Thursday, February 24, 2011

End Times

No this isn't some article predicting the exact date of the end of times. This is a research paper I did for my "Intro to World Religions" course. It compares the eschatology of Catholicism and Hinduism. Enjoy.

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Along with Death nothing strikes fear or curiosity into men than the end of times. In the Western culture, the end of times version of Christianity as written in the Book of Revelation is pretty well known, but the ongoing cyclical ages that Hindus are not as well known. This paper will compare and contrast the coming of Kalki, the tenth and last avatar of Vishnu, at the end of the Kali Yuga and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in relation to the eschatology of Catholicism and Hinduism.

Hinduism believes that the world lives through four “yugas” (ages or periods of time). These four ages are known as Kruta Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. These four ages span one lifetime of Brahma at the end of the cosmos are there dissolved. As the ages progress the time each one lasts progressively gets shorter. The Kruta Age lasts for 4,800 divine years, the Treta Yuga lasts 3,600 divine years, the Dvapara Yuga lasts 2,400 divine years, and the Kali Yuga only lasts 1,200 divine years. Added together this makes up 12,000 divine years or One Great Cycle called a “Mahayuga”. In terms of human lives, it is traditionally calculated that 1 divine year is equal to 360 human years so a Mahayuga would equal 4,320,000 years.

The final age, the Kali Yuga, is one of moral destruction, degradation, strife, and vice. This age is associated with Kali a male apocalyptic demon not to be confused with the goddess Kālī (read as Kaalee). Kali is said to be a negative manifestation of Vishnu and the cause of all evil during this age. Kali is said to be the product of a long line of incestuous monsters born from the back of Brahma. Brahma created this family line to hurry the dissolution of the cosmos at the end of the Mahayuga. Kali is said to be the son of Krodha, meaning anger, and Himsa, meaning violence. When the family takes human form they corrupt the hearts and minds of mankind which brings an end to Dvapara Yuga and the start of the Kali Yuga. Kali is described as being the color of “soot” with a large tongue and a terrible stench. This demon’s life is described as one of greed, gambling, and other licentious behaviors which would oppose a moral life.

In this age of corruption, rulers are said to turn from their noble duties and become of plunderers levying unreasonable taxes. Some texts even speak of cannibalism by the rulers, their victims primarily being the last true righteous on the Earth. The Vipras or Brahmins gradually lose control over the people. Interest in the spiritual world will cease and focus primarily on the material world becoming godless. Greed and wrath will become common where open displays of animosity and even murder are not seen as wrong or immoral. Sin will increase and while virtue fades away out of the memory of men. Men take little pride in their jobs and the caste system breaks down. Men are considered pious only if they are wealthy. 
At this time of corruption is seen as the savior of the age known as Kalki. Kalki originating from the word “kalka” refers to filth and foulness and thus denotes that Kalki is the destroyer of foulness, darkness, and ignorance. Kalki comes to destroy the wicked and re-establish righteousness on Earth bringing about the start of the Kruta Yuga, or the age of purity. Kalki is the tenth and last avatar of Vishnu and is the nemesis of the demon Kali. Kalki will be born into the prominent Brahmin family Vishnuyasha in the village of Shambhala, endowed with eight superhuman faculties. As a young man, he will be trained in the arts of war by Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. 

From the god Shiva, Kalki receives a sword and a white horse named Devadatta, meaning “given by the gods”. Up until his 32nd year of life on Earth, no living being will have seen him, after that he will begin his righteous campaign which will last for 20-years. His hidden view is supported by the legend that the village will be hidden until the end of the Kali Yuga.

According to the Kalki Puranas, Kalki sets out for the island nation of Sinhala where he marries the princess Padma. He desires to stay on the island and eventually he takes his new wife back to his village of Shambala where she gives birth to two sons named Joy and Vijoy. During this moment of happiness, Kalki forgot his mission, but eventually starts his conquest against evil. He starts the campaign off by performing a ritual sacrifice. He leads a massive army, composed of allies and Brahmins, from nation to nation slaughtering those who dare attempt to hinder his holy quest. Two notable characters that assist Kalki are the kings Devapi and Maru who are said to live through all the Mahayuga awaiting the end of the Kali Yuga where they will assist in the downfall of evil and re-establishment of Sanatana Dharma at which they will return to society to rule.

