The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-03-29
RAPS, SIGNS AND CRIES
An Ancient Institution is
the Knights Of
MaNa.
NOTES FROM MANY LODGE ROOMS.
Gossip About Knights, Masons, Odd
Fellows and others.
KNIGHTS,0F MALTA.

KNIGHTSs0F MALTA.
The history of the ancient and illustr |.
Gus order OF the Knights OF Malta IS a a
interesting but very large sub1ect, oelng,
ia fact, for several centuries interviewer
with, and leading part OF, the general
history Of Christendom.
Beginning in the darkness of the tenth
century, when the Saracens were masters
Of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, they
thence go through all the adventurous
and romantic periods Of the Crusades,
rhrough the wars with the Turks, against
whom they were considered by the Chris
tiaBs as a bulwark, and after nearly
eight centuries they come TO an enu as q
power tthrough treachery) during the
wars consequent on 1.-THE French hevolu-
ton.
Few dynasties of emperors or kings
have lasted so long rs this order. As
early as 1913 the Catholic Christians OF the
commercial States of Italy had obtained
from the Mohamedans permission to erect
church in Jerusalem wherein they
might celebrate mass according to the
Latin ritual TO this church was soon
added two hospitals, the one named after
st. John for the accommodation OF m ale
pilgrims, and the other. St. Mary Magda-
len, Tor the reception OF females some
Benedietine monks performed the SER
vices Of the church, aud pious iaymen
who had resolved to end their days in the
Holy Land, attended to the houses OF
charity.
At first they were all Italians, but in
time other nations sent their traders and
davotees thither and mixed European
colony was formed on the shores OF Asia,
the members of which differed widely IN
character and language, but were held to-
gether by common religion and BY the
necessity of mutual assistance and sup
port against common enemy. Men OF
all European nations joined the Origi nal
founder In the work of the houses OF
charity. all nations giving aims Tor their
subsistence.
Originally the Hospital Of St. John was
what Its name impaired. ana nothing
more: the sick were cared for, the hun
cry fed; the aked clothed with gar
nent, aud the dead. buried. Those who
had devoted their lives to this work We're
known the world over as the HosDitailer
Brothers Of ST. Johns of Jerusalem. An
economical, transformations hospitality
was praeticed. and so just and compre-
hensive Il notion of charity was enter
tanned. that not even the infidel Arab or
Turk was ever sent away empty handed
from its gates when want. made him
suppliant.
But this state of things was gradually
changed when new conquerers OF the
country, the Seljukian aud Otokie Turks.
took possession. and despising the toler-
ance of their Muselman predecessors
began teipersecute the Christians; and the
Christians instead of being satisfied with
their condition of guests, traders and pill
.grims, which indeed they could no longer
enjoy in peace, resolved to make them
selves masters OF the tomb of Christ and
all Palestine by force Of arms.
By the year 100 the warriors OF the
first crusade had driven the infidels from
the Holy Land; and Godfrey OF Boufllon
or Godfrey de Bouillon, was unanimously
elected first christian King of Jerusalem.
Then the Order Increased in Importance
aud In 11i3 II was made into a regular
monastic society. with obligatory laws
and regulations, and it became the first
of the military orders of monks This
was In 11l8, when Gerard was Chief Abb
bot, but it was not until some twenty
years later, under the Abbot Raymond
Du Puy. that these monks became sol
diers, and welded with the same hand
the cross and the lance.
Many religious military orders sprang
into existence, but the first among them
all was that of ST. John of Jerusalem, or
the Hospitallers, originally established TO
receive and succor The pilgrims of that
city, and the second was the Knights
Tempiars. whose occupation was to pro-
vide for the safety of the pilgrims against
the infidels, who molested them in their
travels to and from the Holy Land. The
third was the Teutonic Knights, who
proposed 10 perform both OF these
. duties.
Al these first regular interpretations
the Hospitallers were divided into three
classes, nobility, clergy, and servientes or
serving brothers. The mobiles forming the
military department, the clergy attend
ing to the religious portion of the order,
and the serving brothers attending TO the
hospital. niinistering to the sick and
hungry 10 Tho
order WAS devided into eight sections or
languages, which were represented in
the mem bership, each language having
its own officers, but all under the direc-
tlon of Grand Master
Next week / shall trace their history
onward from this point
Companion Trouter is at work organiz-
ing new commandary in LAFAYETTE. Go
it, Alex, you can make it Il success
Do not forget the Red Cross degree is
to be worked at McClintock on Thursday
next.
The Commandery in Newark will soon
be ready for institution
COMMANDMENTS are under way in Mont
clair, Bloomfield and Orange. Chapter
general Spies take notice
There viii be six Communicates insti-
tinted in Northern New Jersey before May
l. We are the people.
Come GreenvlIle, don't be left in the
~ = - A~t+- - p OOt4i pdutOA 1EOn5. keJ "
work. Dan is a hustler when he gets
at IT.
Alpha worked the scarlet on two candi-
dates at its last meeting. 1t has more
candidates.
Companion Cahey of Alpha was buried
in New York Bay Cemetery on Wednes-
day with knightly honors This was the
first Knight of Malta funeral in this
county. May they not have another for
long time. Alpha turned out about
thirty members. All the officers wore
fatigue uniforms,
A degree commandery will soon be
started In this city. All Red Cross
knights are eligible. A meeting Will soon
be called.
Would like TO hear from Robert Bruce
Sendsus some news, companions.
JUNIOR MECHANICS.
The Joint Excursion Committee of