The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-04-29
KNIGHTS TEMPT LAR.
SERMON DELIVERED AT EASTER GEL
EBRATION, APRIL 70, 1868.
By Rev. ". E. Phifer. Prelaie, and
Pastor Of the BrOokhayen Pres
byterian Church.

10Ab--1uu LlLuUhuy. 1uu GiIdp-
ter, 3rd verse: "Thou therefore
endure hardness as good soldier
of Jesus Christ.
Honored and beloved Sir Bro
ther Knights and Christian
friends, / consider it both an hon
or and q privilege that ! am asked
to address you on this occasion.
To be sure but voice the senti-
.ment of every Knight Templar
present when / affirm that | am
proud To be a member of an order
whose principles are so noble,
whose past record is so glorious,
and whose future outlook is so
promising. TempIarisin in its
birth was pre-eminently Christ
ian organization. In defending the
holy sepulchre from desecration,
their sacred religion from insult,
and their loWly followers from,
oppression, the Templars had the
powerful element of high religious
enthusiasm. The valiant soldier
knights OF the twelfth century, |
filled with a deathIess devotion 10
Christ, and burning with indigna-
tioD that the sacred tomb of their
Lord should be profaned by inf
del hands, affixed as an emblem
upon their breasts, the blood red
cross, and girded for battle went
forth gladly to suffer. and if
necessary, joyfnlly to die in this
aggressive warfare. Since this is
true and the devotion of these
original knights to the dear Lord
was so strong, it is therefore emf
nently fitting and beautifully
significant that we, their descend
ants in name and principle, should
hold this service today. On this
epochal day the Christian world
meets together and with loving
devotion aud songs of praise, with
sacred memory and holy aspira
ton, stand with joyful hearts
around the open grave in Joseph's
garden and keep Easter with each
other. The Knights Tenplar OF
the 18th century, whose memory
we honor and whose name We
bear, went forth in countless hosts
III the brave days of old to save
the empty tomb from the ruthless
proclamation of constituencies in
fidels; and SO it is we'll that on
this glad Easter day, we. their
descendants in name, should meet
together in worship to the same
Christ for the preservation of
whose empty tomb so many thous-
ands Of them left their bones to-
bleach on the desert sands.
In seeking a suitable subject on
which to address you today, / am
constrained to select these soldier
| ly words taken from the last mes
sage Of one of Gods noblemen,
true knight, Christian hero of
the cross "Thou therefore en-
I ldure hardness as a good soldier of
Jesus Christ. He who endures
Iself-deniaI for the advancement of
that cross which was the proud
ensign of the crusader knights of
Eold, who is TREND to the father
Hess and afflicted, who is the cham
+ pion of womankind, is not only
good knight tenlplar, but also q
good soldier of Jesus Christ. The
Apostle Paul then was in its
|truest sense a Knight Tenlplar,
and worthiIy could he write to-
the youthful Timothy and to you
and to me, and say, Thou
therefore endure hardness as
good soldier of Jesus Christ.
The sands we're running low in the
hour glass Of the apostles life
when be penned these words. He
LAY imprisoned at this time in
Roman dungeon and from gloomy
imprisonment he writes this beau
ftifnl letter, bis last earthly mes
sage to the youthful Timothy, his
successor In the ministry Ia
this letter be pours out his heart
Ito his much loved correspondent
lin d strain OF tenderness rising
Ievermore to one of transport. He|
writes as it were on the threshold
lof the unseen. on the border land
Iof the life that is beyond, and