Kalki’s quest is not one of ease, but rather has its up’s and down’s. During a battle against a massive force against Jin, Devadatta, Kalki’s white horse, is injured and Kalki himself is knocked unconscious. Jin attempts to kidnap Kalki, but is unable to lift him. Kalki is saved by an allied king named Vishnakjupa whereupon Kalki regains consciousness and after encouraging his troop’s rushes towards Jin. Jin’s troops are soon overtaken when the enemy’s wives coming riding in armed for battle in an attempt to avenge the deaths of their husbands. Kalki rushed to the front lines to address them women informing them he could not fight them due to his principles.
"Ladies! Do ye know Kalki as the Supreme God, empowered by whom we take the lives of living beings. Have confidence in our words. On His command we propagate and on his glory we have attained various forms and by His mercy we have become renowned. By His empowerment does the five elements carry out their own actions. He is the Supreme Being Himself. Under His wishes has the nature created the whole Universe. The creation and the continuity of the creation is nothing but His action. He is the Beginning and the End, from Him arise all the holy things in the world. It is He, who is our husband, our wife, son, friend and relative. From Him comes forth all these illusion-like happenings. Those who know that life and death are nothing but coming and going under the influence of love, affection and fondness, those who are devoid of any feelings of anger and hate, who are the devotees of Kalki, they know the above illusion-like happenings as false. How was Time created? Where does death come from? Who is Yama? Who are the Gods? By His illusion, it is Kalki who has become many. O Ladies! We are not weapons and no one gets hurt by us. He is the weapon and it is he who hits. These distinctions are nothing but the illusion created by the Supreme Being. ...We cannot hit the devotees of Kalki.”

Upon these words, the women were so surprised they shed their illusions of materialistic attachment and became followers of Kalki.

The physical personification of Dharma appears before Kalki informing him that the wicked men have defeated him over time and pleads to Kalki to protect him and destroy the wicked men. Kalki set out to avenge the deaths and persecution of the true pious men. Hearing of Kalki’s conquest the demon Kali became angered and sought out to meet him in battle. Upon seeing Kalki, Kali ordered his troops to engage him. Two brother demons named Kok and Bikok engaged Kalki and were hard to defeat as they were extremely powerful and said to be even feared by the gods. Soon Kalki’s troops storm the city of Bishasan, the capital of Kali’s dark empire. Using what is said to be fiery missiles, Kalki’s army burnt down the city and destroyed most of Kali’s family. Kali himself was even injured from the fire.

After the victory in Bishasan, Kalki and his army headed for Vallat ruled by Sashidhwaj, said to be intelligent and brave. Kalki’s troops were soon overrun and dispersed. Kalki himself was captured by the Vallat king. The king though was said to be aware of Kalki’s divine nature and treated him with respect during Kalki’s internment. Eventually, they established a peace treaty and Kalki went on to marry the king’s daughter, Roma. As an example of this peace treaty, the allies of Kalki attended the wedding.

Kalki’s campaign came to an end with this union. At this time Kalki partitioned off the land to those rulers who had allied themselves with him and the Kruta Yuga was established. The remaining residents after the devastation of the Kali Yuga will produce the offspring of the Kruta Yuga, a race of pure, enlightened minds. The two kings Devapi and Maru rule as kings and establish a proper government. Kalki himself returns to the village of Shambhala and after some time ascends to heaven.

Turning to the eschatology of Christianity we must look at the central figure of Christianity is the messianic figure known as Jesus Christ from Nazareth. Said to be a descendant of King David and the patriarch Abraham, Jesus was the son of Mary who was engaged to Joseph. Mary is said to have been impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Joseph at first was taken aback by the pregnancy and was not going to wed Mary, but after being visited by an angel in his dream, Joseph took Mary as his wife.

Herod heard the rumors that Christ, the King of the Jews, was to be born when the wise men from the East came searching as they had seen the star in the East. Herod told the wise men to find Christ so that he could also worship him, but intended on murdering the infant as he saw it as a threat to his power. The wise men found the infant in a manger in the town of Bethlehem and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Instead of going back to Herod, they were warned by God in a dream not to, so they departed back to their home country by another route. God warned Joseph to take his family into Egypt to protect them from Herod. Herod angered that he was mocked by the wise men who slaughtered all the children in Bethlehem and the surrounding area that was 2-years old and younger. Upon the death of Herod, an angel appeared to Joseph instructing him to take his family into Israel. Joseph fearing the son of Herod took his family to the city of Nazareth.

