Ears Of Wheat From A Cornucopia.

take , from intrinsic evideuce furnished by the form and dimensions of the parchment " and also from a consideration of the fact that so eminent an authority on all that relates to antique MSS . as Cosmo Innes has , in the course of his very

extensive researches , seen cause to remark that " there is probably no Scottish writing extant , Avhether of charter , record , or chronicle , so old as the reign of Malcolm Canmore , Avho died in the year 1093 . . . . The earliest undoubted writings of Scotland are the charters of Edgar" Avhich are preserved in Durham .

Seeing , however , that numerous most important antiquarian , discoveries have been made in the present century , ancl that there is no reason to believe that that field of archaeological research lias been exhausted , documentary evidence may

yet be produced in the farther elucidation of the subject Avhich has been revived by the speech delivered by Bro . Speirs on the occasion of his affiliation into Glasgow St . John . It would , meantime , be not less a satisfaction to the Fraternity than an

act of justice to themselves , were the members of the Lodge of GlasgOAv to have their old charter placed in the hands of thoroughly competent and altogether disinterested parties , with a view to its authenticity being tested by every means knoAvn to

adepts in such matters . Malcolm IV . began to reign thirteen years subsequent to the period at Avhich the Lodge of Kilwinuing is believed to have been first constituted . While the Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow "boldly asserts" that "the Lodge of Glasgow St . John is entitled to be ranked as the first in

Scotlaud next to the Grand Loclge" ( vide Bro . Buchan '' s letter ) , the Laureate of Canongate Kilwinning gives it as his opinion that on a re-adjustment of the numbers of the old lodges " the Lodge of GlasgOAv Avill find her number half a hundred down

the roll . " We cannot ap-ree Avith either of these O conclusions . HoAvever much the settlement of the question as to the genuineness of the St . John ' s old charter might affect the Lodge of Kilwinning's universally acknoAvledged claim to be

the Mother Lodge of Scotland ( and it will require the veiy strongest evidence to impugn it ) , it could never interfere Avith its right on all occasions to rank next to the Grand Loclge of Scotland . This position confirmed to it in 1807 its incor

was , on - poration with the Grand Lodge ¦ and the repudiation of that compact by the Grand Lodge would be the signal for the Lodge of Kilwinning to reassert

its ancient independence and resume its functions as a supreme Masonic court—a consummation which , as affecting the unity of the Craft , our friend and co-member of No . 0 , the P . G . M . of Glasgow , would be among the first to regret . On the other

hand , even supposing the failure of the Lodge of Glasgow to prove the authenticity of its disputed charter , the fact of its identification as a party in 1628-9 to the Craft ' s ratification of the charter to St . Clair , would of itself entitle it to a position

very much nearer the top of the roll than that assigned to it by the Laureate of No . 2 . There is nothing extraordinary in " bis " being attached to the number of a lodge . In former times this practice was more prevalent than it is

UOAV . There Avere 127 * ( Arbroath St . Vigean ) , 158 * ( St . Andrew Eoyal Arch Scots Greys ) , ^ 244 * ( Rothesay St . Brooks ) , 35 Di ( Ruthwell St . Ruth ) ¦ and at present Kirkwall Kilwinning stands on the roll as 38 bis . ( To be continued . )

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . ( Continued from page 83 . ) BOOK IL—CHAPTER I . —( Continued . ) The Pope further decreed , that it should be

lawful for the Templars to send their clerks , when admitted to Holy Orders , for ordination , to whatever bishop they pleased , who , clothed with apostolic poAver , Avould be bound to grant them their desire . The Clergy of the Order AY ere forbidden

to preach with a view of obtaining money , or for any temporal purpose . " And whosoever of these are received into your college , they must make the promise of steadfastness of purpose , of reformation of morals , and that they will fight for the Lord

all the days of their lives , and render strict obedience to the Master of the Temple ; the Book in which these things are contained being placed upon the altar . " Moreover , Avithout detracting from the rights

of the bishops in respect of tythes , oblations and buryings , the Pope conceded to the Templars the power of constructing oratories in the places bestowed upon them , so that both they and their servants might be able to assist at the divine offices , and receive there sepulture ; " for it would be unbecoming and very dangerous to the souls