Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-27
ASCENSION DAY.
KNIGHTS TEMPLlR ATTEND SERVICES ATST.
MATTHEW'S P. E. CHURCH,
Wheeling and Cyrsne Communicates lssnd IN a
Body Last Evening = Rev. DR.. 5gops
DeliTsTs an Address.


Knights Templar, attended E cension
Day services in a body at Sc. Mat
thew's Episcopal Church last even
ing. At 1880 o'clock the members OF
the Communicates formed In line on
Twelfth street, and headed by the
Opera House band, gave short parade
previous to entering the church. There
were about sixty men in line, and they
presented handsome appearance.
Precisely at o'clock the Knights en-
tered the church, and proceeded up the
center aisle, taking seats reserved for
them in front. They were followed by
Rev. DR.. Il. r. Sw0pe, Rev. O'Mara, OF
Washington, Pa, and Chaplain Robert
Brown, all wearing the Episcopal vest
ments. While the Knights were en-
tering the church, the choir rendered
the professional hymn, Coward,
Christian Soldiers" The music was a
feature Of the services, the choir being
strengthened by several voices. The
chancel rail and pulpit were adorned
with laurel and evergreen.
The special services opened with the
sentences and exhortatiOns by the Pre-
late, Rev. OMara, followed by the de-
caration Of absolution, after which the
choir sang "Gloria in EXcelsis." The
ten commandments were then recited,
and the choir sang the "Ie Deum Laud-
anus" Chaplain Brown read the scrip
tural lesson, aud the choir rendered
"Jubilate Deo."
Eminent Sir Knight Rev. DR.. r. r.
Swope then briefly welcomed the Sir
knights, telling them that in assem-
bling at religious services they were
but following an ancient custom, not
hitherto generally observed in Wheel
ing, but which he hoped would be fol-
lowed hereafter. The hymn Our Lord is
risen from the dead" was then sung by
the congregation, after which DR..
Swope, Prelate of the Grand Commen-
derry Knights Templar OF West Virginia,
delivered an address, Of which the fol-
lowing Is a synopsis:
In a chapel in Loadon there are nnm-
Der of carved Knights, represented as
living men in a reclining position. The
entire ensemble of these individuals is
the exact counterpart Of what they
were in life, in the glorious days OF
yore-men of magnificent proportions,
athletes, warriors. They were also
men OF the church, not eccleSiaStics,
but laymen like yourself. They had
simply banded themselves together, and
taken vows Of chastity, poverty and
obedience. In the early ages men
travelled to secure the good Of their souls
and naturally their minds turned
to Palestine, where they could
mark the footsteps Of their
Blessed Lord and Redeemer Pill
grims OF early times, therefore, went TO
Palestine. After the Saracens secured
possession Of the land for awhile they
allowed certain privileges to the pill
qrims from Europe. But after a time
the more war-like and brutal among
them took TO robbing the pilgrims.
Then came the Crusades, and from all
parts of Europe pilgrims locked to
Palestine. They succeeded In securing
possession of the lands, but could not
control the roads, so that Palestine was
little less open to the public than be-
fore. Thus il was found necessary To
have an organization for the protection
Of the roads, and the knights Templar
were organized. The order grew in
strength and power, because it was the
passion, as it became the admi-
ration of all Europe. They
were men OF wealth and influence.
In time certain jealouses were associ-
ated with them and the sun of that
ancient order wen: down in sea of fire
and blood, after the iron hand Of Phillip
and the fierce hand Of the InQuistion
were placed upon the Temple.
But there are to-day people who call
themselves Knights TemplGr. Can we
trace any connection between them and
this ancient order? Do we recognize
any principle which was followed by
them? There are several principles
which characterized the ancient
knights Of the Temple which are spos
sessed by the Knights OF to-day.
They were heroes. Their deeds form
one Of the richest heritages which have
come down to US from that time. And
are you heroes? Yes, in some respects.
The engineer of this city, who several
years ago stood facing death with his
hand upon the throttle, and met it with
out Glnching, is more Of hero than the
Knight of old, who encased in heavy
armor, with his Shar p sword attacked
three or four heathens. That was the
deed OF true knight and is but an eX-
ample. There are many opportunities
given us TO manifest heroism, although
we are not disciplined in the iron
school OF war.
The ancient Knights took it upon
themselves TO protect the helpless. II
is a part of our VOW to stand by those
who need our assistance. There are
many opportunities for us to manifest
this protecting power. l believe there
are in the ranks Of the Knights Temp
lar men who will stand in the face Of
public opinion and protect the helpless,
whatever the cost. a good Templar
will always stand for the right against
the wrong. During our lives there are
always great questions coming up, and
we are forced TO take j stand upon one
side or the other. Ii is then that the
true Knight will get upon the side Of
right, and Stoutly maintain his position,
The olden Knights manifested in a
wonderful degree enthusiasm for their
order. Poverty was one Of the vows OF
the members. Whatever wealth they
possessed was to be used for the benefit
of the order, and not upon the indiyid-
ual members. We should have the
same enthusiasm for our organization.
We should feel that it is great privi-
lege to belong to the order Of Knights
Templar. Let US emulate those ancient
Knights In this respect
In olden time, it was a religious order.
The Knights were not clergymen, bat
laymen, banded together for specific