Jesus meets John the Baptist and requests to be baptized by him. John forbade it as he saw Christ to be holier than him and would rather be baptized by Jesus. Jesus said that John must baptize him to “fulfill all righteousness”. When Jesus was baptized the heavens were said to open up where God said “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was then taken by the Spirit to the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before the Devil came to him. Several times the Devil tempted Jesus to leave God and follow him, and each time Jesus denied him. The Devil left him whereupon angels appeared and “ministered unto him”.

Jesus started preaching around Galilee where he met such people as Simon called Peter. In his travels, he also began all healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. His fame began to spread and people from all over began bringing the sick, demented, and possessed to him to be healed. He took his disciples to the mountains imparting moral and divine laws unto them that should be preached to the world. This famous sermon is known as “Sermon on the Mount”. Jesus continued his journey of preaching and healing throughout the land. His closest disciples composed of 12 of whom Jesus gave them the power to heal the sick and power to cast out unclean spirits.

John the Baptist who had been jailed since the time of Jesus’ test in the wilderness was beheaded by Herod Antipas. For his faithfulness to Christ, Jesus paid tribute to John.

The Pharisees disagreed with the practices of Christ and his disciples so they held a council against him in an attempt to destroy him. No matter what their opinion, Christ continued to travel and give his sermons. The establishment viewed Christ as a threat. Christ began preparing his disciples for his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection. Towards the end he spent his nights in Bethany, but his days in Jerusalem where he was seen arguing with Jewish leaders. In the last week before his crucifixion, he entered Jerusalem presenting himself as the Messiah to much skepticism and rejection, particularly by the leaders. He cleared the temples of money changers and hawkers, arguing with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He sat down for the Last Supper with his disciples declaring he would be betrayed. Later that night he went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He was there arrested by the troops led by traitor Judas Iscariot. In his internment, Jesus mistreated and beaten, and put through 6 trials. He was taken up to Golgotha to be crucified on the cross next to two robbers. He suffered great pain and wrath from God as means to bear all our sins. His body was placed in a tomb and covered with a large stone. Jesus was resurrected on the 3rd day after his death. Angels removed the stone to show proof that Jesus had indeed risen. Jesus appeared over the next 40-days to his disciples before ascending to heaven. He would return to heaven until the kingdom would be given to him at his second coming.

The second coming of Christ and the end of times is written down in the Book of Revelation by the disciple John. Heaven opens up and John is taken before God on his throne. Surrounding God are 24 elders and four beasts; the first beast looked like a lion, the second an ox, the third had the face of a man, and the fourth looked like an eagle. He holds a scroll with seven seals in his hand and only Jesus, the lamb, is found worthy to open the scroll.

As Christ opens the first 4 seals, each one of the beasts beckons John forward to see four horsemen come out. The first horseman rode upon a white horse armed with a bow and wearing a crown set forth to conquer and is seen as either religious deception or civil war; the anti-Christ. The second horseman rode upon a red horse armed with a sword sent out to spread war. The third horseman rode upon a black horse holding a pair of scales and went forth causing famine. The fourth horseman who was called Death and followed closely by Hell rode upon a pale horse.

Upon the opening of the fifth seal, cries from underneath the altar in front of God issued forth by the martyrs of those who kept faithful to Christ and the one true God. They were given white robes and told to wait a time until the rest of the faithful followers joined them. 

The opening of the sixth seal caused violent earthquakes to occur, the moon became red as blood, and stars fall from the sky. Four angels held the four winds at bay and are told to hold them until the chosen 144,000 faithful have been marked on the forehead by the seal of God.

