WHO ARE THE CRUSADERS ?

Evening Star, Issue 18534, 17 January 1924, Page 7

WHO ARE THE CRUSADERS ?

CEREMONIAL IN THE ABBEY. ENGLISH SECRET SOCIETY. [By Adrian Harley, in the ‘Sunday Chronicle.’] On Wednesday afternoon last (November 28) a certain secret society held a commemoration service in Westminster Abbey. Tho Dean (Bishop Ryle) delivered an address to tho members of the society, offered the final prayers, and gave the blessing. Admission to tho Abbey for this occasion waa by ticket, and a very largo congregation, including the Duke of lork, waa present. The ceremonies included tho presentation of a gift of money by the Pro-Grand Master of the society, on behalf of tho membership, to the Doan and _ Chapter, for the ‘‘further adornment” of Edward the Confessor’s Chapel. Thera was also a procession of the members 'of whom some 200 were present, those of each degree being habited in its distinctive vestments; tho robes of the grand officers are described as being of crimson, blue, green, and gold, and as giving “a rich touch of color to the scene.” The banner of St. George was carried in the procession, as were also the ensign of the society and its symbols, which include a Bible, a pair of spurs, a sword, a cup, a chest, and other matters. When the procession reached tho tomb of tho Unknown Warrior the Pro-Grand Master, “ attended by 16 esquires,” placed a wreath upon it. For the Unknown Warrior has been adopted by this society as its Principal Knight and Supreme Head. VOWS OF THE ORDER.

‘‘lt is improbable,” observes one of the descriptive writers who witnessed the ceremonies, ‘‘that such a body over before walked in the Abbey of Westminster.” Very unlikely indeed, I should say. And since Westminster Abbey _ and the Unknown Warrior are possessions of the nation—and possessions, moreover, which are of the very highest sanctity and reverence in its eyes—it will not be out of place to set down hero as much as is known of the society which has established with both of them relationships of such peculiar intimacy. What is known is not very much, for the society, as is very proper in a body bound together by ties of secrecy, does not advertise. But it has been made known officially that “Tho Most Noble Order of Crusaders” was started two years ago by five persons, not named, and that its members to-day number many thousands, drawn from all parts of the country. It is a secret order,” haying secret passwords and signs by which members can recognise their common fellowship; and the ritual practiced at meetings may not be divulged. Before a man can bo initiated as a freeman of tho order he must_ take a vow upon tho Bible “ to give service, to exercise personal self-sacrifice, to honor God, to be true to the King, to servo his country, and to practise brotherhood without distinction of rank or class towards all of whom ho is associated within the order.”

Tho members adopt the title of Crusaders in pursuing these admirable objects because it has seemed to them that the typical Crusader of the Middle Ages was the best embodiment of tho virtues in question. They admire his record in respect of brotherhood, also hia “zeal for the fight against oppression and tyranny.” The modern Crusaders observe that “with dishonesty and suspicion in our industrial life, with greed and -discontent in our social life, ifwotild almost seem that many of our countrymen have, for tho lime bo-

ing, lost eight of tho great ideal of ectvioo and brotherhood.” GROUNDS FOR EXCEPTION.

In short, the Crusaders aim at tho keeping alive of that ideal which, they hold, inspired their countrymen in tho Great War; wherefore the Unknown Warrior has been chosen as their Supreme Head. Anyone who should “hint a doubt and hesitate dfalikd” in regard to these proceedings at the Abbey ought to begin by acknowledging that Dr Ryle and his colleagues cannot, clearly, have been visited by the least notion that anyone could have any objection, reasonable or otherwise. to these things being done. No ono, least of all the dean, would, knowingly, give occasion lor dispute about the proper use of tho Abbey. lot it is tho unfortunate fact that many people have heard of this service with feelings of astonishment; and it may bo pointed out to the Crusaders, as well as to tho Abbey authorities, for their guidance in the future, that there are quite substantial grounds for tho taking of exception to all this.

In tho first place, it ought to have occurred to the Crusaders’ Pro-Grand Master, or at least to the Grand Custodian, or the Grand Hospitaller, or the Record Keeper, or the Grand Scribe, or tho Grand Abbot, or the Grand Seneschal, or some other grand officer, that it was at least debatable whether any private society, to say nothing of a “secret order,” had any right to introduce the Unknown Warrior into their hierarchy and ritual. But the Crusaders have gone further than this in imputing by inference to the Unknown Warrior their own uneasiness about tho moral condition of their countrymen. This fa a serious matter. Another is that an organisation, which is admittedly only two years old, and of which nothing whatever is known save what fa given out officially by itself, is hardly entitled to bo accorded a privilege which places it on the footing of a national institution. There are in this country dozens and scores, perhaps hundreds, of private societies of old standing devoted to tho spreading of good principles and Christianity, and universally known to have fine records of social service; and not one of them would have the presumption to ask for a special service in Westminster Abbey. Moreover, they are not secret societies. IMITATING THE FREEMASONS. This fa a third point. Very many people in this country look upon Freemasonry with dislike or impatience. I do not share that feeling. All that I know of Masonry—all that seems to me to matter—is greatly to its credit. But many people are more upset than I am by tho elements of secrecy and ceremonial mystery which is imitated by the Crusaders from tho Freemasons, for reasons which may bo excellent, but which a,to not disclosed. Such people have been annoyed by laSt Wednesday’s proceedings. And, in addition to all this, there is the fact that tho Crusaders lie under suspicion of being a sectional body, with an outlook on certain national matters which groat multitudes of their countrymen do not share. Again, I do not say that I suspect them of this. But it has been said that they are in some respects comparable with the Fascist! and tho Ku Klux Klan.

Now, no British society could ho very much like tho Fascist!, who represent a force of lawless violence with national objects which Ims applied itself to crushing out another force of lawless violence whoso objects were anti-national. And certainly there could not exist in this country any such loathsome mixture of mummery, weak-minded intole.ranco, and brutality as tho Ku Klux Klan, which lias no higher aim than tho knocking about of people whoso faces or opinions it docs not like. THE CRUSADERS PARALLEL.

But, when these bodies are mentioned in connection with the Crusaders, what is meant is that the Crusaders are credited with being opposed to Socialism and to militant trade unionism. Perhaps they aro not. But if, indeed, the propagation of these opinions is a part of their raison d’etre, they really aro not a society which

can properly be given a unique privilege In regard to tho most famous _of our national shrines. That “ dishonesty and suspicion in our industrial life ” which tho Crusaders deplore fa not made any hotter when favor of this really exceptional kind is shown in high places, _ _ I The sincere godliness and high-minded- I ness of tho Crusaders axe nothing _to tlioj point. Wo may assume these; indeed,! wo must, as only a few of the Crusaders’ names are known to us. But there are, I repeat, many societies whoso devotion is as great and whoso aims are as high. For , that matter, tho Ku Klux Khan professes : to bo a religious body, and tho Bible figures prominently in its half-witted | ritual '

I would suggest, in conclusion, that a. .society which entertains so high a.n opinion of itself, its merits, and its aims as to claim the honors of the Abbey and the patronage of the Unknown Warrior, might have been more careful in choosing its name. Every one of that stream of military expeditions which wo call the Crusades was ruined sooner or later by the, selfish ambitions, the mutual hatreds, and the J®Toacheries of those concerned in them. Tho ideal of the Crusado was a vision which transfigured the minds of Mediasval Western Europe. But the Crusaders themselves stand in history for nothing but the. failure of human nature in their day to live up to its ideal, and to resist tho temptations of tho w r orld, tho flesh, and the devil.