The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-27
THE AN(D[ENT
KNIGHTS TENPLARS.
4 Brief History of the Origin Of Noble and
Remarkable Organization.

haut Payen Count of Gisor. was by the
| mutual consent Of Louis VI. of France.
! and Henry l. OF England intrus.ed with
| the guardianship OF that town. then the
key OF Normandy. a. the most distin-
gaished and trustworthy of the two ma
tons.
La ills. Hugh de- Payan with Godefroi
/ D'Adhemar formed the order of knights
TempIars. In us0 Bertrand lie Payen rem
dsred homage 10 Louis VII. for seventy
fiefs which he held Of that monarch. Al
other OF the name was lieutenant OF
Richard Occur de Lion. In the rigag aisle
OF the Chapel du Tresor au Mont st.
Michel are seuiptured the name and arms
~ one Of the house who in 400 defended
the fortress against the English. DE Ia
CheSney des Bots. from whose great ar
mortal these facts amongst others are
culied, says: Les plus anciens auteurs
de "a Normand.e font mention des Sig
neurs du nom de Payen Qui tout on tenu
le plus haut ranz dams cette province"
Indeed, by the order of Louis NJ. in 1865,
Jean Payn, signeur de champagnoles.
proved himself CONFORMITY with several OK
his relatives. descended from the family
of Vassyan. offshoot OF the dueal house
OF Normandy. "Armorial of Jersey. mai
son d anc:enne chevalrie de Ia provence
de Normandie on ellie tenait ranz parmi
la haute nohlesse DIES le millieu du on
zieme seicle. Ellie est connne depuis Gull
aume Paynel. chevaler. sire de hombre.
qui Tan ios6 accompagna Guilaume lie
Bastard a la conquete de l. Angieterre."
British heraidry.
Such Is the geneaiogy and his
tory briefly told OF the De Payen
family. from whom was descended that
knight Tempiar who gave up life 10
that knightly power whose story viii
ever thrill each chord of the human heart
when their deeds OF yalor are rehearsed
in song or story. Who has not pictured
the mighty contenaing hosts as they were
swayed hther and tither when arrayed
In mortal combat. and heard the triumph
ant shouts OF the victors. though oftep
some left but the weird story Of death
re-echoing on the shores of eternity? Shall
Ii be said of such proves, that the mold
ed lives OF sturdy sons have memories
OF their sires 10 influence them TO acts OF
daring. and -all are alike, ard there is
no sacred dust in tradition caused by the
influences OF what is great and noble? For
nine years after the formation OF the or
der the Knights Templars lived in poverty.
devoting all the moneys and grants re-
ceived for charitable purposes. The sim
piicity of their lives. their virtue. modera-
tioa, charity. and. above all. their valor
and prowess in combat. was the theme Of
universal admiration. Their military ex-
ercises were carried on with precision.
exaetness and in unity. as one compact
body. and they were considered as a mod
e for the armies of the princes OF West
ern Europe
The order grew slowly at first. and
in ll2s Hugh de Payen returned
10 Europe. His order received the APP
prevail of the council Of Troyes. of Pope
Eugene III. and the patronage of ST. Ber-
nard, the great preacher OF the second
crusade. When Hugh de Payen re-
turned TO Palestine he was at the head OF
800 knights OF the noblest houses OF Eu-
rope. who became members Of the order.
They bore with them the black and white
banner. afterwards called the beau-seaat.
or we'll becoming. because. says DE Netry.
1T was fair and favora bic 10 the friends
OF Christ but black and terrible 10 His en-
emits.' To follow It's fortunes would be 10
write the history OF the crusades. No
knight. however humble. was refused
membership in the order whose life was
blameless, who would take all the vows
and. on the contrary. no one, however
rich or powerful he might he. could OBJ
tain admission unless he promised 10 ter
inmate all feuds and ennities against
Christians. and TO amend his whole life TO
correspond with the rules OF the order
Such were the standards of character
and the early histories or ancient noble
Roman Knights and their successors, the
knights Templars. whose ensign was the
emblem OF martyrdcm as well as victory.
In this We only seek TO trace the links OF
the past by which future historians can
complete the chain OF evidence of the his
tory and lives OF those noble knights
whose anthem OF deeds will ever live in
the paeons Of poets as the glory OF the
standards OF Christian chivalry through
past ages. Although the beau-seaHt
Went down fof time by ambition and
ireachery Of those who should have been
It's defenders still the words Of the dy-
Ing DE Molai when he WAS suffering mar
tvriom are strongly verified. for with pro-
phetic nrescience he declared though he
might perish. his beloved order would sur
vive- In the darkness OF the centuries
the Tempiar families have remembered
their martyrs, and Of them 1t could he
said by the Lord as In holy writ: "Yet
have left me all the knees which have
not bowed to Bsal and every mouth
which hath not kissed him" Though part
Of SIS history is shrouded in apparen,
darkness. when the links are all gathered
i, will be- found the cham ~ complete
and the present army of knights Ternpiars
are true Successors 10 thar noble army Of
whom IL is said: THAT the world has
never seen a class OF men who were hrayer
In battle, who oftener defended the weak
against The s;rong. or who did more for
charitYs sake The charges made against
them have been made against every BODY
Of men in all ages who have opposed the
tyranny az kings and the usurpation of
the priesthood. May they Ia this republic
complete the work 90 liberty for all man
kind. Truly. noble De Molal, thy beloved
order doth live.
"A glorious company. the flower Of men:
IS serve IS m0aei Tor The mighty world
make them las their hands In Mine and
To break the heather and uphold the
Christ:
To ride abroSd TedTesSlng human wrongs
To speak DO SANDER. no. nor Hster IN H.
10 lead swee, lives IA purest chastity"
~FenuySon
ELIAS j. PAYN