When the seventh seal is opened, seven angels are given seven trumpets whereupon each angel blew the trumpets. The first trumpet causes hail and fire to rain down destroying a third of the land. The second trumpet causes a volcano to fall into the sea. A third of the sea turns red, a third of the sea creatures die, and a third of the ships are destroyed. When the third trumpet is sounded the star “Wormwood” falls to the Earth and pollutes the rivers and springs which kill those who drink from it. The fourth trumpet causes the day and night to lose a third of its light. A star, or rather the angel Abaddon, falls to earth as the fifth trumpet is sounded and is given the keys to open the abyss. Locusts pour out of the abyss and are commanded by Abaddon to torture those who have the seal of God on their forehead. The sixth trumpet is sounded and four angels bound by the river Euphrates are released. They with their massive army are prepared to destroy a third of all mankind. Those who survive do not repent. Another angel descends to earth with a scroll in his hand. His right foot is on land and his left foot is in the sea. He cried out and as he did seven thunders sounded, but John was instructed not to write down what was said. The seventh trumpet sounds causing voices to proclaim that the world now belongs to God. God opens the temple in heaven and the Ark of the Covenant was seen in the temple. Lightning, thunder, earthquakes, and hailstorms occur.

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven”, a pregnant woman clothed in the sun with the moon beneath her and she wore a crown of 7 stars. The Devil then appears in Heaven as a great red dragon with seven heads with 10 horns and 7 crowns. He attempted to devour the women’s child when she gave birth, but God caught the child and took him up to his throne as this “man child” was to lead the nations. The woman then fled into the wilderness to a place God had prepared for her. Meanwhile, in Heaven, the archangel Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, Satan, and his minions. Upon losing the battle Satan and his army were cast out of Heaven. Satan searches for the woman who fled to the wilderness, but the woman is given wings to fly back to her refuge. Satan sends a torrent of water to search for the woman, but the Earth opens up and swallows the water. Satan is enraged by her escape and goes to start a war with the rest of God’s people on Earth. He establishes himself near the sea.

A beast comes forth from the sea with ten horns and seven heads with diadems (crowns) and blasphemous names. He is given power by the Devil. When one of the heads is mortally wounded Satan heals it, and in the wonderment, the world begins to worship Satan and the Beast. A second beast comes forth from the Earth and it has the authority of the first beast. It pushes for the world to worship the first beast, perform miracles, and leading the world astray. Eventually, these mislead followers are forced to receive the mark of the Beast, without such mark they are unable to buy or sell anything.

The Lamb, Jesus, stood upon Mt. Sion with his faithful 144,000. Three angels then descended to Earth; the first preaching the gospel of God, the second proclaiming that Babylon had fallen because of her iniquities, and the third warning not to worship the Beast or face the wrath of God. The “Son of Man” descended upon a cloud to Earth carrying a sickle and gathered all the grapes of God’s wrath to be pressed. The winepress is said to have produced enough blood to come up to a horse’s back.

Seven angels come forth with seven bowls each containing plagues, or God’s wrath. As instructed the angels pour the bowls unto the Earth. The first bowl causes boils to form on men who carry the mark of the beast. The second bowl causes all the seas to turn to blood and all life in them dies. The third cause all the rivers to turn to blood. The fourth burns men who are still unwilling to repent. The fifth bowl plunges the world into darkness. The sixth dries up the Euphrates for the kings of the East to prepare for war. The Devil, the Beast, and the Anti-Christ send forth spirits to gather the kings for war against the Lamb. The Devil assembles his army at the place called Armageddon. With the seventh bowl, a loud voice proclaims “It is finished.” The worst earthquake so far occurs destroying many cities including the great city.

A rider on a white horse emerges from heaven. His name was “the Faithful and True” and justice is his standard. The armies of heaven stand behind him. The war begins between Christ and Satan. Eventually, the Beast and the Anti-Christ are captured and hurled into the lake of fire. The rest of the damned armies were slain by the rider of the horse and his sword. An angel comes to Earth with a chain to bind the Devil for a thousand years after which time he will be released for a short period. After a thousand years, the Devil will muster the troops of Gog and Magog. He surrounds the holy city of Jerusalem where the faithful were. God sends fire from the heavens to devour the armies. The Devil is thrown into the lake of fire, and this is all, living and dead, are to be judged.

God then established the new earth and heaven and sent forth a New Jerusalem where God and Christ would dwell with the people and be their God. There would be no more sorrow, pain, death, or tears. He said these things are all true because he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning, and the end, will give the water of life to those that overcome and are thirsty. John was taken by the angels who bore the seven bowls to a high mountain that he may observe the New Jerusalem. It was surrounded by great high walls with twelve adorned gates to commemorate the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and an angel at each gate. There was no Temple as God and Christ would be the temple of the people. There was no sun nor moon as God would provide the light they needed, and there was no night.

