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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Dec. 7, 1867
  • Page 7
  • THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Dec. 7, 1867: Page 7

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    Article THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. ← Page 4 of 4
    Article BANKERS' OR MASONS' MARKS. Page 1 of 3 →
Page 7

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Knights Templars.

cities now left without garrisons . In this army assembled on the plain of Sephouri exists the only hope which the Christians of the East have left . You behold here all the soldiers of Christ , all the defenders of Jerusalem ; if they perish , the Infidels have no other foes to dread . Beware , then , oi leading this multitude of men and horses into a

dry ancl arid country where the season , with thirst and hunger , must soon deliver them up without defence to the enemy . The number even of the Christian soldiers inspires me with more alarm than confidence . They present nothing but a

confused troop of men got together in haste , ancl totally unable to support fatigue . The Musselmen archers are more skilful than our soldiers in

casting javelms , and may harass us on our march without our being able to defend ourselves . The cavalry of Saladin is more numerous and better trained than ours , and may attack us with advantage on the plains across which we must pass .

Abandon , then , I entreat you , Tiberias to the Musselmen , and let us save an army which may yet repair our losses . I swear before God , and before man , that I would willingly abandon the country of Tripoli , with all the lands I possess , to

procure the safety of the city of Christ . Our onl y aim must be to destroy the power of Saladin , and at the same time to preserve some defenders for the kingdom of Jerusalem . If we go to meet the enemy and should be conquered , God himself will

not be able to save the Christians , but will allow us to be delivered up to the Infidels . If , on tho contrary , the enemy come to offer themselves to our

arms , all our losses will be repaired , ancl the evils that will fall upon mo will become for me a source of gratification , since I shall have suffered for tho cause of Christ ancl the safety of his people . " This was a skilful speech , and undoubtedly the

advice contained iu it was the best that , in the circumstances , could have been followed . Had the army , instead of marching against Saladin , fallen back upon Jerusalem , the loss of tho city might have been prevented , and the Christians

have succeeded in either driving back Saladin , or forcing him to conclude a favourable peace . This , however , was not the wish of the count . He desired Saladin to have the Christians completely in the Musselmen power , when peace would

necessarily be declared , ancl the terms of that peace result in the deposition of Guy de Lusignan from the throne of Jerusalem , when the Count hoped , by intriguing , to be raised to the supreme power .

There cannot be the shadow of a doubt that the Count ' s advice was meant by him to be the opposite of friendly to the interests of the Christians , and in all probability was given utterance to , in unison with a certain line of operations , concerted

between him and Saladin . On hearing this advice , the Grand Master of the Templars , certain of the Count ' s secret understanding with Saladin , ancl weary of an inaction which was becoming dangerous to the discip line of the forces , rose and stigmatised

him as a traitor , reminded the assembly of his former alliance with Saladin , and exclaimed that he could perceive the wolf ' s skin under the fleece of the sheep . When the Count mentioned the name of Christ , Gerard exclaimed with bitterness ,

that the name of Mahomet was better fitted for his lips . The Count only replied— " I will submit to the punishment of death if these things do not fall out as I have said . " The Grand Master then loudly demanded that the army should be led

against Saladin , but the barons , influenced by his seeming candour , sided with the Count of Tripoli , ancl it was resolved to remain where they were

encamped , although Sakdiu ' s army was now ravaging all tho country about Tiberias , and his light horse had laid waste the country around the brook Kishon . ( To be continued )

Bankers' Or Masons' Marks.

BANKERS' OR MASONS' MARKS .

Under this title in "Notes and Queries , " No . 309 , for November SOfcli , 1 SG 7 , appears the following interesting communication from the pen of a correspondent aud querist , Mr . P . Hutchinson . As many of our readers have , we know , devoted themselves

within the last few years to similar investigations , we shall be glad if some of them will contribute to the general stock of knowledge upon this interesting subject : — "In November , lSGi , when I was last staying

with my late cousin , tlie Rev . Canon Hutchinson , in the Close at Lichfield , a stranger visited the cathedral , ancl passed a considerable time one morning in tho pursuit of a branch of archroologieal study to whicli I had not then turned my attention . He examined

many parts of the interior walls of the building in search of ancient masons' marks scratched or cut on the stone . Tho subject , to me , having the charm of novelty , induced me to make inquiry from stonecutters and others as to the employment of such marks , whether iu ancient or modern times , and whether they were merely fanciful , or were intended

