Aid To The Sick And Wounded In War.

AID TO THE SICK AND WOUNDED IN WAR .

We have pleasure in giving publicity to the following : — ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND HOSPITAL . Proposal to raise contributions towards Fund for Relief of the Sick and -wounded during the ¦ present War . The Order ofthe Hospital , afterwards combined with that of the Temple , had originally for its

principal object the spiritual and physical ministration ofthe wounded-on the battle field . The present . war between France and Prussia affords an opportunity of demonstrating the practical utility of our Order .

Personal service is impossible ; but , were a voluntary fund raised and placed at the disposal of the Grand Master , who would take proper steps for its application , well merited credit would accrue to the Order , combined with great benefit to the recipients .

I am , therefore , authorised by the Grand Master to bring this under the notice of the Encampments generally through the official channels , and to invite contributions from the Encampments towards the Fund for the Relief of the Sick and Wounded during *

the present War . Subscriptions , which will be duly acknowledged , may be forwarded to the Grand Treasurer , Sir . Knt . J . Tepper , care of the Grand Vice-Chancellor ,

Sir Knt . W . Tinkler , is , Portugal-street , Lincoln's inn , London . P . COLQUHOUN , Grand Chancellor . September , 1870 .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

Extract from the address ofthe Grand Prior of the Orders of Knights Templar and Hospitallers of St . John of Jerusalem for Dominion of Canada , at the Annual Assembly , Quebec , August 30 th , 1 S 70 .

I have been lately applied to for permission to confer in Encampments the Babylonish pass , or as it is called in the United States " Red Cross . " I would wish it clearly understood that this degree is in no way connected with the

ancient Order of the Temple , or is it recognised by the Grand Conclave of England , being merely a continuation of the Royal Arch , referring to the rebuilding of the Temple by Zerubbabel ; and there is no reason why it should be made an

appendant degree , but as our Brothers of the Temple in the United States , lay great stress on itsbeing < -w {/* rra */ as apre-requisitetothe Templar , there can be no objection to commanders of Encampments communicating it .

The Grand Conclave of England to whom I referred the matter , some years ago , decided I should use my own discretion as to its introduction into Canadian Encampments , and a formei Grand Master of the General Grand

Encampments of the United Stales , the late Eminent Sir Knight William Flubbard , in a correspondence with me , recommended strongly its adoption by us , and the issuing of the necessary authority by me to private Encampments . I have therefore

on several occasions when applied to granted dispensations to form Councils of the Degree in connection with the Templar warrants . It may not be out of place here to mention that this " Red Cross" has no affinity whatever to the

Order of the " Red Cross ol Rome and Constantine " lately revived in England , which is purely Christian . Its revival gave rise of late to much controversy , as to its authencity and connection with Freemasonry , but this has been fully and

satisfactorily provcd , and the Order isnowfiourish" •ng under the rule of the Grand Sovereign , the Right Honourable Lord Kenlis , who has been pleased to authorise its introduction into Canada , and appoint me as his representative , " Chief

I'ltendent or Inspector General" ofthe Dominion . I he Scottish Templar Encampments have always exercised the power of giving the Novitiate Cross of Constantine . In England it appears to have been incorporated with Freemasonry , being

Knights Templar.

conferred on Master Masons about the middle of the last century , and there is no question that it has equal claims with the Masonic Templars and Knights of Malta to be classed amongst the Orders of Chivalry recognised by the articles of

Union ofthe Grand Lodge in England in 1813 , all of these orders in their Christian teaching blending naturally and harmoniously together . It is well known that the old Orders of Knighthood were during the last century much prized

in the hig her degrees of Freemasonry , which induced not only the formation of many Masonic degrees quite unknown excepting to Masons , but also the attributing Masonic secrets and

ceremonies to Military Orders , of which those who originated them never dreamt ; amongst these is the ' * ' Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , " the true but , totally unmasonic order , being a State Order of the Byzantium Empire .

Charter Work.

CHARTER WORK .

By J P . LITTLE , Grand High Priest Grand Chapter , Va .

THE DEGREE OF MARK MASTER . This is one of the most beautiful of all the Masonic degrees , and in the hands of a competent Master can be made most instructive and interesting . It applies Masonic truth and brings it home to

the daily life and practice of every true Mason . Having its origin at the building of the First Temple , when it was connected with , if it hacl not really been a part of the Fellow Crafts Degree , its application and use may be met with in every part of our Masonic life .

It is necessary to the Craft , for it was instituted in order that imperfect work might never be received and unfaithful craftsmen never be rewarded . It prevents or at once remedies confusion among the Craft , and inculcates order , regularity , and discipline . Upon the efficiency of this Order at the

First Temple depended entirely thc prosperity of that mighty work , and to their skill ancl faithfulness was due its completion . Mark lodges at first consisted only of thc overseers ofthe Craft , yet in the course of time , as thc Craft became more skilful , one and another were

selected from the body of the workmen , who , from their skill and faithfulness , were thought worthy to be advanced to this degree . Of course , all were Fellow-crafts . Josephus informs us very plainly that there were two classes of workmen employed . The apprentices were the common labourers—thc

quarrymen—whose duty it was to separate the rough ashlar from the massive stone , and place it before thc Fellow-crafts that , by their skill , it might bc rendered into the perfect ashlar fitted for its place in the Temple . An Entered Apprentice might , by diligence ,

qualify himself to become a Fellow-Craft , and of these there were two classes . One performed thc work of beginning to square thc Tough stone , the other finished it . Thc first class-were the most numerous , and assembled in their proper place to receive wages of corn , wine , and oil as thc reward

of their daily labour . The other class were entitled to place a mark upon their work , were called " Mark Masters , " assemblcdin their respective Mark lodges , and , at a proper time and in a peculiar manner , claimed ancl received such wages as were their due .

