The Knights Templaes.

Jerusalem , as in all the other houses and places depending upon it , so that they did not belong to any other religious profession or Order , and so that they asked them of the bishop , if they came from the neighbourhood ; but if the bishop refused

his consent , they had permission to receive and retain them by the authority of the Holy Apostolic See . If , however , any of them , after they were professed , turned out to be useless , or became disturbers of the brethren or religion , permission

was granted the Templars , with the consent of the major part of the chapter to remove them , and give them leave to enter any other Order where they might wish to live in the service of God , and to substitute others in their places who should

undergo a probation of one year iu the Order . Upon the expiry of this probation , if their morals rendered them worthy of the Templars' fellowshi p

aud they should be lound fit and proper persons for discharging their sacred duties , then they were to make the regular profession of life according to the rule , and of obedience to the Master , they in return , having food , clothing and lodging from

the brethren . However , it was declared illegal for them presumptuously to take part in the consultations of the chapter , or in the government of the Order . They were permitted to do so only when requested by the Templars . Regarding the

care of souls they were to occupy themselves with that business , when their services were required . They were to be subject ts no person , power , or authority except their own chapter , and they were to pay perfect obedience in all matters and upon

all occasions "to thee our beloved Son in the Lord , Odo , and to thy successors , as their Master and Bishop . " ( To he continued . )

The Patron Saint Of Freemasoney.

THE PATRON SAINT OF FREEMASONEY .

By Bro . C . I . PATON , P . M . of Lodge Caledonian ( iS o . 392 ) , & c . The great patron Saint of Freemasons is St . John , and the Order could not have chosen among men a purer and a braver spirit . His birth was out of the ordinary course of nature , his life was a

model of all the virtues , and his death a fearful exhibition of the malignity of the human heart . His father , Zacharias , and his mother , Elizabeth , were both eminently devout and holy . He himself was , even before his baptism , declared to be one who would be called " the prophet of the highest "—one who

The Patron Saint Of Freemasoney.

would " go before the face of the Lord to prepare-His ways "—one who would " give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of destb /^ and thus guide God's people out of the way oi ? danger , and "into the way of peace . " The pre *

---dictions made concerning him in his infancy were ; - marvellously fulfilled iu his riper years . " The * child , " we are told , " grew and waxed strong' inspirit , and was in the deserts , " or less populouslocalities , " till the day of his showing unto Israel f

in other words he reached manhood strong in those ' natural gifts and graces which a life of teniperance > industry , frugality , and earnest solitary study never ' fails to confer ; and guided and controlled by that ; wisdom and discretion which direct and frequent ; communion and fellowship with the Great ; Architect are so well fitted to communicate and :

iuspire . He was a whole man , body and soul , ancy qualified , therefore , to talk with and influence men who themselves desired to be made every whit ; whole . Practice , far more than precept , moulds ib &

minds and manners of men , and governs the ; world , and St . John was a minister who exhibited !; , his faith by his works , and demonstrated the es-rcellence of his principles by acts which gave thena / their soundest and happiest exemplification . He ?

lived in an age of dress and effeminacy , and he ? appeared wearing a rough garment of camel's hair , ; with a leathern girdle about his loins . He w ? t 3 thrown among a population whose god was their belly , and who delighted in ministering to every carnal and sensual appetite and passion , and ha rebuked them by his plain and simple diet—his

living on locusts and wild honey . He was seufe as a preacher to a conceited , arrogant , and selfrighteous race of people , who were ready at all times to boast of their descent from Abraham ^ , and to thank God that they were not as

othesmen , and he thundered in their ears the greaj ; doctrine- of repentance—a total change of life and manners—a wholesale reform in pi'inciple an < 3 practice . How he scathed with righteous indignation the proud and haughty Pharisees and Sad / -

ducees who , in the eclat which at first surrounded his ministry , came to be baptized by him L " O generation of vipers , " he exclaimed , " who hatla warned you to flee from the wrath to come V " Bring forth fruits meet for repentance , " he

cou-r-tinued , as he laid bare to general observation the rank formalism that lay concealed under the shining mantle of their temporary zeal . " Think not- .