Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAOP KNIGHT TEMPLAR J OTTTINGS 2656 : 266 GRAND MARK LODGE 266 & 267 THE CRAFTMetropolitan 267 ' & 268 Provincial ... ... ... ~ ... ... 26 S

ROYAL ARCHMetropolitan 2686 . 269 Provincial ... .., ... ... ... 269 MARK MASONRY— ' 269 KNIGHTS TEMPLARMetropolitan ... ... ... ... ... 269

MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK 269 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES AND DEATHS 270 A MASONIC LIFEBOAT ... 270 MULTUM IN PARVO 270 & : 271 FREEMASONRY IN THE EAST 271 & 272

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE — Genuine and Spurious Charity 272 The 1717 Theory ... ... ... 272 & 273 The Legend of Joshua ... ... ... ... 273 Grand Officers .. ... ... ... ... 273 Lodge St . John , Melrose 273 Labour and Refreshment ... ... ... 273

ANTIQUITY OF FREEMASONRY 273 & 274 UNITED GRAND LODGE „ . 274 & 275 J OTTINGS FROM MASONIC J OURNALS 275

Knight Templar Jottings.

KNIGHT TEMPLAR JOTTINGS .

( Concludedfrom page 253 . ^ AVithout doubt , whenever a "Council of Rites " is adopted for England on a similar basis to the " Council of Rites for Ireland" ( and we trust the time is not long distant for the attainment Of so desirable a result ) , the Knight Templar degree

Masomcally will have a high position . The arrangements now being made with other Grand Conclaves to work in unison with our own , and the fact of so many influential Masons taking part in its simple but beautiful ceremonies , together with the attention which , of late , has been

directed to its history and ritual , all augur well for Knight Templary in the future . Those of the Craft who support the formation of a " Council of Rites , " will do well , however , to avoid supporting fresh Grand Bodies ( so called ) which are now being formed , and which will only postpone the consummation of so excellent a

means of uniting all the degrees other than those now within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge , under one harmonious system . AA , hear sounds of another Grand Lodge for the Mark Degree in the North of England being contemplated , of a Grand Lodge for the Ark Mariners' degree , and of rivals also of the Ancient and Accepted Rite .

Now such opposition to existing authorities can only end in vexation and discomfiture to the innovators , and though the time when thc "Council of Rites" will be formed may be delayed thereby , we make bold to say that such a system must eventuall y be adopted , and when

it is to be there will be found quite enough authorities to arrange for , without any new creations ! Surely the " Grand Lodge of Mark Masters for England and AA ales , " the Grand Conclaves of " Kni ghts of the Red Cross " and "Knights Templar , " and the "Ancient and

Accepted Rite " will be found equal to the task of absorbing and authorizing the working of all degrees in this country that may be deemed worthy ? In order to prevent any subsequent institution or "revival" of other degrees , it would be well to secure from Grand Lodge the

power to prevent any other degrees being worked by the members than those sanctioned , on pain of certain penalties for disobedience and thus , without actually recognizing any degree beyond the Craft , the Grand Lod ge may virtuall y be of great weight and service in promoting union , regularity , and progression , as in Ireland .

Before putting down our pen , we will just glance at Knight Templary abroad . ( After premising that even in Scotland ancl Ireland there are many differences and peculiarities , some of

which might advantageousl y be adopted by the Grand Conclave of England ) . The "Clothing " adopted by the Grand Encampment of the United States , A . D . 1 S 62 , is certainly vastl y different to our own , and , we think , so much the

Knight Templar Jottings.

worse for the United Stales . Just fancy—these are some of the directions : — " Chapeau—The military chapeau trimmed with black binding , one white and two black plumes , and appropriate cross on the left side . Gauntlets—Of buff

leather , the flaps to extend four inches upwards from the wrists , and to have the appropriate cross embroidered in gold , on the proper colored velvet , two inches in length . Belt—AVe '' enamelled or patent leather , two inches wide , fastened round the body with buckle or clasp . Shoulder

Straps—Royal purple silk velvet , bordered with gold or silver , or bright red silk velvet , or emerald green , according to the respective ranks of the Knights . Cap—Navy form , black cloth , four inches high , narrow leather strap fastened at the , siebs with small metal Templar cross , and with appropriate cross in front . "

Imagine a grand field day , with some hundreds of Sir Knights in the above clothing , and swords , etc ., all complete ! Such has occurred more than once in the United States ! Tents have been pitched , and arrangements made for a

Grand Encampment on the " Field , " as for an army . An Encampment at Centre Arbor , New Hampshire , U . S ., was held from the 17 th to 20 th August , 186 9 , consisting of some 300 members of several Encampments in that State . The

tents were duly raised , and the " occasion was one of general pleasure and interest to the participants" ( official report ) . The Encampment is thus described by the Chief Commander : — " The ground selected was well adapted to the

purpose . The camp , named Camp AA inmpissiogee , was pitched on the ridge of a sloping hill , back from the village people , and commanding an enchanting view of the lake , with its varied and attractive scenery . To the left , in

rear , Chocurua guarded the flank , while on the right rounded hills swept in graceful curves along the horizon . The smile of the Great Spirit was indeed round about our camping-place , and the silver surface of the lake reflected the glittering

