Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Additional Notes On The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE UNITED ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND HOSPITAL .
BY BRO . E MRA HOLMES , 31 . In The Freemason of Jan . nth , "Lupus" says , Grand Conclave in 1 S 53 having no faith in its claims abandoned the Order of Malta , but in
1862 revived the title , " set up a new Order and invented a new Ritual , " which Bro . Lupus is pleased to call preposterous . I am sorry to have to contradict Bro . Lupus , but this statement requires correction .
Grand Conclave did not invent a new order nor a new ritual . The ritual was brought from Malta where it is in use , and has been for years ; but in essentials and especially so far as the Mediterranean Pass is concerned it is precisely
the same as given in the old Encampments for a considerable period . The learned brother speaks also of Grand Conclave appropriating the jewel of the Ordre du Temple of France , and all that I can say is the very fact of that
jewel ' s existence shows that the members of Grand Conclave considered that they had a right to wear it as legitimate Templars or they would not have done so . Besides , the jewel itself symbolizes the union of the two Orders , and
perhaps Bro . Lupus will explain that fact , if there was no connection between them . The Baldwyn Charter of Compact , of 17 S 0 , speaks of the " Royal Encampment of the Order of Knights Templars , of St . John of Jerusalem , Knights
Hospitallers and Knights of Malta , & c . It asserts the existence of a chivalric body under that name in England at that date and without the prefix Alasonic . One of the highest members of the Baldwyn writing to me touching this
controversy says , "It is curious that the private cross worn hy the Knights of that Preceptory is a Maltese Cross with a fleur-de-lis between the four greater divisions of the cross , in fact , such a cross as a Knight of Maltaof the French laun / cs
would have worn . It is no new invention but has been long used by that Preceptory . " I might here state that the old mantle of the Baldwyn Knights was black and not white at all . My correspondent adds , " I have seen at
various times several papers relative to , the society over which the Duke of Manchester presides . Although I believe that the Society was started through some undoubted Kni ghts of Malta of the French lamrites , I cannot see that
they had any authority to revive a laugue , nor that such a revival has ever been acknowledged by the authorities of the Order . I allow that they are engaged in promoting many worthy charitable objects and I trust that our onl y
rivalry with them will be a rivalry in promoting good works . If the Order of the Temple does not enter on some path of extended usefulness , I think the increased activity under the Grand Mastership of the Prince will be worth little .
These sentiments of my esteemed correspondent I fully and heartily endorse , and Bro . Civis is greatly mistaken if he supposes I wish to injure the branch of the Order under the Duke of Manchester . When however its members seek to crush the Masonic Order of Malta
it is necessary to point out that their position is not above cavil , that their legitimacy is not unquestioned . I did not expect Lupus would admire my translation of the Roman document
—it was hardly likely he would—but most of your readers will be able to detect any little defects in rendering the idioms which are somewhat involved .
Bro . Lupus speaks of the Order of Malta as only enrolling entrants possessing certain qualifications fixed by the Statutes , and into
which hundreds of persons of hi gh personal position have sought admission in vain . This may be , and I do not dispute the aristocratic exclusiveness of the old Order , but I have yet
Additional Notes On The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.
