Expatiation On The Mysteries Of Masonry In Malling Abbey Lodge,

¦ middle ages each of these single lights was replaced by three lights . When a bishop officiated ( corresponding in rank to a Provinciel Grand Maafcer ) there were seven lights ; and when the Pope officiated ( corresponding to a Grand Master )

-there were nine ! Afc fche time of the Reformation the Church of lEugfaud , reverting to the ancient practice , limited the number of altar lights to two . But the Roman Church still retains the Masonic numbers . It

seems strange thafc whilst fche Church of England , which has in this , rejected Masonic ritual , furnishes a Chaplain to nearly every lodge , the head of the CIuH-ch of Rome , which retains it , has excommunicated the Fraternity .

We have noticed some applications of the number five , characteristic of the F . C . degree . Besides these , five was the number of the planets known , to the ancients , not counting the earth . It was also the number of the elements distinguished hy Pythagoras , viz ., fire , ah ' , watez-, earth , and ether . In later times it has been taken as the

number of the noble orders of architecture , though to bring- their number up to five we must count in the Tuscan , which is but a debasement of fche Doric ; and the Composite , which is a mere combination of the Doric , Ionic , and Corinthian .

Sat as fche orders of architecture belong not to speculative , but to opei-ative Masonry , they are of course introduced as symbols in this degree . Perhaps these five orders may denote as many systems of philosophy , which have contributed

their stores to the building of the temple of Masonic wisdom . Thus we may see , in the rude Tuscan , a symbol of that early instruction , derived ia pai-fc from the traditions of early revelations , and in part from the simple study and observation

of iiatnre , which belongs to the period of the E . A ., degree . In the Doric , Ionic , and Corinthian , we see figures of the three schools of Greek philosophy , of which the Doric is the one more { particularly identified with Pythagoras . The

¦ ¦ Qoffiipasite , or Roman , represents that combinafern of fche three systems , which must have taken ; pl & ce tio some extenfc iu the school of Pythagoras afc Crofcona ; and again , more fully , where Roman Cfl-nq-nests led to the spread of Greek refinement ¦ aa . d culture in Italy : —•

"Grascia capta ferum victorem cepifc , efc artes lutulifc ngi-esti Lntio . " Safe the number five especially marks the second jpsrirad of . intellectual development , comprehended

Expatiation On The Mysteries Of Masonry In Malling Abbey Lodge,

between the commencement of the eighth and the completion of the twelfth year of our age . It is the stage which Algazzali describes as that of the "Understanding . " It comprehends that portion of Masonic teaching in which we aim

especially at the improvement of our intellectual powers . Accordingly , the working tools placed in the hands of the F . C , are such as require the exercise of his understanding , though not of those higher powers of reason which are necessary for

the right use of the working tools given to the Master Mason . The knowledge and practice of morality , of which the first principles were taught in the E . A . degree , must now be extended and improved , so as to include the true perception of

the rules of integrity aud uprightness , and the regulation of our lives in accordance with them The obligation to silence in the lodge is no longer enforced ; we are invited to the study of geometry ; to the investigation of the properties of

mathematical figures ; especially to the study of fche ancient problem given in the 47 th proposition of Euclid , concerning the relation of the sides of a right-angled triangle , of which the figure used in its demonstration is the distino'iushiuo- bado-e of a D O O

P . M . The peculiar mode of wearing the apron in the F . C . degree . . . expresses the removal of the restriction as to silence , and the admission of the F . C . to instruction in geometry , typified in the celebrated Masonic problem to which we have referred . ( To be continued ,. )

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HA YE . { Continued , from page 347 . ) CHAPTER VIII . GEAND MASXEE , ARNOLD DE TPEEIKUBEA .

Peered against Templars anil others " by Pope Alexander . — Tlie Templars and Isaac , cousin of the Emperor of Constantinople . —Ravages of Saladin . —Disgrace of Guy de Lusignan . —Baldu-in V . crowned Icing . —Amhassadors sent to Europe to ask for aid against Saladin . —John Terricus , regent . —Death of the Grand , Master . —JJenry

I . of England refuses to assume the Cross . —Apostacy of two Templars , lloherl de St . Albans and Metier . —A . D . 11 S 0—1187 . Shortty after the death of Odo de Saint Amando in 1180 , a chapter-general was held for the purpose of electing a Grand . Master in his place , and the choice of the brethren fell upon Arnold de Turri-