banners of our knightly array , while the grand fastnesses that guard its repose took up the melody of our bugles , to repeat to its listening forests and emerald isles . If the camp was attractive by day , it was lovely by night . Sloping

from the hill towards the water , overhead the blue vault studded with stars , the white tents gleaming in the pure air , the banners rustling from their staves , and the glittering light falling from armour and heraldic tracery , the old days of the

crusaders were brought back in imagination , till one could easily fancy the array to be that of the stalwart soldiers of the cross reposing beneath the calm night of Palestine , until the observer almost expected to see those valiant champions

rise , grim in their quaint armour , and , under the terrible Beauseant , move on in irresistible force to the 'imminent deadly breach . ' But the practical genius of the nineteenth century holds connection only in imagination with the

brilliant imagery of the eleventh , and while we dream of the past we labor in the present . So the good Knights of New Hampshire observed the round of Masonic duty , entertained the numerous visitors of distinction who graced the

list , and perfected themselves in military evolutions . The routine of camp life was adhered to . Reveille , guard mount , company drill , battalion drill , dress parade , and review , were all observed , in accordance with the regulations of the army of the United States , ancl ' Upton ' s Infantry

Tactics . ' The camp was laid out as for a legiment of infantry , ancl throughout thc duration of the encampment commendable attention to order prevailed . " A voluntary Military Encampment of Knights Templar was also held at the Sagamore , U . S ., which was deemed a success .

The cost of the camp at New Hampshire amounted to ^ 500 ; and , when we consider thc loss of thc three days involved as well , it does seem to us a most useless expenditure of money and time to hold any such meetings . Of what

earthly use i . s it to play at Knight Templars on such a gigantic scale ? Some doubt thc wisdom of doing , as we clo in England once a quarter , in an Encampment in privacy , but thc most extravagant proceedings in this country on behalf of Knight Templary , must pale before a grand field

Knight Templar Jottings.

day in the United States on such a scale as the foregoing . AA e are not surprised to hear that there was a deficiency of about ^ 70 , and neither do we hesitate to say that to the few who objected to attend , we would do more honor than to those who joined the ranks , for a more unmasonic

display we never heard of . Although we neither believe in the "Clothing " nor the demonstrations now so generally prevailing among the Grand Commandries of the United States , we feel bound to recognize the zeal and caution displayed by their members , and

the laudable attention which is paid to efficiency and uniformity of the Ritual . In the admirable ' proceedings " published by these grand bodies annually , may be found some of the most sublime thoughts and opinions on Freemasonry and Knight Templary , and no reader cf such interestin ? documents could resist the conviction that

the majority of the Sir Knights are 111 earliest , and most anxious to prove worthy of their professions . Take , for instance , the address of the Grand Commander of "Alabama" for 1 S 67 : "At no time in the history of Templar Masonry in this State has it been more prosperous and

successful in the accomplishment of good than in the past year . Many of the best and purest of the land have been admitted to our sacred asylum . Many more are seeking admission . Therefore , let me again caution you , be watchful , be cautious , guard well the portals to our sacred

asylum , suffer none to pass the ordeal of the ballot to whom you cannot point as ornaments of society . Let every frater present make a solemn vow to God , that from and after this date , he will religiously abstain from all intemperance ,

profanity , and such other immoralities , which are calculated to bring reproach upon , or debase the characterofa courteous Sir Knight . . . . Nothing is so dangerous as haste , and a patient waiting is one of the best preparations for all who desire to be knighted . "

The Grand Commander of AA ' mconsin well observes : — " The strength and value of our institution depends not upon the numbers which crowd the doors of our asylums , nor upon thc golden streams which flow into our treasuries , but

upon the spotless lives and characters of those who gatherwith us at the holy shrine , paying heartfelt devotion to the Great Emmanuel . " May I respectfully commend these valuable and christian sentiments to the members of the Order in England .

According to the Statutes of the Grand Commanderies generally , the following degrees must have been regularly conferred , before nomination for the degree of a Knight Templar , viz .: 1 . Entered Apprentice . 2 . Fellow Craft .

3 . Master Mason . 4 . Mark Master . 5 . Past Master . 6 . Most Excellent Master . 7 . Royal Arch Mason . Some Grand Commanderies , however , are

requiring also the "Council Degrees to be taken , which we think most injudicious and unmasonic . The " Royal a . nd Select Masters" were instituted some time after the Mark , Royal Arch , and Knights Templar degrees , ancl are really imitations of certain degrees of thc " Ancient and

Accepted Scottish Rite . A \ e hope the Knights Templar of the United States will remain true to precedent and custom , so far as to generally object to such a prc-requisitc being required , and support the Royal Arch and its premier grades , rather than allow the introduction of the

" Royal and Select Masters , " which , though always given subsequent to the above sreen , are of much less antiquity and importance . Nine Knights Templar must be present to open a Conclave , and seven to form a " Council of thc Red Cross . " The territorial limits of each

Commandery extend in every direction one-half of the distance to another Commandery in the same jurisdiction , and it is irregular to confer thc orders of knig hthood upon any sojourner whose fixed p lace of abode is within any other Commandery or State , in which there i . s a Commandery or Conclave regularly established . The officers in an United Slates Commandery arc usually thc E , Commander 2 , the General-