to learn that in the Masonic Order we have an equal number of men of rank and family with those gentlemen who have joined the Manchester branch , and I hope the day will come when we shall be as exclusive in the admission of members as they . Bro . Lupus disputes the connection of
the Stuarts with High Grade Masonry and the Masonic Templars . Perhaps he will tell us what was the degree in the old French Rite , alluded to I think by Oliver and Mackey ( I cannot find the reference at this moment ) , as having reference to the Sacred Vault of James VII
?•Touching the disputed election of the Emperor Paul I now publish the document I promised , and which is copied from Porter's Work , * and I note with wonder Lupus' statement that no single langite took any action in the election of either of the Emperors . In his last article anent my
Notes he wishes to lead your readers to infer + that the election of the Emperor Paul was the act of a few refugees . Yet Bro . Woof says % that " a considerable number of Knights proceeded to Russia and elected the Emperor , " and his distinguished friend Col . Porter in his work §
says , " the great body of the Knighthood proceeded at once to Russia on their expulsion from Malta and elected Paul . " There ' s a trimming of sails here on the part of somebody I don't pretend to understand ; but when Civis kindly speaks of my Notes as being nothing but
speculative , romance , and absurdity , whilst the comments of Lupus abound in fact , history and common sense . I am much obliged for the comparison , and point to the above as an illustration the of facts , history , and common sense . I beg to add for the benefit of " Civis "
and all concerned , that I have no other object than the elimination of truth and the acquisition of knowledge in writing these Notes ; that I am the " tool" of no body and the " useful man" of no party in Grand Conclave . Touching the letter of " Sero sed serio , " I have
only to say that it is a stale device when you have no case to abuse the plaintiffs attorney . Probably the gentleman with the motto is one of the nobilcs who think that to be at once abusive and anonymous is chivalric and gentlemanly , when he states that he feels almost
inclined to say that I am a fool , 1 might easily respond tu t / uoi / ue but I decline to follow the example of your gallant correspondent , and am sorry for the Order which boasts of him as its latest champion . It is to be hoped that " Sero sed serio" is not a member of the Manchester
branch ( "Brummagen " might seem more appropriate for him ) as the gentlemanlike , not to say Masonic tone of his letter would reflect great credit upon his distinguished fratres and friends . Proclamation appointing the Emperor Paul as Grand Master of the Order of St . J ohn .
" We , the Bailiffs , Grand Crosses , Commanders , Knights of the Grand Priory of Russia , and all other Members of the Order of St .
John of Jerusalem , present 111 this Imperial City of St . Petersburg , reflecting on the disastrous situation of our Order ; its total want of resources , the loss of its sovereignty and chief place of residence , the dispersion of its Members , wandering through the world without a chief or any
fixed spot of rendezvous , the increasing dangers by which it is threatened , and the plans formed by usurpers to invade its property and ruin it entirely ; being desirous and in duty bound to employ all possible methods to prevent the destruction of an Order equally ancient and
illustrious , which has ever been composed of the most select nobility , and which has rendered such important service to the Christian world ; whose institutions were founded on such excellent principles as must not only be the firmest support to all legitimate authority , but tend to its sure preservation and future existence ;
animated by gratitude towards his Imperial Majesty , the Emperor of all the Russias , for the favours bestowed on our Order , penetrated with veneration for his virtues , and confidently relying on his sacred word " that he will not only support us in our institutions , privileges , and honours ; but that he will employ every possible means to re-establish our Order in its original in-
Additional Notes On The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.
dependent situation where it contributed to the advantage oi Christendom in general , and of every different state in particular . " Knowing the impossibility in our present circumstances , the Members of our Order being generally dispersed of preserving all the forms and customs
prescribed in our constitution and statutes ; but being nevertheless desirous to secure the dignity and the power inherent to the sovereignty of our Order , by making a proper choice of a successor to D'Aubusson L'Isle Adam , and La Valette : We , the Bailiffs and Grand Crosses ,
the Commanders , and Knights of the Grand Priory of Russia , and all other Members of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem , assembled at St . Petersburg , the chief place of residence of our Order , not only in . our names , but in those of the other languages , Grand Priories in
general , and all their Members m particular , who shall unite themselves to us by a firm adhesion to our principles , proclaim His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias , Paul I ., as Grand Master of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem .
" In virtue of the present proclamation , we promise , according to our laws and statutes , and that by a sacred and solemn engagement , obedience , submission , and fidelity , to His Imperial Majesty f the Most Eminent Grand Master . " Given at St . Petersburg , the residence of
our Order , this present Wednesday , the 27 th October , 179 8 . " Acceptation of the Emperor Paul of the post of Grand Master , in answer to the above proclamation . " We , by the grace of God , Paul I ., Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias , & c .
