American Knights Templars

done , that famous virtue of the Philadeiphians—their hospitality—will not be entirely its own reward . It is just possible that some of your readers , though they may happen to know what a Kni ght Templar usually is in

England , may wonder all the more by what mystic process he can have developed leonine proportions in America . In England he can scarcely be considered to have much of the lion about him . Some of his countrymen areI fearignorant enough

, , to associate him with cheap vans , brass bands , banners , and holyday excursions , like those of the Odd Fellows to the Crystal Palace , or even to confound him with that still more misunderstood or unappreciated sect the Temperance men or

waterdrinkers . His warmest admirers would find it hard to realize the possibility of a great town , containing something like 800 , 000 inhabitants , devoting itself for nearly a week to his happiness and

lorificationcheerg , fully submitting to such varieties of torture as overcrowding in summer weather , interrupted traffic , endless speechifying , aud nocturnal serenades , in order that he

might enjoy and confer the pleasure of showing himself in full uniform on a grancl jiarade . Nor is it only on parade that the uniform is displayed . It is very becoming , and the " soldiers of the cross" have been good enough to gladden the ej'es of Philadeiphians with it every clay from morning

till ni ght . The sword , especially as worn by civilians , is naturall y the most striking feature , its handsome scabbard of white , emblem of purity , being stamped with the emblem of fervent piety , a red cross . The uniform consists of a dark blue coat and

trousers , a cocked hat , with white and black plumes—the mixed colours denoting that the heads of even Knights Templars are not without some alloy of human infirmity , however sound their hearts—a white baldrick , sword belt , and yellow

gauntlets , on which again figures the cross . The warrior ' s breast is often covered with strange devices worn on the left side , like the decorations of carnal warfare , but intelligible only to the initiated . It is calculated that no less than six thousand Knights have eome to Philadel phia , and as they go about everywhere in their uniforms , sword and all , giving a martial aspect to

hitherto peaceful tables oVMte , pastry-cooks ' shops , and street-cars , the town has looked much as if it had just been relieved and revictualled by a victorious force , and the rescued citizens were showing their gratitude in the usual human way by asking each of the deliverers " what he will drink . "

For not the least striking part of the story is that all these 6 , 000 warriors , the majority of whom are fine men who ought to have fine appetites , are Philadelphia ' s guests . They bring with them , too , about 3 , 000 ladies , not exactly members of the Orderinto the deeper mysteries of which

, nothing female can be initiated , but associates or lay sisters , as it were , freely permitted such simpler exoteric rites as eating and drinking . They are , further , allowed to dance with the Kni ghts , and even to wear some of the less unintelliible bad

g ges , a privilege , seemingly , extended to others than the actual eompanions-in-arms of the knights , for half the ladies one now meets in the streets have some sort of Templar decoration . Philadel phia has thus an unexampled opportunity of showing her

hospitality to some ten thousand mouths . She , in fact , practically invites the whole Templar worlcl to her feast . One guest ¦ an Englishman , representing the " Preceptory" known by the euphonious and

romantic title of the " Diamond of the Desert "—has come all the way from the Cape of Good Hope . Two others from distant American States had to travel 500 miles by stage before they could reach a railway . Up to the last moment there was reason to hope that representatives

would be present from Hongkong and New Zealand . A few came from Canada , wearing the white cloaks which form a part of the uniform of Knights Templars in England . But the majority came from various parts of the United States . They

generally arranged to come in parties b y specified trains , and in that case found at the railway station , no matter at what hour they arrived , a deputation from their Philadelphia brethren , and a full band to receive them with all the honours due to

warrior pilgrims on the march , and escort them in triumph to their respective hotels . Sometimes , not content even with this homage , the Philadei phians went part of the way to meet their brethren . A special engine carried the Grand Recorder . Sir