The record-union., 1892-01-09

able. The esquire IS taught the way by
which he may avoid forming friendships
where naught but self is 10 be considered,
Indeed the rank OF esquire is school of
instruction in the more practical things
OF life. 1t is highly proper for mankind
IN general to be cautious and circum-
spect in all their dealings, careful of the
interests and welfare of the family which
is, or may be confided to his care A
person should keep a sentinel on guard
over his actions at all times lest in an an
guarded moment he do that which he
would forever regret. Care in the trans
action Of business so that no injustice is
Gone to employer. customer or self. and
the exercise of charity toward the frail-
ties and shortcomings of others. and the
care Tor and help of the needy and
aihlcted, are all taught in this rank, and
the means used to impress them upon the
MIND OF the esquire are no ordinary
ones, but such as must make a lasting
impression, as every Knight here will
TESTIFY. The man who has passed sue
cesstully the trials of the ESQUIRE rank
can follow the advice given bv DR.. Tal-
mage III relation to traducing ones char
acter: When we hear something bad
ABOUT somebody whom we always sup
posed to be good, take out your lead
pencil and say, Let me see, before / ac-
cept that baletuI story against that mans
character, | will take off from it 25
per cent. for the habit OF exaggeration
which belongs to the man who FIRST told
The story; then would take Off % per cent.
torthe additions which the spirit of gossip
III every community has put upon the
original story; then I would take off -
per cent. for the fact that the man NAV
nave been put into circumstances of over
poWerlng temptation. So I have taken
or 10 per cent, but | have not heard his
of oil 70,
take OF the remaining % per cent. En-
cuse me, sir, don't believe word of it, ,
NIne-tenths of the slanderous reports
that get INTO circulation owe their origin,
not TO malignant invention, but to FOOLS
tongue
An esquire easily can disregard the de-
1ectlVe maxim, that where there is so
dauch smoke there must be some fire.
Inc maxim is true i'll literal sense. but
usually false when applied to human ac-
lions, ana IS but SuDterfuge and justifi-
catloh behind which the scandal monger,
the reckless, goSsiping fool loves to
screen his hellish work.
AND so the practicable and valuable
lessons necessary to a high state of hui
man society are taught the esquire in his
progress TO knlghthood. In olden times.
When the page became a squire he as
sumed more dignity; he carved and
served at his masters table, proffered the
hrSt cup OF wine to the host and guests
ana carried to them the basin to wash be-
lore and after meat. His military and
aGhIetlc sports increased day by day: he
learned to ride, to WELD the sword and
oattle-aX, to swim and climb, to run and
leap ana bear the weight Of armor In
urea himself TO the vicsstudes of heat
ana cold, and voluntarily suffered the
pangs OF hunger and thirst, fatigue and
sleeplessneSS. 1t was now the time in
us ne When he was expected to choose
ms lady love, whom he was to regard
with alteration at once earnest, respect
IuI and the more meritorious if con-
ceaieu. Nnen far enough advanced in
military training he took his sword to the
priest. who laid it on the altar. blessed it
ana returned 1t. He then Joined some
AhlgnG OF his choice and was dubbed
squire OF the body, and it became his
DUTY TO bear the shield and armor of his
cnleI 10 the field. In battle he must
guard the banner of the knight he
served, raise MN from the ground if I'M
hofSed, supply him with a horse when
his was lost or killed, guard his pris-
ohers, night by his side if uneqally
matched, rescue him if captured, bear
nun OH the field II wounded and to bury
MN honorably when dead This service
ne performed for seven long years. And
TINS was the ordeal through which an
esquire must pass before he was thought
worthy to wear the golden spurs Of a
Knight. There We're many forms of
creating Knight according to the name
or distinction of the sect, but in nearly
ali the squire knelt before his SOVEREIGN.
VINO, with naked sword touched his
naked shoulder, bidding him rise. and
calling him by his Christian name with
the addition of Sir"
In our order the probation of an es-
qure seeking the high honors of Knight
mood is not seven years. but seven DAVIS
at the end Of which, if he prove himself
Well qualified in the work of the proceed
ing ranks, he may be admitted to the
rank OF Knight. He was taught obedi-
ence in the rank OF page, which is now
to be further impressed upon his
mind by lessons the most fearful
IN appearance, yet mythical in fact. We
believe that all human beings should first
be taught to obey. No man can govern
successfully until he himself has learned
10 be governed. To command, he must
first learn to obey. There are times in
every mans lie when it is necessary for
him to have full control of all his faculties:
when 1t becomes necessary for him 10
exercise prudence, caution and courage.
As the battle OF life progresses. day nv
day he meets with obstacles, thrown in
his way by designing persons and by his
1elloW-man IN the sharp competition in
trade and business, which obstacles seem
at times to be insurmountable, and for
the want OF courage to perSeVere, and
prudence and caution to guide him, fail
ure attends him, and he stands quiyerinp
and shaking with fear, his heart sinks
within him, and, although apparently at
the goal of his ambition, if none present
TO brace him up, would sink back into de-
spondency ana Obscurity, declaring life a
failure. There is occasionally one who. like
Bonaparte, knows no obstacle, will, with
Indomltable courage, force his way on
to 1t, and thence beyond, or he will seek
q passage around it, / have seen a few
men, standing on the threshold of
knlghthood, seeking the high estate of
Pytnlan honors, exhibit the courage of q
Napoleon and the iron will and heroic
nerve OF Grant, knowing no fear, would
push on to the attainment of that great
honor. 1t must be remembered, however.
that as there are but few Grants and less
Napoleons, so there are but few men seek
ing Pythian honors, or fightingIthe battles
OF life, who, without training, possess
the qualities that will enable them to
show TO the brethren and the world that
they have sufficient iron in their COM
position to meet encouragement heroic
ally, obstacles courageously, and to pass
through ali ordeals which are well calu-
lated to test their bravery. 1t is not only
physical, but moral courage as well. that
is taught in this rank. And / am one of
those who believe that if the lessons in
tended to be inculcated in the rank of
knight were well understood and prac-
ticed by all who receive them, selfish
ness would be driven out, and the storms
and darkness of wrath and tulnult