Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Oration,
ledge ; for , as the broken fragments of a pyramid can give us but a faint conception of the colossal grandeur of the structure , so can a partial and imperfect view of Freemasomy afford us but a dim idea of its vast and Avondrous proportions .
Carefully guard against the admission of unworthy candidates ; permit not the friA olous , the dissolute , or the intemperate , to enter Avithin our . gates or to participate iu ceremonies which they can neither comprehend nor enjoy .
In conclusion , brethren , I Avould express a fervent hope , iu Avhich I am sure all present will heartily join , that the foundation we are laying this day may be solid and lasting , that- the altar which Ave raise may be consecrated to the service
of morality and virtue , and that centimes hence , Avhen our living breathing forms shall have long mingled Avith their kindred dust , our descendants in the A illiers Lodge may still be found promulgating in all their original purity the genuine principles of our noble and time-honoured fraternity .
The Knights Templars.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .
By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . CHAPTEE VI . [ Continued from page 266 . ) GEAND MASTER , REKTRAND DE BLANCHEFORT , ANDRE
DE MONTBAE , AND PHILIP DE NAPLONS . Fall of Ascalon . —Defeat ofthe Christians near Tiberias . —Death of King Baldwin . —Vices of tlie Christians . — - De Blanchefort in captivity ,- -is liberated , and writes lo Europe , for Aid . —Quarrel between the Patriarch of
Jerusalem and the Hospitallers . —The Templars and Nassir-ed-deen . —Failcher sent as Ambassador lo the Caliph . —The lull " oranc deduni optimum" granted . — The King attacks Egypt ; defeated . —A . D . 1151—1171 . Filled with fury at the slaughter of their brethren ,
and burning to avenge their deaths , the Christians renewed their attack upon Ascalon , but for a long time it baffled a ! i their efforts to take it . For mouths rivers of blood flowed before its Avails , and the Mussulmans and Christians fought Avith equal
valour , and neither gave quarter nor asked for it . Michaud Avrites that " during the siege the Knio-hts ol the Temple particularly distinguished themselves by their valour . " At length , worn out by famine and fatigue , the citizens capitulated , and
Kino-SaldAvin permitted them to retire to Egypt with iLlieir families . . 'Immediately after the taking of Ascalon , a
Chapter-General of the Templars was held at Jerusalem , Avhen Bertrand de Alboferti , or Blanchefort AA'as elected Grand Master ( A . D . 1154 ) . De Blanchefort was a cadet of a noble and eminent family of Guienne , and William of Tyre calls him
a pious and God-fearing man . Shortly after his election he assembled a large company of the Knights , and set out to join Baldwin , Avho was then busily employed in forcing Noureddin to raise the sieges of Paneas and Sidon , in which the
king subsequently succeeded ; and in the conflicts incident to this Avar the Templars conducted themselves with their accustomed bravery . On Tuesday , the 19 th June , 1156 , Avhile De Blanchefort and his Knights Avere inarching Avith Baldwin near
Tiberias , the Christians were set upon by a large body of Saracens , and from the suddeness of the attack , their ranks Avere thrown into disorder . The Christians , though surprised for a while , resisted valiantly , but the overwhelming number of
the enemy , and the confusion into which they had been thrown at the commencement of tho attack , compelled them at length to gave way aud flee before the Saracens . The Templars , however , still continued the combat , and strove to rally the fleeing Christians and bring them back to the
fight . Their efforts , liOAvever , were ineffectual , the panic could not be checked , and the deA'oted Knights , to permit of the escape of their Christian brethren , although they scorned to imitate their example , manfnllyheldthefield against the Saracens ,
until three hundred of their number were slain , and eighty-seven taken prisoners . Among the latter were the Grand Master and Odo , the Grand Marshal of the Order . Odo conducted himself in this battle with the most determined bravery ,
and kept the Beaueant flying till he himself , the last of the Christian combatants , fell Avounded from his horse and was then taken prisoner . This was the severest bloAv that as yet had been dealt the Order ; the flower of its chivalry had been slain or
taken captive , and for a while it paralysed the efforts and depressed the spirits of the Templars still at liberty , while it excited the hopes of the Saracens to the highest degree , and the fresh slaughter of the religious Knights appeared to
them as an omen of certain future victories . The Templars , however , recovering from their stupor , assembled a small but determined band and attacked and took prisoner a large detachment of the Saracens . Emboldened by this success , they dogged ¦ the footsteps of rsoureddin and his
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Oration,
ledge ; for , as the broken fragments of a pyramid can give us but a faint conception of the colossal grandeur of the structure , so can a partial and imperfect view of Freemasomy afford us but a dim idea of its vast and Avondrous proportions .
