The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-01-01
CHIVALRY VERSUS MODERN
METHODS.

manly acts of yesteryear and the con-
duct of some modern" men was
drawn Sunday at the Empire The
atre by Charles F. Linthicum, OF
Charlotte, North Carolina, and was
formerly of Frederick, in lecture
on "Chivalry," given under the aus
pices of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr.. Linthicum compared the con-
duct of a Scot, who, at the Battle OF
Bannockburn in 1915, refrained from
engaging in a struggle already Won in
order that the victor might receive
all the honors with that of Sampson
at Santiago, wnere Admiral Schley
defeated the Spanish only to be rob-
bed of the full credit.
Robert E. Lee, said the speaker, was
a noble example of chivalry and his
army was composed of cavaliers of the
highest type. He pointed to the con-
duct of Grant at Appomattox as an
other noble deed.
The speaker divided his subject into
three parts: First, it's origin, together
! with the causes which brought it into
being. Next, it's maturity with is eff
feet upon society, and lastly, it's de-
cline with the causes of its decay.
This arrangement of the subject was
| followed.
Mr.. Linthicum traced the institution
of chivalry to France. Referring to
this he said in part:
But as to the origin of chivalry!
We are told that it traced to France.
that unhappy country whose soil is
even now being bathed in the blood
of her sons and the tears of her
daughters, and the birthplace of so
much in history which we admire and
especially during the age of chivalry
| am led to believe if chivalry, as an
institution, military institution,
thoroughly organized and imbued with
the chivalric spirit, as it was during
the Middle Ages, existed there today.
that the banner of the Christian faith
would not be trailed in the dust as it
is by the goddess politicians now in
control of her affairs. The zeal of the
crusaders who were inspired by the
fiery eloquence of Peter the Hermit
would find a way and a means for
melting out justice and correcting
evils in that ill-stai red country.
"The initial pledge required of a
candidate for knighthood was charac-
teristic and speaks volumes. 1t was
to speak the truth, to succor the help
less and never to turn back from an
enemy.
"In the dawn of chivalry the knights
were also simple in their raiment, Sc
we're and eXacting in their morals,
modest after victory and determined
in adversely. At this period the insti-
tuition stood forth as the grandeest
ever formulated by man. In the vigor
OF its youth and in it's simplicity it
was beautiful beyond the power of
words to picture, and when in later
days it acquired grandeur, pomp and
magnificence and the same were in
the natural order of things succeeded
by death and decay, there still rem
NAMED the heritage which is ours
| treasure of noble influence, of lofty
thought and of generous principles.
Next to Christianity itself chivalry
| did more than any other institution to
bring forth Western Europe from the
thraldom of barbarism. 1t taught love,
respect and admiration for woman,
whose beauty and gentleness were
her only weapons of defense Before
its beneficent influence was felt love
was but little more than the passion
| of brute. 1t impaired to the ambi-
tious spirit feeling of purity never
felt before. 1t destroyed the selfish
ness of barbarism and under it's in
duence the sordid heart was made to
expand like a flower. 1t beautified
and adorned victory with the spirit of
| forbearance and it laid a gentle hand
upon the rugged brow of war"
The speaker referred to the trans
cendent genius, Walter Scott, in de-
scribing the characters of chivalry
and their equipment and urged all
who wished to be well versed in this
branch of knighthood to read Ivanhoe
and The Talesman. He referred to
Henry Kenelm Digby as being the best
historical writer upon the subject, his
great work being "The Broad Stone
of Honor" or "The True Sense and
Practice of Chivalry."