Reading through these two tales one can see the many similarities between the Catholic version of the end of days and the Hindu one as well as many differences.

The most striking similarity seen when reading the Vedic and Christian scriptures is the definition of God’s sovereignty from the beginning to the end of time. This is seen in the Book of Revelation, the Vishnu Purana, and Kalki Purana. It is also by the Christian God’s act and the Hindu’s Brahman act that the end of times occurs and the savior ascends to battle evil.

There are many similarities relating to the description of Kalki and to a character from the Book of Revelation. Chapter 19 verse 11 talks about a rider upon a white horse whose eyes were as flames and had a name, but no man knew but himself. His name is the Word of God and on his thigh was written “King of Kings, Lord of Lords”. He carried a sword to destroy the nations that stood against him. This rider faced the armies of the enemies just as did Kalki in his campaign to end the Kali Yuga. One can assume from the degraded moral state and godlessness of the Kali Yuga that none but the few true righteous followers would remember Kalki or his name.

Kalki with his army of Brahmin’s can be compared to the chosen 144,000 that supported Christ in his fight against the Devil. The 144,000 that follow Christ had God’s name written in their foreheads. It is a known custom of the Brahmin to write the name of God, such as Vishnu, on their foreheads. They use the clay from the banks of the holy river.

In Kalki’s battle against the demon Kali, he faces the two demons named Kok and Bikok similar to Christ facing the forces led by Gog and Magog in the 19th chapter of the Book of Revelation. Satan released from his bondage after a thousand years seeks out to deceive the nations again and gather the troops of Gog and Magog who number as many as there is sand in the sea. Gog and Magog though seem to have been defeated a lot easier than Kok and Bikok.

In the 14th chapter of Revelation, three angels descend out of heaven making proclamations, the second one saying that Babylon had fallen because of her influences on man and leading them away from God. Babylon was often described as a whore, fornicator, or the mother of harlots. The city’s destruction is written out in Revelation 18:21: “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” Babylon sounds similar to the demon Kali’s capital city of Bishasan where Kalki’s forces used fiery missiles to burn down the city and destroy all those who still dwelled there. This burning of Bishasan can also be compared to Revelation 19:20 where the beast, the Anti-Christ, and the followers were thrown into a lake of fire.

Both stories deal with the theme that good will win in the end, but evil doesn’t know it and endeavors to cling onto its power base. Love, sacrifice, and those martyrs who were so bold to stand up for the good win in the end, often just require patience.

Hindus believe that time is cyclical in nature and as such believe that although the world may be dissolved at the end of the Kali Yuga it will be re-initiated into the Kruta Yuga, the age of purity. The Catholic version at the end of time is finite in that God will establish a new kingdom for the chosen few after the world and the evil inhabitants are destroyed. Catholics' timeline is also unknown, but it is believed that we are living at the end of times. The Hindus have set a number of years associated with their ages and the end of the fourth age.

When Kalki kills the enemy troops their soul was immediately purified so being killed by an incarnation of God was an advantage against those demonic beings that would otherwise not enter into the Brahma, or the Unseen Reality. This is in comparison to those who followed the Devil and his minions are thrown into the lake of fire. This is a very big difference between the Catholic and Hindu religions. Catholicism believes in a realm called Hell where the damned are fated to live while the Hindus believe in reincarnation in an attempt to attain “moksha” or liberation of the soul.

In the stories between the two heroes, Kalki seems to be more susceptible to injury than Christ. Kalki in some battles is either injured and in one killed, but resurrected. No such vulnerabilities are ever referenced towards Christ in John’s Book of Revelation. Kalki is said to shed his earthly form when he ascends to heaven while Christ is shown to keep his Earthly form when he first ascended to heaven after his resurrection and on his return during the end times.

The similarities between Kalki and Jesus Christ, and their roles in the eschatology of Hinduism and Catholicism are striking, but have their own unique differences. Both religions having bloody battles with themes that good will overcome evil in the end. The major difference between the two being Hinduism’s cyclical nature of time.

