Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-07-29
THE HOLY GRAIL.

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has been the foundation Of some OF the
most beautiful productions in art, music,
and literature. | found the walls OF the
public library in Boston decorated with
paintings from this legend, and we will
call TO mind that two of the most beauti-
full poems in the English language are
drawn from this source. One is James
Russell Lowel's "Vision of Sir Launfal," "
in Which the search for the Holy Grail
typifies the souls search for happiness
II is an expression of the poets belief in
obligation OF human being to fellow hu-
man beings and an overflowing OF LowePS
heart full of the love of nature and the
mood of youth. However, the most
beautiful version of the search for the
Holy Grail is given by Tennyson in his
"1dyls OF the King, " in which Sir Gallahad
goes in search of the Holy Grail.
Tradition says that the Holy Grail is
cup from which Christ drank at the last
Supper. This cup was left in the Upper
Room after the Supper but was stolen by
one of Pilates servants. Onthe occasion
when PLATE delivered Jesus into the hands
OF the Jews, PLATE sent one OF his servants
to get some water into which to wash his
hands the servant came back with the
water in this Holy Grail. Plate dipped
his fingers in this cup and said, 81 am in
nocent of the blood Of this just man." 1t
seems as it might have served to deepen
his guilt. After Jesus was taken away
PLATE gave this cup to Joseph OF Arima-
thea as a memorial of Christ. When Jesus
was lowered from the cross, Joseph took
this cup and caught the blood that flowed
afresh from his pierced side. This cup
was stained red by Jesus blood and it
has never been washed out. Whoever
kept this cup must be pure in word,
thought and deed. Joseph kept this cup
for long time, for it secured for him an
indefinite span of life. After many years
he took the Holy Grail to England and
gave it to AmfortaS, the Fisher King, to
be guarded by him. Amfortas Sinned and
the Holy Grail disappeared. It's said that
an angel came and took itaway. AS long
as Amfortas kept this cup he and his court
were happy, but as soon as the cup was
taken away he and his court were cast
into deathless swoon, having been
touched by the spear of Longius, who
pierced the side of Jesus while he was on
the cross. AmfortaS and his court were
destined to live this life in death until
young knight, pure in thought, word and
deed, should come and achieve the Holy
Grail, thereby releasing them.
King Arthur had by this time united the
petty provinces of England under one
He had heard Of the loss of
the Holy Grail and therefore resolved to
send his knights of the Round Table in
quest of it. AT the Round Table was a
chair called their "Siege PerllouS," be-
cause it was sure death to whoever at
tempted to sit in it, except they be pure
in word, thought and deed. Arthur's
purpose in having this Round Table was
to train the knights so that they might find
the Holy Grail and release Amfortas and
his court from their living death.
Sir Gallahad, descendant OF Joseph of
Arimathea, was trained in a convent of
nuns. They thought that he would be
the one TO find the Holy Grail. Once
when Sir Gallahad was an infant the Holy
Grail appeared to him. He held up his
little chubby hands to it and by it he was
as with food. When he be-
came old enough he was carried by two
Of the knights OF the Round Table, Sir
Launcelot and Sir BorS, to take vows OF
On bended knee he took
the oath to serve the cause, religion and
the king, to be true, brave and courteous
to those OF his own rank, to protect ladies
and TO help all persons in distress. After
this he was brought into the hall where
the Round Table of King Arthur was. Sir
Galahad entered the hall led by Joseph
Of Arimathea. Around, the table was a
band of angels visible only to Sir Gala
had and Joseph. As Joseph and Sir Gal
ahad advanced an angel stepped from the
circle and uncovered the "SiegePerilous."
Before the seat were floating these words
in gold letters, "Thls is the seat of Gal
ahad." Sir Galahad took his seat and the
knights were all amazed that he was un-
harmed. They believed that he must be
the one to find the Holy Grail.
Soon after this all the knights gathered
in the chapel again ready to start on their
search for the Holy Grail. The Arch
bishop pronounced the benediction on
them as they knelt before him. King Ar
thur was heavy-heaned, for he knew that
his knights were going to leave him.
After the benediction Sir Galahad has
tened to the castle OF Amfonas, where he
found him an old man lying on the cof-
lin. His crown and sceptre had fallen
from him. Everything looked old. Sud-
denly there appeared an angel carrying
The Holy Grail. The light OF the Grail
was very bright. Galahad tried to think
what all these things meant. He failedto
achieve the Holy Grail, because he
in his own mind for an answer
10 the important question. Because of
this important trust in himself the Holy
Grail disappeared and The opportunity to
release Amfortas was lost. Sir Galahad