(No. Iii).—A Visit To A French Lodge.

In response to this speech , Bro . P . L . M . Nicolle replied as follows : — "Tres Cher Venerable et Chers Freres , —We thank yon- sincerely for the cordial and brotherly manner iu which you have received us , and we

trust that you will fully believe that the motive that has induced us to visit your lodge is not one of simple curiosity . Freemasonry is based upon the great principles of unity and fraternity , and in coming to visit our French brerhren we realise

a desire which we have long felt of studying the development of those principles among you . We have also wished to attain further knowledge of the sublime beauties of Masonry , aided iu our researches after La Livmiere by the system which

you have adopted . In pronouncing these words I am convinced that I express also the sentiments of my friend and brother who accompanies me . Receive , dear brethren , our united thanks and fraternal good wishes . "

The brethren then saluted us with six rounds of Masonic firing , after which we were invested with swords and placed on the dais at the right hand of the Venerable , and the ordinary business of the lodge proceeded . The following were the names of the principal officers at the date of our visit : —

Le Venerable , Mons . Guillot . Premier Surveillaut „ Weil . Deuxieme Surveillant „ Brisard . Orateur „ Jouaust . Secretaire Dubois de Pace

Secretaire Adjoin „ Eugene Chabot Grand Expert „ Renault . Maitre des Ceremonies ... „ Basely . Tresorier „ Louveau . Hospitaller „ Richier . Archiviste „ Pointeau . Le Frere Couvreur „ Duret .

The arrangement of the lodge did not agree svith our English notions , as for instance , the Surveillants , or Wardens , were placed at the other end of the room from the Venerable in opposite corners . In other respects we considered

the French inferior to our English system . We were much surprised to see many brethren without their aprons , and others wearing aprons of the Rose Croix and higher degrees . Here we may remark that we have sometimes heard it said that the Grand Lodge | of England was arbitrary in

(No. Iii).—A Visit To A French Lodge.

excluding the regalia of the higher degrees from the meetings of Craft Masonry , but we confess that the interior of a French lodge has convinced us that our ceremonials would lose much of their impressiveness if deprived of their severe but beautiful uniformity . Freuch Masons themselves admit that the English plan is far superior to their

own . During our stay in Rennes we were entertained at the Hotel de Commerce , of which our Bro . Ollivier is Maitre , and to that gentleman , as well as to Bro . Cannon , we were much indebted for

kindness in many ways . The brethren in Rennes are well-acquainted with the Masons of the Channel Islands , having had visits from Bro . Gallienne , of Guernsey , and Bros . Da Jardin , Binet , Schmitt , Durell , aud others , from Jersey ,

besides which deputations have from to time been interchanged . Before leaving Rennes our Masonic certificates were , in accordance with the French custom , endorsed with the date of our visit , under the

signature of M . Eugene Chabot , Assistant Secretary of the lodge . We hope that at some future time we may again unite in a meeting of the Lodge of Parfaite Union , and meanwhile we say , with all our heart , " Success to French Masonry . " J . A . H .

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . { Continued from ' page 249 . ) BOOK II . —CHAPTER VIII .

POSSESSIONS OP THE ORDER ABROAD . The possessions of the Order were both numerous and important , and there was scarcely a country where the Christian faith was acknowledged but they had lands . As Ave have already

shown , kings and nobles vied with each other in heaping riches upon the Order , till , at the time of its suppression , the Knights jaossessed nine thousand manors and a revenue of six millions sterling—an enormous sum for those times . Their

circumstances were so flourishing- in the time of William of Tyre , that he writes they had in their Convent or Temple House on Mount Moriah more than three hundred Knights robed in white habits , besides serving brethren innumerable . Their pos-