The Modern Order Of Knights Templar.

vivcd , aud attached the Templar Order to it , because it was not knoAvn what tho Templars practised in secret , and no one could toll IIOAV much or how little of the charges against them Avere true , but all conld see that there Avas a mystery , and interest about that famous body ; tho A-ery circumstance of the namo " Knights of tho Temple of Solomon " may also havo led tho Masonio body to claim a direct connection .

Tho origin of all Masonic degrees is enveloped and shrouded in mystery , tho fraternity being always averse to publicity ' , handing doAvn their peculiar secrets viva voce , to future generations , Avith tho samo caution thafc the philosophers of old displayed in perpetuating their symbols and mysteries . The Templars also , liko tho Jesuits , never communicated their secrets to strangers , and somo even Avere

concealed from the greater part of their OAVU members . It is , therefore , not likely the Order ceased to exist after its political suppression , but moro probable that small organisations wore kept up in many places , and the hopo cherished that ifc Avould somo clay bo possible to revive it . A great and extensive organisation could not utterly have lost all cohesion aud died without

a struggle , but ifc is equally unreasonable to believe thafc the fragments hero and there , entered into any association of Avorking mon , such as that of " Tho Corporation of Builders , or Freemasons , " then wore , Avho could nofc have been expected to devote themselves to tho restoration of tho Templar Order , in direct opposition to the ban of tho Church ; oven personal safetv AA ' OUIC ! not havo been

secured , and there is no proof thafc the Knights over joined tho German building sodalities ; besides , if it had been seriously intended publicly to restore the Order , there Avould havo been no difficulty in doing so after tho Reformation ; thercfor * e no valid reason exists Avliy thoy shonld conceal their organisation under the mask of Freemasonry . Remnants of tho Order , to perpetuate

the memory of their glory and wrongs , may , however , havo assumed somo of the hi gher degrees , * and formed bodies consisting of themselves alone . Tho A . and A . S . Rite would appear to throw some light on the matter , aud I think I may adduce Avithont any infringement on tho esoteric history of tho degrees some allusion to this connection .

One of these degrees , in AA'hich tho numbers eight and one , are indicated by tho position of tho hands as a mode of recognition , Avould seem to refer to the eight knights Avho founded tho Order of tho Temple , and the ninth Avho entered with them afterAvards , then again tho nine Elus may also represent these founders . Another and stronger fact is shoAVn in the degree , where the Avord " Libertas "

occurs , Avhich is the key to its meaning ; the lectors L . D . P . mean " Liberie de lVnscr , " and the Avords "Shalal Gratim Abi , " literally moans "The Pope [ Father Papa ] shrill restore tho spoil . " The Knights d' tho " East and West" may mean tho Order of tho Temple created in the East , and afterAvards having Prcccptories in Europe . The Avon ! Kadosh ( holy ) , indicates a Templar , " Baikal Kadosh , "

meant hol y houso of tho Temple . In fact , seo how tho degrees 15 th , lGtli and 17 th , are entitled in succession , Knights of tho East 01 Sword . —Creation and first period of tho Temple Order in Palestine , —Prince of Jerusalem , —[ Knights of the Haikal Kadosh at Jerusalem ] aud Knights of the East and West . The rebuilding of the Temple may havo been meant for the rc-establishmenfc hoped for of tho

Templar Order , other examples might be quoted intelligible to the initiated alone , and in one of the highest degrees of tho Jvito will Lo found corroborative evidence implying a common origin Avith Tomplary . That some of these degrees bear affinity to the Templar system , and Avere framed on the history of tho Templars is evident boiii "

, formerly in England always given under sanction of a Templar warrant , AA-hich Avas considered the guardian of these high degrees , until of late years Avhen they Avere resigned to the A . and A . S . Rite , but tho original connection with Freemasonry as an inherent part of it is a mystery , aud likely still to remain so , for the Templar Order has not in its ceremonies auy resemblance , oven tho most

remote , to Craffc Masonry , and is intensely ' Trinitarian . Tho probability is , thafc the connection was iirsfc entertained and brought about by individual knights joiuiug tho fraternity of Masons , and ifc is quite possible , Avhen tbe Masonic houses and fraternities were broken np at the Reformation that somo of the dispersed members , attaching themselves to the Masonic

Bodycon-, duced to perpetuate the ceremonies of the ancient Templars , preserved from the time of the persecution iu tho monastic establishments , in which many of the unfortunate knights were condemned to do penance and employed iu menial offices , bufc had been treated Avith consideration and sympathy , for it is difficult to

believe that men of probity in the Masonic society of the last century deliberatel y invented the Templar degree , introducing it as the true Order long secretly attached to Freemasonry , unless they had sfroii " grounds to believe that actual Knights of the Temple had formerly entered it for the purpose of preserving their old Order from utter extinction .

It is a mistake to suppose thafc the existence of the Order depends ou the favour of Pope or Sovereign , or the possession of lands , as in ancient times one private knight could communicate knighthood to another . So ono private Templar [ after the suppression ] could confer the knighthood of the Temple on another as his successor , down to tho present time . This is the manner in Avhieh to

our contention , justified by our traditions that Templary cam ? into Masonry , and lias thus been preserved intact as a true , just , and lawful succession . Taking this view , I am still impressed " Avith the belief that our modern or Masonic Templary has a right , to be considered as perpetuating the chivalric Order of the Crusades , and in consequence , I have from time to time in my addresses to ihe Great Priory of Canada endeavoured to point out inconsistencies and

* Tho term ' - 'hi gh degree" in Masonry simply means those bevond f » " after tho Craft , which is the pru-requisito of all others .. Some of them no doubt derive their origin from tho " secret , fr . itcrnities " that existed in the 11 th , loth and J Oth centuries , und have Urns been perpetuated by graft im ; on ( he Masonic system .

