Supreme Grand Chapter Of Royal Arch Masons Of England.

A Memorial has also been received from tho St . Anno s Chapter , No . 970 , East Looe , —a Charter for Avhich was granted by Grand Chapter ou tho Gth November last , —praying thafc Comp . John Snoll Tucker may be appointed to fill the office of the 3 rd Principal J ., iu

lieu of Comp . William Fenwick resigned . It being shoAvn that Comp . Penwick had permanently left tho neighbourhood , and consequently could nofc act in the above capacity , tho Committee recommend that tho prayer of tho Memorial be granted . ( Signed ) JOHN CKEATO . V , G . Treas ., President .

Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . 16 th July 1879 .

Jamaica.

JAMAICA .

Sussex Chapter , Kingston . —This Chapter has not assembled for somo years , but wo aro glad to be ablo to state tho Companions havo resumed Avork , and from the young and neAV blood it is hoped that prosperity -will IIOAV attend tho Chapter , Avhich it may be observed AVUS once flourishing aud prosperous . A Convocation Avas lately held , Avhen Companion Tait Avas elected Z ,, Comp . Dr . Allen

11 ., Comp . Mudon J . A dispensation being granted by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent for Jamaica , Hon . Dr . It . Hamilton , to instal tho Z . and H ., a convocation was held at the rooms , on 2 Gth June , presided over by Most Ex . Comp . S . E . Piertoz P . Z ., M . E . Comps . J . W . Whitebourue P . D . G . S . H ., G . J . Poynado P . Z . J ., 11 . Langley P . Z . S . E ., C . H . Davis P . Z . S . N ., when M . E .

Comp . C . W . Tait Avas installed as Z ., M . E . Comp . Dr . J . Allen as H ., M . E . Comp . W . C . Mudon as J . ; after Avhich tho Z . installed tho folloAving Officers : —Comps . E . Melville S . E ., F . Carlon S . N ., J . Harris P . S ., Dr . Tompsett 1 st Assist ., II . Davis 2 nd Assist ., A . H . Jones Treasurer , Georgo Magnns Janitor . A letter , regretting his

non-attendance , from indisposition , Avas received from tho Grand Superintendent for Jamaica Hon . Dr . Hamilton . The following Principals Avere present and rendered assistance : —M . E . Comps . S . E . Piertoz P . Z ., J . W . Whitebourue P . Z . P . G . D . S ., G . J . Poynado P . Z . of Sussex , E . Brandon II . of Friendly , C . Davis P . Z . Royal , It . Langley P . Z . Phcenix .

Phcenix Lodge , Port Eoyal . —At the ordinary meeting , hold on 1 st July , Present—W . Bro . G . P . Myers W . M ., Bros . Dr . J . Tyndall S . W ., J . Hanna J . W . and other Officers . Tho following Past Blasters of the Lodge Avere present : —W . Bros . P . J . Lcnon , J . Do Pass , D . Earned , J . Alvanva , If . Earned aud L . C . Hollar . Two

candidates were passed , and tAvo raised . According to Bye-laAV an election took place , Avhen Bro . Dr . J . Tyndall , R . N ., AVUS elected Master . Bro . Anderson , R . N ., Treasurer , ! and Bro . Hanna IIOAV J . W as Tyler . Thero were over forty members present , and several visitors .

Wc regret to announce the death of Bro . EdAvnrd Bolton , which took place afc Port Royal , Jamaica , ou the-. Ith July , lie AVUS one of the founders of the Plucnix Lodge of that tOAvn , and AVUS elected an

honorary member . His remains Avere folloAved to their last resting place by tho members of tho l'luenix , and several brethren of . sister Lodges . Uro . Bolton has left a widow and several children in mourn his loss .

The R . W . Bro . W W . Bead ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire arid the Isle of Wi ght , will preside at the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of the Province ¦ on Monday , the 11 th inst-., at Ventnor , where the Lodge will be opened at 1 p . m ., at the LTndercliffe Assembly

Rooms , Albert Street . At tho conclusion of the bnsiness of the day , which is of the usnal character , a banquet will be served at the Literary Institute , High Street . Iu order to ensure ample accommodation lor all who attend

the Prov . G . Sec . requests that the names of those intending to take part in the banquet may be sent liim uot latet than the 7 th inst . We hope to give a report of the proccedincs in due course .

In onr report of the meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Hampshire and the isle of Wi ^ ht , which appeared iu our last issue , we omitted to mention that Bro . G . C . Adaincs , of Phoenix Lodge , iS o . i \ was j > ppointed Prov . G . Standard Bearer .

ANONYHOI - MI . WI nc-K . vcK . —At the recent meeting of the Governors of the Chelsea Hospital for Women , the Earl of St . Germans ( the President ) received at the hands of tlie Rev . Canon Fleming ( one of the Board of Management ) an anonvmous donation of £ 1 , 000 towards

providing furniture for tlic DCAV 1 lospital . In the spirit of true charily it is given on the express condition "That no name is mentioned , " it being simply acknoAvIedged as " From a Friend per Rev . Canon Fleming . " We know not which to admire tlie more , —the munificence of the gift , or the manner of bestowment .

Signor Lomkirdi , of the firm of Lombard ! and Co ., photographic artists and publishers , of BJ and 11 Pall Mali East , has seen red the Egyptian Hall , Piccadilly , for the exhibition of his poikilographic paintings . M . Gustavo Do re iias Avritten somo very complirnentary roinarks as to the ability displayed in the production of these TUUI'tuiL'S .

