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Show Q1 Wednesday, September 24, 2003 Community Calender EmmmoM September 24 Knights Templar keep chivalric traditions By Mandi Oaks Express Writer The Priory of the Mountain House of the Lord, division of the Order of Knights Templar, is an Autonomous Grand Priory of the United States of America under the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem. Its Imperial Protector is H.I.H. Prince Zere Yacob Amha Selassie - Haile Selassie, Crown Prince to the Solomonic Throne of Ethiopia and Head of the Imperial House of Selassie. If this organization sounds as though it came out of the Middle Ages, thats because it did. However, it did not fade away with the pages of history; it survives today, here in the Uintah Basin. According to Dr. Steve Pehrson, a member of the Order, the Order of the Knights Templar is an international organization, the beginnings of which can be traced to A.D. 1118. Originally a chivalric order that consisted of two kni jhts on one horse, the Knights Terr pi ar were in charge of guarding temples and pilgrimage routes. The first knights took monastic vows. From 1118 to 1127, there were only nine knights in the Order. In 1135 the Pope gave his endorsement to the Order and it evolved into a large, wealthy organization. Philip IV of France once tried to disband the Knights Templar and during his efforts to get rid of the Order, many of the knights were killed. However, all were not lost and although suppressed until after Order the the Renaissance, remained in Europe and continued to grow, eventually spreading to the United States in 1962. The first United States division of the Knights Templar was located in New York City and was under the sponsorship of the Swiss Grand Priory. Five years ago, the recorded membership of the Knights Templar was 800. Today there are about 2,500 members in the United States and they are very proud of the organizations origins and traditions. Theres a wealth of tradition," Perhson said, and quite frankly theres not many oiganizations in the world that can claim a 900 year history. That makes it a unique thing." Perhson said the Order reached Utah in 1998 through the involvement of only five people. In 2000 the Utah group was able to form its own priory and in 2001 the 27 members who lived throughout the Wasatch Front and the Basin split into two groups and the Uintah a became Basin members Commandery, officially known as the Commandery of St. Frumentius. Today the Order of the Knights Templar is considered an international Christian organization and from includes every people Christian denomination. Many of the Orders members are from the working class, mostly the medical field. It is a humanitarian organization and the goal of its members is to get out and do some good in the world. Members of the Knights Templar are knighted, and not just symbolically. They are truly knighted through recognized authority. Just as popes and kings recognized the Order during Medieval times, it has continued to have royal support. The organization was largely supported by Napoleon Bonaparte and since then a succession of royal houses, major religious leaders and like of countries patriarchs Jerusalem and Armenia have supported it It is recognized by the United Nations as a Steve Pehrson and other members of the Knights Templar induct Lee Nielsen into the Order. Prince Mengesha of Ethiopia dines with members of local Priory of the Knights Templar. . mental organization. Not just anyone can become a member of the Knights Templar. Members who meet the criteria are invited to join the Order. Qualities the Knights Templar look for in a potential recruit are consistent with the characteristics King Arthur might have looked for in a knight: the person must already live a life of chivalric ideal. That means he or she, as women can be involved as well as men must be respected in the community, charitable, honorable and willing to help out. Members must also be willing to give up any notions of status they may have outside of the organization. All members of the Order consider themselves to be poor fellow soldiers of Christ and although many knights are senators, governors and ambassadors, their titles do not matter in the meetings of the Knights Templar. Members of the Order also realize they will get no glory from committing acts of charity, because they believe all the glory goes directly to God. Although the Uintah Basin branch of the Order of the Knights Templar is relatively new in comparison to the original organization, local members have wasted no time in using their resources to help out third countries. world The Commandery of St. Frumentius ' made its first donation of over $150,000 in supplies to a Native American reservation at Ivanpa, located on the border of Utah and then the Nevada. Since has donated another Commandery $150,000 in materials to eastern Africa, specifically Ethiopia. The local Knights Templar have also donated supplies to central Africa, eastern Europe and southeast Asia. summer the Earlier this Commanded prepared a shipment of medical supplies including minor surgery kits destined for northern Iraq. As they prepared the shipment for Iraq, eye and dental supplies were already en route to eastern Europe and Central America. Members of the Commandery estimate they have shipped at least $750,000 in donations to various countries since the organization reached Utah, which is pretty dam as member Lloyd impressive, Nielsen explained. When you consider that in context of the size of the area and the resources of the area," Nielsen said, I think for a group of this size to be able to perform to that level is exceptionally noteworthy. Perhson noted the recipients of the donations are based largely on existing, commitments the Order has, mostly to locales in which the Order is more active. Alan Batty acts as sword bearer during a meeting of the Knights Templar. Well entertain donations outside of those areas, Perhson said, if we have the materials theyre looking for and its a worthy cause. The Commandery also worked over the summer on plans of eventually reaching its goal of being able to deploy several humanitarian teams. One would go to the famine situation facing Ethiopia. It was 2 million estimated that Ethiopians would perish over the summer, a statistic not overly surprising when one considers that 70 percent of the people are suffering from malaria or tuberculosis. The Knights Templar also hope to send educational aid to Pakistan and find doctors and other people of medical professions to send to Israel. 