The Knights Templars.

The Egyptians , after this repulse , prepared for another attack upon the Christians . On the first Friday of Lent , Ben-doc-deer , the famous Mamlook leader , and Lieutenant of the Sultan of Egypt , at the head of a great army , advanced upon the Christians to drive them out of their

entrenchments . Louis divided his army into eight battalions , the fourth being under the command of the Grand Master of the Templars . The Grand Master ' s battalion , which was composed of the remnant of the Knights who had survived the

battle of Shrove Tuesday , fared but badly in the combat . Having but few men , William made a rampart of some military engines which had been taken from the enemy . This , however , proved a frail protection , for the Templars having

added to the engines many planks of fir wood , the Egyptians burnt them with Greek fire . Seeing how few their opponents were , the Egyptians without waiting till the rampart was consumed , dashed through the fire and attacked them

furiously . "Undismayed , this gallant little band of the Temple , valourously defended themselves , and many a bold Egyptian bit the dusb before the Knights were defeated . So determined was their resistance that Joinville states that in their rear

there was more than an acre of ground so covered with bolts , darts , arrows and other weapons , that it was impossible to see the earth beneath them , such showers of these had been discharged against the Templars by the Saracens . The commander

of this battalion ( i . e ., William de Sonnac ) "had lost an eye in the preceding battle of Shrove Tuesday ; and in this he lost the other , and was slain ; God have mercy on his soul . " ( To be continued . )

Masonic Archæological Institute.

MASONIC ARCH ? OLOGICAL INSTITUTE .

The idea of forming such an Institute was communicated byBro . Hyde Clarke . L . L . D ., D . D . G . M ,

of Turkey , shortly after his return from the East , now several months ago , to Bro . William Smith , G . F ., P . G . S ., for the purpose of obtaining his active co-operation in its establishment . Since that time they have together taken such steps as

they considered likely to be most conducive to the permanent solidity and success of Bro . Clarke ' s excellent project . The foundational members , of which Bro . W . Gray Clark , the late Grand Secretary of the Grand

Masonic Archæological Institute.

Lodge of England was one , have never since they were enabled to take part , ceased to act in aid of the object to be attained . The progress of this Institute has been slow on account of the difficulties of personal organization

in the first instance , where an institution must be self-supporting and dependent on the voluntary exertions of its oflicers , vai'ious limitations occur to rapid extension , even in a case like this , where the proposal is favourably received .

Country members , who are not in . the habit of frequenting town , are not available for the working body , and of those who are , and who ai-e supporters of the society , their other occupations do not leave them free to accept . Besides this ,

if a body is to work well together in the early periods , it must be constituted harmoniously , and the various sentiments of the members must be consulted . Scores are willing to become members , put down their money and their names , of

whom no one chooses to work in what he considers may become an _ onerous and responsible function .

We are glad , therefore , to learn that the more important stage of progress has been reached of prevailing on gentlemen to co-operate in the accomplishment of this interesting undertaking . At a meeting , presided over by Bro . James

Glaisher , F . F . S ., a council was appointed , composed of the following distinguished members of our Order ' , arranged alphabetically , viz .: Bro . William Bollaert , F . B . Q . S ., member of the University of Chili ; Corresponding Member of the

Ethnological Society , late Foreign Sec . Anthropological Society , author of works on South American archaeology , & c . William Burges , ( No . 10 ) , Architect . Hyde Clarke , ( D . D . G . M .,

Turkey ) , Fellow of the Ethnological , Anthropological Societies , & c . ; member of the German Oriental Society , American Oriental Society , Royal Society of Northern Antiquarians of Copenhagen , & c . Col . Henry Clerk , B . F ., F . B . S .,

P . M ., & c . James Glaisher , ( W . M ., No . 382 ) , F . R . S . ; President of the Microscopical Society , Meteorological Society , & c . Charles Hutton Gregory , ( P . G . D ., P . M ., & c . ); President of the Institution of Civil Engineers , & c . Dr . Leeson ,

M . D ., F . B . 8 ., and a P . M ., cultivator of Masonic researches . Hyde Fallen , ( D . P . G . M ., ; Isle of Wight ) . J . E . Saunders , ( W . M ., No . 1 ) , F . S . A ., F . G-. S . ; member of the Council of the London aud Middlesex Archasological Society , & c . Rev .