Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-07-09


init in a cave in Bethlehem and what
rebuke could he offer to Others who them
selves sought religious comfort amid the
scenes of the Saviours ministry To
protect these religious wanderers from
insult, pillage, and even death from Ara
bian hordes, in the year Ills the Order
of Knights Tempiar was probably or
ganzed, being, as the records tell us: "A
military contraternity, or brotherhood
in arms. bound by a solemn compact to
aid each other in clearing the roads, and
in defending the pilgrims in their passage
to the Holy City" Uniting the monastic
with their military character they took
upon themselves vows of poverty, chas-
tity and obedience, and with humility
assumed the title of Poor Fellow Sol
diers of Christ" The buildings allotted
to them were in the Temple enclosure,
and some OF them on the site of Solo
mons Temple, hence the name Knights
Templars." From its lowly and humble
origin this society rapidly advanced in
popularity and honor, adding numbers,
influence and wealth, embracing in its
ranks the best architects OF the day, and
the ruins of numberless castles, tortresses
and fortified towns built by them are
monuments of the skill and energy of this
warlke and mechanical order. 1t has
been my privilege to look upon the brok-
Ell ruins of some of these old castles, To-
Gated high upon the submits OF the vine
clad hills, along whose base flows the
limpid waters of the beautiful and ro.
mantle Rhine, and impressed with the
stupendous magnitude, the munihcence
and skill of the undertaking, one turns
awayflled wthinquiring thoughts, vain
ly seeking solution OF the means and
methods used in their construction,
Works, worthy. indeed, OF Titanic hands,
welding the forges of Vulcan on the top
of Olympus.
| For some two centuries the history of
the Templar Order is the Latin record of
Palestine; record of chivalrc courage
and fortitude, sometimes successful, often
disastrous, until at length from want of
unity and non-consolidation among the
various barons and orders defeat came,
the Cross went down before the victori.
Gus Crescent. and the Holy City itself
capitulated. Following are the dark
days of the order, few brief years of
righteousness and Incidence, scattering
among the municipalities of Europe, all
ending in cruel martyrdom and we'll nigh
final dissolution. The acts of perhdy,
cruelty and injustice by which the Tenn.
plar Order was dissolved in France in the
fourteenth century have given to those
instrumental in it, although high in spir.
itual and temporal power, an inglorious
and infamous memory. In Scotland
alone, probably, the Templars endured
no persecution. One portion, it is said
entered the army and were engaged ir
the battle of Bannockburn, while another
participated in the establishment of the
"Ancient Lodge" at Stirling. Hence
arose the Scottish Rite. From the Bald
wynn Encampment" existing, says the
record, from time immemorial," in the
vicinity OF Bristol comes, doubtless, til,
English and American Templars. Grad
ually, like a Phoenix from it's ashes, tn,
order has been restored, until today i
stands, shorn Of its past errors, strong
and steadfast, the protector of the limo
cent, the support of the poor and afflct
ed, the symbol of truth.
: Picturesque and grand, among the hill
of Scotland, is Merose Abbey. Rich il
aisle and nave, charming in grace, AM
matchless in symmetry. The storms c
centuries have beat upon it, heat an
cold have spent their force, but beaut
, clings to the crumbling ruins. The squar
5 and compasses, engraven upon the grin
| my marble. tell that craftsmen skille
: and true, here wrought upon the ada
y mantine stone, placing the foundation
: strong and deep. Here within the:
E sacred walls is buried the generous hear
' of Bro. Robert Bruce who, when dyins
< expressed desire to have his hear
4 taken to the Holy Land Sir James Doug
e las, so the story runs, was selected g
: the bearer, and taking the heart of Bru(
a sealed in golden casket, and body
: armed knights, he sailed for Spain. Her
D. turning to the assistance of the distresse
i Ill their conflict with the Moors, he tour
e himself surrounded by the enemy. Ia
:, ing from his neck the casket containir
e the heart of Bruce, he cast it before hin
/, exclaiming, Now pass onward as the
s were wont. and Douglas will follow thu
Il or die" The action was heroic, ar
e they were the last deeds and words of
l. heroic life. for Douglas, and his bra,
It knights, fell, overcome by the enem
d The casket was found upon the field, +
it stored, and the heart of Bruce deposit,