The Knights Templars.

cathedral , Avhere the ceremony was to take place . The officiating clergy then entered followed by the aspirant , who Avas attended by his sponsors . When High Mass was ended , the sponsors led the aspirant to the altar and presented him to the

Bishop saying , "We present A . B . to you as a fit candidate for the honour of Knighthood . " The aspirant then delivered up his sword to the Bishop , who laid it upon the altar . The bishop generally admonished the aspirant as to the duties of the

Knight , and Ave find the bishop of Valenciennes addressing the young Count of Ostrevant on such an occasion as folloAVS * : " He who seeks to be a

Knight should possess great qualifications . Noble by birth , liberal in gifts , high in courage , strong in danger , secret in council , patient in difficulties , powerful against enemies , prudent in his deeds . He must swear to observe the following rules : -To

andertake nothing without having heard mass fastingf ; to spare neither his blood nor his life in defence of the Catholic faith , to give aid to all widows and orphans ; to undertake no war Avithout just cause , to favour no injustice , but to protect

the innocent and oppressed , to be humble in all things , to seek the welfare of those placed under feim , never to violate the rights of his Sovereign , and to lire irrepvehensibly before God and man . " A lock of hair Avas then clipped off the aspirant ' s

aead , emblemizing his servitude to God , after which a white mantle was placed upon his shoulders , the bishop saying , " We place upon you this snow white mantle as a type of the purity of your new character . " Over that Avas thrown

a red mantle , the bishop saying , " We place upon you this red mantle , as a type of your resolution to shed your blood in the cause of heaven . " Thereafter the bishop took up the sword from the altar , which he incensed and blessed in these

words— " May heaven bless this sword , and may it serve for a protection to the Church , all widows , orphans , and of all servants of God against the tyranny of Pagans and other deceivers in whose eyes we mercifull y hope that it will prove an instrument of terror . "

The bishop handed the SAVord to the candidate , who bore it to the Knight who was to confer the accolade . Kneeling before him , his hands upon the Evangelists , he took the following oath : " I A . B . vow to God to live chaste , to do no one

wrong , to speak the truth , to maintain the ri ght , to defend the Church , to attack the Avicked , to respect the priesthood , to practice courtesy , to protect all Avomen , orphans , the poor and Aveak , to preserve the country in tranquility , to shed my

blood , even to the last drop in defence of my brethren . This I acknowledge to be my vow and duty as a Knight . " He then kissed the Evangelists as sealing his vow . It- was then asked of the candidate if his vow had any object distinct

from the wish to maintain Religion and Chivalry , to which an answer was given in the negative . The arming then proceeded , the Knights and ladies bearing the separate pieces of armour . Sometimes the spurs Avere buckled ou first , * but

in the History of Geoffrey , Duke of Normandy we find the corslet and greaves mentioned first , the spear and SAVord last . The arming being completed with the exception of the helmet and sword , the grade-conferring Knight rose to give the

accolade . This Avas done by three blows of the candidates naked sword , struck him ' upon the neck . Sometimes it was bestowed by a blow with the hand upon the cheek , accompanied by some words indicative of the completion of the ceremony . The words "

accompanying the accolade were , in the case of the Kings of France conferring the honour : "In the name of God , St . Michael , aud St . George , I dub thee Knight . Be loyal , bold and true . " With the blow : "Bear this blow , and never bear another , "

that is , it was the last blow he was to receive on earth Avithout at once resenting it . Sometimes more Christian language Avas | used : " Remember that the Saviour of the world Avas buffeted and scoffed . " The Knight who conferred the accolade

now raised the candidate , and kissing him on the cheek said . * " Receive the kiss of jbrotherhood and of peace . " He then presented him Avith his SAvord saying , "This sword , blessed by God , Avhoever wields it in a just cause ' shall prevail against

all enemies , aud all adversaries of the Church . Gii'd it upon thy thigh , that with it thou mayest exercise the power of equity , | to destroy the hopes of the profane , to fight for God ' s Church and defend his faithful people , to repel and destroy the

hosts of the wicked whether theyfjbe heretics or pagans . And finally , Soldier of [ God and of Chivalry , I exhort you ever to defend the cause of the orphan and of the Widow , to restore and preserve joy to the desolate , to recover the