The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-14

| who believes in tn, great fact that Christ sas the Son yf God and In the great prin- cip.es of Christian theology. knignt Tenn l plarism, therefore. is limited in so far as membership Is concerned to believers in | the great fact that Christ was the Son | of God and in the great principles of Christian theology.
 Knight Templarism, therefore. is limited | to believers in the Christian religion. It | is not a cnurch, hut is as broad all the Christian churches combined, SD far as | the sublime principles of the faith are concerned. Its ritual embraces historical, scriptural, traditional and various ether features all affirming, promulgating and broadening the fundamental principles of Christianity. The ideal of Chris tianity | is a holy life or as nearly so as it is pos sible for man in the flesh to attain. Knight Templarism inhibits those evil ten- dencies which poison the st ul and stin1u- | lates these Nirtuous ten1ercies which feed | and exalt the soul It would regulate human conduct in accordance with the tenants of the Christian theology. It dedicate9 it's Knights to the d.fens. "f | the helpless, to the consolation of the sorrowful, to the subjugation of it's enc mies and to the promotion of virtue. The Templar character embraces not only the broad and enlightened philosophy of ancient craft Masonry, but also the definite and specific virtues of Christiani- ty.
 No one will deny. I presume. as a moral
 code for the government of mans conduct none Is better than that contained in the gospels. while as an inspiration to hope of life of immortality this gospel stands
 unchallenged as being without a peer.
 The broad and liberal principles of Mason ry soften the asperities and seventies of an exclusive creed, but the beauties and
 excellencies of the Christian creed beauti- fly and adorn Masonic character with Its | specific virtues. It, therefore, follows that Templar character if attained must
 be an ideal one. To attain this character
 should be the ambition of every Knight Templar. To discharge his duties to his
 God, his fellow man, himself and his gov ernment in accordance with the sublime principles of Masonry, and Christian Knighthood fulflls his highest mission. The Eighteenth Century was largely
 dedicated to the ideal in government,
 religion, and society The Nineteenth Century, or at least its latest part, to
 realism in material and physical things. If the Twentieth Century does not restrain
 mans avarice for material things and
 stimulate him to, an attainment or | spiritual things then the civilization of the past who. forgot their God, their | religion. ana their spiritual idealty will | find anothef illustration in the degeneracy | of future civilizations. Cardinal Gibbons recently said that there could be no j. g6vernment without justice. no justice
 without morals. no morals without reh- giou and no religion without God Theodore Roosevelt said in a Masonic address that what we need is the recogni- | ton of the rights of man along the line | of brotherhood. If Masonry teaches any
 thing it teaches the universal brotherhood | of man. If Christianity teaches any
 thing it is the universal brotherhood of
 man. If justice prevails among men then | there can not be disorder dissention. | strife and blood shed. Knight Templars | are pledged to do Justice to all men and | to ever be merciful to fallen foe.
 l The mission of American Templar | Kn!ghthood is to establish the highest | type of gentleman. one who scorns to do | debasing and degrading practices, but on
 the contrary brides in an unsullied honor | and in a pure and honorable life.
 | A gentleman IS a man whose word is his | bond in whom a trust is sacred, and who devotes his life and energy to honorable | and rightful conduct.
 | 1 am afraid, Sir Knights. that many of l us fall short of this ideal attainment. but | whatever may be our short comings let | our aspirations be high and noble. Let | that chivalric and gallant spirit of the | ancient knight which prompted him to | draw his sword in defense of innocent | maidens, helpless orphans and the Chris | tian religion, inspire us with it's glorious | symbolism in dedicatng our lives and | energies to the upbuilding and holding of l mans estate in accordance with the | highest ideal of Christian character. If l we do this we shall have discharged our ! mission in accordance with our VOWS, l principles and professions. Let us give aims to the poor and needy, clothe the 1 naked bind up the wounds of the afflict- led console the sorrowng, succor the fal- | len and with love and sympathy express | ed in the sweetest affection, declare our | selves not only as believers in, but as followers of Him who gave His life as an | atonement for the sins of a fallen race.