Bibliography

Arun. Anantarupa das - Hare Krishna Temple Barry Newell. 2 February 2011.
Battle, John A. "Life of Christ." New Testament Survey www.wrs.edu.
"Book of Revelation." Bible Gateway. .
Chaturvedi, B.K. Kalki Purana. Fusion Books, 1969
Hindu Prophecies: The Kalki Purana. .
Kali (demon). 17 January 2011. .
Kali Yuga. 14 February 2011. .
Kalki. .
Khan, Dominique-Sila. "The Coming Of Nikalank Avatar: A Messianic Theme In Some Sectarian Traditions." Journal of Indian Philosophy (1997): 401-426.
Knapp, Stephen. "Kalki: The Next Avatar of God." Stephen Knapp And His Books on Spirituality, Vedic Culture and Eastern Philosophy. .
MacMillan, Len. Father Barry E Newell. 18 February 2011.
"Matthew (KJV)." Bible Gateway. .
"Revelation Summary." Gold Nugget Webs. .
Vishnu Purana. .
Wilson, Horace Hayman. "Chapter XXIV."Sacred Texts. .

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Portuguese Church Served as Knights Templar Headquarters

Recently I was reading through the Knights Templar magazine I came across some articles at the end of last year where the Grand Encampment was hoping to start Annual Pilgrimages of the Sites of Ancient Templars, but due to unforeseen events, they canceled the trip to Portugal in 2011.
The Knight Templar magazine is pleased to announce that we have arranged the first of what we hope will be an annual pilgrimage vacation for our Knights and their families. This trip is not a fundraiser for the magazine, the Grand Encampment, or any of the Grand Encampment charities. It is intended simply to be of service to our readers. We have done what we can to keep the cost low so that our Knights may have the opportunity to visit some of the sites of the ancient Templars. This first trip is particularly appropriate because it is to Portugal, virtually the only country that never suppressed the Templars since the 14th century. One of the modern Portuguese coins even has the depiction of two Knights on a horse used by the ancient Templars.
- Knights Templar magazine, November 2010 edition

Due to unforeseen developments, we decided that the Portugal trip would not be the best value for our readers, and the trip has been cancelled. We are already working on a trip to some Templar sites for 2012, and we will keep you posted. - Knights Templar magazine, December 2010 edition
Today I found an article online about the Tomar Castle in Portugal being an old Templar site on the Catholic Online website:
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Like all Templar round churches, its shape was modeled after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock, which was mistakenly believed to be part of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.
The building originally started as the castle of the Knights Templar of Tomar. Built by Gualdim Pais, provincial Master of the Order of the Temple around 1160, the castle was chosen as the headquarters of the Portuguese Templars.
The Tomar castle was built as part of a Templar defense system to secure the border of the Christian kingdom against the Moors of Iberia. In 1190 the castle of Tomar resisted the attacks of caliph Abu Yusuf al-Mansur, who had previously taken other Portuguese strongholds to the South. The round church, or rotunda or charola of the castle of Tomar was built in this early period and is Romanesque in style.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Utterances of the Sword

By Robert "Rob" Morris

I.

Come out, come out, thou glittering brand!
Obey a Christian Knight's command!
Inspire a Templar's hand!
Celestial signs, thou sword, reveal
In cut and flash of sacred steel,
As in the ancient Band!
As when, before the Saviour's shrine,
Each Templar breathed his countersign!

II.

Oh, Prince Emmanuel, Son of God,
From this far-off and humble sod,
Once by thy gentle footsteps trod,
Thee, Jesus, we salute!
Omniscient King, behold our Band
As with this emblematic brand,
Our work we execute!
Each movement of the Knightly Sword
Shall tell of Thee, thou Templar's Lord!

III.

Embattled hosts are pressing
Along the serried line,
Their venomed darts distressing
The Guardians of the Shrine.
Support, brave Knights, with dauntless mind!
What though the foemen's banner flaunt!
Little we reck, upon the wind,
Blasphemous word and taunt!

IV.

To the ardent Pilgrims journeying from afar,
Warriors enlisted in Jesus' Holy War,
'Neath the Cross the sacred Word,
Speaks the one effulgent Lord.
Purged from slavery and sin,
In Hoc Signo, we come in;
Open, Warder, at the gate,
Wide to admit this conquering Band!
Thou, the King of earthly state,
Thou, the King of Heavenly Land!