The Modern Order Of Knights Templar.

THE MODERN ORDER OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

From the Canadian Craftsman , uf July 1878 , with some Alterations and Additions .

By COL . MACLEOD MOORE , GREAT PRIOR OF CANADA .

rTIHE great interest evinced of late years by tho Masonic body of -L tho United States and Canada in the Order of Knights Templar induces me to enter into some particulars relative to its origin and modern practices , explicitly pointing out my own long-formed impressions , as also tho VIOAVS entertained by others , and to correct , if possible , errors , Avhich many Masonic Avriters have fallen into whilst explaining tho significance of its ceremonies , bufc who , evidently ,

ignorant of tho true history and character of tho Order , have , by misrepresentations , caused it to bo villiiicd by thoso unacquainted Avith its objects and origin . Tho Order holds the most conspicuous place in the History of tho Crusades , Avhero they fought in Palestine to vindicate and further tho Christian religion , and regain possession from tho Saracens of

the holy places of our Faith . Althongh from their original poverty called " Poor felloAv Soldiers of Jesus Christ , " they , iu course of time , amassed great Avealth , aud became possessed of extensive estates in Europe , having Preceptory Houses scattered all over Christendom , owing allegiance to but ono Supremo Head , aud becoming so powerful as to excite tho fears of tho Popes as an

ecclesiastical , and of kings as a military body . At length Philip , King of France , afc tho commencement of tho 14 th century , coveting their possessions , aud fearing their influence , persuaded the then Pope , Clement V ., to join with him in suppressing tho Order , and seizing their estates , most of Avhich Philip subsequently appropriated to his own use .

Tlie proceedings taken against the Templars for their suppression , are matters of history . The Order was annihilated , and everyAvhere deprived of their property , and tho members reduced to poverty . A great number were received into tho Order of St . John [ afterwards called Knights of Malta ] on tho samo footing as thoy stood in their OAVU Order—strong evidence that tho guilt of the Templars was not

substantiated . Tho greater part of them , hoAvever , wero dispersed over all parts of the world , driven here aud there , by persecution and distress , aud gradually , as tho members died off , or merged into other Orders , tho name of Templars fell into oblivion , or Avas only remembered with pity for their unmerited fate . Some of them aro supposed to havo found refuge amongst the ancient Society of Freemasons .

Tho Masonic tradition being , that a connection had existed before tho suppression , aud that Avhen the suppression had taken place , some of the persecuted Knights sought life , liberty , aud protection in tho silence and scorosy of Masonry , and therein propagated the Order , Avhich has beeu by the Freemasons preserved and handed down to tho present day . Such is the record of tbe rise and fall of this once

famous institution , and the popular legend and belief of its connection wi til Freemasonry . Much diversity of opinion has been expressed and many conflicting statements advanced in the discussions entered into , as to the origin of I he modern Order , whiuli originally formed no part of Freemasonry , but a : ; IIOAV constituted , is undoubtedly one of the Masonic degrees ,

fully recognised at tho Union of the English Craffc in 1813 , asa distinct body , governed by its OAVU laAvs and constitutions , attached to Craffc Lodges aud Royal Arch Chapters , having nothing mystical in its ceremonial , its members being strictly confined to Freemasons professing and practising the Christian religion . The necessity no longer existing for Avhich . the Templar Order was

originally founded , it UOAV confines itself to inculcate tho practices of Christianity , to aid and succour the distressed and destitute in tho land , and Avar against vice , infidelity and superstition , and raise the standard of moral rectitude . The precise date when , and by whom , it AA"as first introduced and adopted by tho English Craft , has not been clearly ascertained , there

being no trace , or a very faint one , of its connection Avith Freemasonry in England prior to the middle of the last century , about the period Avhcu " Laurence Dermott" re-organized the York Rite , working out , it is said , the English Royal Arch from a previous system , as tho completion of the original second part of the Master ' s degree . Ifc is not impossible thafc he may also havo introduced from France tho Templar

system Avhero it formed part of tho higher Masonic degrees , as practised in Europe , claiming to bo the successors of , and a continual ion of tho ancient Chivalry of the Crusades , but like many other matters connected with Freemasonry , this connection haa been asserted , taught , believed , nnd handed doAvn from ono generation to another , Avithout any very critical examination , for notwithstanding

tho strong arguments , aud circumstantial evidence employed , it has never been satisfactorily shown how the connection Avas brought about , and , unfortunately , there are no records to show or direct proof , that the present Modern or Masonic Templars are the lineal and actual descendants of tho early Chivalric body . Masonic authorities have therefore , now , generally arrived at the conclusion that modern

Tcrnplary is an adaptation of tho mcdiiuval Order , introduced into the Masonic Body after tho establishment of the present symbolic system , the object being to complete and cement the moral code of Freemasonry with the pure teachings of Christianity , exemplified by the doctrines of the early knightly fraternity of the Templars . It is well to recollect that up to the Union of tho Grand Lodges in

1 S 13 . English , or St . John s Masonry Avas virtually Christian , as not until that date did it avoAvedly become i . nivcrfal , tolerating the Christian chivalric degrees . Some Templars , no doubt , might havo learned the principles ou which Masonry as now existing AVUS founded , but ifc Avould seem more practical , that Freemasons on tho Continent of Europe , AVIIO Avished to in trod we some , novelty info ihe puro anil i-jimplc Craft system , re-