Carefully guard against the admission of unworthy candidates ; permit not the friA olous , the dissolute , or the intemperate , to enter Avithin our . gates or to participate iu ceremonies which they can neither comprehend nor enjoy .
In conclusion , brethren , I Avould express a fervent hope , iu Avhich I am sure all present will heartily join , that the foundation we are laying this day may be solid and lasting , that- the altar which Ave raise may be consecrated to the service
of morality and virtue , and that centimes hence , Avhen our living breathing forms shall have long mingled Avith their kindred dust , our descendants in the A illiers Lodge may still be found promulgating in all their original purity the genuine principles of our noble and time-honoured fraternity .
The Knights Templars.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .
By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . CHAPTEE VI . [ Continued from page 266 . ) GEAND MASTER , REKTRAND DE BLANCHEFORT , ANDRE
DE MONTBAE , AND PHILIP DE NAPLONS . Fall of Ascalon . —Defeat ofthe Christians near Tiberias . —Death of King Baldwin . —Vices of tlie Christians . — - De Blanchefort in captivity ,- -is liberated , and writes lo Europe , for Aid . —Quarrel between the Patriarch of
Jerusalem and the Hospitallers . —The Templars and Nassir-ed-deen . —Failcher sent as Ambassador lo the Caliph . —The lull " oranc deduni optimum" granted . — The King attacks Egypt ; defeated . —A . D . 1151—1171 . Filled with fury at the slaughter of their brethren ,
and burning to avenge their deaths , the Christians renewed their attack upon Ascalon , but for a long time it baffled a ! i their efforts to take it . For mouths rivers of blood flowed before its Avails , and the Mussulmans and Christians fought Avith equal
valour , and neither gave quarter nor asked for it . Michaud Avrites that " during the siege the Knio-hts ol the Temple particularly distinguished themselves by their valour . " At length , worn out by famine and fatigue , the citizens capitulated , and
Kino-SaldAvin permitted them to retire to Egypt with iLlieir families . . 'Immediately after the taking of Ascalon , a
Chapter-General of the Templars was held at Jerusalem , Avhen Bertrand de Alboferti , or Blanchefort AA'as elected Grand Master ( A . D . 1154 ) . De Blanchefort was a cadet of a noble and eminent family of Guienne , and William of Tyre calls him
a pious and God-fearing man . Shortly after his election he assembled a large company of the Knights , and set out to join Baldwin , Avho was then busily employed in forcing Noureddin to raise the sieges of Paneas and Sidon , in which the
king subsequently succeeded ; and in the conflicts incident to this Avar the Templars conducted themselves with their accustomed bravery . On Tuesday , the 19 th June , 1156 , Avhile De Blanchefort and his Knights Avere inarching Avith Baldwin near
Tiberias , the Christians were set upon by a large body of Saracens , and from the suddeness of the attack , their ranks Avere thrown into disorder . The Christians , though surprised for a while , resisted valiantly , but the overwhelming number of
the enemy , and the confusion into which they had been thrown at the commencement of tho attack , compelled them at length to gave way aud flee before the Saracens . The Templars , however , still continued the combat , and strove to rally the fleeing Christians and bring them back to the
fight . Their efforts , liOAvever , were ineffectual , the panic could not be checked , and the deA'oted Knights , to permit of the escape of their Christian brethren , although they scorned to imitate their example , manfnllyheldthefield against the Saracens ,
until three hundred of their number were slain , and eighty-seven taken prisoners . Among the latter were the Grand Master and Odo , the Grand Marshal of the Order . Odo conducted himself in this battle with the most determined bravery ,
and kept the Beaueant flying till he himself , the last of the Christian combatants , fell Avounded from his horse and was then taken prisoner . This was the severest bloAv that as yet had been dealt the Order ; the flower of its chivalry had been slain or
taken captive , and for a while it paralysed the efforts and depressed the spirits of the Templars still at liberty , while it excited the hopes of the Saracens to the highest degree , and the fresh slaughter of the religious Knights appeared to
them as an omen of certain future victories . The Templars , however , recovering from their stupor , assembled a small but determined band and attacked and took prisoner a large detachment of the Saracens . Emboldened by this success , they dogged ¦ the footsteps of rsoureddin and his