The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-12
THE 7EMPLARS' DAY.
Celebration of Ascension
Thursday Fittingly OBJ
served by the Order.

The Hugh de Payens' Commandery. No.
1. Knights Templars of this city held
Ascension Day service at the Ber-
gen Reformed Church last night. Dr..
Brett. who Is himself a Templar. oinci-
ated. and preached a special sermon 10
the Knights. Through the courtesy or
the Bergen Lodge of Masons the use OF
their hall. at Tuers avenue and Mont
eomery street. was given to the Com
%mandery. They met there. and. led by
the Van Houton Post Band. and undef
the command of Right Eminent olr
knight Warren Dobbs, Grand Comman-
der of the State of New Jersey, they pro-
ceeded to the church, which they en-
tered by twos. Following the Comman-
der were Right Eminent Sir Knights
John II. Alderman and Thomas w. III
den, both Past Grand Commanders; Sir
Knights Robert Donshea. Past Grano
Captain; Past Commanders stephen
Smith, WalraJh of Pilgrim, Newark.
McGrath. of Ivauhoe. New York, aud K.
B. Sears, john A. Parker. Geaeral.ssimo
OF the C~ommandery. aud Captain Cen
eral of the Hugh de Payen Commandery'
Thomas Watson, who is also Fast Com
mander Of Van Houten Post. AS the
Knights entered the chutcn, Organist Sir
knight j. X. Seeley, played an organ
prelude. They marched with drawn
swords up the aisle, aud took their places
in the pews. They remained standing
and covered.
RELIGIOUS EXERCISES.
DR.. Brett entered the church, the cap
tain General gave the order, "preseut
swords.n When the DR.. took his place,
the order came to carry sword" anu
return swords.n All present next sang
Coward Christian Soldiers"
after which the Knights uncovered at
Che order of the Ccmmander. DR.. Brett
then offered up a prayer. at tue END OF
which all repeated the Lords prayer.
The Commander next gave the oroer,
s'Sir Knights be seated" J,
The scripture lesson was read and
"hise, Glorious Couqueror. Rise." was
sung by the choir and the congregation.
In the choir are Misses Katrina Greene
and Nora l.. Foster and Messrs. G. f..
McGown aud Geo. A. Decker. The COM
mauder gave the order attention Sir
Knights" and standing with swords M
sheathed they recited some responsive
prayer with the clergyman. DR.. Brett
than offered up a prayer asking for oless'
iugs upon the or 'er. After the prayer Inc
KiiighIs who had been seated. during it,
stood Attain, aud hymn 800. "Hark Ten
Thousand Harps and Voices" was sung.
Knights recovered after the singing
and with drawn swords at a present, they
aud all present repeated the
Apostles Greed. They then re
turned Il cir swords, uncovered and were
seated. The offertory was taken up at
this point. while the quartette sang.
Lead. Kindly Light" to Dudley BUCKS
air. DIR. Brett then preached. lie took
mis- text from the 475h psalm 9TH verse.
t'God il gone mp with a merry noise. and
the Lord with the sound of the trumpet"
He said:-
BUSINESS AM POETRY.
"This service is III many respects unique.
Today a prosaic age drops into poetry.
Today business meu seDerate themselves
from their yocatiods 70 complete an or
ganization whose martial tread, as they
march with drawn swords through the
paved streets OF our city, carry US back to
the MIDDLE ages. Sir Knights. you are
welcome TO ancient church. 1t is an
historical church. The arch through
which you entered is of the oldest ecclesi-
astical architecture, and the porch has
been a landmark for half a century. We
celebrate to-day the ascension OF
d Lord Jesus Christ. The Church
began its life of faith aud
career of conquest with the ascension of
u Lord. II was a sad day for the
Apostles, who were thus separated from
their Lord. aud bereafb Of father, brother.
friend apd philosopher. As soon as the
first wounds were staunched, they real
lied thatthe ascension should be cele-
brated with the same feryor as the resur-
rection. Tine ascension was necessary, as
no city is worthy to be the city of God.
Jesus was not only King Of the jews,
butiof The whole world.
~, A HISTORICAL EVENT.
eiThis supreme event i'll history, is
worthy of special commenoration by you
Sir Knights, who have taken the name
of a VIEW historical order. III the year
lib, when the trip to Jerusalem was
frsught with danger, two Knights who
were the followers of the Christian
King, Godfrey, used to go out on the
road, mounted on one horse, and protect
The pilgrims on their journ ey to the
Holy City. They had lodgings