The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1890-04-17


and king. He who was never false
10 his order was an incarnation OF
Democracy. The Roman church
realized the only enduring form Of
socialism known Ia Europe. This
church may have been aetuated by
ambitions rather thsn religious
motives Ia preaching and conduct.
ing the crusades she did use
the power she thereby gained, TO
further moral aud benevolent
objects. She did not create the In
stitutiOn Of Knighthood-but lt did
lift that Institution on to q higher
plane, Il lifted the lowly born tn the
highest round, and put worth aud
character above birth and station.
II clothed the knight with hOnOrs of
nobility, aud threw around him the
sanctities Of the priesthood. This
Economically ideal persoDage IL
pledged to the lOwllest duties.
The christian Knight, heueeforth
was to unite in himself the ex.
eeIlenees Of all aristocrscies and all
demoeracies. He was to strive TO be
superior TO abby being the servant
OF the most needy.
All the pOmp and circumstance Of
the church was called into service
to stamp upon his mind, and hre his
heart with worthy conceptions OF
the lofty moral character he was 10
maintain, as . defG nder Of the faith
aud the protector of the defeneeless.
The Mother church, with wisdom
born Of ages OF experience, recOg-
niEed the power Of symbols to Inn
press truth upon the mind-and Gu
list the affection. The candidate
came nrst under the discipline and
instruction OF the church. He was
subject to long fasts and trying
viRiIs. His soul was searched In the
confessional. He was baptized as =
symbol Of publication. He vss
clothed with q white tunic to signify
the purity OF his Intentions. Over
this was thrown = red robe, az q
symbol Of the blood he was ready tn
shed in the service Of the faith. He
was then enveloped In q black cloak,
to remind him Of the death which
awaited him aud all men. This
service was followed 10y commuB-
ion, aud the sOlsmDiZatiOD Of the
man aud this 10y a sermon on the
duties Of Knights. The knight first
offered his sword on the altar OF the
church to signify his devotion to
religion, aud his determination to
live "A holy life. After the benedic-
ton his sword was girded on by the
highest ecelesiastlc present. lie
was then conducted To his COM
maudery aud caused tn kneel before
his cOmInander-aud being by him
severely catachlZed as to his motives
was dubbed aud created q Knight
In the name of God aud commanded
to he brave, adventurous, and cour-
teOus. In twenty-slx articles he
swUIe 10 fear, revere, and serve God
religiously: to fight for the christian
faith, to speak the truth, to main
tain the right; TO protect the dis
tressed to love, honor and aid CON-
RAMON knights; to faithfully
observe his pledged word, TO prac-
tice cOurtesies. Even q sneering
GibbOn IL constrained TO AcknOw-
ledge THAT the benefits OF this in
situation, to refine the barhaTisIH,
aud TO infuse some principles of
faith, Justice Bnd humanity were
strongly felt, and have been often
observed. The asperity Of national
prejudice was sDftened; aud q COM
muniIy OF religion aud arms spread
a generous emulation over the face
of christendOm." And q critical
French writer asserts-"ThHt there
never were more brutal aud licen-
tiOus ages than those In which
chiValry Vas bOrn-in which christ
ian KnighthOod held aloft ideal
principles Of life aud conduct.
The Knights by wOrshipping the
Madonna, hOnored maternity and
purity, aud this did much to elevate
woman TO her true rank. Time does
not suffer less to show that chivalry
l. the mine whence poetry and art
drew the gems humanity has SO
proudly worn, and that moral order
aud true progress date from the
advent Of christian KnighthOOd.
The firmest bulwarks OF jerusalem
were the Knights Of the hospital Of
II. John. The spirit and discipline
OF the knights OF st. John were
immortal. This order was composed
Of pious aud charitable brethren
who established a hospital In
Jerusalem and spent their whole
time in relieving the distressed and
III LEASED pilgrims daily arriving In
that city. When this city became
the metropolis OF q new kingdOm,
the revenues OF the hospital surpass-
ed the necessities Of this charitable
work. The bOundless hospitality
and noble charity only increased
the number OF these brethren and
their wealth. Raymond DePuy,
the ruler OF this charitable house,
transformed the able bodied OF this
fraternity into hardy aud valiant
hand Of warriors. who long defenCed
Palestine with unfiiBching courage,
and protected the pilgrims who
visited the Holy Land. When
driven from Palestine they estsb-
lished themselves in Cyprus. Los
ing this asylum they took possession
Of the Island OF Rhodes. After hold
ing this for two hundred years, they
were driven forth by the Turks,
after a long and bloody struggle. |
They then received a grant OF the
Island Of Malta, and were known a.
the Knights Of Malta. This order
through its long aud checkered
career maintained the original
given TO IL hy its founder.
Every candidate was pledged to |
render obedience to his superior, to |
live without personal property, 10 |
preserve his chastity, and to con.
duet himself as q priest warrior, but |
ne was Acknowledged aud received |
as the servant Of the poor and sick. |
The humanitarian aud charitable |
feature was the distinguishing |
of this order. This |
was the secret OF Its worth, power |
aud continuance. IL We would be a
like power and continue through all
the changes Of time we must learn /
the secret, and cultivate the plety |
that expresses itself I'm benevolence. /
The order Of The Knights Of the
Temple Of Solomon, or knights
Templsrs was laid In Jerusalem In
he year Ills. In the year l22s, this
order having attained stability, was
sOlemnly confirmed by the council
IL Troyes. IT WAS subjected TO a
rule Of discipline drawn up by st.
Bernard. This order vas composed
OF the nobility, noble
raloT aud marvellous deeds. But
orders OF Knighthood was an lustI-
.uti0n of military monks. These de-
lenders of the faith maintained the
iOuhle character OF soldier and
priest. The proudest noble had to
sue for the priyils &c and
honor Of being enrolled among the
poor soldiers Of the cross, and kings
ave sued In vain. Even these proud
Iobles were touched by the moral
y lBdeur OF humility, and by the
gracious Humanitarian spirit Of the
onnder n our religion. After this