Knights Templar.

as guests at Highlegh ) , assisted by Lord de Tabley , Prov . G . JI . ol tbe Craft for Cheshire ; Sir Knt . Rogers , Prov- G . M . for Lancashire ; Capt . Cope , D . Prov . G . Commander for Cheshire ; Capt . Balderson , Sir K . AVright , and numerous other members of the Order from both provinces . The Provincial Grand Encampment having been duly opened by the G . Chancellor , as representing the G . JIaster , the warrants readand the obligation administeredthe G . Chancellor

, , delivered the following address : — " The Provincial Grand Commander of Cheshire having resigned his office through the proper channel , it has pleased our Jlost Eminent aud Supreme Grand Master to appoint Sir Knight Major G . C . Legh to the vacant command . In doing so he has been actuated by those principles which he has constantly kept in view since he has held the high and important trust which

has been confided to him by the Order . The selection of his deputies in the provinces is not always an easy matter , for upon them depends almost entirely whether the Order prospers or otherwise ; they are not mere honorary officers , tliey are working functionaries . " In the present instance yon ivill all agree that the Grand Master has made a most judicious selection , nor could he err

in choosing , as he has done , one whom the county has selected to represent its mundane interests in the councils of tbe nation , during a series of years . I have it in command from the Grand Master to express to that distinguished member of the legislature thus publicly his thanks for having undertaken thus v . illingly the important duties of his high office . "It is nowSir Knightsfor you to perform your parts

, , , aiding by zeal and obedience to the wishes and commands of those set in authority over you , that great common object which we all combine to support . " I need hardly remind you that although we are for the most part here civilians we are with reference to this Order , soldiers .

and that unqualified obedience is our first duty , and iu this respect your present chief will , I have no doubt , have no cause of complaint . Allow me then to congratulate you in having at your head a gentlemen already well known to you , but not only to you , but to those who ivent before you , one whose family has been settled in this county from time immemorial and whose ancestors have handed down from father to son , in an uninterrupted line , a name without stain and without reproachto the

, present representative of the family , on the self-same spot , and holding the self-same lands that it held long before the Norman Conqueror set his foot on this island . "But ivhile I congratulate you , Sir Knights , on the appointment of your present Provincial Grand Commander , I must not omit to ask you to join me in the expression of sincere regret for the great misfortune with which it has pleased the

Almighty to affiict his predecessor . Of all misfortunes ivhieh can befall us short of death , if short it be indeed , is the loss of those mental faculties ivhieh distinguish us so eminentl y from the brute creation , and which alone makes life worth its toils and troubles , and enables some to rise to eminence and become the rulers and guides of their less highly favoured fellows . When these are taken from us it is indeed a grave afiiication . For

what is man but an intelligent machine , sweetened by brotherly love , disorganised by accident , and ultimately to be swallowed lip by eternity . AVliile the spirit is in him he speaks with wit , with genius , and with judgment ; but Avhen it leaves him , what remains ? A mass , wonderful indeed in formation , beautiful in its harmony , but further useless , inanimate , insensible , a mere potsherd . " The loss of mental power is indeed so direful a punishment

that we should scarcely invoke it on the head even of our bitterest enemy ; on the other hand , we are bound to bow with submission to the commands of our heavenly Captain , and accept His decrees with that patience and resignation which our Order inculcated .

" I cannot conclude ivithout a few words Avith reference to the origin of our Order . " AVhen Peter the Hermit preached his first crusade under the wide-spreading plane-tree which still shrouds the ' great valley ' ^ called Bugukderek , near Constantinople , to a body of Christian volunteers—tbe largest ever collected in civilised Em-ope—he first sowed the seeds of our Order . AVhen Baldwin became King of Jerusalem , ive find tbe Knightly corporation of the Kni

ghts Hospitallers of St . John in full flower ; at once soldiers , priests , and surgeons , they fought , shrove , and healed ; "but the pilgrims from Europe who came to visit the sacred fane were so exposed to attacks on their journey from the sea coast

Knights Templar.