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1867-12-07, Page 7” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 25 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_07121867/page/7/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
EXPATIATION ON THE MYSTERIES OF MASONRY IN MALLING ABBEY LODGE, Article 1
AN ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY. Article 3
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. Article 4
BANKERS' OR MASONS' MARKS. Article 7
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 9
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 9
MASONIC MEMS. Article 10
GRAND LODGE. Article 10
METROPOLITAN. Article 11
PROVINCIAL. Article 12
SCOTLAND. Article 15
IRELAND. Article 17
CHANNEL ISLANDS. Article 17
ROYAL ARCH. Article 18
MARK MASONRY. Article 18
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 19
KNIGHTS OF THE RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE. Article 19
MASONIC FESTIVITIES. Article 19
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 19
Poetry. Article 20
MEETINGS OF THE LEARNED SOCIETIES FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 14TH, 1867. Article 20
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Knights Templars.

cities now left without garrisons . In this army assembled on the plain of Sephouri exists the only hope which the Christians of the East have left . You behold here all the soldiers of Christ , all the defenders of Jerusalem ; if they perish , the Infidels have no other foes to dread . Beware , then , oi leading this multitude of men and horses into a

dry ancl arid country where the season , with thirst and hunger , must soon deliver them up without defence to the enemy . The number even of the Christian soldiers inspires me with more alarm than confidence . They present nothing but a

confused troop of men got together in haste , ancl totally unable to support fatigue . The Musselmen archers are more skilful than our soldiers in

casting javelms , and may harass us on our march without our being able to defend ourselves . The cavalry of Saladin is more numerous and better trained than ours , and may attack us with advantage on the plains across which we must pass .

Abandon , then , I entreat you , Tiberias to the Musselmen , and let us save an army which may yet repair our losses . I swear before God , and before man , that I would willingly abandon the country of Tripoli , with all the lands I possess , to

procure the safety of the city of Christ . Our onl y aim must be to destroy the power of Saladin , and at the same time to preserve some defenders for the kingdom of Jerusalem . If we go to meet the enemy and should be conquered , God himself will

not be able to save the Christians , but will allow us to be delivered up to the Infidels . If , on tho contrary , the enemy come to offer themselves to our

arms , all our losses will be repaired , ancl the evils that will fall upon mo will become for me a source of gratification , since I shall have suffered for tho cause of Christ ancl the safety of his people . " This was a skilful speech , and undoubtedly the

advice contained iu it was the best that , in the circumstances , could have been followed . Had the army , instead of marching against Saladin , fallen back upon Jerusalem , the loss of tho city might have been prevented , and the Christians

have succeeded in either driving back Saladin , or forcing him to conclude a favourable peace . This , however , was not the wish of the count . He desired Saladin to have the Christians completely in the Musselmen power , when peace would

necessarily be declared , ancl the terms of that peace result in the deposition of Guy de Lusignan from the throne of Jerusalem , when the Count hoped , by intriguing , to be raised to the supreme power .

There cannot be the shadow of a doubt that the Count ' s advice was meant by him to be the opposite of friendly to the interests of the Christians , and in all probability was given utterance to , in unison with a certain line of operations , concerted

between him and Saladin . On hearing this advice , the Grand Master of the Templars , certain of the Count ' s secret understanding with Saladin , ancl weary of an inaction which was becoming dangerous to the discip line of the forces , rose and stigmatised

him as a traitor , reminded the assembly of his former alliance with Saladin , and exclaimed that he could perceive the wolf ' s skin under the fleece of the sheep . When the Count mentioned the name of Christ , Gerard exclaimed with bitterness ,

that the name of Mahomet was better fitted for his lips . The Count only replied— " I will submit to the punishment of death if these things do not fall out as I have said . " The Grand Master then loudly demanded that the army should be led

against Saladin , but the barons , influenced by his seeming candour , sided with the Count of Tripoli , ancl it was resolved to remain where they were

encamped , although Sakdiu ' s army was now ravaging all tho country about Tiberias , and his light horse had laid waste the country around the brook Kishon . ( To be continued )

Bankers' Or Masons' Marks.

BANKERS' OR MASONS' MARKS .

Under this title in "Notes and Queries , " No . 309 , for November SOfcli , 1 SG 7 , appears the following interesting communication from the pen of a correspondent aud querist , Mr . P . Hutchinson . As many of our readers have , we know , devoted themselves

within the last few years to similar investigations , we shall be glad if some of them will contribute to the general stock of knowledge upon this interesting subject : — "In November , lSGi , when I was last staying

with my late cousin , tlie Rev . Canon Hutchinson , in the Close at Lichfield , a stranger visited the cathedral , ancl passed a considerable time one morning in tho pursuit of a branch of archroologieal study to whicli I had not then turned my attention . He examined

many parts of the interior walls of the building in search of ancient masons' marks scratched or cut on the stone . Tho subject , to me , having the charm of novelty , induced me to make inquiry from stonecutters and others as to the employment of such marks , whether iu ancient or modern times , and whether they were merely fanciful , or were intended

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