"In consideration of the wish expressed to us by the Bailiffs , Grand Crosses , Commanders , Knights of the Illustrious Order of St . John of Jerusalem , of the Grand Priory of Russia , and other Members assembled together in our capital , in the name of all the well-disposed part of their
fraternity , we accept the title of Grand Master of this Order , and renew on this occasion , the solemn promises we have already made in quality of Protector , not only to preserve all the institutions and privileges of this Illustrious Order for ever unchanged in regard to the free exercises
of its religion with everything relating to the Knights of the Roman Catholic faith , and the jurisdiction of the Order , the seat of which we have fixed in this our Imperial residence : but also we declare that we will unceasingly employ for the future all our care and attention for the
augmentation of the Order , for its re-estabhshment in the independent position which is requisite for the salutary end of its institution , for assuring its solidity , and confirming its utility . We likewise declare , that in taking thus upon us the supreme government of the Order of St .
John of Jerusalem , and considering it our duty to make use of every possible means to obtain the restoration of the property of which it has been so unjustly deprived , we do not intend in any degree , as Emperor of all the Russias to the smallest right or advantage which may strike at , or prejudice any of the powers , our allies ;
on the contrary , we shall always have a peculiar satisfaction in contributing at all times , everything in our power towards strengthening our alliance with the said powers . Our grace and Imperial favour towards the Order of St . John of Jerusalem in general , and each of its Members in particular , shall ever remain invariably the
same . " Given at St . Petersburg , the 13 th November , in the year 179 8 , in the third year of our reign . " ( Signed ) PAUL , " ( Countersigned ) PRINCE BESIIORODKO . "
Will Bro . Lupus explain why Prince Albert joined the Catholic and not the Manchester body ? The Masonic Knights of Malta existed in England fifty years before the English Langtie
was revived , and wore the costume and jewel of Knights of Malta in 17 S 0 if not before , which is the new Order ? Next week I propose to publish the Proclamation of the Emperor Alexander , and the decree of the Sacred Council .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Additional Notes On The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE UNITED ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND HOSPITAL .
BY BRO . E MRA HOLMES , 31 . In The Freemason of Jan . nth , "Lupus" says , Grand Conclave in 1 S 53 having no faith in its claims abandoned the Order of Malta , but in
1862 revived the title , " set up a new Order and invented a new Ritual , " which Bro . Lupus is pleased to call preposterous . I am sorry to have to contradict Bro . Lupus , but this statement requires correction .
Grand Conclave did not invent a new order nor a new ritual . The ritual was brought from Malta where it is in use , and has been for years ; but in essentials and especially so far as the Mediterranean Pass is concerned it is precisely
the same as given in the old Encampments for a considerable period . The learned brother speaks also of Grand Conclave appropriating the jewel of the Ordre du Temple of France , and all that I can say is the very fact of that
jewel ' s existence shows that the members of Grand Conclave considered that they had a right to wear it as legitimate Templars or they would not have done so . Besides , the jewel itself symbolizes the union of the two Orders , and
perhaps Bro . Lupus will explain that fact , if there was no connection between them . The Baldwyn Charter of Compact , of 17 S 0 , speaks of the " Royal Encampment of the Order of Knights Templars , of St . John of Jerusalem , Knights
Hospitallers and Knights of Malta , & c . It asserts the existence of a chivalric body under that name in England at that date and without the prefix Alasonic . One of the highest members of the Baldwyn writing to me touching this
controversy says , "It is curious that the private cross worn hy the Knights of that Preceptory is a Maltese Cross with a fleur-de-lis between the four greater divisions of the cross , in fact , such a cross as a Knight of Maltaof the French laun / cs
would have worn . It is no new invention but has been long used by that Preceptory . " I might here state that the old mantle of the Baldwyn Knights was black and not white at all . My correspondent adds , " I have seen at
various times several papers relative to , the society over which the Duke of Manchester presides . Although I believe that the Society was started through some undoubted Kni ghts of Malta of the French lamrites , I cannot see that
they had any authority to revive a laugue , nor that such a revival has ever been acknowledged by the authorities of the Order . I allow that they are engaged in promoting many worthy charitable objects and I trust that our onl y
rivalry with them will be a rivalry in promoting good works . If the Order of the Temple does not enter on some path of extended usefulness , I think the increased activity under the Grand Mastership of the Prince will be worth little .
