The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-04-05
RlPS, SIGNS AND GRIfS.
Mirror of the Week in Lodge
and Council Room.
ACTIVITY IN MASONIC CIRCLES.
The Odd Fellows District Deputy
on His Rounds.
ACTIVITY in MASONIC CIRCLES.
KNIGHTS OF MALTA.

KNIGHTS OF MALTA.
The original constitution of the order
was Oiigarchical: but in the council the
abbot or grand master had TWO votes.
Together with the profession OF chastity
and poverty, every member vowed obedi-
ence and absolute resignation 10 the viii
Of the council No member could claim
or hold estates except III common with
the order and his brother Knights. Like
all cavaliers they were bound to defend
the people and the faith, to risk their
lives freely in battle against the in1idels;
death on the field was the acme of honor
and passport to paradise-fight from it
an inde!ible disgrace that deprived the
cravens OF the habit and cross of the Or
( der. The latter deprivation was also in
CURED by every Knight that fought a
duel on his own account, or sent or ac-
oepteu challenge to a private combat
He who struck his companion, however
lightly, was condemned to fast forty days,
and the parties TO a quarrel were to dine
on the ground, without salver or table
cloth, for seven days. Among some
curious provisions for their internal dis
eiplfne Were the following: Knights OF
st. JOhn were not permitted TO sleep
naked nor talk in bed; they were TO wear
woolen or linen night clothes, and to go
to sleep III silence as soon as they had
said their prayers, like good Christians.
They were on no account to talk at the
dinner table,
The original costume of the order was
long, plain black robe, with a very
large white linen cross with eight points
seWed on the breast, This peculiarly
formed cross has since obtained the name
of Croce dl Malta. or Malta Cross. At
the latter end of the thirteenth century
an alteration was made Ill the dress of the
Knights. The Grand Master and Council
enacted that while the brethren were in
the Held, or on any military duty, they
shouId wear over their clothes red COS
sock. with u white cross straight. The
long black CLOAK, however, was never dis
peused with in tue house.
u WIS the ptitssff9T9 on OF this long black
hRpit Ga the candidate that constituted
his initiation aud reception into the
order, and 1t was torn from bis-522cck Wnen
knight was disgraced and expelled ff0Ln
the society
The ceremonies Of profession and recep.
flon were not deficient III solemnity, the
candidate taking the vow 10 render per-
feet obedience to the superior placed over
him by the choice Of the order, be he who
he may, to live without personal property,
to give his life ii need be for the defence
Of the Christian religion and the Holy
Sepulchre.
Tue brother knight who received him
taking up the robe or habit of the order
said, 1--WE acknowledge you as a SER
want of the poor aud sick having con-
secratcd yourself to the defence Of The
Catnoiic church.. Then pointing to the
white cross on It's breast said: "rhis is
The sign OF our noble order, which we
commend you 10 constantly wear" He
then threw the robe over the candidates.
shoulder IN such manner that the cross
rested on his left breast, saying: .We
place this cross on your breast, my
brother, that you may love it with nj
your heart, and may your right hand
ever fipht in its defence, and for its pres
eryation. Should 1t every happen that,
ON com batting against the enemies OF the
faith, you should retreat, desert the
standard of the cross, and take flight,
you Will be stripped of this holy sign ac-
cording to the statutes and customs of
The order, as having broken the vows
y0u have just taken. and you will be cut
of from our body as an unsound and cor
rupt member The officiating Knight
then fastened the robe on The new
Of the Lord it IS easy and light, and you
shall find rest for your soul We promise
you nothing but bread and water, a
simple habit, and of little worth, We
give you, your parents and relations, a
nhare of the good works performed by
our order and by our brethren, now and
hereafter throughout the world TO
which all present answered: $50 be it,n
and the ceremony closed with a prayer.
Next week will give an account of
their battles.
The new commandery organizing in
Lafayette held an enthusiastic meeting
on Monday night. p. G Van Antwerp
addressed the meeting giving deserip-
tive history of the order. On next Mon
day evening q name will be chosen and Il
commander elected. The conlnandery
will be Instituted on saturday, April IA.
McG1ent0ck Commandery In HobOkeD,
held gu Interesting meeting in spite OF the
rain. ID. S. G. Jones aud p. G. Van An
tUerp were present. Several candidates
who had signed the charter were initiated,
and tile degrees up to The Red Cross con-
feried by d. S. C. Jones assisted by r.. C.
Van Antwerp. The Red Cross degree
was then worked on twelve, after which
their new commander was installed
Several new applications were received.
a new commandery ID under way at
Ratnsey's, Bergen county. 1t will be in
stifuted during the present month.
Alpha Commnndery has removed to No.
$50 CommunipaW avenue, Excelsior Hall,
and will change their meeting night TO
Friday
AIpha's first meeting in their new hall
was,a bowling success.
r. 9. McClung was In it with both feet,
and wasn't our Prelate there.
Commander Forshay kept the com pam
ions in order or tried to.
The Bayonne Prince was on his feet all
the time, kicking as usual.
Where was Lon Woodley?
RED MEN.
Winona Tribe worked two degrees on
two candidates and received propositions
from Two palefaces at Wednesdays
sleep. They also received visit from
Cherokee Tribe No. 10 of New York.
They were happy and their hearts were
glad, for their Chief of Records is found.
Brother Newcomb is on the warpath in
fun war paint. Whose scalp is he afters
Sepoghon Tribe No. 142 received prono-
sitions from six paiefaces and raised
four brothers TO the chiefs degree
They received visitation from the Great
Misshinewa Forsythe aud d. D. Dale.
d. d. Dale has been found and rescued.
Rud the Indians of this reservation are
happy. They will hold ghost dance in
his honor.
The new tribe In Greenville Is doing
finely They have forty-fve signers to
the application. They will hold one
more meeting TO select the name and
elect officers. They expect to be institut-
ed on the twenty fifth sleep OF this moon.
This Is the Plant moon.
The new tribe at Hoboken has adopted
the name Of Hopatcong. They have
ninety-ssven names on their charter list
and will be Instituted on the 18Th OF th is
month. Brother Toomy Of MauhanaKa
No. III Of New York is the organizer
Judge Daily Will be scalped along with
some Of the frst citizens of Hoboken by
this tribe.