The Somerset reporter., 1895-04-18
De MOlay Gommandcry X. T.
Observe Easter sunday by Public Exercises
in the Methodist Church.


Easter Sunday VAS observed by De
Molay Commandery, Knight Templars,
by public services in the Methodist
Episcopal church, sunday afternoon at
: O'Clock, consisting of ritual exercises
prescribed for the occasion. led by y
w. Brainerd, prelate; Il sermon by Rev
I. G. Moses, pastor of High Street
church, and music by the Methodist
choir, Miss Clara Nosmus, orgauist.
The thoughtful discourse by Rev. Mr..
Moses WAS based upon two tex.s of
scripture; The cross of Jesus, John
10: %; Love As brethern, be pitiful, be
courteous, Peter }: 5.
Taking this beautiful expression out
of the peculiar setting in which we find
it, let us group around the phrase "'rhe
cross Of Jesus those thoughts of God,
of His Son, and of ourselves that center
in Calvary. Since that rough and blood
stained cross was erected whole nations
and tribes have disappeared, the Jewish
nation have been scattered over the
globe the persecution and martyrdom of
saints, the horrors # slavery, the de-
graduation of women have been abolished
by its power and to-day the cross of
Jesus stands in spite Of human inditler-
ence aud skepties the most enduring
TACT, the most powerful Of all Influences
in the whole world.
The cross of Jesus in its relation to
God, gives US Gods estimate of mans
sin, of human nature and His love for
| q
have in His own words, And |, if | be
lifted up from the earth will draw all
men unto me II we could have got
back to God by our own cxertous.
Christ would never have come INTO the
world, but We were helpless. so Christ
came, and the cross of Jesus stands for
ever as memorial of our utter inability
to save ourselves. The cross is the
witness of mans guilt. We do not see
the vileneSs of our guilt when in the
midst of SIN, but gazing ou the dying
innocent One. we see our siu in clearer
light. The cross is the pledge and hope
of mans salvaioa. The chasm made by
sin has been bridged over. Jesus, the
Son, had no reason TO die for himself,
the suffering was all endured for our
sakes aud with His stripes we are heal
ed Our relation to the cross is very
| uhltltul tIllHS IIOlI lIit cross Itldtlbi
10 us. What is your relation TO that
cross VIII you look at ii with despair,
or, as Paul did when he said God for
bid that should glory save in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ" Let the in
fluenCe of the cross of Jesus enter your
hearts.
"Love as brethren, be pitiful, be court
eous." These words embody the prinei-
pal aims and purposes for which the
Knight T"mplars and other like fratcr-
| nal societies were founded, and they
! should ever admonish those who profe~,
to BE- Knights, or my one whose life re-
fleets the qualities of brotherly love.
! pity and courtesy. 1t il my purpose to
take a glance ii the Knights of old and
then consider with you the ideal modern
knighthood. In nearly all nations
which have attained martial IenOWn we
| find bodies of ccmhatants known by "A
| title granted for honorable service, hut
! rose most powerfully in the fcudai Tdfllf{S
of EUROPE. During the CrusadeS kni-si.t
! hood became almost identical with re-
| igion; every Knight pledgiug himself 10
aid in recovering the Holy Land and to-
| fight against iniidel.. Wars bccame
religion, battles. knighthoud became
brotherhood. Another feature of lis
'lnighthood WIS the tender feeling tow
ard women and children which hocame
almost woman worship. stood aud the
ladies" were associated on the lips and
| in the hearts of every true knight.
Moicrn times need Il revival of the ,ame
spirit Of chiyalry.
The modern Knight is one in whom
there is a revival Of religious obligation,
setting of the face, like a llint against
intidelity and atheism. Tie present aye
is ripe for an increase of that spirit
which would throw off the yoke of a
! divine power still ruling in Tia" affairs Of
men. The constant temptation Is first
to quarrel with divine di,pcuSations and
! then to deny Gods providence. Tie
true Knight is one who. in the greatest
whrlwind, aud in the darkest storms of
social problems. says: "lhe Lord
regneth; let the earth rioicc- clouds
aud dark less are round about Him,
still, righteousness ard Judgment are
the habitations of His throne" One ma
ton tried TO adopt The system Of inf
deity. France decrend. "lhere is no
God and death is an eternal Sleep As
a result, the streets of Paris ran with
blood. Society was shaken to its very
foundations, d men were glad to
escape the error and terror into which
lnIlutIlly Hdu iIbu2II lI'IDs zeal
God" should be the rallyi cry of
modern knighthood.
Not only should there be loyalty to
the power supreme over all, but to the
powers that be in the earth. The power
of civil government has God back of il.
The modern Knight should pledge al
legicnce to God and to good govern
ment Here is modern field for true
knighthoOd larger than any in feudal
times. Another Characteristic of
modern Knighthood should be purer
burning of the ancient Knights devotion
to woman. No nation has risen out OF
heather civilization without the elevation
of woman. lust to the extent that she
is honorcd and projected. especially in
the home the safeguard of society. will
a nation hc strong. Whatever may be
the customs and la%s of country, the
women of il decide lie morals Ey"ry
member Of modern knighthoud SHOULD
cultivate courtliness Of manner in daily
life Few words in the English langu-
age have lost their true meaning. 50
much as the word gentleman, The true
process is from within. outward. ON
it should be as modern knights To SIC
that the ancient chiyalry is replaced by
purity of life, refined courtesy and high
er culture of modern tunes.
r'I;Lt