Templar Funeral Service.

who deserved the tribute , because during life he was humble and pure in heart . Blessed are such , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . Grand Master . Know ye of a truth that our brother in the coffin is dead , and ripe for the long sleep of the grave ? Sixth Serving Brother . ( Talcing tlie hand of the dead ) . The flesh cleaveth not unto the bones , nor the skin unto the flesh . He is dead . *

Grand Master . How looks his grave ? ^ Seventh Serving Brother . ( Looking down into the grave . ) Deep—dark—narrow—cold . Grand Master . Knights , do the last kind office to the departed , and give him a brother ' s blessing , for he was one of you . And the seven Knights slowly approached the coffin

, and placed their right hands upon tlie head , eyes , face , mouth , heart , hand , and feetf ofthe departed brother , each accompanying this solemn rite with a fervent blessing ; after which the Serving Brethren replaced the lid upon the coffin , and nailed it with seven nails . Then sang tbe Preceptor , to a low accompaniment

from tbe choir above , the awful words , " Ne recordensis , Dominie ! peccate illius , dum veneris judicere socculum per ignem . " After which , all the assembled Preceptors , Knights , and Serving Brethren chanted the Be profundis , while each , in succession , sprinkled holy water on the coffinsaying" Mbrotherthou

, , y , art dead to this world , ancl livest now in the Lord . " Then invisible choristers in the gallery began to chant the Libera , and their voices sounded afar off , like the answerings of departed spirits . Every taper , save that of the Grand Master , was now extinguished , and all the Knights and Preceptors , prostrating

themselves in the figure of a cross , prayed silently . Meanwhile , the Serving Brethren gently and slowly lowered the coffin into the grave , and the Grand Master , again raising thciron hammer , struck the iron cross three times , ancl said with deep and solemn unction , "I bless thee in the name of the triune God , in the name of the Order of Kni ghts Templars , in the name of the Preceptors , Knights , and Serving Brethren here assembled . " This closed the ceremonv .

Masses were afterwards said for the repose of his soul , and bis arms were given back to the Marshal , while his clothes were placed at the disposal of the draper for distribution among the poor . By chapter 20 oi the rule of St . Bernard , there was given to each professed Knight , in winter ancl summerif they could be procuredwhite garments

, , , that those who had cast behind them a dark life mi ght know that they were to commend themselves to their Creator by leading a pure and white life . "For what , " continues the chapter , " is whiteness but perfect chastity , and chastity is the security of the soul and the health of the body . And unless every Knight shall continue

chaste , he shall not come to perpetual rest , nor see God as the Apostle Paul wituessetli . Therefore , follow after peace with all men , and chastity , without which no man shall see God . " By chapter 22 , it was granted to none to have white habits , or to have white mantles , but the above-named knights of Christ . B y

chapter 37 , it was ruled that neither gold or silver , which ivere the marks of private wealth , should ever he seen on tlie bridles , breastplates , or spurs of the knights , nor was it permitted to any brother to buy such . If indeed , such Wee furniture should have been charitably bestowed upon any one , the gold and silver was to be so coloured that their splendour and beauty mig ht not impart to the wearer an appearance of arrogance beyond his fellows . *!

A ^ CIE ^ T DOCUMENTS . Can the Union Lodgo , York , be induced to a faithful publication of the documents named by "E . W . S ., Bradford ? " I have recently discovered a few documents bearing on the history of York Masonry , which I will send to you ere long , if you think them worth publishing . Also will Bro . Eobt . Mitchellof

, Glasgow , favour us with a copy of the 1057 charter of Glasgow ? His description would seem to assign it an undoubtedly genuine origin . Can he vouch for the presence of the document in the records of the see of Glasgow ? I am told that , with the exception of one or two clausesit is identical with the so-called

, Kilwinning charter , including the portion to " Mack , instruct , ancl teach the Masonry of St . John , like belted knights and cross-legged knights in armour for the care and keeping of our holy religion .

"—A-THE ILLUMINATE . Four Secret Societies have borne the name of Illuminate . The first was founded in Spain , 16 th century ; the second in France , 17 th century ; the third in Belgium , latter half of the ISth century ; the fourth in Germanj ' . The date of the foundation of this last is 1776—of its suppression 178-t . This was the Order of Illuminate with which numerous

Freemasons became connected . Adam Weiss-Naupt , the originator of it , died at Halle , in 1830 . A student of the University of Louvain , a few years ago , gave me some particulars of his life , written in Latin . The manuscript is in Lincoln ' s Inn Library . — CHARLES PTIRTOS COOPER .

HARMLESS QUIZZING . [ Some funny fellow has sent us an elaborate drawing of a dining table , set for dinner , with its proper appointments lor a well-ordered repast , aud has inscribed beneath it , " The Working Tools of Freemasons in general . Wanted , an explanation of them . " It is about six months ago that a friendan eminent

, architect , came up to us in the Beading-room of the British Museum , and placing a neat envelope before us bowed and passed on . On opening it we discovered an individual formed of a level , ancl plumb rule for his body , ancl a square for the legs , whilst the arms were represented by a jiair of compasses holdingat each

, extremity , a bottle and glass respectively . The inscription was " Fancy portrait . A Freemason ; respectfully dedicated to Bro . . " In neither of the above cases do we see anything beyond a mere exuberance of fun , and treat them both as a huge navvy is said to have done his ditnunitive wife when

she slapped his face , who , ou being interrogated by those who saw her strike him as to how he could put up with it , replied , " Why , you see , it pleases her and doesn't hurt me . " So Ave , in a similar strain , say , if our friends will send us such pretty drawings , and it