Chapter Xi.

sunt ibi fratres , nisi solum ipse , et socius suus subscriptus . " This " Socius" was William de Middleton , a native of Northumberland , born near NeAvcastle . He corroborated De Clifton in all points . It Avas stated by De Clifton , that Avhen

the arrest of the English Templars Avas known in Scotland , John de Husflete , Preceptor of Blancradok , ancl the others , threw off their habits , fled , and dispersed themselves , " propter scandalum ¦ exorfcum contra ordinem ; " and Ave are told by a

learned French author , that having deserted the Temple , they ranged themselves under the banners of Robert Bruce , aud fought Avith him at Bannockbnrn . Raynouard excuses himself from speculating on the fate of the Scottish Knights in these

words , " Que devinrent—ils ? Ce n ' est pas a moi da souleA er le voile mysfcerieux cle ces inforfcunes : Thistoire publique se taifc , mon devoir est de me taire comme elle . " Legend states , that after the decisive battle of Bannockbnrn , Avhen Scotland

¦ drove the usurping English from her soil , Bruce , an return for their eminent services , formed these Templars into a new body , Avith rules based on those of the orig inal Order . The more probable account is , that they joined , on an equal footing ,

the Knights of St . John , in Scotland ; James the IV . gave a charter , confirming grants by the Kings Malcolm IV ., Alexander IL , Alexander III ., James II ., and James III ., to the Knights of the Hospital and Temple .

The Papal Legate , besides the two Templars , lieard several witnesses unconnected Avith the

Order . Among these Avere Hugh , Abbot of Dunfermline ; Elias , Abbot of Holyrood ; and Gervase , Abbot of Newbotyl . A . dam de Wedale , a Monk of NeAvbotyl , accused the Templars not only of an entire disregard of the rights of

property , and a great inclination " per fas vel nefas " to appropriate the good of others , bufc of an entire want of hospitality to their neighbours , feasting only the rich ancl powerful " timoris causa ne eleemosynas largiantur . " Robert , the Chaplain

of Liston , a neighbour of the Templars , amongst other things , remarked , that he never could find out where any brother of the Temple Avas buried , or that any one had died a natural death . The gravamen of his charge was , that the Templars

were always against the Church •¦ et super hoc laborat publica vox et fama . " Had the worthy Robert possessed a spark of imagination , with the knowledge he already possessed of their being charged with reducing the bodies of their brethren

Chapter Xi.

to dust , and administering it to the younger members of the Order , he might have given a new head to the act of accusation , and made the Scots Templars out to be cannibals and devourera of their brethren . This would have accounted for

none of them dying a natural death or being buried like Christians . Such a charge would have received ready credence iu those days ; and perhaps , Robert , by such a notable discovery , Avould have been raised to high ecclesiastical dignity .

The chief circumstances to which all the witnesses forty-one in number ) deponed , were , the privacy ) Avith which the Templars conducted their proceedings , so as to baffle the curiosity of prying priests , and their living in great state , giving splendid

banquets , to Avhich these indignant , but very pious fathers , Avere never invited . The Order , as in England , was found innocent ; and it is a curious circumstances , no act Avas passed suppressing them in Scotland , as was done in every other

state in Europe . This renders all the more probable the idea , that they joined the Order of St . John . [ To be continued . )

Masonic Discipline.—Iii.

MASONIC DISCIPLINE . —III .

By CRUX . The first point of discip line relating to Masonry is that every brother should be a member of a loclge . Otherwise he cannot be said to have any vital connection with the Fraternity . There is no

doubt that the motto , " Once a captain , always a captain , " is applicable in a civil sense to Freemasons ; but , nevertheless , although brethren are bound to recognise one another , yet a difference of fraternal cordiality will always be felt towards

those who are working members of a loclge , and others who are , comparatively speaking , outsiders . We do not intend to assert that circumstances may not arise which render it impossible for a brother to belong to any lodge , but with the

exception of poverty , old age , and bodily infirmity , there are none which we regard as valid excuses for not actively participating in Masonic labours . A brother who is not connected Avith any lodge , although he ' is virtually severed from

the parent tree , yet , for the reason given above , cannot be held as absolutely dead to Masonry . Bufc he can in reality care lfcfctle or nothing about the interests of the Craft ; he has to all intent and purposes renounced the science , if it has not re-