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Article DU PELERIN, OR THE PROFESSION. Page 1 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Du Pelerin, Or The Profession.
DU PELERIN , OR THE PROFESSION .
A PASSAGE OF PALESTINE . IT was past the midnight watch ; and the warders of the tower of the temple had taken their stations for the ni ght , when the Grand Dignitaries of the Order of Kni ghts Templars at Jerusalem , assembled in the great chapel of their convent , to hold a solemn chapter for the initiation of a novice . The scene was one of a singular and imposing characterEncircled b
. y his superior officers and assistants , each taking place according to his rank , the Grand Master of the Order of the Temple appeared conspicuous among the rest . Enveloped in his robes of spotless white , the blood red cross flaming bright on the left shoulder , and seated on on elevated dais , the Master held in his right hand the peculiar official abacus , the ensign of supreme authority . While all the attendant functionaries stood uncoveredhe alone
, wore the ecclesiastical cap , in quality of vice-general of the pope , over the clergy of the religious and military order . The personal appearance of the Grand Master bespoke a man of a decided and extraordinary character , even in that age of daring and distinguished spirits . Of a tall and gigantic form , the hardships which he had endured in the campaigns of Palestine , had not yet been able to bend his iron framenor to render more than partiall the
, y gray hairs of his beard and bush y head , which clustered in hard , thick curls around his neck and temples . His dark , keen eyes , although somewhat sunk in their sockets , seemed to scowl from under the shaggy eye-brows which overhung them : and several deep scars , on different parts of his sunburnt face , added further to the forbidding impression of his physiognomy , which defied the closest observation to discover what were the secret workings of his soul .
Of an ambitious and impetuous temper , he was alleged not to be easily turned aside by the dictates of conscience or the precepts of justice , when either his own interest or the aggrandizement of the Order was in question ; and it is upon record that he once even set at defiance the united influence and power of the King of Jerusalem and his nobles . This was upon the occasion of his refusing to deliver up to King Almerie a certain Templar , named Dumesnil , accused of murof the assassins who
dering an envoy had been sent by Sinan , the superior of that sect , in the mountains of Tripoli , with the singular and insidious offer , that he and all his followers would become christians and be baptized , when the annual tribute , which the templars levied from them , should be remitted for the future . The inference publicly drawn from this dark affair was , that the murder was perpetrated under the direction or with the connivance of the Grand Master of the Order of
the Temple . Such was the character of Odo de St . Amand , who now held his Grand Chapter at Jerusalem for the reception of an equestrian aspirant . Besides the Grand ^ Dignitaries above mentioned , and Knights proper of the Order who were present at the magisterial chapter , there were also a number of squires and serving Brethren attired in black dresses , who occupied a station in the lower part of the chapel , and were under the direction of the Banner-bearer of the Orderwhose
, deputy bore , before him , the black and white striped ensign of the Sauseant . A Grand Prelate , or Bishop , in his mantle of flowing white , with 3 H
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Du Pelerin, Or The Profession.
DU PELERIN , OR THE PROFESSION .
A PASSAGE OF PALESTINE . IT was past the midnight watch ; and the warders of the tower of the temple had taken their stations for the ni ght , when the Grand Dignitaries of the Order of Kni ghts Templars at Jerusalem , assembled in the great chapel of their convent , to hold a solemn chapter for the initiation of a novice . The scene was one of a singular and imposing characterEncircled b
. y his superior officers and assistants , each taking place according to his rank , the Grand Master of the Order of the Temple appeared conspicuous among the rest . Enveloped in his robes of spotless white , the blood red cross flaming bright on the left shoulder , and seated on on elevated dais , the Master held in his right hand the peculiar official abacus , the ensign of supreme authority . While all the attendant functionaries stood uncoveredhe alone
, wore the ecclesiastical cap , in quality of vice-general of the pope , over the clergy of the religious and military order . The personal appearance of the Grand Master bespoke a man of a decided and extraordinary character , even in that age of daring and distinguished spirits . Of a tall and gigantic form , the hardships which he had endured in the campaigns of Palestine , had not yet been able to bend his iron framenor to render more than partiall the
, y gray hairs of his beard and bush y head , which clustered in hard , thick curls around his neck and temples . His dark , keen eyes , although somewhat sunk in their sockets , seemed to scowl from under the shaggy eye-brows which overhung them : and several deep scars , on different parts of his sunburnt face , added further to the forbidding impression of his physiognomy , which defied the closest observation to discover what were the secret workings of his soul .
Of an ambitious and impetuous temper , he was alleged not to be easily turned aside by the dictates of conscience or the precepts of justice , when either his own interest or the aggrandizement of the Order was in question ; and it is upon record that he once even set at defiance the united influence and power of the King of Jerusalem and his nobles . This was upon the occasion of his refusing to deliver up to King Almerie a certain Templar , named Dumesnil , accused of murof the assassins who
dering an envoy had been sent by Sinan , the superior of that sect , in the mountains of Tripoli , with the singular and insidious offer , that he and all his followers would become christians and be baptized , when the annual tribute , which the templars levied from them , should be remitted for the future . The inference publicly drawn from this dark affair was , that the murder was perpetrated under the direction or with the connivance of the Grand Master of the Order of
the Temple . Such was the character of Odo de St . Amand , who now held his Grand Chapter at Jerusalem for the reception of an equestrian aspirant . Besides the Grand ^ Dignitaries above mentioned , and Knights proper of the Order who were present at the magisterial chapter , there were also a number of squires and serving Brethren attired in black dresses , who occupied a station in the lower part of the chapel , and were under the direction of the Banner-bearer of the Orderwhose
, deputy bore , before him , the black and white striped ensign of the Sauseant . A Grand Prelate , or Bishop , in his mantle of flowing white , with 3 H