Address

and intimately connected , but from the lapse of tune , destruction of records , and the necessary secret nature of the fraternity , no documentary evidence can he produced as to when the Masonic body first assumed , if it was an assumption ,

the right of creating Knights Templar ; consequently it is incumbent upon anyone denying the legitimacy of our claim to bring proofs of it , and show conclusively that the attaching a Templar organization to the Masonic institution

is of late date , and long subsequent to the outward suppression of the Templars by the princes of Europe . The mere fact that Grand Bodies of Masonic Templars Avere only formed at the close of the last century , is no proof that the Templars had not been long previously connected Avith Freemasonry . My own conviction leans to the correctness of

our tradition , as there does not appear any other Avay of accounting for the existence of small bodies of the order being attached for so long a period to Masonic lodges , except by believing that some of the Knights and their

folloAvers sought at the time of their persecution the protection of the Masonic fraternity ; and from this circumstance it may be assumed Ave derive our existence as representatives of the ancient chivalry of the Temple .

Objections haA r e been raised to the new titles of " Grand Crosses" and " Commanders , " as an innovation upon the simplicity of the ancient order , there being no such titles formerly . They havehoAveverthe precedent of

belong-, , ing to the state orders of Knighthood , and have been long used by the Scottish Templars , and Avere honourable distinctions amongst the Knights of Malta . These honours are to be limited and substituted for honorary past rank

, and only conferred by H . R . Highness the Grand Master , as special marks of his approbation for services rendered to the order .

At his installation he was pleased to add my name to that of the Royal personages and the feAV members of distinguished rank on Avhom he first

conferred the title of Grand Cross . The honour I fully appreciate , not alone as such to myself , but as the highest compliment H . R . Highness could pay to the Templars of Canada through their Grand Prior .

The apron , in my ojiinion a most ridiculous badge for the representatives of a military body , is at last abolished . So far back as 1852 , Avhen I attended the Sup . G . Conclave in London , the subjectAvasthen discussed ofsubstituting

a sash round the Avaist , in imitation of the mystic ceintwe or white linen girdle Avorn by the Knights of old , and . if I mistake not the motion Avas actually carried , but by some unaccountable misunderstanding , Avas not acted upon .

The only advocates for retaining the Masonic badge of the apron , Avere those who merely looked upon the order as a high degree of Masonry , neither k ' noiving or at all caring for its origin or history , and AVIIO considered the putting

off the apron and dropping the prefix Masonic as actually shutting them out from the pale of Masonry . Substituting the titles of " marshal " and " constable" for the modern military rank of captains ( first and second ) , and

" chaplain" for "prelate" is only reverting to the old nomenclature in the order . The Templars never had amongst their members devoted to the sacred offices any higher title than chaplain , and those amongst them advanced to the rank of bishop did not assume the title of Grand Prelate of the Order of

the Temple . As Ave are now knoAvn under the name of the United Orders of the Temple and Malta , it becomes necessary for each preceptory to hold a priory of Malta . The introduction of the Malta

order into that of the Templar is comparatively very modern , irrespective of the legendary amalgamation , and many errors have been disseminated Ai'ith

respect to it by Ausionary and enthusiastic Masonic Avriters , asserting as facts , Avild theories of their OAVII relating to the supposed common origin of Freemasonry , and the old military orders of