Address

Knighthood . It has been stated that our Maltese ritual Avas brought from the Island of Malta ; this I can positively say is not the case , for in 1849 I Avas the first to introduce the Templar order there , and we did not work any degree of Malta . I have had for a loner time

m my possession , Malta Rituals said to have been used by the Templar encampments in the last century , but I could find no trace whatever in Malta that any such rituals had belonged to the old Knights or that they knew anything

about our encampments . It is from tlie Scottish Masonic degree of Knights of Malta our present ritual has been principally compiled . The historical lecture introduced is interesting and instructiveshowinthe

, g origin in Palestine of the great rival military sister order to the Temple , the Knights Hospitallers of St . John of Jerusalem , their migration to the Island of Rhodes , and subsequent retirement to the Island of Malta . This order

gave the first idea of Hospitals in England where they were called " Stranger Houses , " and afforded shelter to the iveary traveller , as AVCII as to the sick . The original noble and

praise-Avorthy object of ministering to the wants of the destitute for Avhich the order was founded , ( although they afterwards became a military and canonical order like the Templars ) is literally carried out at the present time in London by

the sixth or English Langue of the legitimate branch ' of the old order of St . John of Jerusalem . I may mention the name of one of its members a "Knight of-Justice , " who is an honorary grand officer of this Grand Priory , Sir

Knight Richard Woof , of St . Ainaiid preceptory , in the ancient city of Worcester , of which preceptory I have lately been highly gratified by being elected an honorary member . I announced to you in my circular

, that the committee appointed by me at the meeting of G ^ ancl Priory in 1870 , " to deliberate upon such questions and proposals as may tend to promote the interests of the order in Canada , and

that the results of these deliberations be embodied in a respectful memorial , to bo submitted to the Supreme Grand Conclave , " had forwarded their memorial already communicated to our different preceptoriesAvhich I duly enclosed with

, out comment or alteration to the Arch Chancellor in England , and received an official reply assuring me that the claims put forward Avill be taken into favourable consideration at the next

meeting of the Convent General , this I consider most satisfactory . The re-organization of the order , at once pointed out the Avay to gratify the long expressed Avish of the majority of Canadian Templars for self-government , Avithout severinc the connection with

the parent body which I could not have assented to . The time appears to have arrived Avhen Ave ought to have our own affairs more immediately under our own control . We understand our wants and Avishes much better than can be

done at a distance , aud on many matters it is necessary to legislate differently . Edicts and regulations Avliich are neither approved of or necessary here are viewed in the mother land by a very different lightAvith her old associationsher

, , aristocracy , and her great social distinctions . The Dominion of Canada forming a portion of the great British Empire , should not be called a dependency , it is

just as much an integral part of the Queen ' s sovereignty as England , Scotland , and Ireland , andshoulcl possess the same privileges . Canada is no longer a colony in the common sense of the word , and her influence is on the dailyincrease .

With the Templars in the neighbouring enlightened and great Republic , the fraternal feeling existing betAveen us continues to increase , and a convention is now under treaty with them and England similar to that effected by the

latter with Scotland and Ireland . H . R . Highness the Grand Master , to mark his approbation of these amicable and harmonious relations , lias paid a graceful compliment to the General Grand Encampment , by creating their Grand