The Knights Templars.

the advance of civilisation . He had by this time discovered the immense benefits to be derived by Christianity from the foundation of his Order , and was particular , therefore , in the candidates he ' admitted to its bosom . When Hugo cY Amboise

prayed for reception , he would not entertain his request till he had made compensation to the people of Marmontier , whom he had oppressed , as well as obtained pardon from his superior , the Count of Anjou , whose judicial sentence he had

disobeyed . Such was the esteem in which the Order was held by all classes , that d'Amboise at once made reparation to those whom he had injured , obtained pardon from his superior , and then was received gladly into the Order .

St . Bernard entered fully into the schemes of the Order , made himself conversant with its workings , and , at the request of the Grand Master ,

penned an eloquent epistle in their praise . This epistle , which was in praise of " the new chivalry of Christ , " expatiated upon the wonderful advantages and spiritual blessings enjoyed by the Templars over all other classes of warriors . In it

he exhorted the brethren to persevere in the glorious career which they had begun ; not to be daunted or disheartened by the toilsome ancl deadly task of fi ghting against the infidel , since a crown of eternal glory was laid up in Heaven for

them when they died . He commended them to the notice of tho Christian world , ancl held them up as pre-eminent examples of piety and valour . He furthermore drew the following curious picture , setting in powerful contrast the luxury of the

secular Knights of the time with the modesty ancl simplicity of these religious warriors . Addressing the secular Knights , he writes : —

"AVith silken trappings do you adorn your chargers , with folds of the finest cloth hanging from your armour ancl sweeping the earth . You emblazon your saddles , your spears , ancl your shields with quaint devices . AVith gold ancl with

silver , with the sparkling of precious stones , do you deck your spurs ancl bridles , and thus attracting the avaricious eyes of your enemies upon you , hotly and carelessly clo you rush upon your certain destruction . Do these trappings become gallant

warriors ? Are they not rather the vain imaginings of foolish women ? AVhat ! AVill the keen sword respect your gold , or falter at the glitter of a gem , or be turned aside by line cloth ? Have yon not been taught by experience that there are three things absolute to the success of a warrior

The Knights Templars.

in battle—valour , speed , and prudence ; swift to run , prompt to strike ? Do yon cultivate these qualities ? Nay ! You disgust the beholder by tortoring the hair to fall like a woman ' s , you envelope you bodies in long ancl voluminous dresses ,

ancl in huge and flowing sleeves you carefully preserve your delicate , dainty fingers . No noble ' impulse spurreth you on to the battle , but the wildness of wrath , the insane desire for glory , or the miser ' s thirst for another ' s wealth ancl goods

hurryeth you to strife . It is , in such a condition of mind , neither safe for you to slay nor to be slain . ( To he continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

MASONIC BEGGAR . For some time past there has appeared in the Strand , near Covent Garden , a beggar wearing round his neck a brass square and compass . On asking him what that meant , he told me he was a Mason . I said , in that case , it was his duty to apply to the Board of Benevolence , and not to beg . He said he was going to apply to the Board of Benevolence this week . —VIATOR .

GREECE . Is there any Grand Lodge of Greece ?—DELTA . A PENNY MASONIC PAPER . A penny Masonic paper might be a great benefit to the . Craft , if it could be made to pay ; but the expenses of conducting a Masonic paper are very

great . Acting on the suggestions of Bro . Purton Cooper and the Eev- Bro . Kingston , in "Notes and Queries , " I will show we can have a penny Masonic paper at once . The Freemasons' Magazine costs sixpence . Let , therefore , six brethren in each town in England contribute one penny eachand they will

, be provided with a penny Masonic paper , and , by thus practically increasing the circulation of the Freemasons ' Magazine , they will before long obtain a much better paper , because it will be much better supported . —DOUBLE TRIANGLE .

PRECEDENCE OE OEEICERS . In a province the Prov . G . Steward would take precedence of a Past Grand Steward , for the reason assigned by Bro . AVhite . He is Grand Steward of England in the provincial district . It is exceedingly unjust that Past Grand Stewards should have precedence of the higher functionaries of provinces any where , but , according to the system now in vogue , so it is . —P . P . G . O .

MASONIC SCHOLARSHIPS . An application has been made to me respecting the orphan children of a Mason . They have some small provision , and the grandmother is desirous of giving them a better education , to which she would contribute . I was asked whether there were any funds from which help could bo obtained for an object so laudable . I stated I was not aware of any . It