A SECRET TEMPLE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1929, Page 5

A SECRET TEMPLE

WHERE KNIGHTS WORSHIP. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received this day at 11 a.in., LONDON, Dec. 22. Overlooking the mediaeval town of Scmvatz, in Tyrol, stands the lofty castle of Von Ferberg. Here an underground passage led to a secret temple where modern knights of the Holy Grail, each wearing on the breast a ■ golden cross and securing admission by the password “Lohengrin” paid reverence to a crystal chalice, which was illuminated by a bidden light, while Count (/scar Bernhardt, clad in glittering armour, chanted a litany. 3here came an unhappy day when one of the knights charged the Count with cheating them of a large sum. The result was that the police visited the tqniplc after doping savage wolfhounds on guard. '1 hen followed a charge of fraud at which it was disclosed the knights contributed £20,000 to the Count’s personal fund in six months. The Count gave evidence that he was born in the flesh in 1875, but three years ago became, by incarnation, Abdruschin Knight of the Holy Grail. He had a special mission to prepare souls for heaven. The corps of knights now number a hundred and twenty. Many of these testified- their belief in the Count, who recently offered to build a hospital at Schwatz. The case has been adjourned.