Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-11

COLONEL WILLIAM +. TANNER.
(Only Survivor Of Both Of the Former
Pngrimages 10 Boston)
the bands Of knightly fellowship and love
which have for so many years existed
md been continued between them. The
occasion OF this pilgrimage OF the Rich
mond knights 20 the shrines Of De Molay
and ST. John 5 the twenty-slXth tri-
ennial conclave Of the Grand Encamp-
ment OF the United States, to be held in
Boston August 27th TO S0th next
HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE.
The pilgrimage OF the Richmond Tenn
plars 10 Boston and Providence adds
tnotfor page 70 the history Of the friend
~ relations between the Sir Knights
Of New England and Virginia. The
Interchange OF visits between these COM
manleries has been a notable illustration
NJ the strength of the tie that binds
together tbs order throughout the Chris
Kan world, for the hearty good will
which has been shown In all the inter
course between the two colonies Of Nir-
yinia' has not been interrupted even by
The sad events of the war. In the days
mat tried mems souls she men Of Mas
Eaehusetts, Rhode Island, and Virginia
stood side by side and poured out their
torNrhe same common cause. When the
bayoneI became the final arbiter between
the Colonies and the mother country
they stood shoulder to shoulder. the sons
Of Massachusetts and Virginia. When
weary they made inspiration by singing
noble anthems and the touch OF each arm
20 that Of his fellow told as plainly as
language could do that each had a bro
Their by his siGe. In that conflict but
one sentiment filed their minds. and one
impulse gave strength TO their arms
the sentiment. "Our Country" the i'm
pulse God and Truth"
When their task was accomplished they
together founded a nation without strife
or disagreement. upon broad and en-
during princfples-upOn principles which
linked Massachusetts and Rhode Island
and Virginia together as with hooks Of
steel.
There IS something in the atmosphere
and sunlight OF this land-something in
its social spiritual. and civil Institutions
fitted TO asSimilate all the different ma
tiOnaliues into one new and homogeneous
race. Old proiudices and pecularities can
scarcely be transmitted beyond one gene
ration. The dust OF tie Fatherland may
cling 20 the feet that have trodden IN II.
but when the children come, their little
feet are bare and clean, and you can
hardly make them other than one people
Into the caldron OF political and social
aiiinitles oil corners are baptized. and
they emerge smelted, purified: all the
different metals combining TO form a new
one more malleable and practicable for
purposes useful and ornamental than
any or all the separate original elements.
ORIGIN OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARs.
The banner OF the Knights Templars
was first raised by Hugh de Pagen Goef-
frey. Of ST. OmeIS. and several other
knights. who fought under the banners
OF Godfrey Of Bouillon, and assisted at
the siege Of Jerusalem a. d. 1899. a
sccrs Of years had elapsed after that
event when these pious and valiant
knights. in consequence OF the shocking
cruelties perpetrated on the unoffending
pilgrims. bound themselves by a solemn
vow 10 devote the remainder OF their
lives TO warfare against ferocious Sara
Gems. who occupied the mountain passes.
and TO protect the poor and weary pill
grlms mals and female, travelling from
afar. who al the shrine Of our Lord and
Saviour desired 10 OFFER up their prisons
and pay their vows; for so numerous
had they become that they were styled
''the armies Of the Lord" and Il Is re-
corded that 1000 pilgrims, ola and young
females and children, visited the Holy
sepulchre in one year. The "Beauseant"
was thus raised 10 protect the Christian
maiden. the destitute widow. the helpless
orphan. and the Christian religion
whence they were first termed "the poor
Yellow soldiers Of Jesus Christ" after
wards styled Templars
And when battling at the walls OF Jeru-
salem, In the mountain passes Of Leb-
anon, the burning deserts OF Syria, or the
fiOwery fields OF Damascus, whether in
the open field or mounting the deadly
breach. Beauseant was at all times first
20 advance and last TO retreat. The
order had become SO feared and respected
for It's desperate courage that IL was
deemed a strong arm OF defence against
the inhdel, and even the lion-hearted
Richard deigned 10 invoke its protection
on his departure from Europe.
IL is said that the days OF chlvalry have
passed away. True. It's peculiar mani
festations may not now be seen, but Il
Is absolutely incredible that its spirit is
extinct. The last 100 years have given
70 the world instances Of her0ism and
courage OF which the proudest knights OF
antiquity might well have been proud.
Nor need we wander from the shores OF
our own continent for illustrations,
Bunker IIill and Quebec. Germantown
and Trenton. yorktown. Lundy's Lane,
and Chippewa. chepultepec and Cheru-
busco. Buena Vista and cerro Gordo,