These sentiments of my esteemed correspondent I fully and heartily endorse , and Bro . Civis is greatly mistaken if he supposes I wish to injure the branch of the Order under the Duke of Manchester . When however its members seek to crush the Masonic Order of Malta
it is necessary to point out that their position is not above cavil , that their legitimacy is not unquestioned . I did not expect Lupus would admire my translation of the Roman document
—it was hardly likely he would—but most of your readers will be able to detect any little defects in rendering the idioms which are somewhat involved .
Bro . Lupus speaks of the Order of Malta as only enrolling entrants possessing certain qualifications fixed by the Statutes , and into
which hundreds of persons of hi gh personal position have sought admission in vain . This may be , and I do not dispute the aristocratic exclusiveness of the old Order , but I have yet
Additional Notes On The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.
to learn that in the Masonic Order we have an equal number of men of rank and family with those gentlemen who have joined the Manchester branch , and I hope the day will come when we shall be as exclusive in the admission of members as they . Bro . Lupus disputes the connection of
the Stuarts with High Grade Masonry and the Masonic Templars . Perhaps he will tell us what was the degree in the old French Rite , alluded to I think by Oliver and Mackey ( I cannot find the reference at this moment ) , as having reference to the Sacred Vault of James VII
?•Touching the disputed election of the Emperor Paul I now publish the document I promised , and which is copied from Porter's Work , * and I note with wonder Lupus' statement that no single langite took any action in the election of either of the Emperors . In his last article anent my
Notes he wishes to lead your readers to infer + that the election of the Emperor Paul was the act of a few refugees . Yet Bro . Woof says % that " a considerable number of Knights proceeded to Russia and elected the Emperor , " and his distinguished friend Col . Porter in his work §
says , " the great body of the Knighthood proceeded at once to Russia on their expulsion from Malta and elected Paul . " There ' s a trimming of sails here on the part of somebody I don't pretend to understand ; but when Civis kindly speaks of my Notes as being nothing but
speculative , romance , and absurdity , whilst the comments of Lupus abound in fact , history and common sense . I am much obliged for the comparison , and point to the above as an illustration the of facts , history , and common sense . I beg to add for the benefit of " Civis "
and all concerned , that I have no other object than the elimination of truth and the acquisition of knowledge in writing these Notes ; that I am the " tool" of no body and the " useful man" of no party in Grand Conclave . Touching the letter of " Sero sed serio , " I have
only to say that it is a stale device when you have no case to abuse the plaintiffs attorney . Probably the gentleman with the motto is one of the nobilcs who think that to be at once abusive and anonymous is chivalric and gentlemanly , when he states that he feels almost
inclined to say that I am a fool , 1 might easily respond tu t / uoi / ue but I decline to follow the example of your gallant correspondent , and am sorry for the Order which boasts of him as its latest champion . It is to be hoped that " Sero sed serio" is not a member of the Manchester
branch ( "Brummagen " might seem more appropriate for him ) as the gentlemanlike , not to say Masonic tone of his letter would reflect great credit upon his distinguished fratres and friends . Proclamation appointing the Emperor Paul as Grand Master of the Order of St . J ohn .
" We , the Bailiffs , Grand Crosses , Commanders , Knights of the Grand Priory of Russia , and all other Members of the Order of St .
