The Order Of Malta

Protestant Brethren and havo repudiated the Order on all possible occasions , denying its validity , and calumniating its founders , French and English ; although a letter is extant and in possession of the Secretary of the English Langne , written on tho 17 th August IS 13 , by the Head of tho Roman Knights , offering nn nllianee if the English Order cease to admit Protestants , tho difference in religious faith

being tho only reason assigned by them for declining recognition . But such alliance is not necessary to the validity of tho English Order , or any other lawful branch . Tho Roman Council derives its only title through the Emperor Paul of Russia , whoso election ( whilst tho lawful Grand Master , " Hompesch , " was in life ) to preside over the whole Order , by refugee knig hts who went to Russia

after the capitulation of Malta , is well known to havo been illegal , not on the ground of his religious faith , but of tho informality of his election , and the Roman , or Sacred Council as thoy call themselves , had no existence until after 1 S 06 . All the branches of the genuine Order since tho fall of Malta aro , and have been independent institutions , not requiring in any conntry to profess obedience to the Roman Conncil . Tho English Order being lawfully revived is in the same

position as tho Priories of Austria , Russia , Poland , & c , bnt is not in connection with any foreign body , excepting that of amity with Brandenburg . That the Roman Conncil havo established a separate Roman Catholic brancli for England , in London , will aoconnt for tbe jealousy and bitterness shown to the existing Anglican one . The

plea set up by the Roman Uouncil that schismatics aud heretics ( a they designate the members of the Protestant faith ) aro ineli g ible ti become members of the truo Order , is pnrely an objection of thi ultramontane advocates , and it onl y requires explanation to disprovi tho assertions willfully made to ignore tho trno position of th < Protestant Order in England , which is ono of tho two branches

devoted to its real purposes . Dnring the Franco-Prussian war , manj of its members did most valuable service , both at homo and abroad aud their services aud tho stores furnished were so highly approver ' of , that several of them wero decorated by Prussia , Bohemia , avu France ; amongst the number our late Bio . Woolfe received from the French "War Department the decoration of the bronze cross ; and in

his diploma , which accompanied tlio cross , ho was recognised as an English Knight of St . John . I may here , I think , with propriety copy an extract from one of Bro . Woolfe ' s letters to me , of date 12 th of October 1874 , in which ho says : — "I do not know if all the papers relating to the Languc were placed before Sir Bernard Bnrko , but in one of his Knightages ( 1842 , I think ) he refers to the Order as legitimate . The Queen and her Government are well aware of tho

existence of the Order . Wo annually havo Royal Permission to hold our anniversary services in tho Chapel Royal Savoy . The War Office gavo ns permission to use tho illustration of the ambulance litters from tho official publication of Surgeon-General Longmore , C . B . ( one of our honorary associates ) . Wc are in occasional friendl y ollicial correspondence with tho Prussian Johanniter , and have had their permission to reprint publications of theirs , and they have reprinted ours . When wo addressed H . R . H . iho Princo of Wales

on his recovery from illness , his courteous reply was given in tho Prior and Brethren of tho Hospitallers of St . John . Years since , when an address was laid before the Queen and 1 'n ' nce Albert , the Order received tho same conrteonsrecognition : this is , of course not

nn official public recognition , but it is a private conourroiioo in the existence of the Order and private admission of its claims , otherwise it would have been said that Her Majesty was not aware that an association of persons in her dominions made such claim , and that she could only reply to the address as that of a private body of gentlemen and ladies . The works we aro endeavouring to eirry out ,

are ot high public importance , and in tho end may have the effect of inducing a moro public acknowledgment of our position . Wo havo a very distinguished list of commoners as well as nobles . " In concluding this extract , I may add , that tho Order has been latel y j honoured and graced by H . R . H . tho Princess of Wales becoming j one of the Dames Chevaliers , and also tho reigning Grand Dnchess i

of Baden elected to the honorary rank . j With reference to tho Masonic Order of Malta , ifc must bo borno in mind that when tho Order of tho Temple was first publicly attached I to the Masonic body in England , during tho last century , it was ) combined with that of St . John , — for tho purpose , ifc is presumed , of I commemorating the amalgamation of the two chivalric orders ( after

the political suppression of the Templars ) which continued in Scotland tip to tho period of the Reformation . This union of two distinct Orders led to the mistake of Masonic writers in disseminating through magazines and monitors the great historial error , that the two Orders Were ono and t . hr : same—hence arose the confusion of name and title

