The San Francisco call., 1904-09-04


for tho jurisdiction Of CaIifcr-
@ia.
URING the latter portion Of the
eleventh century the religious
IL enthusiasts Of Europe turned
their eyes toward the shrine Of
cur Savior. and IL was a common be-
lief that pilgrimage TO Jerusalem
VAS essential for their spiritual well
fare Many thousai Dis made the eil-
cri.oace fo 81 stine. but 50 great
were the harCahips Of the journey and
.u can. cloue ..,:e Ing hOrdes that in
tes..d IN roads lCaCin2 from the
aElghCrn countries 20 the Jewish capi-
tai ;h-j Christian knights frequently
accompanied these bands Of pious pill
e:ins % orG,r 10 afford them protec-
tim. Such duty was in accord with the
spirit of Christian Chivalry and in Or
Cer the n-0ra eflectualIy 20 accomplish
lhis purpose 1ine French knights in
the vear 1913 banded themselves as a
brother hood il arms 10 protect the in
recent. s1ovor the helpless and avenge
the wro3ecJ.
cf the order were: Hugo de Paganis.
Godefroi dc ST. Aldemar Archibald de
81 Aman. AnCrc De Montbar. Gunde-
mar Codefroi Bisol. Rcral, Paganus de
Montdidier. ard the Count Of Provence.
Before the Patriarch Of Jerusalem
they took the usual vows OF poverty,
chastity and obedience, and We're
given as a residence part of the pal
ace Of the Latin kings of Jerusalem,
which. before the conquest Of the city
during the hrst crusade, had been the
Mosque of Mount Moriah. The palace
was also known as SOlomons Temple,
and this circumstance gave them the
name Of Templars. The knights desig-
mated themselves as Poor Fellow Sol
diers Of Christ" Brethren of the Or
der Of the Temple" Brethren of the
Soldiery of the Temple" and Pau
peres Commilitones Christi Templi Sa-
lcmonici." and in after years these des-
ignations were abbreviated into
knights Templar.
The first grand master was Hugo de
Paganis. and in answer to his petition
that this little band Of knights be per-
mitted TO form a military and religious
order. Pope Honorius the Second ap-
proved that request and referred him
TO the ecclesiastical council. then in
session at Troyes, which entertained
the petition and directed st. Bernard
10 prepare the necessary rules for the
government of the new order.
This code of laws is still in existence,
and enjoins severe religious exercises.
fasting and prayer. The daily life and
even the thought of the Sir knight is
prescribed. The order increased rapa
idly in numbers and influence, many of
the members coming from the noblest
families in Europe. Kings and mobiles
praised their zeal and granted liberal
gifts Of money, goods and land, so that
within a generation their preceptories
and homes were established within
every Christian country. At first the
organization Of the order was very
simple, but in less than a century num-
bers and wealth caused the manner Of
government TO become more compli-
Gated and a gradual change in the or
ganization Of the order created classes
of membership, which were known as
knights, chaplains and serving breth-
ren.
Those who desired admission as
knights were obliged to prove that
they sprang from a knightly family,
that they were born in lawful wedlock,
that they were not connected with any.
other order of knighthood and were free
from previous obligations, unmarried,
and had sound and healthy constitu
tions. In the Templar army were often
bodies Of men enlisted for a campaign
or for a term of service, and in such
forces the Knights acted as officers or
leaders.
In A d. 1852 Pope Alexander III
granted the Templars permission TO re-
ceive into their houses spiritual per-
sons. the "chaplains," who were not
bound by any previous obligations.
Their vows on their reception were
somewhat similar to those OF the
Knights. and they performed all reli-
gious offices and officiated as priests at
the ceremonies of the order.
The serving brethren were sup
posed TO be free born, and at times in
cluded men Of wealth and high posi-
ton. They were divided into brethren
alarms and handicraft brethren. The
former composed the bulk of the Tenn
plsr army. and were often promoted to
the honors of knighthood. The latter
class remained in the preceptories and
exercised their various trades, such as
farriers and armorers.
These three classes constituted the
recognized order of the Temple. There
was. however. a class known as the
"Aniliati' or Affiliated. These were
persons of both sexes who had an in
terest in the order and were en-
titled to its protection. There was
also another class called the DO
mates" or "Donats," composed Of
young men destined for service in the
order, or influential citizens who had
contributed to the Templar treasury.