Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-05

Ull>--N With virgin hearts
dedicated their lives to the sacred task
of guarding from proclamation the land
made holy by the footsteps of their Savior.
Clad in heavy armor and sustained by their
mighty zeal they marched forth with the
sign Of the cross upon their shields to do
battle with the profaners of the temple
Of the world-the holy sepulcher Of Christ
They were not the leaders of the crusade; they
were not of the fanatic host that left their
homes and followed in a frenzy the lead Of
Peter the Hermit, marking their route with
pillage and murder until they called upon them
selves the vengeance Of both Christian and
Turk. This host, 100000 strong, was but the
chat blown before the hurricane that arose in
Europe and swept over the land of Islam.
Godfrey de Bouillon at the head OF
knights of the nobility of Europe was a diff
ferent thing from the army of the Hermit. 1t
was out of this noble legion that arose the
knights Templar, az arose other noble orders
of knighthood.
The origin and motive Of the Knights Tenn
plar especially romantic and chivalrous
and so glorious were their deeds OF chiralry
that the reflection from their bright armor has
cast halo about the holy wars and blinded
history to many deeds of blood that stain the
record Of that time.
THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM
After the crusaders had captured jerusalem
and Godfrey de BoQillon had been proclaimed
first OF the Latin kings of Jerusalem pilgrims
began to swarm toward the holy land. The
capture of Jerusalem was regarded by all Eu-
rope as the opening of the way to the holy
sepuleher. Maldeus and matronS and men
bent with age started on pilgrimages to the
holy land, unprotected save by their fervant
Zeal and religious enthusiasm. But though
Jerusalem was free from the Turks, the way
Wa not safe. The infdes had not been driven
from Palestine yet. They still maintained
themselves IN many of their strongholds and cut
on communication between Jerusalem and the
sea coast. They pillaged the travellers on the
road and terrible outrages were perpetrated
upon the Christian pilgrims. To defend the
virtue of their women aud the honor of their
church uine noble knights took vows in the
Holy Church of the Resurrection at Jerusalem,
renounclng the world and its pleasures, and
formed themselves into a brotherhood in arms
10 clear the highway to Jerusalem. Animated
by noble religious fervor and full of their
sacred cause, they embraced VOWS of perpetual
chastity. obedience and poverty after the man
ner OF monks. They selected Mary the Sweet
Mother OF Cod as their patroness and termed
themselves Poor Fellow soldiers of Jesus Christ.
Their lives were to be devoted TO the cause of
cEivairy and from them it may be said that the
term ''chiSalry" gets its most noble signii-
cance
ORGANIZED IN 1l13
This organization of KIN ghthood was formed
In his, Hugh De Payens, a most distinguished
knight at its head Five years later they we're
rewarded for noble service to the cause of
Christianity by the grant of habitation IN the
temple on Mount Moriah, and thenceforth they
were known as Knights of the Temple or
knights Templar.
From this beginning grew the order which
bpRama mad for he and
heroism of its knights and whose name has
since stood for chIvalry-whose deeds OF yalor
have been told IN song and story. Generations
have been thrilled by the tales of strife and
tournay IN which these noble knights. clad in
shining armor and performing prOdigious feats
a. arms, have been the heroes. always magnani-
nous, always grand i'll their devotion and valor.
Theirs was the age of chivalry. Whether it
Is Iennysons good Sir Galahad or the knight
OF Ivannoe, the knight of chivalry is in ro-
nance the personificasion of purity and vaIor.
his
Good blade carves the casques Of uen,
his strength 5 the streng tn OF ten,
because MS heart Is pure"
He is always battling to save some maid from
shame and thrdu. 1ennysons knight is the
pure knight Iemplar. 10 save the fair pill
grlms from shame and thran was the impulse
and motive of these knights When they took
orders under Sir Hugh of the Temple and the
sIR WALTER sCoTTs KNIGHTS
strike the mind of the devoted Templar Of the
present day as less true, but the romance lover
clings to them with enthusiasm and the poetry
of his mind is woven about them The knights
IN ghtterlng armor, with noddlng plumes and
banners spread. mounted on gaily caparisoned
ste, DIS. respond to the trumpets call and march,
oraveiy to espouse the cause of right. They
sally forth 10 meet the Saracen host, thinking
Of tbeir
There Is a peculiar charm about the descrip-
tons OF the single combat of the knights in
tournay. where right is supposed to be ALWAYS
mighty and 70 triumph over all who oppose IL:
where heralds' trumpet call assemblies the
knights In heavy armor, with emblazoned
shields and lance at rest; the charge the
shock. the splntered lance and shivered shield:
the desperate combat hand to hand: the
triumph over fallen foe, greeted with music by
the minstrel band, the cheers of men and
flowers ''rained from ladies hands" All this
nts the fancy for picture of the days of
chiyalry.
The field Of action Of the Knights Templar
was not IN tournay. They were the stern. re-
iensless Toes OF the saracens and the Turks, and
the shock upon their shields was from the
seimitar, and the infidels arrows ratified on
their armor.
Their battle was for the supremacy OF Jesus
over Mohammed- The edifce from which the
Templars derived their name was a maoni6csnt
l.
peror. Justinian, and completed by Caiiph
Omar, known then as Solomon's Temple. After
being installed In this abode the knights Tenn
pisr soon extended their work from the pro-
lection Of pilgrims TO the
pEFESsE OF yERusALEM.
The Mussuimans were recovering from the
effects of their numerous defeats and were be-
coming aggressive, and the power Of the
Iempiars was brought to oppose them I'm
ll2o the order OF the knights Templar received
the appreciation OF the pope at Rome A coun-
eh was held and a code of laws adopted which
Addison thus describes:
Ihls form OF government Is principally of n
rengious character, and of an austere and
gloomy cast Ii - divided into seyentv-tvo
heads or chapters, and Is preceded by a abort
prologue addressed TO all who disdain 10 follov
after their own wills, and desire with purity nj
MIND TO night for the most high and true King
eXnorung them to put on the armor of obs,i;
snce and TO associate the mseIyes together with
Piety and humility for the defense Of the Holy
tathoic church, and to employ a pure dilIi
gence and steady perseverance in the ex.r
else OF Their sacred profession, so that they
might share IN the happy destiny reserved for
the holy Warriors who had given nm their live.
FOR Christ es
RULES on TIE ORDER.
The rules enjoin severe devotional exercises.
Standardization. fasting and PRAYER and .
constant attendance at mathis. vespers and all
the services of the church, that. being pa
freshed and satisfied with heavenly food In.
struetsd and established with heavenly prs-
cepts. after the consummation Of the Divine
mN.tSrls.- nome h. afrafd Of h. Ak -.