The Corinthian Order; Or, The Three Grand Pillars.

appears that the Corinthian Order was introduced there before we find any trace of it in Greece Proper . As used by the Asiatics it seems to have arisen from the bell-shaped capitals of the Egyptians , to which they applied the acanthus leaf ,

sometimes in conjunction with the honeysuckle ornament of the time , and on other ancl later occasions together with the volutes of the same Order , the latter combination being the one which ultimately prevailed and became the typical form ¦ of the Corinthian . "

In early times there seems to have been a vrriety of ways of treating- the Corinthian . For in the Order of the " Tower of the Winds , " at Athens , " supposed to date a little after the time of Alexander , " * and therefore after the Choragic

Monument of Lysicrates , we have a style of treating it very different from that of the Choragic Monument , and which was probably copied from far older specimens . Mr . Ferguson says , " The Tower of the Winds is remarkable as being almost

purely Egyptian in its types , with no Ionic admixture . The columns have no bases , the capitals 310 volutes , and the water-leaf clings as closely to the bell as it does in the Egyptian examples . "

It is not easy to tell when the Corinthian began ± o be used , but I shall be disappointed if Eastern research does not prove its existence in one form or another coeval with Solomon . Mr . Philip Smith says " The heroic age of

Greece was one of well built cities , palaces , and temples . Of its massive architecture some idea may be obtained from the ruins of Tiryus and Mycenee . " Mycenee , the so-called " Treasury of Athens , " is now conjectured to be the tomb of

Agamemnon ( 12 th century B . C . ) The lower part of a pillar from this tomb with its beautiful zig-zag and spiral ornamentation reminds me of a specimen of late Norman war .

Itseems to me that the "lilywork " of Solomon's building was an application of the leaves of some p lant to the capital of the pillar / making it similar to the Corinthian , and the net work may have been the lozenge or some zig-zag or square pattern in

the style of the ornamentation of the pillar at Mycenae . AVhen the name Corinthian was applied to this pillar is , so far as I am aware , unknown . Corinth , which gives it , was dedicated to "V euus , the goddess of beauty and , as with the Doric , is asso-

The Corinthian Order; Or, The Three Grand Pillars.

eiated the manly idea of strength and with the Ionic that of wisdom , so to the Corinthian , where ornamentation can be carried to such perfection , must be ascribed the title of Beauty . To sum up I think we may fairly use our " Three Noble Orders , " or , "Three Grand Pillars , " Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty .

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . ( Continued , from page 346 ) . BOOK IV . —CHAPTER VII .

The Legates having acquitted themselves of their commission to the satisfaction of the King , and the relief of the Pope , returned to Poictiers . They informed him of all that had taken place , and carried to him the interrogatories which had

become the basis of the action against the Order . They detailed to bim the retracting of the depositions by some of the Knights , but stated that these were entitled to no credit , inasmuch as the whole Order was corrupt , the members guilty of

the same crimes , and bound to each other by the most abominable vows and practices . They added , however , that perhaps one or two might be ignorant and innocent of the wicked practices carried on in the bosom of the Order ; still this

did not prevent it being the object of universal execration , nor do away with the necesity for its entire abolition . This had been tha decision of the council held at Paris , in the justice of which

they were perfectly satisfied . To accelerate the process , the King convened a parliament at Tours , for the month of June , and summoned to it all the princes , bishops , and nobles of the kingdom , ancl representatives of the

third estate , enjoining them to be present either in person or by proxy . He stated his intention to be present on the occasion , when the affair of the action against the Templars should be discussed . The King arrived at Tours about

Pentecost , and found assembled there a large number of nobles , an equal number of ecclesiastics , and nearly four hundred proxies sent by those who could not attend in person , besides the representatives of the Third Estate . Several of those who

refused os ? neglected to attend were compelled by the King to contribute to the expenses of those who proved mote obedient to his orders . The parliament was opened , and the King , inspired