Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America
established over the most of Europe , inclusive of England . These were known as Priories and Preceptories . All emanated from , the parent head ; the Grand Master and Grand officers of the Order in conclave assembled- —or on pressing occasions by the act of the Grand Master alone . The important measures and general interests of the Order were considered and disposed of in conclaves
composed of the principal officers of the head Government and the high officers of Priories , and in some cases of Preceptories . On the death or resignation of their Grand Master , the next officer in command ( Mareschal or Marshal , and answering to our Deputy ) discharged the duties of the Grand Master , until a successor Was elected . This was done in an assembly or conclave of the religious and military officers called a Chapter . They had statutes f or their general government , and all were alike subject to them .
Now the constitution of Knights Templar in these United States will be the better understood by this brief history of the system of government by the " Ancient Templars . " Like theirs of old , the governmental body is made to consist of the officers named in that government , present and past , and certain officers of the subordinates , in person or by proxy . Like theirs of old , it recognizes no Templars individuaily , or by bodies , except such as are in fealty to it , while they of old claimed jurisdiction over members of their Order , wheresoever and under whatsoever government they might live : ours limits its jurisdiction to the civil boundaries of the United States .
Theirs was created by themselves ;¦ ¦;' ours was in like manner created and brought into existence , not as an Order , but as a supreme or head government over all Templars in the United States , and by the Templars then composing the eight separate Encampments or Commanderies in person , or as represented by faithful fellow Templars , They established statutes for their own supreme government and for all others . So does ours , by the American name of constitution . They established
Commanderies , Priories , and Preceptories , subordinate to the head government . So do we , by the names of Encampments or Commanderies . Their supreme or superior government had a constant supervisory power over all of their subordinates . So has ours . Being a military as well as a Christian order , the military relation of chief and subaltern pervaded their whole government . And such is the theory of our established government for Templar Masonry in these United States , manifestly apparent in the constitution adopted by the fathers of our Temple at New
York in 1816 . Their supreme government regulated and established a uniform dress for all its members : ours has the same and unquestionable power , but I regret to say has not as yet exercised it . It was brought to their attention at our last meeting at Hartford by me ; and they were respectfully urged to act in the premises . A report was made thereon by the learned and distinguished Templar Charles Mackay , which was defered for consideration by the Grand Lodge until our next meeting at Chicago , when we may expect the action to be final . But enough has been said to show that our system of government is in close
accord with that of the " Ancient Templars , " and at the same time unlike other systems of Masonic General Grand bodies—while the principles and teaching of Ancient Craft Masonry , to improve the heart and fit it for the honours that await a valiant Templar , are the foundation stones in the moral edifice devoted to Christian chivalry . And this , from my investigations , was so from the beginning of our Order . Ancient Craft Masonry , then , in the three degrees , embracing the Holy Royal Arch , was possessed by the founders of our Order , and was coexistent with Templar merit and Templar power , wherever known or exercised , whether in Priories or Preceptories .
And here I take occasion to notice , that by the " system of ancient Templars , " no other order or Masonic rite than the three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry was required of the novice . The Order of Knights of the Hed Gross , is a prerequisite of latter days , and even now among Templars is only required by the Templar government in these United States . The Order of Knights of Malta has never been , even here , a prerequisite or intercalary degree or order to that of Templar . That Order , it ia believed upon sufficient authority , was not , like the Templars , based upon ancient Craft Masonry .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America
established over the most of Europe , inclusive of England . These were known as Priories and Preceptories . All emanated from , the parent head ; the Grand Master and Grand officers of the Order in conclave assembled- —or on pressing occasions by the act of the Grand Master alone . The important measures and general interests of the Order were considered and disposed of in conclaves
composed of the principal officers of the head Government and the high officers of Priories , and in some cases of Preceptories . On the death or resignation of their Grand Master , the next officer in command ( Mareschal or Marshal , and answering to our Deputy ) discharged the duties of the Grand Master , until a successor Was elected . This was done in an assembly or conclave of the religious and military officers called a Chapter . They had statutes f or their general government , and all were alike subject to them .
Now the constitution of Knights Templar in these United States will be the better understood by this brief history of the system of government by the " Ancient Templars . " Like theirs of old , the governmental body is made to consist of the officers named in that government , present and past , and certain officers of the subordinates , in person or by proxy . Like theirs of old , it recognizes no Templars individuaily , or by bodies , except such as are in fealty to it , while they of old claimed jurisdiction over members of their Order , wheresoever and under whatsoever government they might live : ours limits its jurisdiction to the civil boundaries of the United States .
Theirs was created by themselves ;¦ ¦;' ours was in like manner created and brought into existence , not as an Order , but as a supreme or head government over all Templars in the United States , and by the Templars then composing the eight separate Encampments or Commanderies in person , or as represented by faithful fellow Templars , They established statutes for their own supreme government and for all others . So does ours , by the American name of constitution . They established
Commanderies , Priories , and Preceptories , subordinate to the head government . So do we , by the names of Encampments or Commanderies . Their supreme or superior government had a constant supervisory power over all of their subordinates . So has ours . Being a military as well as a Christian order , the military relation of chief and subaltern pervaded their whole government . And such is the theory of our established government for Templar Masonry in these United States , manifestly apparent in the constitution adopted by the fathers of our Temple at New
York in 1816 . Their supreme government regulated and established a uniform dress for all its members : ours has the same and unquestionable power , but I regret to say has not as yet exercised it . It was brought to their attention at our last meeting at Hartford by me ; and they were respectfully urged to act in the premises . A report was made thereon by the learned and distinguished Templar Charles Mackay , which was defered for consideration by the Grand Lodge until our next meeting at Chicago , when we may expect the action to be final . But enough has been said to show that our system of government is in close
accord with that of the " Ancient Templars , " and at the same time unlike other systems of Masonic General Grand bodies—while the principles and teaching of Ancient Craft Masonry , to improve the heart and fit it for the honours that await a valiant Templar , are the foundation stones in the moral edifice devoted to Christian chivalry . And this , from my investigations , was so from the beginning of our Order . Ancient Craft Masonry , then , in the three degrees , embracing the Holy Royal Arch , was possessed by the founders of our Order , and was coexistent with Templar merit and Templar power , wherever known or exercised , whether in Priories or Preceptories .
And here I take occasion to notice , that by the " system of ancient Templars , " no other order or Masonic rite than the three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry was required of the novice . The Order of Knights of the Hed Gross , is a prerequisite of latter days , and even now among Templars is only required by the Templar government in these United States . The Order of Knights of Malta has never been , even here , a prerequisite or intercalary degree or order to that of Templar . That Order , it ia believed upon sufficient authority , was not , like the Templars , based upon ancient Craft Masonry .