that protection against the assassins and the other tribes inf habiting the surrounding district became a matter ol necessity . To effect this object , the Hospitallers Hugo de Payens and Geoffrey de St . Omer presented themselves to the G . JI . of the Hospital and proposed to form a patrol for the safety of pilgrims . Seven others joined them , and formed the first nucleus of this mounted police , and Baldwin assigned them a residence within the precincts of the ancient Temple , whence they afterwards

acquired their designation . This purely military Order developed itself so rapidly that it excited the envy and fear of Philip the Fail-, then King of France , and the Pope Clement V . The wealth which the Order had acquired from donations and . bequests in mortmain was an additional motive for the rapacity of the King and tbe High Pontiff of Christendom . The secret ceremony of reception performed in the chapel afforded a colour and pretence for persecution . The Knights ivere accused of

the grossest , the most revolting and unnatural crimes , and irreligious practices . The Order was suppressed by a Papal Bull , its property confiscated , and this conduct justified by false confessions extorted by torture . Jacques de Moldy , then G . 3 L , was confined in the Temple at Paris , and confessions extorted from him on the rack . These he afterwards recanted , and wasultimately burned at the stake on the Place de Grove . Edward ,.

King of England , held out a long time against the Papal banu , but was obliged at last to succumb . The property of the Order in England was confiscated , and the Knights retired to Scotland , where they served Robert the Bruce in his wars , and the G . JI . of the Anglican Langue is said to have died at Kilwinning a pensioner of the Scottish Crown . "The most unexpected results maybe produced by means

the least likely to effect them . Thus the Crusaders , who were , so to say , our first travellers , brought back ivith them many of the arts and sciences of the East , and grafted that tree which has since borne such abundant fruit . " The ceremony of investiture and enthronement then proceeded , and the Prov . G . Commander then transacted the formal business and closed the camp , having gracefully thanked the

two Grand Officers for their attendance and assistance . The members of the Order then adjourned to the Ashley Arms , where an unusually good banquet awaited them , and , after th & usual toasts , they separated .

Turkey.

TURKEY .

SMYRNA . Tho consoci - .-itioi ! of tho Now English Masonic Hall in tho Casinos at Smyrna took pl .-tco , on tho 3 rd ult ., iu tho presence of US brethren . Tho three ivorking lodges under tho jurisdiction , of tho Grand Lodgo of England , tho English , Armenian , and Greek ivcro fully represented , and tho ceremonial was impressivoly performed bBros . Captain StabProv . D . S . G . AV . Turkey ;

y , O'Connor , D . S . G . D . ; Alparian , D . G . Dir . of Cers ., and other graud officers , AV . JI . ' s and P . JI . ' s . Afterwards tho installation of Bro . Omero as W . JI . of tho St . George ( Greek ) Lodgo was performed by tho same officials , Tho proceedings gave groat satisfaction .

A CEXTESTABIAX , AND COMPAXION" OE TUB POET Brass . — It may not be generally known , says the Ardrossan Herald , that there lives at Whiting Bay , Island of Arran , a centenarian who was a companion- of Robert Burns . His name is Ebenezer Baillie , and he is a native of Dalrymple , near Ayr . He ivas born 7 th Jlay 1767 , thus making him one hundred years and five months old- When a boy he was at school and slept in the same bed with the poet ; bis brother , a tailor , also made clothes

for him , and the two amused themselves writing verses together . Ebenezer came to Arran eighty years ago as a weaver , but farmed a little , and in summer employed himself at the herringlishitig . Ho worked at the weaving till he was ninety years of age . For the last six years lie has mostly been confined to bed , but the other day he was sufficiently ivell to sit on a chair and have bis likeness taken by a photographer . A cor-OUfiED illustrated list of JIasonie clothing and jewels

has just been issued by Bro . George Kenning , of Little Britain . The elegance of its execution places it far above the generality of trade lists , no expense , seemingly , having been spared to render it worthy of a place on the library table . Great credit is due both to Bro . Kenning and tbe artists engaged in its production , and we trust that Bro . Kenning will pecuniarily reap the benefit of his spirited venture .