Book Ii—Chapter Vii.

perty , or in any other way contrary to law , and squander them in an unrighteous , scandalous , and foolish manner . Bufc those who honestly acknowledge their faults , and conceal nothing out of shame or fear of the punishment of the Order , and are

right sorry for their transgressions , have a large share in the forgiveness of our chapter and in the good works which take place in our Order . And to such , in virtue of my authority , I dispense forgiveness in the name of God and our dear Lady , in

the names of the Apostles Peter and Paul , of our father the Pope , and of you all who have given me authority , and pray to God that , according to his mercy , He will for the merits of His mother , and of himself and all the saints , forgive you your sins

as He forgave the famous Mary Magdalene . I on my own account , implore the forgiveness of those to whom I may have given offence or done injury unwittingly . I pray for peace to the Church , to the Holy Kingdom of Jerusalem , for the Order and all its houses and people , for the brethren and sisters of the Order , and for its living and dead

benefactors . Finally , I pray for the repose ofthe souls of the dead , who wait for the mercy of God , especially for those near and dear to us , for the souls of our fathers , mothers , sisters , brothers , kinsmen , and kinswomen , and all those who lie

buried in the Temple grounds . " The Chaplain , if present , repeated the Confifceor , in which all joined , and pronounced absolution . If no Chaplain was present , each brother repeated a Pater and an Ave , and so the chapter ended .

When a Knight , either from old age or wounds received in battle , became incapable of entering actively into the duties of the Order , he retired to some chapter house , and there spent the remainder of his days . In councils , however , these old

Knights were listened to with marked attention , their opinions being based upon experience and sound acquaintance with the rules of the Order and they were ever treated with great respect , and are constantly mentioned in the records of the

Templars as Prodomes , or good men . When a Templar died , he was dressed in his habit , his legs crossed , in imitation of the posture of our Lord

when hanging on the Cross , placed in a wooden coffin , and buried . The burial took place afc midnight , with the most solemn ceremonies . Masses were after afterwards said for the repose of his soul , and his arms were given back to the marshal , while his clothes were placed at the disposal ofthe draper for distribution among the poor .

Book Ii—Chapter Vii.

The rule of the Order minutely directs the manner in which the domestic affairs were to be conducted . ( Chapter 8 . ) The Templars were to take their meals together in one common hall , orrefectory , where , if their wants could not be

madeknown by signs , they were quietly and privately to ask for what they wanted . If the thing required was not to be found , they were directed to seek it with all gentleness , and with submission aud reverence to the board , in remembrance of the

words of the apostle , "Eat thy bread in silence , '"" and in emulation of the Psalmist , who says , " I have set a watch upon my mouth , " that is , " I . have communed with myself , that I may not offend with my tongue , " that is , "I have guarded my

mouth , that I may not speak evil . ( Chapter 9 . ) Sacred reading was always to take place at dinner and supper , for " if we love the Lord , we ought anxiously to long for , and we ought to hear with most earnest attention his wholesome words and

precepts . ( Chapter 11 . ) Two and two were to . eat together , that the one might have his eye upon . the other . ( To be continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

LODGE BUSINESS . Ought the ordinary business of a lodge to be conducted in the second and third degree , or only in the first

?—ft-ENGLISH EKEEMASONHY AND CHKISTIANITT . A correspondent , " R . W . B ., " neighbourhood of York , desires that I should set down my notions of Freemasonry in relation to Christianity . Communications to tbe Freemasons' Magazine , abundantly show these notions . I subjoin a list of all the

communications made on this subject exclusively , and of all the others in which anything occurs on the subject incidentally , and I have interspersed a few passages that may possibly save my correspondent the labour of a research , which the state of his health , I regretto learnwill hardly permit . List of

commnnica-, tions : — "Religion of English Freemasonry . " "The-Religion of English Freemasonry is Christianity , with toleration in the lodge of all other religions ' which recognise a Supreme Being , tire Great Architect of the "Universe , " vol . xiii ., p . 349 . — "TheLodge ; in English Freemasonry . " "In our English

Freemasonry I consider the Lodge essentially a Christian Temple , " vol . xiv ., p . 89 . — " Christianity and English Freemasonry , " Ibid , p . 391-427 . — " A Motto for Modern English Ereemasonry . " " A Fitting Motto ,, in my judgment , is Christianity and Natural Religion , " vol . xvii ., p . 487 . —Ses the same volume , p ; 1 GS , " Religion of the English Freemason . " It i & there stated , from the manuscript book in my collec-