CHAPTER X.

ENCAMPMENT ORDERS.

ORDER OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.

ORIGIN AND TITLE.

THE Order of Knights Templars originated in the early days of the Crusades. When intelligence of the capture of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, in 1099, had reached Europe, the zeal of pilgrimage blazed forth with increased fierceness; and promiscuous crowds of both sexes, old men and children, virgins and matrons, thinking the road then open and the journey practicable, pressed forward towards the Holy City. The infidels had indeed been driven out of Jerusalem, but not out of Palestine. The lofty mountains bordering the sea coast (says Mr. Addison) were infected by bold and warlike bands of fugitive Mussulmen, who maintained themselves in various impregnable castles and strongholds; from whence they issued forth upon the high-roads, cut off the communication between Jerusalem and the sea-ports, and revenged themselves for the loss of their habitations and property, by the indiscriminate pillage of all travellers. The pilgrims, whether they approached the city by land or sea, were alike exposed to almost daily hostility, plunder, and death.

To alleviate the dangers and distresses to which these pious enthusiasts were exposed, to guard the honor of the saintly virgins and matrons,* and to protect the gray hairs of the venerable palmer, nine noble knights, † who had greatly distinguished themselves at the siege and capture of Jerusalem, formed a Holy Brotherhood-in-Arms, and entered into a solemn compact to aid one another in clearing the highways of infidels and of robbers, and in protecting pilgrims through the passes and defiles of the

"To kiss the holy monuments," says William of Tyre, "came sacred and chaste widows, forgetful of feminine fear and the multiplicity of dangers that beset their path."

+Addison's History of the Knights Templars.

mountains to the Holy City. Warmed with the religious and military fervor of the day, and animated by the sacredness of the cause to which they had devoted their swords, they called themselves the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Jesus Christ. They renounced the world and its pleasures; and in the holy church of the Resurrection, in the presence of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, embraced vows of perpetual chastity, obedience, and poverty, after the manner of monks.

At first they had no church, and no particular place of abode; but in the year 1118, they had rendered such acceptable service to the Christians, that Baldwin the Second, king of Jerusalem, granted them a place of habitation within the sacred inclosure of the Temple, on Mount Moriah, amid those holy and magnificent structures, partly erected by the Christian emperor Justinian, and partly built by the Caliph Omar, which were then exhibited by the monks and priests of Jerusalem, whose restless zeal led them to practise on the credulity of the pilgrims, as the Temple of Solomon; whence the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Jesus Christ" came thenceforth to be known by the name of "the Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon ;” * or, Knights Templars. William of Tyre says, they occupied "the palace," or "royal house, to the south of the Temple of the Lord, vulgarly called the Temple of Solomon."

Such was the origin of the Order and name of the Knights Templars; and here we leave their history; referring the reader to Addison, and other credible writers on the subject, for full details of their subsequent brilliant career and shameful destruction.

The original Dress of the Templars was white.

The true Cross of the Order is the Patriarchal Cross, so called, from its having been appropriated to be worn by the Patriarchs, as the triple Cross is worn by the Pope. It is crossed twice, to denote that the work of redemption which was wrought on the Cross, through the crucifixion of the Savior, extended alike to the Patriarchs and Pilgrims. Beside this, the plain white cloaks of the knights were adorned with octangular blood

* Pantaleon, lib. iii. p. 82.

red Crosses, to signify that they were to shed their blood in the service of the Church.

The original Banner of the Order represented two knights riding on one horse, to signify their poverty and humility; but as no possible means were ever successfully devised to keep any body of men poor, it was soon laid aside. Their great standard, and that which we are, perhaps, to regard as the true Banner of the Order, was White, with Red Crosses; symbolical, like their dress, of purity of life, and of courage, even unto death. A third Banner, being that which they bore in battle, was composed of two black and white strips of silk, seamed together; signifying white and fair to Christians, but black and terrible to their enemies.

An Encampment of Knights Templars consists of the following Officers, viz.: 1. M. E. Grand Commander; his station is in the East, or at the head of his Encampment. 2. Generalissimo, in the East, on the right of M. E. G. Commander. 3. Captain General, in the East, on the left of the M. E. Grand Commander. 4. Prelate, on the right of the Generalissimo. 5. Senior Warden, at the S. W. angle of the triangle, and upon the right of the first division.* 6. Junior Warden, at the N. W. angle of the triangle, and upon the left of the third division. 7. Treasurer, on the right, in front of the Generalissimo. 8. Recorder, on the left, in front of the Captain General. 9. Standard Bearer, in the West. 10. Sword Bearer, on the right of the Standard Bearer, in the West. 11. Warder, on the left of the Standard Bearer, in the West. 12. Guards. 13. Sentinel. The Knights are arranged, in equal numbers, on the right and left of the hall. The Past Commanders in the East.

*When the Encampment is formed in triangle, the place of the Wardens, at the triangle, is as above stated. They are on the right and left of the divisions named only when the body is formed in line. Some little misunderstanding has heretofore existed in this respect, which it is the object of this note to correct.

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think he shall receive any thing from the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Supreme Architect of the Universe, whose All-Seeing Eye surveys the inhabitants of this lower world,. behold us, thy dependent creatures, with thy favor and blessing. We adore thee as a holy and merciful God, whose righteous providence orders all things in heaven and on earth; and from whom all holy desires, all good councils, and all just works do proceed. We beseech thee to direct and bless us in what we do. Give us wisdom to choose, and grace to perform, whatever is according to thy holy will. Preserve us from every sin; protect us in every danger, and grant that all our doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight. Especially would we at this time render thee our thanksgiving and praise for the Institution, as members of which we are now assembled, and for all the pleasures we have derived from it. We thank thee that the few, who are here met together, have been favored with new inducements, and laid under new and stronger obligations, to virtue and holiness. May these obligations, O blessed Father, have their full effect upon us. May the solemnity of our Institution be duly impressed on our minds, and have & lasting effect upon our lives. Endue us, O Lord, with wisdom