sessiviss
81 ne day woaid bare 70 u siaaacnea Al
quite an eariy hoar, eavaicale a knights from
far and nsar Nas seen entering che Town from
The xorsh. The weather was Watched with In
tease interest, and a the apposnsrd time Cor she
s0nrnay 70 eommenes the sloads lined and PROM
issd ire anticipated pleasure. Then The knights,
10 the strains of tnusic. marched in column .
the seld, followed By l0ag line Of carriages
flied with fair pleasure. seekers. Who woald
grace the chiTaIgic sport ofthe day. Tire knights
having arrived on the seld, were narsfalisd By
Col. ). r. Crane, assisted by wm. A. Kirk,
Esq, Herald. A trial rSn Vas gissReaeh knight,
after which they we're halted Ia front a. the
Jaares stAnd 10 receive the eharge q the srator
o. shs day, Hon. Eli J. Henkle. The orator,
haSing been gracsfally introduced BY The Hon.
b. @. Harris. Chief Judge, delivered himself Tn
an appropriate and tasteful aadfess, which We
take pleasure in presenting 70 our readers in sub
stance, a. foliowsi
Ss EaseAts .--Ycu hare convened upon this
fair feld, Ia the presence Of the assembled youth,
beauty and ehivalry a your section, 20 contend
IN generous rivalry for the superiority In horse
m.anship and tie use Of the lanre. For him who
shall nrove himself the champion in this striIes
the proud distraction Il reserved 70 crown the
LADY Of his choice as Qncen Of Lore and Beauty
II III IL eoodiv gathering. For fhcse others
Who shalt excel - the order g yer hefls = -
served the rigat 20 place friumphal ufeathss
upon she bruHs Of those they may select as the
ATTENDING Maids OF Honor. The occasion IS one
of unusual interest The assembly Of knights OF
known courage, skill and succrss as displayed
mon MANY . we'll contested field; the array Of
richly caparisoned steeds and glittering arrnor;
the large coucouFse Of citizens from all conditions
Of life assembled 10 give eounteRsnce and inter
est 10 the contest: the soul stirring strains Of
martial music, and this glorious galaxy ofiemaie
beauty forming bcquet Of surprising LONELINESS
around rs are more than enough 20 IRE the heart
Of yonth 10 deeds Of noble daring, and doubt
NOT that each OF you whether success or defeat
awaits vou- efforts ia this stirring strife, viii de-
port himself In that true knightly spirit only to
lie found where the true spirit Cfknigbt-errantry
prevails. The contest for ascendency aud supe-
rioritv in such spirited Though friendly strife Is
sufficient of itself 20 arouse intense interest and it
always will be 20. II lisa useful, healthful, man
liz and pieasurable pastime, and Is worthy OF
announcement and preparation If for but this
alone. But sir knights, you are well aware that
there is deeper significance in all this than sim
pie skill in craftsmanship and dezterous use OF
the lance. The spirit Of ehivalry underied eve
~ order Of knighthood. He who ASSUMES the IT,
lie and the role of knight, should aspire and
strive to exemplify in bis own bearing all that
the term implies.
What Is chivalry? Il has been eloquentIy and
appropriately defined as 'tliat high and delicate
sense Of honor that deems stain upon ones
country as individual disgrace. That moral
courage that meets danger, and meets il at known
odds and that patriotism that would sooner re-
cline upon n death-bed Of laurels than flourish in
wealth and power under the night shade OF des-
potism" IL had its birth and origin in the ne
cessities Of human society. When in The fierce
and fiery commissions that distracted all Europe
in the rolling ages Of the past, the uEited ener-
ries Of the civil and The military power were un-
equal TO The task OF ensuring protection 20 the
weak and defencCless against the greed the lust
and expressions Of the wicked and the strong,
the genius Of true chiyairy had its birth. Then
Il was that hosts Of noble spirits adopted the pro-
fession Of arms and took upon themselves most
solemn VOWS, devoting their lives 10 the yiBdi-
catiJn-of the right and the protection Of the de-
fencelcss and innocent. By life Of self-denial
and seIf-sacrifce, they won for themselves an i'm
mortality Of fame. The memory Of their noble
deeds will live In the min6s Of men so long as
virtue shall be valued and true courage receive
the admiration Of our species. Tothe spirit that
their lives and example have ineulcated in the
minds Of men, is woman indebted more than TO
all other sources for that elevated and honorable
position she now holds in civilized society which
nature and natures God intended she should
hold, Fortunately the greater evils for the re-
lief Of which the orders Of knighthood were In
stitused, no longer exist. Governments have
been instituted amongst men far superior Cor the
protection Of person and property than existed
in the middle ages, and organized orders
of knighthood are no longer a necessity In civil
lized countries. They have long since passed
away. The places that once knew them shall
know them no more forever. "Their escutcli-
cons have crumbled from the walls Of their cas-
ties and their castles themselves are Shapeless
piles Of ruins
tgTh. kn;1hts ara drzt