The Knight Templar, Past And Present: His Mission And Its Modern Objects.

civilisation . The first order of Soldier Monks were the Knights of the Hospital of St . John , whose retreat—the temporary home of all Christian pilgrims—lay first in the valley of Jehosophat , and afterwards within the walls of Jerusalem . I need not follow the Hospitallers through their chequered history , and many of the remarks and illustrations , which I shall hereafter use , will apply

equally to them as to the glorious band of Brothers , the Knights of the Temple , the fame of whose chivalric achievements would be far greater were not it absorbed in the tragic grandeur of their misfortunes and unmerited sufferings . The historian Stebbing * gives a sufficiently accurate account of their institution and the principles which animated them ; but like too many other writers ,

through the warping influence of sectarianism he fails to realise the heroism of their self-sacrifice and the beautiful ideal of their founders . His opinions are valuable because they are those of an adversary . " Among the many brave knights , "he says , " who had followed Godfrey to Jerusalem . there were nine whose deep piety and fervent devotion to the cause of the faithful acted as a strong

incitement to their uniting with each other in strict and affectionate friendship . Hugo of Payence , and Godfrey Saint Omer , were at the head of this little band of pious ¦ warriors , and they bound themselves by a vow to pass a life of chastity and humiliation ; to fight for the protection of the objects which claimed their veneration ; and travel through the most dangerous and least defended

parts of the Holy Land in furtherance of their devout profession . In the reign of Baldwin the Second , when a great number of other knights professed their desire to associate themselves with these noblemen , the society subjected itself to the rules of Saint Angustine ; and the King , in order to encourage an institution so calculated to increase the glory of his reign , and assist in the general advancement of the Christian cause , gave the

members of the new establishment a part of his palace for their residence ; and this being near the Temple of Solomon ; they thence took the title of Knights of the Temple , or Templars . Many valuable benefactions soon increased the power of this order . Foulque , Count of Arjou , had so high an esteem for it , that he contributed yearly thirty pounds of silver to its support . Many

other noblemen showed an equal desire to contribute to its splendour and usefulness ; and it continued to increase in importance , till it was doubtful whether the valour or the pride and luxury of its members , were the greater . " But let ns avoid criticism , and see how the Templar was admitted in the society of the Soldiers of the Shrine .

'Tis night . A number of shadowy figures armed—you can catch a glimpse of their long straight swords- —pass into a church or chapel , dimly lit . In a few moments the blast of a trumpet is heard—it is repeated twicethen a challenge is given by a warder to the candidate ( if ready ) to approach . He is admitted , guarded , into the presence of the Prioror Presidentwho thus addreses

, , him : — " The perils which yon will have to meet , in pursuance of the vows yen are to take , aro many and imminent .. The rules of our order , also , are severe and strict . You will have to suffer hunger and thirst when you desire to eat and drink ; to watch when you wish to sleep , and to pass into another country , when you

desire to remain in the one where you are dwelling . " Having thus warned him of the hardships to which lie would expose himself , by becoming their associate , the chief continued : " Is it your desire to become a knight of this order ? Are yon sound of body ? Are you married , or under an engagement of marriage ? Do you belong to any other order ? Have you any debts which you or your friends are not able to pay ? If the answers to these inquiries were such as satisfied tho chapter , the

candidate was next called upon to take ( substantially ) the following obligation : —¦ " I swear to devote my conversation , my strength , and my life , to defend the faith of one God , and tbe mysteries of one Gospel . I promise to be submissive and obedient to the Grand Master of the Order . Whenever the Saracens shall attack any possessions of the Christians , I will pass the seas to

deliver my brethren . I will render the aid of my arm to the church and to kings , in battle against the infidel . Whenever I am opposed by but three enemies , I will combat with them , and never flee ; I will contend with them alone , if they be infidels . " We can easily understand the effect of this solemn obligation on men of a glowing temperament . Tbe-Templar not only became a

missionary of the Church ( perhaps a necessity of the troublous times in which he lived ); but he joined the side of order and humanity against the iron despotism of semi-barbarous kings and the brutality of lawless lords . St . Bernard bears ample testimony to the purity of their lives and the arduous character of their labours . " They live , " he writes , " without having anything as

their own , not even their will . Simply clad and covered with dust , their countenance appears burnt with the heat of the sun , and is haughty and severe . When they approach to battle , they arm themselves with faith inside , and fire outside ; their courage is unshaken in danger , and they fear neither the strength nor the number of their enemies . They place their whole trust in the God of armies ; and in fighting for His glory , they seek a certain victory , or a holy and an honourable death . "

Mr . Christopher Baker , in his lectures on the "Associative Principle in the middle Ages , " supplies me with an ably condensed summary of the heroic achievements of the Knights Templar , that I cannot refrain from reading to you . " They enlarged their objects , " he states , " from the defence of the roads to the defence of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem itself , now ruled

b 3 * Baldwin , who had succeeded his brother , Godfrey de Bouillon , the leader of tbe first Crusade ; and eminent men from various countries joined their society , and threw the whole of their possessionns into the common stock . A mission to the Pope , and to the several great potentates in Europe , resulted in making the Order known throughout Christendom and hundreds of the

; noblest knights in Europe returned with the mission to Jerusalem . Templar establishments speedily rose in various parts of England , the chief , however , being iu London . Increasing in numbers and wealth , the newlyformed Society sot about erecting their magnificent church and buildings on the spot still bearing the name , tho Patriarch of Jerusalem having come over to England

to officiate at the consecration . This event may be said to mark the consummation of the establishment of the Order in England ; from which date the importance of the 'Templars is ever conspicuous . Of the part which they took in maintaining the Christian cause in the Holy Land , we need only remark , with the Hospitallers they shared in tho perils and glories of many a

wellfought fray . Generous emulation sometimes degenerated into envy , and ihe heats and feuds of the rival Orders at times violated the peace of the country , and brought scandal upon the Christian name ; but these dissentions were speedily brought to a close when danger approached their charge , and the standard of the Mussulman was seldom raised on the frontier of the kingdom without

tho trumpets of the Brotherhood in every preceptory and commandery receiving and echoing the challenge . But the prowess of the Templars was particularly conspicuous in the moments of the Kingdom ' s final fate . When the Christians of the Holy Lund were reduced to the possession of Acre , and 200 , 000 Mameluke Tartars , commanded by the Kalif of Egypt , were camped round its walls , the defence of the citv was entrusted to th