Masonic Reforms.

W . M . chooses , for what can be more absurd than A . B . proposing C . D . ' s health , and then vice versa , as many times as the lodge meets in that year P Every lodge should have a Charity fund—not to vote grants from it to their Stewards , but to assist the aged , infirm , or necessitous Mason , privately . In the

matter of initiates , much reform is needed . Character should be more strictly enquired into than at present , and no man admitted whom every brother would not be proud to introduce into his own family . Finally , we each want Reformation in our homes , our hearts , our sympthies , and general conduct . Let

that brother who can examine his conscience and find in it nothing which he can condemn , go on in the same path for the year now opened ; but let all those who have aught to regret make up their minds to reform . Let them strive to realise that" The man whose eye

Is ever oil himself , doth look on one , The least of nature ' s works , one who might move The wise man to that scorn which wisdom holds Unlawful , ever . 0 be wiser thou ! Instructed that true knowledge leads to love ; True dignity abides with him alone , Who , in the silent hour of inward thought , Can still suspect , and still revere himself , In lowliness of heart . "

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

ryjCHAGOIlAS . How was Pythagoras connected with the early mysteries?—LECTOKES . A EEW SOTES 03 T THE TE 3 IFLA . KS . The few notes I send you about the Knights Templar may prove new to those who are gleaning historical fragments connected with the Order . —TUECOPOIIER . Ma-lek-el-afdal 1187 ( most excellent king ) son of

Saladinpre-, , pared to ravage tbe lands of Acre . As it was necessary to pass through the territory of Tiberias to arrive there , the young prince applied to Raymond , with whom his father ( then encamped before Kerac ) was in amity , for a free . passage . Raymond was perplexed how to act . He feared to incur the odium of his fellow Christians if lie aided tbe Moslems , and he was anxious not to break with the Sultan . He , however , hit upon the following expedient -. granted the passage , provided he returned before

the sunset of the day on which he should cross the Jordan , and that he broke into no town , village , house , & c . ^ VP " ( p 9 P 5 P * * But the Master of the Temple ( who was coming to reconcile Raymond with file king , and whom he requested to halt that day ) spurned the counsel of his ancient enemy ; , , and , on the following day , assembled in arms all the brethren of his Order who were nearand inducing the Master of the Hospital and hi s

, knights to join , and having drawn together in all one hundred forty knights and five hundred footmen , lie set out in quest of the heathen , whom they encountered at the brook of Kishon , when , faithful to their promise , they were returning to the Jordan in the evening . As soon as the Christian knights heheld the enemy they made an impetuous charge on them . The Turks , as usual , gave way . Confident of victory , the knights pursued , leaving their infantry unprotected . A body of Turks rushed

from a neighbouring valley , and got hetween the knights and the footmen , who were speedily destroyed by their swords , spears , and iron clubs . The Infidels then surrounded the knights , who could not employ their arms in the narrow space which they occupied . The Master of the Temple and three of his knights alone escaped . The Master of the Hospital was made a captive

Battle of ffittiii ( called by the Latins Tiberias , 1187 ) . — * * And the Master of the Temple offered to give the king , for the pay of the knights aud soldiers , the money which had been sent to Jerusalem and committed to his charge hy Henry II . of England in expiation of the murder of Thomas a Beeket . * * * The army , one of the most numerous and best appointed which had evsr fought in defence of . the Holy Land counted twelve hundred knights , a considerable number of light The and all

horse , and twenty thousand foot . * * * king but tiie Master of the Temple yielded to the prudent advice of the Count of I ' ripolis to remain in their present advantageous position at the well of Sephoria . The Master called on tbe king to lead himself and his brethren to the field , for the Templars would sooner ky aside the mantle of the Order than endure the disgrace of suffering a Christian town to be taken almost within siht at such a gallant . * * * *

g army After reaching half-way to Tiberias , tortured by thirst , and the heat of a sultry July day ( July 4 ) , and incessant charges of Turkish cavalry , they encamped till next day , which revealed the horrors of their situation . By the third hour they reached the hill of Hittin . The Turks began to press on them more closely . The Templars , Hospitallers , and Tnrcopoles ( light horse ) , fought valiantly while strength endured . A few escaped te The king Knynald ! Master of the Templeand all the

Tyre . , , remaining knights preferred captivity to immediate death , and the Holy Cross "became the prey of the Moslems . * * * The Templars and Hospitallers , as being the sworn foes of Islam , were beheaded on refusing to abjure their faith . Saladin offered fifty pieces of gold for every Templar or Hospitaller brought to him by his soldiers . Two hundred knights were led before him , and instantly decapitated ; for few were base enough , to deny their faith

. Siege of Acre , Oct . 4 , 1189 . —Tlie army was disposed in four divisions ; the first composed of theT ? renchJand the Hospitallers , led by the king in jierson , before whom four men bore a new Testament covered with silk . The Templars with some German and Catalonian pilgrims , formed the fourth . * * * * In despite of ttie efforts of Saladin the Musselman troops gave way , the right wing was thrown into confusion , and a part of it fled before the vigorous attacks of the Templars and their

companions . Saladin re-assembled the fugitives , and fell on the rear of the Templars and their victorious comrades as they were returning from the pursuit . The Master of the Templars was taken prisoner , and his knights put to flight . The former was put to death hy Salad ' m . Battle of Arsoof , Sept . 7 , 1191 . —The Christian army , it is said , amounted ( to one hundred thousand men ; that of Saladin three hundred thousand ; both close to each other in the vicinity

of Arsoof . Eichard the First of England wished to avoid an engagement , and reserve his entire strength for the siege of the important city of Ascalon . He divided his army into twelve corps , forming five divisions . The Templars led the first , the Hospitallers and the brave James of Ave . snes led the fifth , composed of the bravest and most select chivalry of the army . * * * Turks , Ethiopians , and Bedouins assailed the rear . Their arrows flew like hail . The infantry was thrown into

confusion . The horses of the Hospitallers fell in great numbers , transfixed by the arrows of the Infidels . Still the king [ Richard First ] declined to give battle . The Hospitallers and then- comrades were beside themselves with rage at being kept back from the fight . " 0 thou holy and valiant knight St . George , " said a knight of the Hospital , " wilt thou abandon thy Christian knights , and expose us to the shame of being slaughtered like le without allowed to

cattle by this accursed peop our being defend ourselves ! " * * * At length the chiefs met to decide on the time and mode of giving battle , but ere they had determined the battle was begun . The Marshal of the Hospitallers and another knight had set their lances in rest , and charged the Turks who were harassing them . The other Hospitallers turned round their horses and followed their example . * * * The knights rushed forth like a whirlwind on . the where the

Infidel squadrons . Richard himself hastened to Hospitallers were engaged . * * * * The victory was brilliant . Oct . 6 , 1191 . —While King Eichard and his army were in motion for Bamla , the esquires and servants , who had gone out to forage under the escort of the Templars , were attacked by four thousand Turks who lay in ambush . The Templars dismounted , placed themselves back to back , aud long defended themselves valiantly . Assistance opportunely arrived , and the Turks were beaten off .