Bettie's Books

bookshelves: summer-2014, e-book, gutenberg-project, cults-societies-brotherhoods, history, essays, published-1840

read here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46199





Opening: The Hospitallers. The natural desire to visit places which have been the scene of memorable actions, or the abode of distinguished personages, had from a very early period drawn pious pilgrims from the east and the west to view those spots which had been hallowed by the presence of the Son of God. The toils and the dangers of the journey were unheeded, when set in comparison with the bliss of pouring forth prayer on Calvary, and bathing in the waves of Jordan, whose waters had consecrated the Saviour to his holy office. [Pg 2] And, accordingly, we find that, so early as the ninth century, there was in the valley of Jehoshaphat, near the church of the Holy Virgin, an Hospital composed of twelve dwellings, for pilgrims from the west, which possessed corn lands, vineyards, and gardens, and an excellent library, established by the bounty of Charlemagne.

At fifty pages this is worth the flick through just for the images alone. The history though has been more fully researched since this somewhat naïve rendition from 1840. Just the two compasses then.

“The lunatic is all idée fixe, and whatever he comes across confirms his lunacy. You can tell him by the liberties he takes with common sense, by his flashes of inspiration, and by the fact that sooner or later he brings up the Templars.”

- ― Umberto Eco, Foucault's Pendulum