Foreign News: A Surprise

A startled London beheld a scene, weird and impressive, within the ancient walls of Westminster Abbey. There were assembled the members of the Most Noble Order of Crusaders, dressed in white tunics emblazoned with a red cross worn over a long-hooded gown of brown, blue, green or gray, according to the rank of the person; the knights wore mantles of red with gold edgings and white crosses on the left shoulder. Beautifully embroidered banners and magnificent crosses accompanied the procession in which the crest of self-sacrifice, the word of service, the bible of truth, the spurs of chivalry, etc., were borne on cushions by officers attended by esquires.

The procession was headed by the Duke of York and the occasion was the installation of the Unknown Soldier as Grand Master of the Order. The ceremony was highly impressive. On entering the Abbey the Order was met by the clergy and choir, all dressed in medieval habits, and they and some of the Order proceeded up che main aisle to the high altar where the Pro-Grand Master received an offering of gold from the Almoner and presented it to the Dean, who dedicated it. Then sounded a joyous fanfare of trumpets and the procession re-formed and wound its way to the Chapel of Edward the Confessor, patron of the Order, to lay the gold on the altar there. The Dean delivered himself of a brief address and the choir sang the 68th Psalm to a harmonized Gregorian chant. The Order then marched in solemn procession around the Abbey and with the laying of a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the “most impressive ceremony the old Abbey had seen for centuries” was over.

Naturally all this magnificence caused a furore in London where the Order had never been heard of. It became known, however, that the Crusaders had been established for two years. The members of the Order are drawn from all classes of society but with the middle class in the ascendant. Like the Freemasons, members must profess belief in a Supreme Being, they must also pledge themselves to the King and the Constitution and to service, self-sacrifice and loyalty.