It is the year 1190, Acre not yet taken, nor these quarrels got
to a height.

"The very Templars, Hospitallers, neglect us," murmured the dying
Germans; "they have perhaps enough to do, and more than enough,
with their own countrymen, whose speech is intelligible to them?
For us, it would appear, there is no help!" Not altogether none.
A company of pious souls--compassionate Lubeck ship-captains
diligently forwarding it, and one Walpot von Bassenheim, a citizen
of Bremen, taking the lead--formed themselves into a union for
succor of the sick and dying; "set up canvas tents," medicinal
assuagements, from the Lubeck ship-stores; and did what utmost was
in them, silently 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