The Knights Templars.

rubra , de Torroge , or Troy , as his name is variously written . Arnold hacl previously filled several of the most important offices of the Order , and was distinguished , for his piety , wisdom , and bravery . Adopting the rigorous measures of his gallant

predecessoz-, he raised the Order in the esteem of the Christians , and to a station befitting the purity and sanctity of its founders . He , furthermore , conciliated the nobles , and . succeeded iu establishing peace and harmony between the

Knights and the Eastern Christians , In the West , however , the Templars' chaplains , as well as the chaplains of the Hospitallers , by their desire of exalting themselves above their brethren in fche priesthood , exceeded the privileges which

had been conferred upon the Orders by the Popes , and brought the warrior monks into discredit . Among the degrees of Pope Alexander , passed in

a council held at the Lateran , one was directed against the Knights for the abuse , by their chaplains , of the privileges conferred upon them with regard to the celebration of the office of the mass in places lying under interdict . No blame can ,

however , attach to the rulers of the Orders . The preceptors and commanders in Europe , several of whom , as we have said , were priests , held each , iu his own house , supreme sway , and the only mode in which the chapter in Jerusalem could discover

and punish delinquents was by sending a Knight , high in command , as a visitor to examine the actings of the brethren ; but fche troublous times of the Holy Land , and the difficulty of sparing a distinguished Knight when daily battles were

occurring , prevented the Grand Masters and their councils from having the opportunity of takingcognisance of these abuses in the West . The decree of the Pope is as follows : —

" Inasmuch as it is our bounden duty to plant the sacred religion , and when planted , in every way to cherish it , we can never attempt the same to better purpose , than if we consider that it has been entrusted to us by the authority of God , to

foster that which is right , and to correct that which impedes the progress of the truth . Wherefore , in consequence of the strong complaints of our brethren and our fellow bishops , we have understood that the brethren of the Temple and of the

Hospital , as well as others of the religious profession , exceeding the privileges with which they have been indulged by the Apostolic See , presume to do many things which both tend to scandal among the people of God , and produce grievous

evil to souls ; for they have purposed to receive churches from the hands of laymen , they admit persons excommunicated and under interdict to the sacraments of the church , aud allow burial m their churches contrary to good conscience , and .

institute ancl remove priests at their pleasure . And whereas the indulgence has been granted to their brethren when going to seek alms , that upon their arrival such churches " ( i . e . lying under interdict ) " may be opened once in a year , and divine

serviceperformed therein ; as we have heard , several o £ of them have frequently come from one or more of their houses , to a place under interdict , and . have abused the indulgence of their privileges , by performing service therein , and then presuming to

bury the dead in the churches aforesaid . And further , by means of the fraternities which , in many places they establish , they sap the strength of the episcopal authority , while , in contravention of the sentences of the bishops , under the pretext

of some of their privileges , they strive to screen all those who are ready to join their fraternity . And whereas , we have thought ; proper to make

these declarations , not so much with reference to the conscience or design of the higher authorities among them , as to the fact that some of those of a lower grade have exceeded what , in discretions they ought to observe , for the purpose of removing

those matters in which they are guilty of excess , ancl which tend to cause doubts , we do , therefore , forbid both them and all other reli gions whatever , without the consent of their bishops , to receive churches and tythes from the hands of laymen ; ,

not taking regard of what , up to the present time they have , contrary to the tenor hereof , received . Persons excommunicated , and by name laid under interdict , we do pronounce to be avoided both by

them , and by all other persons whatsoever , in conformity with the sentences pronounced by the bishops . In those of their churches which do not belong to them fully of right , they are to present priests to the bishops for installation therein ,

who shall be answerable to them for the care of the people , and give to themselves a properaccount as to the temporal things thereof . Also , they are not to presume to remove those once installed without consulting the bishops therecvn ,

And if Templars or Hospitallers come to a , church laid under interdict , they are to be admitted only once in a year to perform service therein , and not even then are they to bury the bodies of those under interdict . Also , as to those frater-