The Modern Order Of Knights Templar.

inaccuracies iu our forms and practices , but I fear my object and moaning have in many instances been greatly misunderstood , attributing a desire on my part to advocate a total separation from Freemasonry , to admit of its assuming a moro exclusive character , iu accordance Avith its presumed chivalric origin and constitution . This is entirely a mistake , for to sever the connection to which ifc OAVCS its

present existence would take away its claim to bo considered as legally perpetuating the Order of tho Crusades . Tho attempt Avas inado somo years back by the Scottish branch , bufc utterly failed , and thoy Avero obliged to resume tho Masonic qualification . My wholo object has been to endeavour to point out the anomalies of tho present system , and , if possible , prevent the farther perpetuation of errors

palpable to tho historic student . Admitting thafc tho modern or Masonio Templar Order is but an imitation of the old Knightly Fraternity , there surety can be no question that it should bo historically correct , aud as nearly as possible follow tho original iu preference to mere fancy ceremonial inventions . A re-organisation of tho Order in England , changing tho names )

and title to that of tho original nomenclature of tho ancient Templars , with a careful revision of tho statutes , took place in 1873 , the object being to unite and place all the different sections in the British dominions nnder the Grand Mastership of H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales , adopting a common code of laws and ceremonies , dividing tho Order into Nationalities , or Great Priories , each boing governed by

a Great Prior , theso Groat Pnones making their own laAA's . The affairs of tho Avhole Order boing managed and regulated by u body termed the " Convent General , " composed of the Great Priories sitting in common , presided over by the Grand Master , Avho has also a Council especially constituted under statutes , so that ho may bo advised by a body in Avhich all tho nationalities aro equally

represented . This federal scheme of organisation , following tho practice of the early Order , originated with the learned and zealous ( then Grand Chancellor ) Sir Patrick Colquhoun , M . A ., Q . O ., LL . D ., late Chief Justice of the Ionian Islands , ably supported in skilfully carrying ifc into olfecfc by tho highly esteemed and well-known Masonio authority , tho Hon . Judge FitzIIem-y Townahend , Q . C ., LL . D .,

of tho High Court of Admiralty , Dnblin—Grand Commander Sup . Grand Council 33 ° for Ireland , & o ., based oa the original and existing principle that the Order , having a chivalric origin , Avas not in itself Masonic , bufc had a Masonic basis and qualification , requiring thafc its members could only bo taken from the Misonio fraternity . The intention Avas also to form a cosmopolitan chivalric

body , regulated by the customs and usages of the present century , having but ono Grand Mastc : , ns of old , under Avhom different nationalities divided into Langues or Tongues could assemble Avithout any interference Avith their individual political allegiance . It Avas confidently hoped and looked foi'Avard to , thafc this admirable organization , clearing aAvuy much of the unsatisfactory and incorrect

practices of the modern system , Avould raise tho Order to a moro conspicuous and independent sphere of usefulness , uniting the different branches into ono poAverful and influential Christian confraternity , but this desirable result does not seem likely to bo attained , and the time and labour bestowed by the erudite framcrsof the system arc thus throAvn aAvay .

A majority of the English nationality , principally from Lancashire and West Yorkshire , being dissatisfied Avith the changes lately introduced , as iu their opinion tending to separate the Order from Freemasonry , have ignored the federation aud Articles of Convention Avhich they aro endeavouring to set aside , and resume their former anomalous position without reference to the Avishes or opinions of tho

sister Great Priories , or to the advantages holdout by a uniform system , and havo also objected to adopt ono of the most important changes contemplated , viz .: the revisal of the ritual in use ; fortius end a Ritual Commission had been appointed , Avho , after some years ' careful consideration of the subject , submitted their report to Convent General in October 1870 [ published in fcho

Proceedings of the Great Priory of Canada last year ] , Avhich commends itself , being a full exposition of tho views taken by tho Commissioners . The ritual recommended by them appears to mo all thafc can be desired , and should bo adopted intact , even if ifc is in parts objectionable , or imperfect , it would be luvwiso for tho Order to havo one ritual for England and Ireland and another for Canada . It has

also the strong recommendation of assimilating Avith tho Scottish ceremony , many years in use , and although Scotland has nob joined the Union it would insure uniformity in all tho branches nuclei British rule . The necessity for a revision of the ceremony of a reception may not have been generally entertained ; it arose from the changes that

have taken place from time to time since tho introduction of tho Order into English Freemasonry , and AVO find by reference to Masonic records that ifc AVIIS first conferred as an honorary order , given cither before or after the Royal Arch , evidently Avith n vory short ceremony , mention being made of the recipient receiving other degrees at tho samo meeting . ( Tn he continued . )

Committee Meeting Of The Girls' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL .

rpilE General Committee of tho Royal Masonic Institution for X Girls met on Thursday , at- Freemasons' Hall . There Avero present—I ' . ios . Col . Creaton ( in the chair ) , I ? . B . Webster , A . it . Tattcrshull , II . A . Dubois , E . Lclelivvorth , Col . James E . Peters , licnry Venn , James Moon , C . F . Matier , Thomas Cubitt , Herbert Dicketts , ][ . Massey , and F . R . W . Ifedcros CSccrotarvl . Oim

petition was received . Tho Committee resolved to im-esfc -CI . 500 . The Audit Committee recommended the investment of £ 201 ) 0 , but Col . Create :: informed tho brethren that it Avould be necessary to build a boundary wall at tho Institution , in place of tbo present wooden fence , Avhich Avas now Avorn out , and it would be prudent to retain sufficient funds to defray the cost . Tho Committee thou adjourned .