Address

intended to offer even the semblance of a slight , to the jurisdiction of our Royal Grand Master , or throw any obstacle in the way of again restoring the cosmopolitan character of the Order , and amalgamating the different nationalities

under one governing head . It is acknowledged generally by members of the Order who have interested themselves in its history , that many irregularities , both in government and practice , have crept in . Connected as it is with the Masonic fraternity , muchof Masonic-like matter has beeiiintroduced Avhich did not exist in the

constitutions and rituals of the ancient Order , and to get rid of these it Avas necessary to look back and revert as much as possible to the ancient statutes and constitutions , and assimilate Jthe old forms , ceremonies and nomenclature to

our present system . Assuming as Ave do the title , and asserting a claim to be considered as the representatives of the old Order of the Temple , it is surely incumbent upon us to adopt and adhere in every respect as nearly as possible to

the original regulations and customs . I myself always regarding it , not as a degree of Masonry properly speaking , but a revival of the Chivalric Order , preserved by its connection , for convenience and security sake , with Freemasonry , have long advocated the

revision that has IIOAV taken place , and hope to see shortly much that is unsuitable struck out of the ritual , and a complete return to the ancient form of reception . A great deal of unnecessary

discussion , and in my opinion futile arguments , have been advanced againstthe omission of the Avord "Masonic" from the Templar nomenclature , it being asserted that by so doing the order has completely disconnected itself Avith Freemasonry , and

is IIOAV an illegal secret society . To me it appears absurb to say that the mere dropping of the name "Masonic" makes us a different order ; for if this argument holds good , then the Templars of Scotland have for many years been illegal , having long abolished the prefix "

Masonic . " But there does not appear to be the slightest intention to repudiate the Masonic connection , or to separate from the ancient and noble institution of Freemasonry ; on the contrary , the Masonicqualificatioii has beenincreased ,

and in this sense Ave are still Masonic Knights Templar . The attempt made some years ago in Scotland to sever the connection Avas a signal failure , and so uiiAvise and impolitic a measure is not likely again to be brought forward .

Neither can I clearly see in Avhat AA ay the order will now become amenable to the civil law in England against secret societies other than Masonic , more than it has ever been . The

constitutions of English Craft Masonry say that it consists of three degrees and no more , including the Royal Arch , so that Ave must have always been under the ban of thelaAv ; but if lam notmuchmzstaken , " Encampments " Avere returned

in the declaration required by laAv as a body of " Master Masons " practising a christian Masonic rite . Constituted as Ave are , Ave are not a secret society in the common acceptation of the wordbut an honourable and

, loyal christian order Avhose principles are fully and publicly known , although tho ceremonies of admission were not , or are they now , published to the Avorld at large .

lraditionally , our Order of the Temple represents the glorious old military and religious brotherhood of that name ; the Masonic tradition being , that at the suppression of the Templars in the early part of the 14 th century , some of their

number sought and found refuge and held conclaves in the society of Freemasons , and that their meetings arerepresented in our present institution , although some Avriters repudiate this assertion and treat it as a mere fiction ,

on the dictum "That everything is more than doubtful that cannot be conclusively proved . " I can hardly agree to this argument as regards the connection of Templarism and Freemasonry ; for as far as anyone can SIIOAV to the contrary , the two bodies have been long