y in the name of Mercy and Heaven. "This
Walpot as not by birth a nobleman," says one of the old Chroniclers,
"but his deeds were noble." This pious little union proved unconsciously
the beginning of a great thing. Finding its work prosper here, and gain
favor, the little union took vows on itself, strict chivalry forms, and
decided to become permanent. "Knights Hospitallers of our dear Lady of
Mount Zion," that or something equivalent was their first title, under
Walpot their first Grand-Master; which soon grew to be "German Order
of St. Mary" (TEUTSCHE RITTER of the MARIE-ORDEN), or for shortness
TEUTSCHES RITTERTHUM; under which name it played a great part in the
world for above three centuries to come, and eclipsed in importance both
the Templars and Hospitallers of St. John.

This was the era of Chivalry Orders, and GELUBDE; time for Bodies of Men
uniting themselves by a Sacred Vow, "GELUBDE"--which word and thing have
passed over to us in a singularly dwindled condition: "CLUB" we now
call it; and the vow, if sacred, does not aim very high! Templars and
Hospitallers were already famous bodies; the latter now almost a
century old. Walpot's new GELUBDE was of similar intent, only German in
kind,--the protection, defence and solacement of Pilgrims, with whatever
that might involve.

HEAD OF TEUTSCH ORDER MOVES TO VENICE.

The Teutsch Ritters earned character in Palestine, and began to get
bequests and recognition; but did not long continue there, like their
two rival Orders. It was not in Palestine, whether the Orders might
be aware of it or not, that their work could now lie. Pious Pilgrims
certainly there still are in great numbers; to these you shall do the
sacred rites: but these, under a Saladin bound by his word, need little
protection by the sword. And as for Crusading in the armed fashion, that
has fallen visibly into the decline. After Barbarossa, Coeur-de-Lion and
Philippe Auguste have tried it with such failure, what wise man will be
in haste to try it again? Zealous Popes continue to stir up Crusades;
but the Secular Powers are not in earnest as formerly; Secular Powers,
when they do go, "take Constantinople," "conquer Sicily," never take
or conquer anything in Palestine. The Teutsch Order helps valiantly in
Palestine, or would help; but what is the use of helping? The Teutsch
Order has already possessions in Europe, by pious bequest and otherwise;
all its main interests lie there; in fine, after