the holy war; and many doubtless were indeed changed in heart, in consequence of this change in their external mode of life. "But," says Bernard, "the most salutary effect, the most auspicious aspect of the whole is, that this vast multitude that is streaming to your gates is, for the most part, composed of criminals, profane persons and robbers; of the sacrilegious, the perjured, the adulterous, and the murderers; whose departure hath a twofold advantage, and is productive of a twofold joy, since their absence is no less desirable to their friends, than their presence to those whom they come to assist."

The Templars were divided into three distinct classes: the milites, or commanders; the armigeri, or men-at-arms; and the clientes, or servants. They were expressly forbidden to wear any superfluous trappings when ordered out to battle, either on themselves or their horses. Their dress was to be a surtout of white wool. When they assembled at Jerusalem, they made profession of the rule of Benedict to Stephen, patriarch of that city, and were by him invested with the white mantle, their distinguishing garment. In 1146, Pope Eugenius the Third desired that this might be charged with the red cross, "to designate their readiness to shed their blood in defence of the Christian faith."

Their banner was white, "in token of their candor and ingenuousness;" and it was striped with black, "to show how terrible were the effects of their valor to the enemies of the name of Jesus Christ, the black stripes being symbolical of death." Their cross had two horizontal bars (). Forty years after their institution, when they held their first chapter at Jerusalem, their numbers were six hundred.-A. NEANDER.

THE great French statesman who is known in history as Cardinal de Richelieu was the greatest of the prime ministers who bore ecclesiastical titles. He belonged to the noble but not wealthy family Du Plessis. His father, François du Plessis, Lord of Richelieu, had greatly distinguished himself in the army, and had held several important posts at the Court of the gallant King Henry IV. Armand Jean du Plessis was born at Paris, on the 5th of September, 1585. He was the youngest of three sons; his two sisters married nobles of the French Court. He studied at the College of Navarre, and being at first intended to follow the profession of his father, was trained to arms, bearing then the title of Marquis du Chillon. But his elder brother Alphonse, Bishop of Luçon, having resigned his See, and retired into a Carthusian convent, it was decided, if possible, that Armand should succeed him in the diocese.

studied divinity, and at the age of twenty took his doctor's degree. The Pope, however, objected to consecrate one so young as Bishop of Luçon. Armand himself repaired to Rome, and the Pope, being convinced of his fitness for the office, withdrew his objection.

Richelieu was then consecrated April 17, 1607, and having taken possession of his See, he diligently applied himself to the duties of his sacred office. In 1614, he sat as deputy of the clergy of Poitou in the assembly of the States-General, on which occasion he harangued the young King, Louis XIII.,