South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-31
MISHAWAKA GENERAL NEWS
NaDsThms Office 12o Lincoln Wq West Home Phone

word. II not only insists that no
gentleman will stain his speech with
lie. but IL demands that the ele-
ment Of truth shall enter into every
part Of his life. A liar may tell the
truth occasionally and a false man
may d. true work. The age de-
mands men OF real inner integrity
that carries its own guarantee Of
their word and deeds.
ITO this ideal Of truth the men
who wear the uniform and carry the
sword OF Templar are pledged. II
We are to keep that pledge We must
hold constantly before US the
thought Of Jesus Christ. the worlds
First Gentleman. who not only Of
fers us the highest example OF this
knightly virtue but the sure means
whereby we may make it our own.
/ want 20 close with a word about
the chivalric virtue OF purity. An
ancient writer in setting forth the
character Of the true Templa-. said
Nothing that he cometh upon is to
him common or unclean, because
there is no mOrdant in his nature for
an evil thing.
This mordant was the chemical
factor used in a dye vat 20 make the
colors fast II is a word derived
from the Latin signifying TO bite or
eat The figure is unique but virile.
There was nothing in a Christian
knight 70 lay hold on an unclean
thing This is as true a marx of
knighthood now as then. The
Psalmist said: Who shall ascend
unto the hill Of the Lord and who
shall stand in the holy place? He
that hath clean hands and a pure
heart and hath not lifted up himself
unto vanity Jesus said: Blessed
are the pure in heart for they shall
see God.
Purity a Necessity.
The founders of our order learn
ed from the Bible 70 make purity
the corner stone Of character. A
man does not have 10 have money
or great ability " be a knight. But
he must be clean. AS a great Eng
lish statesman said in a debate in
thing as moderate chastity. A man
is either stained or clean. Our age
is demanding clean men. Some
time ago I spoke in an Indiana city
at a banquet given by the manufac-
turers 10 their travelling men. The
program was diversified. Employ
ers and employees, bankers and city
officials spoke In every speech the
moral note was dominant. Each in
sisted that in the modern business
world a man must be clean or lone
some.
In public life this demand is
heard Let a man run for office and
with an increasing number OF voters
you cannot offer a stronger argu-
ment against him than positive
proof that lie is unclean. II is true
i'm society. There is only half
truth in what we hear about a
double standard for the sexes. It
takes less TO blast the name OF a
woman, but a fallen man will soon
find the doors Of the best society
closed and the fountains of public
confidence dried. How often have
we seen an able man fall from some
high position in society for the single
reason that he lacked the chivalric
grace Of purity The best in life is
barred TO a stained man.
Templary Means Purity.
1T is always thus. The best in
life. I say, is closed to a stained man.
Templary stands for clean manhood.
MI = L.
their final vows spent long hours in
determination before the affairs Of
the church Purity. like courage
and truth. comes from fellowship
with Jesus Christ. Gentlemen, the
| progress Of the ages has uncovered
no other cleansing fountain for a
stained soul than the blood OF Jesus
Christ
AT this Christmas time, as We
celebrate the birth OF our Lord. let
me remind YOU Templars who wear
the cross of Malts on your breasts
OF the tenets of our faith. The birth
Of Jesus reminds US that God sent
His Son 10 redeem fallen man. His
life reminds US that in Jesus we find
the way, the truth and the life, and
His resurrection signifies that we are
the soldiers Of a living Christ not the
followers of a dead teacher. a living
Christ 10 guide our footsteps in the
path of courage. truth and peace.
We call Him Lord. God forbid that
His reproach should fall on US as
upon certain men Of old We call
me Lord. Lord and we do not the
things that I say
. TWO GREAT FEATURES AT