Daily Republican., 1889-12-18

hhshts oil 81. John ana Malta.
A contributor sends. the following for
the REPuBLICAN.
great many OF our readers have some
knowledge that this ancient a d chlvalrIc
order 10 till alive and that q branch is
established In the United States and
Canada, which is presided over by the
Chapter General OF America, with head
quarters in New York CITY; many moro
Know nothing about II. We Lerew III
append skeloh OF tue early days of the
ord +, culled from standard h'storles:
The Order Of the Knights Of st. John
dates It's existence properly from the
period of the first crusade.
house or ho pltRl of st. John had
existed, IL IL said, at Jerusalem from the
reign OF the Emperor Justiuian, the COM
pller OF the celebrated code II was In
the year lf4S, however, that some plous
merchants from Amalll, In the kingdom
Of Naples, took possession OF the build
ing occupied by the earlier community,
ann formed an association for the relief
OF the pilgrims visiting the Holy Land
and City. Thus, at its inception, the as.
soc'ation was organized for tue sole pur-
lose of benevolence.
The church aud hospital under their
care was dedicated to ST. John the Bap.
TIT, and the members of tile fraternity
were hence called, "Brethren Hospital
lers OF st. John the Baptist of Jeru-
SALEM" They were invested with tho
regular black habit OF the Hermits of st.
Augustine, distinguished only by white
cross OF eight points on the left breast.
They also took three VOWS OF chastity,
poverty aud obedience before the Patri-
arch OF Jerusalem, under whose authority
they remained for some time. 1t is evil
dent from the foregoing, that the associa-
tion did not receive Its warranty OF exist
ence from the Pope.
1t was not until the liberation of Jeru
salem in A. -. 1909, that the latter cxer.
cisod any powers In the affairs OF the
association. IN il1S, Pope Pascal II, by
bull, usurpGd the rights OF the Patriarcl
aud the brethren by appointing Gerard
Provost and Guardian of tho Hospital o.
ct. John and Jerusalem. The successor
OF Gerard, RaynOrd d. Puy extended
the design of tho Hospitallers from caring
for the slck and needy 10 that OF adordInp
pilgrims aud strangers safe escort from
| the eeaccast TO The Holy City.
In the year HIS, or according 10 othei
| authorities 1880, the order was reorgan
lied upon military basis, and the grand
| masters assistants were formed into 3
chapter. TIE order was divided into
several languages Or nAtionalitles, w
those of Provence, Auvergne, France
Italy, Arragon, England and Germany
20 which an eighth language, viz: that o
Cast lie Was afterwards added; and grand
| prlories aud communicates were estab
lished in each national division. Thu
order was, moreover, divided into threl
classes, knights who bore arms, chaplaini
who were regular eeclesiastics, aud ser
vitors who attended the sick.
| The Chapter General held its aunua
convocatlOn last month, In the Council
chamber of Palestine Encampmcnt, No
SO, 3l5 Washington street, Brooklyn, N
| Y. There was largo attendance of Gel
egates. The four ancient orders wert
worked by picked teams. The banque
was held the evening Of the second dSy'
session. Covers were laid for $50 ~
knights. The finances were reported il
a healthy condition. The convocation o
1890 will be held at Wellsville, N. Y.
Pilgrim Encampmeut, No. 10, was In
stituted at Brooklyn, n. ", November 7
with flity charter members. Pilgrim
destined to be the banner encampment o
that district. Booklyn has now seyel
Encampmepts with 400 members.
The north star IL looming up. Crane
| Prior Cowan OF Canada reports q heavl
increase in his bailiwlck with the pros
| pect Of six new Encam pments. st
Johns, No. l, is stationed under him a
Toronto Ont. This Camp is the olles
in America, and was organized Novem
Der 30, 1870.
Bradford Encampment of Bradford
Pa, Is doing good work. Grand Prio
+. j. Eoylesou, promites TO put hi
shoulder to the wheel and organize som,
| Ercampments.
New York Encampmcnt, Ne. 43, Drill
CORPS, meets every week. NJ. r. Sir j
+. Warilg, Is drill master, Forty re
cruits have already signed the roll.
Past Grand Commander Beatty, o
Bradford, Pa, was Us the late Chapter
General presented with a handsome Pas
Grand Commanders jewel, by the Camp
stationed 10 New York Stale and Canada
and a handsome watch aud chain by tn,
| Pennsy lvnuis EmcamTmGuts. The NJ
L. Companion made eloquent and feel
tug replies to the addresses on both pres
entatinns.
Grard Commander Christian Arm
hruster, Of New York City, will pay tn
Canadian Eucampmenls an official vlsi
tho coming winter. Companion Arm
bruster is getting his Buffalo coat read,
and ia practiging on "God Save tn
Queen. We wish him a pleasant trip
|