The Legend Of The Introduction Of Masons Into England.

This of course refers to the building being made after the " Roman manner , " but it seems to me that this particular form of expression used by Bede , refers not so much to the building being made so as to suit any particular form of worship , as to the manner of putting together the building itself . That is to say Bede wished to have it built of Stone , and not of Wood and Turves , as the Britons would have made it . In Asser ' s life of Alfred under the year 878

, when the castle of Kynwith is attacked , it is stated that this building had " walls in our own fashion . " We may perhaps find a parallel in the great wall built at first by the Britons of Turves , which proved of no use , and afterwards by the Romans , after their own manner , of stone .

The Templar Reception.

THE TEMPLAR RECEPTION .

BY THE EDITOR . X HAVE for a long time been looking for any authentic transcript of the J- " Secreta Receptio" of the Knights Templar . There is an Official Reception in the . "Histoire de la Chevalerie , " and other sources , but of the " Secreta Receptio " no formso far as I am awareis preserved .

, , The one here given is taken from a work published in America in 1809 , by Matthias J . O'Conway , at Philadelphia . Where he got it from he does not tell as , and therefore I am unable to say anything as to its reality or authenticity . We can all equally study its internal evidence , and so far my perusal of it leads me to believe that , to use a common phrase , there is "something in it . " There is nothing in it to shock our sense of proprietyor

, antagonize the claims of possibility to interfere with archaic correctness or contrastwith the " eternal fitness of things . " I only wish that the compiler in this case , as I have to say every day , had condescended to give us a reference of his authorit y for so professedly a complete document . If correct , it opens out several important points . It points to a " chamber of reflexion , " to a " private interview" to a " rivate interrogation" and to " private instruction . "

, p , There does not , indeed , seem to be in this form any traces of Masonic Ceremonial , as in the evidence of one of the serving brethren at Paris before the Inquisition , such as in "Voyages , " & o ., "Perambulations and Probations . " One of the great charges against the Templars in England , as we find in Rymer , tempore Edward II ., is that they only held their Preceptories at ni ght , and that none but Knights were present within and without , serving brethren

not being allowed to draw near the assembly . Thus , if such statements are reliable , in England just before their suppression and for some time preceding , their reception had been secret and at ni ght , I give this " form " for the information of Masonic and Templar Students , as it may lead to a discussion , and perhaps to other evidences . _ Unfortunately , neither the " Ordre du Temple , " at Paris , if it still exists

, or the Masonic Kni ghts Templar in England , have any MSS . which throw li ght upon this subject . Perhaps a careful search in the Grande Librairie , in the Rue de Richelieu , Paris , might lead to something .

FORM OF RECEPTION OF THE KNIGHTS TEJII ' . The Templars being assembled in Chapter , the Grand Master , or in his absence the Grand Prior , shall thus address them : MY WORTHY BRETHREN , — " It appears that the majority of this assembly is willing to receive the new candidate , as a brother , into our society . Now , if any of you can show cause why he should not be forthwith received , let him speak ; for it is better that it should be made known , before the candidate make his appearance , than afterwards . "