10-1- The Knights Templar in the Uintah Basin have an ongoing commitment and relationship with Ethiopia, a country located in eastern Africa. Local members are personally acquainted with Ethiopias royal family and have sent three separate humanitarian expeditions to the African country through the assistance of the royal family. Because of the outstanding efforts the Commandery has made a difference in Ethiopia the royal family, currently in exile, makes it a point the visit the Uintah Basin whenever In March Prince they can. Mengesha of Ethiopia joined members of the Knights Templar in the Basin for dinner. According Nielsen, the goal of the humanitarian expeditions is to make life more livable, even if that means paying for traveling expenses and even some of the supplies out of the volunteers own pockets. Most of the materials are donated by local businesses and hospitals, but sometimes that isnt enough. Nielsen spoke of a village he visited in Africa where the women have to walk 13 mile to get water that isnt even sanitary enough to drink. He remembered finding a mother who didnt have any money to pay to take her very sick child to the hospital, so the members of the expedition pooled their money together to pay the bill. The opportunity to visit villages in Africa has changed the outlook of many of the members of the Knights Templar. Perhson pointed out that most people dont realize how tenuous the lives are in the vast majority of the world. He added that traveling to Africa and seeing the conditions that so many people suffer from is an incredible eye opener. Once you go see a little 4 year old that weighs as much as a 1 year old over here fin America, Nielsen said, and their feet and limbs are terribly swollen from elephantiasis, where here, you get one dose of antibiotics and youre cured, but that child fin Africa will probably die...you think, Look at the way I live back home. A family could probably live on what I throw away. And its true. Knowing the existing conditions in third world countries drives the members of the Knights Templar to organize shipments and humanitarian expeditions, and knowing that it really does make a difference is what makes it all worthwhile. A doctor who used to live in the Basin once sent pictures back to the Knights Templar, showing the equipment they had donated being used. Some of the equipment made it possible for a child bum victim to have a skin graft. In one village where the infant mortality rate is well over 10 percent, the Knights Templar donated all the necessary equipment for a womens medical center, the building of which had been provided by a similar organization. True to the goal of the organization, the equipment had saved lives as well as provided a better quality of life for many others. Its nice to know that out of our we have efforts, Nielsen said, saved lives. fix" super Uintah-Duches- program. for vets ami rates. Ends Sept. spayneuter 27. Associated Utah Artists, Western month of Museum, Heritage 789-739- 9. September. Deadline nearing for 8th annual Juried Council Arts Uintah Western at Show Photograph Heritage Museum. Rules and entry forms at Robins Nest, Classic Art, Inkleys, Galleries, and museum. Deadline Oct. 1. September 25 TOPS meets in Conference Room of Vernal City Building 1 1 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Gwen Peterson, Open house 1 1 Basin Symphony rehearsal 7 p.m. Vernal Middle School Band Room. Jean Voyles, 789-835- 6. 0. 789-286- 7. September 26 Community dance at Golden Age 0 Center, 155 South 100 West, welAll every Friday night. come. Kays Band provides the music. Vernal Lions hosting Utah Lions District 28-- T Weston Plaza Hotel headquarters. Remember the Maine Park mixer. GED Test at Uintah School District Office, 635 West 200 South. 6 p.m. Applications in by 5 p.m. Second part of test continues on Saturday, Sept. 27. Must take both test sessions. $55 fee, retakes SUsubtest. David John or Elaine Gardiner, 8:30-10:3- 781-310- 0. September 27 Vernal Lions hosting Utah Lions Weston Plaza Hotel District 28-headquarters. Meetings 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. District Governor banquet T 6 p.m. C.cater Utah Pointing Dog Club sponsoring NSTRA field trials. For information. Kip Bottomley, 781-255- 7. Dry Fork Canyon RunWalk. Call Parks and Recreation, Preceptor Pi yardbake sale, 833 East 2850 South. 8 a.m.-- 3 p.m. 781-098- 2. September 28 Greater Utah Pointing Dog Club sponsoring NSTRA field trials.. For information, Kip Bottomley, 781-255- 7. September 29 First Steps Language class, 10:30 a.m. Prime Time 4 Kids. Free to public. 789-540- 9. September 30 Parent workshop on car seat safety at Prime Time 4 Kids 10:30 a.m. 789 5409, 789-135- 2. Western Business Symposium. Park. Call the Chamber of Commerce October I Entry deadline date for 8th annual Juried Uintah Council Arts Western Show at Photograph Heritage Museum. October 2 TOPS meets in Conference Room a.m. to of Vernal City Building 12:30 p.m. Gwen Peterson, Open House 11:30 to 12:30. Basin Symphony rehearsal, 7 p.m. Vernal Middle School Band Room. Jean Voyles Annual Arts Uintah Eighth Council Juried Photograph Show opens to public at Western Heritage Museum. Open 5 Monday-Frida1 1 789-835- 6. 789-286- 7. 9-- 1 0-- 2 y, Saturday. October 3 Lapoint Elementary Fall Carnival: dutch oven dinner, rides and games, clowns, activities. 8 p.m. School, non-gove- 4-- 247-263- 7. i ) Community dance 8t Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, every Friday night. Kays Band provides the music. 8.30-11:- October 7 Ladies of Elks Octoberfest meeting, 8 p.m. Vernal Elks Lodge. Prime Time 4 Kids Lap Time story time, Uintah County Library, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3 and parent 0-- October 8 Annual Uintah Arts Eighth Council Juried Photograph Show at Western Heritage Museum. Open 5 9-- Monday-Frida- 0 Lloyd Nielsen, Steve Pehrson and Bobby Richardson get COPY a shipment 5 of supplies ready. Mark Thompson reads from the investiture during Order. a meeting of the y, 1 0-- 2 Saturday. To place items of public interest on the Community Calendar, mail to the Vernal Express, P.O. Box 1000, editor (gvemakcom, or call the 1 . Vernal Express at 789-3- 5 1 |