Knights Templar.

you have been pleased to select Sir Knt . Murray to administer it , with Hong Kong for his residence . In doing so , you have been guided by the obvious rule of having your head-quarters on British soil , in preference to a foreign country , though it is well known that the equal claims and capacity of the respective leading members of Templary in Hong Kong and in Shanghai caused you no little embarrassment in your choice . The vacancy of

the province of Kent has been filled by your appointment of Sir Knt . Colonel Clerk , who will be present to do homage on his appointment previous to his installation on his province . There has been but one consecration of a new encampment since the Grand Conclave of May , that of the " Royal Plantagenet" of Ipswich , but others will shortly take place . The

Order of the Hospitallers of St . John of Jerusalem , Rhodes , and Malta was revived in connection with the Order of the Temple about two years ago , and since that time has made such progress , that it has been already adopted by about two-thirds of the total number of encampments ranging under your banner , who have under the powers of their respective warrants

established priories . Some inconvenience has arisen from the number of knights necessary to fill all the offices in a priory ; but inasmuch as all these offices have existed in the Order ever since its first foundation , it would be neither proper nor expedient to introduce any modification . Under these circumstances I have to congratulate you , Most Eminent Supreme Sir , on the gradual ancl steadil y increasing prosperity of the Order and the consequent improvements in its funds .

Two applications have been made to the Committee ofthe Grand Conclave for relief . The former by the widow of a late Provincial Grand Commander , and the latter by the equerry of the camp of St . Michael and St . George , of Corfu , which I had the honour to inaugurate under your auspices , but which from political circumstances hasceased to exist .

Your committee has found considerable difficulty in dealing with the former case , in consequence of the social position of tbe applicant , whose late husband undoubtedly did good service to the Order . Your committee then , in recommending the case to the consideration of the Grand Conclave , forbears makinnany further suggestion on a matter iu which no precedent exists .

In the latter case your committee suggests that a sum of Ten guineas be presented to the applicant . On my accession to office I found a correspondence had taken place between the late Grand Chancellor Masson and the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master of Scotland , on which at that time no action could be taken . The dfficulties which then stood in the way haviii" - since

been removed , an opportunity now presents itself of entering into more intimate relations with the Scottish branch of the Order , to the mutual advantage of both , and the general advancement of this degree'Jn chivalry . The mode in which this object could be carried into effect would be by your appointing , Most Eminent Sir , one of your

officers to negotiate the terms of a convention with the Grand Master of Scotland , or such person as he might delegate in that behalf , upon a basis having for its object an assimilation of the two branches of the Order , consisting in a mutual recognition of rack and privileges , and , as far as practicable , an approximation in form and ceremonies .

The ratification of such convention belongs to the prerogative of tlie respective Grand Masters . Should this prove successful , a similar course might with advantage be pursued with reference to the branch of the Order in Ireland , whereby the Order in the three kingdoms would be

drawn more closely together , ancl be in a position to act in concert with greater advantages to the general cause of Templary . This federal confederation would in no respect interfere with the individual rights , privileges , and prerogatives of the respective Grand Masters . AVith respect to suggestions more especially referring to the . office which I have the honour to

hold , I have to report that since the last meeting of the Grand Conclave four appeals have been made to the Supreme Authority under Paragraph 7 , intituled " Ofthe Grand Master . " The former of these is an appeal to the decision of the Provincial Grand Commander of Victoria , South Australia by a Knight Past Eminent Commander of the Pembroke Encampment .

The latter were three appeals by Deputy Provincial Grand Commander Farnham , and one from the Zion Encampment , from the judgment of the Provincial Grand Commander of Bombay . These being appeals against the ruling of Provincial Grand Commanders , it will be my duty to submit them to the consideration of the Grand Conclave , in accordance with

the statute in that case made and provided . I have carefully considered the four cases , and marshalled the facts , in order to be in a position to present the cases to the Grand Conclave on the conclusion of this report , in such a form as will render the issues of law and facts easily intelligible .

The fact of so unusual a number of appeals having come in during the first half-year of my appointment to office , has led me to consider this subject , and to recommend that some rules should be laid down with a view to regulating the form in which appeals should in future be framed to the Supreme Authority with a view to uniformity and for facilitating the ends of justice . The absence of such rules materially increases the difficulty of decision and renders it less satisfactory than it

might otherwise be to the litigants and the Order generally . Indeed , it is often difficult to ascertain the real issue between the parties from the confused mode in which the case is stated , entailing on the officer whose duty it is to draw up the decreethe necessity of familiarising the whole litigation , in exemplification of which it may be stated that tbe judgment in

theformer of the appeals above referred to extended over manyfoolscap sides . I would therefore recommend the adoption of the following example rules , the observance of which would not necessarily imply legal knowledge : — That every appeal be intituled " Before the Grand Master of

the Knights of the Temple of St . John , Rhodes , and Malta . " That the name of the province be written on the margin . That the name of the appellant and the camp to which he belongs , and that of the respondent and of his camp follow the title . That the issues or complaints be set forth simply , and

numbered consecutively . That a concise statement of facts follow the above . That the grounds of appeal or argument on the above facts come next in order . That the appeal conclude with a prayer . That the documents or evidence in support be appended in order of date , followed by

a list with reference numbers . That the same form and order be adopted in the answer and reply . That no new document or evidence be produced with the reply . That no rejoinder bo permitted . That in all cases the litigant parties mutually communicate to each other copies of the

appeal answer and reply , ancl evidence which thoy adduce , and certify such fact at foot of such copy with the date . That fourteen clear days bo allowed in each case from tha