— "Knights Templars <>/ ' St . John of Jerusalem . " For several years before tho expulsion of the Sovereign Order of St . John from tho Island of Malta , tho Masonic combined order was in existence , and if there had been any connection between them , copies of correspondence with allusions to , or observance of statutes , would bo forthcoming-, but as nothing' of tho kind has over been produced , and no rofcivnce

at any time made to such connection in the Proceedings of Masonic bodies , it is quite evident that none existed , in fact the Order of St . John , whilst it occupied tho Island of Malta , was totally unconnected with , and indeed opposed to Freemasonry . The Masonic Order of Malta being at its first introduction entirely combined with flic Templar , there was no separate ritual or badge used , —Malta being

only tho name in latter times for iho Order of St . John . This continued for some years , when a brief and simple ritual was added at the conclusion of Iho authorised Templar ceremony of reception , as an explanation and historical record , consequent ou the establishment of the scat of government of tho Order of St . John at the Island of Malta , A . D . J 53 d . The Cross of Malfa as a separate badge was

also adopted , arid tin ' s continued until IN-i . ' ? , when both were discontinued and the Order called "Masonic Knights Templar" alone , but in LS 02 the Grand Conclave of Knights Templars again revived flic Malta degree , but separate ami distinct from that of the Templar , tho ritual was compiled principally from ono . it is said , long used in Scotland , aud which was introduced by me iuto Canada with the

The Order Of Malta

Templar Order in ISol . The rifcnal of 1 SC > 2 being revised 1 st December ISfifi , is the ono now used , bnt it appears to mo that the original simple Masonic Malta ritual is more iii accordance with tho origin of the degree than tho present one , which has no connection

or alliance with any of the branches of the old Order of St . John or Malta . In conclusion , I shonld say to all who seek for information about tho Order , —Read the valuable and instructive history of tho Knights of Malta , by Col . Whitworth Porter , Royal Engineers , who is himself a Chevalier of the English Order of St . John . Laprarie , ( . ) ., 21 st Feb . 1878 .

Consecration Of Duke Of Connaught Lodge, No. 1834.

CONSECRATION OF DUKE OF CONNAUGHT LODGE , No . 1834 .

THE Consecration of this Lodge , for which a warrant has been granted under the signature of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England , took place in tho handsome Assembly Room afc Cawte ' s Hotel , Soufchsea , on Saturday afternoon

in the presence of a large number of members of the Craft , including a strong muster of past and present Provincial Officers , W . M . ' s and P . M . ' s . The ceremony was impressively performed , and the P . G . M . expressed tho great pleasure which he experienced in taking part in tho constitution of tho now Lodge , as it showed the extent to which Freemasonry was spreading in tho province , and particularly

in that locality . It was by no means satisfactory to found a new Lodge when there wero grave doubts as to its success . In this instance , however , they need not entertain any snch apprehension , but they might rest perfectly certain that nnder tho auspices of tho present Worshipful Master ( Bro . Henry Cawto ) , who had had so much experience in Freomasonrv , and others who would assist him , tho

Lodge would attain a very good position in the Craft . After referring to the impetus which a now Lodge often gave to Freemasonry , tho P . G . M . said ifc was very gratifying * to him to seo the way in which Freemasonry was thriving . Ho reminded the W . M . and the brethren of the new Lodge that considerable responsibility rested upon them , and it was for them to show that ( hey wore worthy of tho confidence which was placed in them , and that thoy woro

determined to make the Lodgo worthy of the locality , of the province , and of the Craft . No doubt ; actuated by these sentiments , they would achieve success , nnd that when ho had the pleasure of attending the Lodge again he should find not only his anticipations realised , but exceeded . The musical portion of tho ceremony was ably performed . Rio . F . Wilton presided ah tlie harmonium , and the vocalists consisted of Bros . O . Per . rman 1 ST , G . Grant . S . W . IVOo , J . W . Stroud J . W . 170 ") . Bnfchelor 170 ") Prov . G . Ortranist . mid G . F . Lancaster Prov .