V.

But who is this, in humble weeds, with Cross and Cord and Scrip,
This man impetuous, resolved to share our fellowship?
With "pure ablutions" thoroughly washed, with "patience sorely tried,"
Waiting to have instructions from the one unerring Guide!
Welcome the stranger, — give him bread, — his water cruse supply;
Cheer him with comfortable words; his tears of weakness dry;
'Tis written in Heaven's Chancery that they who help the poor
Shall find their deeds remembered when they knock at Heaven's door.
Then cover ye their nakedness, who, poor and friendless, come!
Fling wide your Asylums, Noble Knights, and give the homeless home!
Strike manfully, Brave Heroes, when the defenseless call,
And with your comrades conquering stand, or with your comrades fall.

VI.

Speed the spoil, the booty hasten,
Templars charge along the lines!
See the opposing forces shaken,
Victory to us inclines!
Innocent maidens, helpless orphans,
Widows destitute, forlorn,
Will you leave them all to scorn?
By the power of Christ's religion,
Templars charge, nor be forsworn.

VII.

Here let us muse awhile on far-off scenes,
Where Templars won their earliest renown;
This very dust of Palestine was once
Bone, sinew, heart of Christian chivalry,
That fell to win Christ's Holy Sepulcher;
O'erborne by arrogant infidels they fought,
All through that summer day, on Hattin's plain,
But when the night came down they slept in death;
Never God's glittering stars looked on such men!
At Acre's siege how strove their matchless Band!
How flew their Beauseant on the morning breeze,
When wall and tower surmounted, in her streets
They sung their hymn, Non Nobis Domine,
And worshiped God, to whom the victory is!
Banished from Palestine, the centuries flew,
And lo, at Rhodes and Malta, in the might
Of the Invincible they held their lines,
And in their island forts kept back the foe,
While nations at their prowess stood amazed!
Honor, infinite honor, to each Knight,
Upon whose lance head gleamed such grand heroic light!

VI.

Eloi 'twas said on Cavalry,
Eloi, lama sabachthani,
Why hast thou, Lord, forsaken me?
Oh, when these Templar Knights shall die,
Not this their last despairing cry,
But rather, midst death's thickening gloom,
Exultant at the very tomb,
"Hail, Christ, Emmanuel, we come!”

IX.

By the deep booming of the Templar's knell,
By the slow march that endeth with the grave,
By funeral badge, and sign, and sorrowful brow,
We mark a Templar fallen; swords reversed,
And trumpets sounding, let the dead go on!
He that hath fallen is Conqueror, while we,
The battle heat must challenge, and the strife,
Until the Master calls to everlasting life.

X.

When Jesus doth marshal
His ranks in accord,
He blesses each sword
With justice impartial,
With Valor undaunted,
With Mercy adored; —
What Templar can falter
When Christ is his Lord?

XI.

Lift up your golden heads, ye gates,
Lift up, ye everlasting doors,
And let the King of Glory pass,
King of the upper world and ours!
How strong and mighty He in war!
The victory He will surely win, —
Lift up your golden heads, ye gates,
And let the King of Glory in!

XII.

Our Master, journeying o'er the hill,
Rested in noonday heat,
So we, the servants of His will,
Rest at our Master's feet.
How gracious bends His loving gaze
Upon the faithful Band,
Whose strength and joy and hopes are His,
The expectancy of future bliss,
When we exchange the toils of this,
For rest in heavenly land.

XIII. SIR KNIGHT, KNEEL

Kneel, in worship at the throne
Where Emmanuel rules alone;
And the service of the /cirque,
By celestial chorus sung,
"Glory in the highest be,
Peace, good will eternally!"

XIV.

Rejected, — He who came to save,
Despised, — the Lord of all,
Embittered in His very grave
With wormwood and with gall:
A man of sorrows, and acquaint
With grief's most agonizing plaint.

XV. SIR KNIGHT, RISE

Would we, Sir Knights, be freed from care, —
The storm cloud vanishes in prayer:
One true petition, fervent, deep,
Is, to the soul, refreshing sleep;
Prayer animates the arm and heart;
Prayer points anew the Templar's dart;
And binds his powers in sweet accord
To do the bidding of the Lord.

