The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-05-05

The News Herewith Reproduces IN
Par. the Splendid Address OF Mr..
Poueher at the Methodist Episcopal
Church Last Sunday.
The splendid sermon delivered by
Rev. j. +. Poucher at the Methodist
Episcopal church last Sunday to the
knights Templar, is herewith repro.
duced in part:
Knights OF the Cross.
Christ died for our sins according
to the scriptures. 49, He was buried
- He rose again the third day ac-
cording to the scriptures" u Corin.
thians Nv. 5, 6.
And he led them out as far as to
Bethany, and He lifted up His hands
and blessed them. And 1t came to
pass, while He blessed them, He was
parted from them, and carried up into
heaven. Luke xiv. so, 81.
Eight hundred years ago under the
preaching of Peter the Hermit in all
the countries of Europe legions of
brave men rose with burning wrath
against the Saracen and give life and
treasure without stint to rescue the
| Holy Sepulchre from his vile hands.
Brave knights, noble lords and sons
of royalty were glad to leave their
bones bleaching by the highway as
testimony that they were capable Of
such high and noble passion as burned
in Europe for two hundred years.
The annals of their devotion and cour-
age, the purity of their morals and the
splendor OF their deeds lighted up the
pages OF history and romance with
glory and won for them undying fame.
Peter, Of Amiens, travelled on an
ass through southern Italy and France
to stir up the people to the great un-
dertaking OF delivering the Holy Sep
ulchre. With emaciated countenance
and flashing eye, his head bare and
feet naked and wearing a coarse gar
ment bound with a girdle of cords,
he told his burning tale Of the hard
ships endured by the pilgrims. He
called upon every one to deny himself
and take up his cross that he might
win Christ. Thousands knelt and
begged to be enrolled in the sacred
bands. The red cross of cloth or silk,
fastened to the right shoulder was the
badge of all who took up arms.
While at this time the crusaders
appear to have been fanatics who
were engaged in an insane mission yet
they stood for the best and strongest
and most conscientious manhood of
the time. Bristol says they were the
living personifCations of the highest
virtues that were then taught and
comprehended The virtues of their
characters, the greatness of their
deeds, the sublimity of their faith
have inspired the emulation of the
ages and given to knighthood a glory
that any man may be proud to wear
They We're actuated by the principles
of chivalry and religion. They stood
for loyalty which included a strict
fidelity to all pledges embracing prom
ises made to an enemy. They stood
for courtesy which was exercised even
towards foe. They stood for gallan.
try which inspired devotion to women
and protection to womanly weakness
They stood for courage which delight
ed in daring exploits of personal brav-
cry. They stood for honor and benev.
olence. From their ranks rose the
first knights of our order.
esteem it a great honor to belong
TO body of men whose standard is
/
Christ, The Knights Templar are
pledged to the protection of the weak,
the defense of innocency and virtue,
the maintenance of right against the
encroachments Of power, the preser-
walton Of the Christian religion, the
cation OF their own characters and
lives from every stain of impurity and
dishonor. They confess their belief
that Jesus Christ suffered under Pom
thus PLATE, was crucified, dead and
buried; the third day he arose from
the dead; he ascended into heaven,
and stitch at the right hand of God,
the Father, Almighty"
Because of this belief in the funda.
mentals OF our creed ! have invited
these uniformed men to worship with
us tonight.
There are three scenes in the life
OF Christ that are precious to every
Knight Templar-the cross, or cruci-
fixion, the tomb, or the resurrection
and the ascension scene. There are
three places that they often visit in
their imagination-Calvary the gar
den where hid among the flowers was
the tomb OF Joseph of Arimathaea,
and the Mount of Olives from whence
he ascended.
These men are taught to so bear
the cross that they may obtain the
crown. The cross is emblazoned on
their banners and underneath is the
legend I'm Hoe Signo Vinces," it is
seen on their chapeau On the hilt Of