The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-04-22
Ancient Masonic Knighthcodss

The Knights of Rome and the Red
Gross OF Constantine claims TO be the
most ancient order of Christian
Knightllood. 1t las but recently
been Permanently established in this
country. About four years ago sew
eral grand bodies were formed, the
requisite number ol conclayes having
beeen established in each State, and
general grand conclAye for the United
States. In England the rites has
been quite active, The date of its in-
PRODUCTION there Is said to be coeval
with the return of Richard Occur de
Lion from the Holy Land, A. ID.
ll95. The original seven orders Of
chiyalry conferred in England, were;
First, Red Cross of Constantine; sec-+
ond, Knights Templars; third,
knights OF Malta; fourth, Knights
OF the. Holy Sepulchre; fifth, Roso
Croix; sixth, Templar Priest Lord;
seventh, Commander-elect knight
kadosh. These have been divided,
Knights Tempiars of the command
cries having control OF some Of the
dregrees, aud the Knights of Con-
stantine now work only three, viz:
frat, Red Cross of Rome and Con-
stantine second, Knights OF the Holy
Sepulchre; third, Novice and Knight
of st. John the Evangelist These
can only be conferred upon Knights
Templars in this Jurisdiction. In
some localities they have been con-
fcrrcd OH Royal Arch Masons, but
efforts have been madeto confine the
degrees to Knights Templars only.
The Red Cross of Rome and Conslan-
tine degree claims to have been insti.
tuted by Constantine the great En-
perior of Rome, in A. d. 3l3, as a
memorial of the divine miracle which
effected his conversion to the Chris
tian faith, and also as a reward for
the valor, of certain of his soldiers.
The manner OF his conversion is IA
miliar to all Sir. Knights. One even
ing, The army being ON its march to-
ward Rome, Constantine, rejecting
ON the dangers of his expedition and
sensible of his own shortcomings,
was meditating on the various relig-
ious opinions which divided mankind
lie sent up his ejaculation to heaven
for inspiration and wisdom to choose
the right path. His prayer was heard
for as the sun was declining pillar
Of light appeared in the heavens in
the shape OF cross with the insrip-
ton, "In hoe signo vinces." His
army expressed the utmost astonish-
ment at this remarkable occurrence,
but Constantine being reassureds by
visions aos the night caused a royal
standard to be mado like that he had
cen in the heavens TO be carried be-
fore him as an ensign Of victory and
heavenly protection. The second,
Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, is
founded on traditional Incidents con-
nected with the tomb of our Savior,
in the year OF our Lord 329. Helena,
Of Britain, mother of Constantine the
Great, made journey to the Holy
Land In search OF the Cross of the
Redeemer, and this degree is to com
memorate the finding oft and the
peculiar arrangements made for it's
preservation and protection. The
third degree, that of Novice and
Knight Of ST. John the Evangelist,
had its origin as follows: The crus-
aders, finding themselves unable to
expel the Saracens fro.n the Holy
Land, agreed with Godfrey de Bouill-
on TO veil the mysteries Of religion
under emblenis, to maintain their de.
4 votions in. secret and secure them
selves against the intrusion oftraitors
or pretended friends. Those who
had attained this degree were consid-
cred the true Masons, as they only
received II alter warfare with the enc
| mics Of the faith aud were admitted
| In full communion with the brother
hood. The moral qualification and
social position ofcandidates are in
sisted unon. This order was incor-
porated with the Masonic orders Of
Knighthood in France, and Germany
in the middle OF the last century,
Previous to that time it had been a
sovereign military order, and 1t still
exists in modified form as such an
| order in Austria, Frederic the Great
gave II masonic Importance in Ger
many, and the princes of-the house, Of
Guelph have protected it in Great
Britian. kiA'idsii --'''sE@ e.''n1