XVI.

Perish every sword in rust,
Crumble, emblems, into dust,
Be our very flag accursed,
And our names forgot,
Ere we draw in evil strife, —
Ere we use in evil life,
Ere we haunt where sin is rife,
And the Lord is not!
Templars, thorny was the road
That the Man Of Sorrows trod,
But, returning back to God,
Peace He left, and love:
Follow peace! the way is short,
Cherish love! this life is naught,
And the last great battle fought,
Find The Lord above!

XVII. PRAYER OF THE TEMPLARS

Groaning in Gethsemane, —
Crowned from Jordan's thorny tree, —
Scourged, alas! with Roman lash,
Gory streams from every gash, —
Mocked with purple robe and reed, —
Nailed, and dying, — Master, heed,
And hear the Templars' Prayer!
Now on high-exalted throne,
See Thy Templars marching on!
May we feel Thy presence near,
May we never, never fear!
Though we linger, though we bleed,
Though we falter, Master, heed,
And hear the Templars' Prayer.
While Thy Templars faithful live,
Shield, and arms, and courage give!
When Thy toil-spent Templars die,
Crowned with glorious victory,
In Thy presence, by Thy side,
Us eternal rest provide!
Then, thou omnipresent Lord,
By the utterances of the sword
Grant the Templars' Prayer!

XVIII

No more the trenchant blade to wield,
No more the helmet and the shield,
The Templar's strife is o'er;
The sepulcher where Christ hath lain,
That holiest place is ours again,
To be bereft no more.
In peace we lay our weapons by,
And chant the hymns of victory.

XIX. SIR KNIGHT, YOUR VALEDICTORY

The earth may reel from trembling pole to pole,
The fiery billows in their fury roll,
But, fixed on Christ, the Templar Host will stand,
And brave the terrors of the burning land: —
Hail and Salute!
Winter may bind the earth in icy chain,
Spring may unloose the laughing streams again;
Summer may heat, and autumn heap the land,
While fixed on Christ the Templar Host will stand: —
Hail and Salute!
The enemies of law may rouse their ire,
And threaten us again with rack and fire,
We laugh to scorn the persecuting hand,
And, fixed on Christ, the Templar Host will stand. —
Hail and Salute!
God speed you, Brothers of Golgotha's Cross!
God keep you from all detriment and loss!
Ever, by gates Celestial be ye fanned,
And, fixed on Christ, your Templar Host shall stand: —
Hail and Salute!
SOURCES

My Station and Places: Senior Warden

In both the Idaho Lodge of Research No.1965 of the Grand Lodge of Idaho AF&AM and Idaho Commandery No.1 of the Knights Templar of Idaho, I am the Senior Warden. While there are striking differences between the bodies, there are some strong similarities in the duties performed by the Senior Warden.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines "Warden" as (1) one having care or charge of something, (2) guardian or keeper, (3) regent, (4) member of a governing body, and lastly (5) an official charged with supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specified laws and regulations. Looking at the etymology of "warden" we see that “Ward” is of Medieval origin, having been used in early English, French, German, etc., always in the sense of to guard something, a meaning preserved in warden, guard, guardian, wary, ware, ward, etc

The Wardens do meet these definitions. The Senior Warden specifically is the right hand of the Worshipful Master in charge of keeping the peace and harmony of the Lodge going. To ensure justice reigns and, in the Lodge, that all Brethren receive their wages. During the hours of Labor in the Lodge are his eyes ever watching as is the Junior Wardens over the hours of Refreshment. The Senior Warden, as his jewel in the Lodge, is a symbol of equality while in the Commandery the jewel is of a hollow square with a mailed arm grasping the Sword of Justice. 

The Senior Warden is also the head of security for the Lodge and Commandery for it is his duty to ensure all present are members in good standing, ensure that all visitors have been tried and examined, to ensure the protection of the Charter, and to ensure the safety of the Pilgrim during his journey in the Order of the Temple. With the help of either the Tyler or the Sentinel, the Senior Warden protects the sovereignty of the Asylum or Lodge, and of that closed door that keeps the meetings private from the cowans and eavesdroppers.

To the Senior Warden I say, look well to the West and let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.