The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-06-20
FALL OF THE TEMPLARs.
Marvellous Rise and MournfuI Fail OF
the knights OF tho Tcmp,c.

who has given any sufficient or eNhaus
i've account OF that most marvellous episode Of HE
u,S; ume ial, OF the TcmplarsY AZ The beginning
| lannon's, the most powerful, the most wealthy mn,
| lnc most popular Of all tho religious orders. TIL
Wunle oi thristchloin regarded the order with admi
ration and reverence lis services to tho Church In,
been signal tS devotion 10 It's duties remarkable
Then, In moment, II fell and fell amid Tho drcuc.
Sgrace assaulted with the foulcst accusations viii
The 1ngcf ~ scorn and loaihing pointed at IT, lila,
! ms been ever fully accounted Tor aud explained
why was it-cNcn " thctc were savage aud nm.
scfupuluuS King ot France, and lml1 aud comnll.
ant fopc-why was II that there was no scinbance OF
popular movement IN behalf Of the 1cmplars, and
no ruler IN Europe who offered them an cncctna aid
some light might probably bc thrown upon these
points aud on others connected with the fate of the
iclnnlafS IN France and other countries Of Europe
hn they do not form part 81 the subject designed Ia
be treated oi here. Suffice 1t TO Indicate one especial
source OF hostility 10 the Tcmpars which has hardly
been touched by historians, viz the bitter hotrcI
entertained against them by the mcndlcant orders
Wherever we mud Tempiars accused, tortured. suf.
iering, there are Domncans and franclscans taking
the lead In the attacks upon them.
In the space of two hundred years Of It's history the
order planted 10y the little band OF nine French gem
tlenen To defend the pilgrims going To Jerusalem had
grown mo marvellous proportions. by the end Of
lhnt period II possessed besides Its headquarters or
court IN the island OF Cyprus preceptores or branch
establishments In all the countries Of Europc II
numbered l5,OOO knights, aud far greater number
OF sciviors asprants. n exercised sway over Two
kingdoms, those Of Cyprus aud Lesser Armenia lis
grand master took the title Of king and STYLED himself
10y ,,e giaceot Col " His court was more throngcd
ministers. who by complete and thorough organlza-
ton regulated the affairs Of the order In all the coun
iries o Europe, and drew supplies from them for the
central expenditure. In the chief kingdoms III Turope
the order was represented by officers named grand
tlos' who uweii IN magnificent palaces, aud kept M
Tue most brilliant state Though regarded with zeal.
onsy, no doubt, by the kings and princes the Tenn
plars had always been able to live well with them,
shielded either by their own conduct or ly the fear
which attached to their power The prestige of no.
gion was thrown around them. They were the SOL
u,eis OF thfistenom against the infdcl. Thousands
hal nknu Ia f,,,l,I.
struggle to win the Holy Land from the Pagans. A
rope hah constituted their order, and assigned to
lei ihe white mantle and rcd for their habit
The rcigning pontiH head OF their order Their
rule was drawn from St Augustine, and was enlarged
a r, perfected by st. Bernari. suddenly astonlscd
EUROPE heard, with Infinite amazement, that the
knignts oi ms famous order had, on n certain tny
October II, 1907, been seized throughout France
INTO prison. and subjected to the dlrest fortunes 10
make them confess to charges so Incredible so abon
lna"e, mat To impue them to the mcanest mscreant
mn mn caitiu might seem outrageously absurd. Wonder
followed upon wonder. Men heard that these famous
Knights, the very flower of Chrstendom had, In the
Gie majority OF Instances, confessed the truth Of
these accusations branded themselves as apostates
bractlcers of magic, addicted to ahomlnable crimes
DIV VINE good men throughout Europe crossed them
selves with nous horror and shldercd they thought
OF the terrible power OF the evil one, all this time
poftcnons lie was being enacted, and body of gal
iant knights no worse In their morals than other
knights of their era, and far above most In high aims
disciplined valor, and ready self sacrifice were being
inundated TO glut the revenge and replenish ihc
exhausted coiiersot the most INSCRIPTIONS and daring,
as wen as one of the abcst monarchs who ever
ruled ruled IN France In his fierce struggle against
hoh!ace VIII the most pretentlous of popes Philip
me FAIR had been constantly met and thwared by the
Iehrlars, pledged TO devotion to the head OF their
order In MS attempt to debase the coinage of tho
lahd, 10 meet his eNigencies men in the rarb of
Templnrs had headed the revolt which nearly cost
fhll'p his kingdom and his life. He had sworn TO
take vengeance upon the order. Then came ready IA,
ms nahd accusations from base men, whp having be-
longed to tho order, and been expelled, desired at
once to crafty their revenge, and save tile lives for
~ nan e.,
the Kings violent passions. The accusations utterly
Incredible, We're accepted without sitting. Domini-
ran nlnlsl'9rs were ready to aid the project. The
rope was French aichsblshop, completely In the
power of the King, and SO the femplars were penrr
aily seized and IMPRISONED. The paramount influence
o, rhi,ip acting with The Pope was suclent pro.
cure thc adoption OF the same policy practicci I'm
France IN most of the other countries OF Europe The
dreadful tale OF torture followed, torture more savage
fore or since. The 1emplars, overcome by tho ago
mes O" their trial and hopng, Il they con-
, les boz easily to Obtain dissolution from
though some neIseyered, even to the death, in
Their assertions OF innoceuce. Hut soon those who
ma ~, confessed ashamed of their weakness generally
W,iIrow iheir admissions, believing that the pope
VINO was holding a formal inquiry into the CHARGES
against the order, would do them justice. They little
Knew, however, The man with whom they had to deal
While the long drawn out inquiry was nroceeiin" h,
lore the Pope, the unhappy wretches who Ind con
,ssed ana retft'ced We're seized upon by the nauis-
tio under royal directions, rclalse,l herccs and
suffered ai' the penalties of that terrible accusation
IN one day no less than ftysly of these were burnt
by slow fires, To the Abbey of ST Anthonv IN
The cnvrons Of Paris phiIlp mi the iinisim , II,
TO THIS work, when, before tho Church of Metre Dame
~ iaiis prince Of the blood-royal of France and
Jacques an Monlay, the grand master of the remlars
both Of whom had confessed and reiractad war,
burned IN charcoal fires, In the face of vast crowd
ne Grand master expired, soemny asserting his III
hocehce, and with his last words snnlnonnp Clement
l'e unjust Judge and Philip, tho cruel King to an
pear before the tribunal of God Within a Year ,irv
aJ npah ,learted to theiE ACCOMPLISHMENT quar-