The Knights Templars.

" Yea , sir ; with the help of Goo .. " Do you promise to God , and to our dear Lady Mary , never to hold this Order for stronger or weaker , for better or worse ( that is never to leaA'e the Order ) , but with the permission of the Master

or the chapter which possess the authority to relieve you ?" " Yea , sir ; Avith the help of God . " " Do you finally promise to God , and to our clear Lady Mary , that you will never be present when a

Christian is unjustly and unlaAvfully despoiled of his heritage , aud that you will never , by counsel or by act , take part therein ?" "Yea , sir ; AA'itli the help of God . " The Grand Master , with one of the Chaplains

and one of the serving brethren , then placed their hands upon the aspirant's head , and the Master said : " In the name of God , and our dear Lady Mary , in the name of St . Michael the Archangel , in the name of St . Peter of Eome , iu the name of

our Holy Father the Pope , and in the names of all the brethren of the Temple , Ave receive to all the good works of the Order which have been performed from the beginning , and shall be performed to the end , you , your father , your mother , and all

of your family , whom you will permit to share therein . In like manner , do you receive us to all the good Avorks Avhich you have performed and shall perform . We assure you of bread and Avater , without any dainties , and the poor clothing of the Order , and labour and toil enow . "

The Chaplain then took from off the altar , Avhere it had lain during the service , the white mantle with the ruddy cross slashed on the left breast , the distinguishing badge of the Order , and , sprinkling it with holy water , handed it to the Grand

Master , Avho , taking it , directed the attention of the aspirant to the cross , saying , " Do you believe Brother , that this is the sign of the holy cross , to which Jesus Christ Avas fastened , and died upon it for the redemption of our sins ? " To Avhich the

new brother replied , " Yea , I believe it . " The Grand Master then said , " 'Tis also the sign of our Order , and Ave command you to wear it continually upon your clothes . " The IIBAV brother then kissed the cross , and the Master put the

cloak over his shoulders so that the cross lay over his left breast , saying , " Take this sign , in the name of the ever blessed Trinity and the ever Yirgin Mary , for the improvement of the faith , the defence of the Christian reli gion , and the service of the poor . For this reason Ave put the

cross on that side of yon , that you may love it with all your heart , and that your right hand may fight for its defence and preservation . For if ever it happen that , iu fighting for Jesus Christ against the enemies of the faith , you should turn your back ,

desert the standard of the cross , ancl flyaway in so just a Avar , you will be stripped of the holy sign , agreeably to the statutes and customs of the Order , as false to the vow you havo now made , and be cut off from our body as a rotten and corrupt member . "

He then clasped the mantle firmly round the new brother ' s neck saying , " Eeceive the Lord ' s yoke . It is light and easy , and you shall find rest to your soul . "

The Chaplain , then , going to the epistle side of the altar , read the 133 rd Psalm ( Ecce qicam bonum ) , " Behold , how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity ! It is like the precious ointment upon the head , that ran

down upon the beard , eA'en Aaron ' s beard ; that Avenfc down to the skirts of his garments ; as the dew of Hermon , and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion : for there the Lord commanded the blessing , even life for evermore . "

Then crossing to the gospel side , and making a genuflexion , he said in secret the prayer of the Holv Ghost ( Deus qui corda fidelium ) , " God who

has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit , graut that Ave may be truly wise in the same Spirit , and ever rejoice in His consolation , through our Lord Jesus Christ . Amen . "

Each brother then repeated after him the Lord ' s Prayer . Descending from the steps of the altar , the Chaplain raised the aspirant from his kneeling jiosition , kissed him on the mouth , and presented him to the Master , Avho saluted him in the same

manner , and then to the brethren . The Grand Master , taking his abacus , or rod of office , ascended his throne , and addressed the new brother as follows : —

" You are UOAV a member of our Order . You have ceased to belong to the Avorld ; your life has ceased to be your own , but lies in jeopardy every hour of the day . Be Avatchful , therefore , and sleep not , that you may be found worthy of an

entrance to the joys of heaven . Your duties will be assigned to you by the Order , and according as you fulfil these duties will your place and rank be in our body . You must neA'er strike or Avound a Christian : Christ having borne all for his flock . You must not swear , for the commandment saith ,