G . Deacon and P . M . f ) 03 . An . nnpronriat . " ornMon was delivered by the Prov . 0 . Chaiilnin ( liro . the Rev . S . Scott ) . The phiic used iu the consecration of the Lodge was h'ut bv l ? . os . I ! . M . Kmanuel and Sens . Thr- W . M . Dosi - iinto ( Iho . Tf . Cawte ) wis it , s-: il !»> l bv tho

P . O . M ., who r- 'frn-ed In *) . e deeo hiOov > . » f ivhich ho lad ftit-i-iHuy venr .-i take *] in Froemasn-irv . Tim W . M . appointed his Officers as follows .- —Bros . Thomas Good S . W ., George Mason J . W ., S . 11 . Kill ' s Treas ., W . 1 ) . Parkhouso Sec , G . V . Ib-own S . D ., Geo . Banning J . D ., J . XV . " Willmotfc Dir . of Cor ., T . Larcom l . G ., Trivess Steward . A cold collation was afterwards served in the corridor adjoining tho

Assembly Room , the Mayor presiding , supported by the P . G . M . and the present and past Provincial Officers . On the conclusion of the repast , the Mayor gave the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts . Iu proposing "Tho R . W . tho P . G . M . of Hants and the . Isle of "Wight ( Bro . XV . XV . B . Roach , Constituting and Installing Officer ) , the V . W . tho . D . G . P . M " . Bro . Hickman , and the Officers of the P . G . Lodge ( Present

and Past ) , " the Mayor thanked the P . G . M . for his presence at the laying of the foundation stone of tho Hnll and Club , thus showing his desire for tho success of the undertaking . He spoke in eulogistic terms of tho services rendered to Freemasonry by Bros . Hickman and Le Fenvre , and other Officers of tho Grand Lodge . The P . G . M ., in responding , referred lo his devotion to Freemasonry , aud to the

gratification which he experienced in opening' now Lodges , and mentioned that in the ensuing week he should he called upon to instal the Prov . G . M . Elect of Devonshire . He had been asked to attend tho laving the foundation stone of a new hall and chili . That was a work in whioh Freemasons must , fake a warm interest . They were in the present day speculative . Freemasons , but . they could not bo

insensible to fho fact that their ancestors who laid the foundations of the Order wero opera live Freemasons , nnd as such won fame , and handed down that fame fo future ages . He could not , therefore , but take the warmest interest , in the work of operative Freemasonry , and lie was pleased to stand by aud see fho Mayor perform the work he was called npon to do . It . was not surprising that the directors of

tho now company , which would conduce to the prosperity of Portsmouth , inasmuch as it would afford accommodation for some of its inhnbitnnis , shonld ask the chief magistrate to lay tho foundation stone , and ho had pleasure in beiug present to afford him the ssmefion which fho head of the Freemasons of this Province could afford to the good work , lie proposed " The Chairman of the Freemasons '

Hall and Club Companv ( the Worshipfnl the Mayor ol Portsmouth Bro . Alderman W . I ) . King , . . P . ) . Ihe . Directors , and Success to the [ . " nderlaking . " The toast was received with great enthusiasm , and the Mayor , in reply , referred lo Ihe successful manner in which tho preliminaries connected with the ( , ' ompunv had been carried out , and

predicted that the undertaking womd prove remunerative to tho shareholders aud give an impetus to Freemasonry' in the neighbourhood . The ol her toasts were '' The W . M . l ! ro . ifeurvCawte , P . P . G . W . ) , nnd Snecess to tho Dnke of Connaught 1 , edge , " " Tlie W . M . ' s nnd It' -presentafcives of Neighbouring Lodges , " " The Visitor ? , " and '' Tho Officers of the "Lodge . "—Portsmouth Times .