Freemasoney And Civil Engineering.

upon one whose personal Avorth as a man and a Mason is not sufficiently known , whilst his professional talents are of the hig hest order , and his reputation for high and unimpeachable honesty . and integrity make him an honour to the noble

^ profession of which he is now the actual head and presiding genius . The inaugural address to the members of the Institution of Civil Engineers , delivered by Bro . Charles Hutton Gregory , upon the occasion of his

taking the presidential chair for the first time , on the 14 th of January , is so fall of matters of general interest to our readers that we would fain —were it possible to find space in the narrow limits of our pages , give it in extenso , —but as that

is not possible , we propose to give such extracts from it , from time to time , as Ave think will be most useful for the purpose of putting fully upon " Masonic Eecord" many of the interesting circumstances Avhich are connected with " Freemasonry and Civil Engineering . "

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HATE . { Continued from page 106 . ) BOOK II . —CHAPTER III . THE KNIGHTS .

The title of the Code of La * vs , drawn up by St . Bernard , and approved of by the Council of Troyes , is "The Eule of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ , and of the Temple of Solomon . " * It is divided into seventy chapters , and is of an

exceeding gloomy and austere character . It is a rule more fitted for misanthropes , than for Avarriors whose duties led them constantly into the Avorldto mix in the bustle of court and camp . The prologue is addressed " to all , Avho disdaining the

leadership of their OAVU wills , desire with purity of mind to fight for the most high ancl true King . " It proceeds to exhort them to put on the armour of obedience , and to associate together in piety and humility of spirit for the defence of the Holy

Church j to employ a pure diligence ancl a steady perseverance in the exercise of their profession , so that they might partake of the delights reserved by Christ for his holy Avarriors . The rule provided

The Knights Templars.

that the Order should consist of two classes , the Knights and the Serving Brethren , but the members Avere permitted to affiliate any person Avhom they should consider worthy of the honour , and a clause Avas inserted in the rule to that effect . By

the Bull , Omne datum optimum , priests Avere alloAved to join the Order , and to act as Chaplains to the brethren , and subsequently the Donates and Oblates were attached to the Order . The Order proper , however , consisted only of the Knights ,

the Chaplains , and the Serving Brethren , Avho managed its affairs , held its dignities , and formed its chapters . The founders of the Order having' been belted

Knights , it was imperative upon all Avho desired admission to the highest class that they should have received the accolade . The great officers were chosen solely from among the Knights . No secular in the battle field was allowed to draw his

sword among the Knights , unless he held the same dignity . An exception Avas hoAvever made in the case of a bishop . If the candidate then Avas not a Knight , but possessed the necessary qualifications for the honour , he Avas sent to some secular Kni ght

to receive the accolade . The Templars never conferred the honour of Knighthood , either in their chapters or in the outer Avorld . A Templar Avas not permitted to bestow the accolade , for , on entering the Order , he , by his

obligations , ceased to exercise the pov ? er of conferring that dignity . The Knights of St . John and the Teutonic Knights , on the other hand , conferred the accolade upon the candidate , if not already a Knight , at his reception . A noviciate Avas originally necessary before reception , but this ,

in course of time , fell into disuse , and the character of the candidate being , in all cases , Avell known to the brethren , he was received at once . This gave the Order a vast aduantage over its military rivals ; for the aspirant would more readily enter

an Order into Avhich he could be received at once , than into another Avhere he required to serve a long and humiliating noviciate . The reception of the aspirant took place in one of the chapels of the Order , and was presided over

by the Grand Master or the Prior of the country Avhere the chapter Avas held . The chapters of the Order were all held in secret , ancl generally early on a Sunday morning . No one Avas permitted to be present at these meetings except the members of the Order , and in the case of a reception , not even a relation of the candidate . Even the papal