Texas Call to Chivalry Visits Real Castle
The word chivalry calls many different things to mind. One thinks of honor, swords or knights on horseback. It is hard not to think of a castle with massive stone walls and tall imposing towers with guards who look down upon passersby inquiring if they are friends or foes. 
Tradition, Family, Property’s Call to Chivalry program in Houston, Texas sponsored a visit to such a castle. On August 24, a group of merry boys jumped into a van and went to see what the castle of a knight was like. It is called Newman’s Castle, located outside of Bellville, Texas.
The owner of the castle also owns the nearby Newman’s Bakery in Bellville. From his childhood, he dreamt of building a castle. He was fascinated with stories of Charlemagne, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Roland and Oliver and other marvelous stories of chivalry.
Later as an adult, his dream became a passion. Between hours working at his bakery, he would sneak away to his small property outside town and put in some time building his very own castle. After eight years, a beautiful castle with five towers, a keep, a moat and a drawbridge stood in the middle of the Texan countryside.
On their way to the castle, the young men sang Crusader songs of old that were very expressive of the true spirit of chivalry. One song was called “The Song of Fidelity.” Another was “Saint Louis IX the Crusader King.” This song tells how King Saint Louis IX of France called all the barons of his land together to hold council on what they should do. At the end of the song, the holy king and his men embark on a Crusade to defend the Holy Sepulcher of Our Lord against the Moslems. The trip to the castle was very lively and formative for the boys.
Upon arriving, th
e boys gazed in wonder at the great walls that provoked ideas of battle. Naturally, the boys tried to scale the walls! The highest tower of the keep provided a beautiful view. The dungeon was also quite interesting. The great dining hall had a line of rough solid-wood tables that ran from one end of the room to the other. At the head of the room, there was a great table for the king, queen and dukes. What lively feasts must have taken place in halls like this. After spending two hours exploring and climbing all about, the boys were very sad to leave.
The day was over and the castle drawbridge was raised. The boys returned home with a renewed love for chivalry. Indeed, the castle is a representation of the golden days when chivalry reigned. However, chivalry is far from dead. As long as it burns in one soul, it lives. It was certainly alive in the souls of the boys of the TFP’s Call to Chivalry program.
Those interested in TFP Call to Chivalry Camps, click here.