There were then tlie finishers of thc work that had already passed through the hands of others , and each one was entitled and required to mark his own work , ancl by the mark both thc man and his work were known . We sec here the beauty and thc good result of

division of labour . Thc skilled workman did not haul up a stone from the quarry , and with infinite labour , reduce the rough mass into the perfect ashlar . It passed through many hands , and was partly shapen into form before it came under thc chisel and mallet of the finisher . He completed

and perfected the work which others had begun , and placed finally his markupon thc perfect stone , so that if any defect was afterwards found , the careless or faulty workman could be at once detected . Thus every skilled workman was made directly responsible for all that passed through his hands .

During the seven years of labour on the Temple there were gathered in ancl about Jerusalem 80 , 000 Fellow-Crafts , men collected from every portion of the land of the Hebrews , and doubtless from other lands also . Now , among so many strangers

congregated together there would have been great disorders but for thc wise provision and forethought of our Grand Masters . These 80 , 000 were divided into lodges of thirty each , under thc command of skilful workmen ; all their wants provided for , food ,

Charter Work.

clothing , lodging , work , and wages , and the most strict Masonic discipline kept up , both during the hours of labour and refreshment , just as in a police force or in an army divided into companies . Over these lodges the Mark Masters presided , and ruled the other craftsmen when at work and controlled

them at all times , and all , of course , were under the special control of him who was the chief architect of the Temple . Each Mark Master had under his special orders a set of inferior workmen , whose labours he was to superintend , whose morals examined he was to direct , whose ignorance he was

to instruct , and whose work he was to finish . They were only assembled in lodges of Mark Masters for the purpose of advancing worthy craftsmen to this degree or for receiving wages . They were called Harrodim , that is , Prince Rulers or Masters ; and Mcratschim , that is , overseers and

comforters of the people . Their subordinates were the Ghibbim , stone squarers , polishers and sculptors ; the Ish Gotzeb , men of hewing ; and the Benai , settlers or builders—all able and ingenious Fellow-Crafts . Below these were the Ish Sabbat , or men of burden .

Whenever a craftsman had made suitable proficiency and could furnish a piece of work that stood every test , he was advanced to this honourable degree and became Master of a mark . This was like a diploma in a modern university , it was a passport or proof ot skill when travelling in foreign

countries , and entitled its holder to an honourable position and to profitable employment wherever he might go to work . A graduate of the Temple , after seven years of work and study , was sure to be everywhere received and gladly welcomed .

" By the use of this degree every Operative Mason at the building of the Temple was known and distinguished by the Grand Senior Warden . " By its effects the disorder and confusion that might otherwise have attended so immense an undertaking were completely prevented ; not only

the Craftsmen themselves , but every portion of their workmanship was discriminated with the greatest nicety and the utmost facility . If defects were found in the work , the overseers were enabled without any difficulty , by the help of this degree , to ascertain who was the faulty workman ; so that

deficiencies might be remedied at once without injuring the credit or diminishing the reward of the industrious and faithful of the Craft . " The clothing , that is , the colour , of this degree is purple , and the same colour belongs to all thc degrees intermediate between the Master "Masons '

Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter . As the one is blue and the other scarlet , and as purple is made by a due admixture of these two colours , so do wc have purple as the colour of all the degrees intermediate between these two . All thc Temple work necessarily good in material , so that no imperfect

stone was ever allowed to be presented . It had also to be true in every proportion and perfect in its polish ; and it must also bc square , every angle and every side finished with exact nicety , in order that all the stones of the building might meet and stand in perfect harmony . A single defective or badly

wrought stone might mar thc symmetry ofthe whole building . Hence the care our brethren exercised in Operative Masonry , and hence , also , the lesson taught us in Speculative Masonry . Every Mark Master should ever bear in mind that more is expected of

him than of a common workman , whether in the lodge or out of it . Other Masons may present imperfect work , nothing less than perfection will do for him . He must remember thc high standard put before him , how he has been tested , and what is his reward .

His duty is continually to deserve his mark , to put it to a good and proper use , to instruct and comfort the weaker brethren , to help a needy Mark Master , and to let his charity bc as universal as thc light of tlie sun . He should remember always to discharge every duty of every station in life in whicn he may bc placed with precision ancl punctuality .

Thus , my brethren , should the thoughts of our hearts and the work of our hands bc good , true and square , not unfinished and imperfect , not sinful and defective , but such as the Grand Overseer of the Heavens and thc Earth will see fit to approve of as a worthy oblation from His creatures . I To bc continued . )

!• AH . i LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . — T . - . J above Lodge of Instruction is held every Tuesday evening , at 8 o ' clock , in the spacious and commodious rooms at Pro . Fisher's Restaurant , Metropolitan District Railway Station , Victoria , S . IK Ceremonies and

lectures worked every Tuesday , except the fourth Tuesday in the month , when the ceremonies alone are rehearsed . The DOMATIC CHAPTER OF IN - STRUCTION is also held in thc above rooms every Friday evening , at 8 o'clock , from October until April inclusive .