John of Jerusalem , present 111 this Imperial City of St . Petersburg , reflecting on the disastrous situation of our Order ; its total want of resources , the loss of its sovereignty and chief place of residence , the dispersion of its Members , wandering through the world without a chief or any
fixed spot of rendezvous , the increasing dangers by which it is threatened , and the plans formed by usurpers to invade its property and ruin it entirely ; being desirous and in duty bound to employ all possible methods to prevent the destruction of an Order equally ancient and
illustrious , which has ever been composed of the most select nobility , and which has rendered such important service to the Christian world ; whose institutions were founded on such excellent principles as must not only be the firmest support to all legitimate authority , but tend to its sure preservation and future existence ;
animated by gratitude towards his Imperial Majesty , the Emperor of all the Russias , for the favours bestowed on our Order , penetrated with veneration for his virtues , and confidently relying on his sacred word " that he will not only support us in our institutions , privileges , and honours ; but that he will employ every possible means to re-establish our Order in its original in-
Additional Notes On The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.
dependent situation where it contributed to the advantage oi Christendom in general , and of every different state in particular . " Knowing the impossibility in our present circumstances , the Members of our Order being generally dispersed of preserving all the forms and customs
prescribed in our constitution and statutes ; but being nevertheless desirous to secure the dignity and the power inherent to the sovereignty of our Order , by making a proper choice of a successor to D'Aubusson L'Isle Adam , and La Valette : We , the Bailiffs and Grand Crosses ,
the Commanders , and Knights of the Grand Priory of Russia , and all other Members of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem , assembled at St . Petersburg , the chief place of residence of our Order , not only in . our names , but in those of the other languages , Grand Priories in
general , and all their Members m particular , who shall unite themselves to us by a firm adhesion to our principles , proclaim His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias , Paul I ., as Grand Master of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem .
" In virtue of the present proclamation , we promise , according to our laws and statutes , and that by a sacred and solemn engagement , obedience , submission , and fidelity , to His Imperial Majesty f the Most Eminent Grand Master . " Given at St . Petersburg , the residence of
our Order , this present Wednesday , the 27 th October , 179 8 . " Acceptation of the Emperor Paul of the post of Grand Master , in answer to the above proclamation . " We , by the grace of God , Paul I ., Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias , & c .
"In consideration of the wish expressed to us by the Bailiffs , Grand Crosses , Commanders , Knights of the Illustrious Order of St . John of Jerusalem , of the Grand Priory of Russia , and other Members assembled together in our capital , in the name of all the well-disposed part of their
fraternity , we accept the title of Grand Master of this Order , and renew on this occasion , the solemn promises we have already made in quality of Protector , not only to preserve all the institutions and privileges of this Illustrious Order for ever unchanged in regard to the free exercises
of its religion with everything relating to the Knights of the Roman Catholic faith , and the jurisdiction of the Order , the seat of which we have fixed in this our Imperial residence : but also we declare that we will unceasingly employ for the future all our care and attention for the
augmentation of the Order , for its re-estabhshment in the independent position which is requisite for the salutary end of its institution , for assuring its solidity , and confirming its utility . We likewise declare , that in taking thus upon us the supreme government of the Order of St .
John of Jerusalem , and considering it our duty to make use of every possible means to obtain the restoration of the property of which it has been so unjustly deprived , we do not intend in any degree , as Emperor of all the Russias to the smallest right or advantage which may strike at , or prejudice any of the powers , our allies ;
on the contrary , we shall always have a peculiar satisfaction in contributing at all times , everything in our power towards strengthening our alliance with the said powers . Our grace and Imperial favour towards the Order of St . John of Jerusalem in general , and each of its Members in particular , shall ever remain invariably the
same . " Given at St . Petersburg , the 13 th November , in the year 179 8 , in the third year of our reign . " ( Signed ) PAUL , " ( Countersigned ) PRINCE BESIIORODKO . "
Will Bro . Lupus explain why Prince Albert joined the Catholic and not the Manchester body ? The Masonic Knights of Malta existed in England fifty years before the English Langtie
was revived , and wore the costume and jewel of Knights of Malta in 17 S 0 if not before , which is the new Order ? Next week I propose to publish the Proclamation of the Emperor Alexander , and the decree of the Sacred Council .