Purpose of the Knights Templar:
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1. We speak firstly to all
those who secretly despise their own will and desire with a pure
heart to serve the sovereign queen as a knight and with studious care desire to wear, and
wear permanently, the very noble armour of purity. And therefore we admonish you,
you who until now have led the lives of secular knights, in which Shal'ille was not the
cause, but which you embraced for human favour only, to follow those whom the Goddess has
chosen from the mass of perdition and whom he has ordered through his gracious mercy to
defend the Holy Order, and that you hasten to join them forever.
2. Above all things, whosoever would be a knight of
Shal'ille, choosing such holy orders, you
in your profession of faith must unite pure diligence and firm perseverence, which is so
worthy and so holy, and is known to be so noble, that if it is preserved untainted for
ever,
you will deserve to keep company with the martyrs who gave their souls for Shal'ille.
In this religious order has flourished and is revitalised the order of knighthood. This
knighthood despised the love of justice that constitutes its duties and did not do what it
should, that is defend the poor, widows, orphans and churches, but strove to plunder,
despoil and kill. The Goddess works well with us; She has sent her
friends from the Holy City of Jasper to the marches of Tos and Barloque, who for
our salvation and the spread of the true faith do not cease to offer their souls to the
Goddess, a
welcome sacrifice.
3. Then we, in all joy and all brotherhood, at the
request of Grand Master Lethander Morninglory, by
whom the aforementioned knighthood was founded by the grace of the Holy Mother,
assembled at Jasper from divers provinces beyond the mountains on the feast of my lord
St Kraanan. And the conduct and beginnings of the Order of
Knighthood we heard in common chapter from the lips of the aforementioned Master,
4. You who proclaim your faith, and you others serving
the sovereign queen with
horses and arms, for the salvation of your souls, for a fixed term, strive everywhere with
pure desire to defend your brothers and observe the
customs of the regular masters of the Holy City of Jasper.
5. We command that all the brothers' habits should
always be of two colours, that is white
and red, so that those who have abandoned the life of darkness will
recognise each other as being reconciled to their creator by the sign of the white and red
habits:
which signifies purity and sacrifice in battle..
6. Let only those brothers whom the Master knows will
give wise and beneficial advice
be called to the council; for this we command, and by no means everyone should be
chosen. For when it happens that they wish to treat serious matters like the giving of
communal land, or to speak of the affairs of the house, or receive a brother, then if the
Master wishes, it is appropriate to assemble the entire congregation to hear the advice of
the whole chapter; and what seems to the Master best and most beneficial, let him do it.
7. Each brother should ensure that he does not incite
another brother to wrath or anger,
for the sovereign mercy of the Goddess holds the strong and weak brother equal, in the
name of
charity.
8. In order to carry out their holy duties and gain
the glory of the Goddess's joy and to
escape the fear of hell-fire, it is fitting that all brothers who are professed strictly
obey
their Master. For nothing is dearer to Shal'ille than obedience. For as soon as
something is commanded by the Master or by him to whom the Master has given the
authority, it should be done without delay as though Christ himself had commanded it.