(No. 14.)—Bro. Victor Hugo At Home.

a Freemason , has excited surprise in some quarters , but the evidence upon the point is conclusive . Without referring to other | proofs , our esteemed Bro . Dr . Hopkins informs us that Victor Hugo himself admitted to the doctor that he belonged

to the Craft , adding , that on account of political matters in France , he could not continue in connection with Masonry , more especially considering who Avere the heads of the Craft in his native country . It is , therefore au indisputable fact that

Victor Hugo is a Freemason , Avhile , at the same time , Ave can scarcely Avonder if his political sympathies may have sometimes induced the wish to repudiate all knoAvledge of French Masonry .

In future ages the Avorld Avill remember with ever-deepening interest the friendship Avhich now subsists between two of the greatest Freemasons of our days—Garibaldi and Victor Hugo . Bro . General Garibaldi in his island home at Caprera ,

and Bro . Victor Hugo in his island home La Belle Ouernesey , corresponding on the great problems of the nineteenth century , are exercising an influence Avhich succeeding generations will feel no less than our own . As the genius of Scott

has made classic ground of Scotland , and Charlotte Bronte of Howarth , so Guernsey will hereafter become hallowed ground , and pilgrims from afar will come to see the haunts that Hugo loved , and the places he has chosen to celebrate by his matchless powers .

CONCLUSION . Thus endeth our "Notes on Freemasonry in France and the Channel Islands . " As we lay doAvn our pen Ave remember that Gerald Massey has said , " Life at most is but a meeting and a

parting . " Yesterday we were among our French and Channel Islands brethren—to-day we are divided by wide distance , and the waters of the ocean . But we Avould fain hope that the associations of the past may not be lost in the future , but

that the fraternal feelings Avhich have arisen from our visit to Jersey , Guernsey , and France may increase until , under the direction of the Great Architect , every brother finds his place in the Grand Lodge of Eternity .

In the progress of our task we have only desired to afford information , and to promote the great principles of our Order . We trust that we have been able to show with reference to our statements , that we "had reason for the faith that was in us , " while at the same time we have been

(No. 14.)—Bro. Victor Hugo At Home.

anxious to correct errors Avherever they have been found to exist . To those brethren Avho have discussed Avith us matters upon which diversity of opinion cannot but be expected , Ave desire to express our conviction that Ave have written frankly ,

freely , and without pi'ejudice . And to the many readers of the MAGAZINE who have assured us of their approval we say farewell , Avith every probability that some day Ave may meet again . J . A . H .

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . ( Continued from page 469 ) . BOOK III . —CHAPTER III .

GKAND MASTEE—PHILIP DE PLESSIS . There is no doubt that , like the generality of the religious Orders , the Templars in Europe had fallen sadly away from their early purity and simplicity , but this is net to be wondered at Avhen the

leaders of the church , and the monkish fraternities , were notoriously , openly , and shamelessly corrupt . One has only to open the various chronicles , Avritten by monks themselves to see the disgusting lives led by the clergy , and which neither the

Bulls of the Popes , nor the commands of the immediate superior bishops could put a stop to . We must therefore not choose out the Templars as sinning beyond all the other . They Avere men of their time , and neither better nor worse , although

braver , than their neighbours . On the 1 st April , 1205 , King Almeric having eaten plentifully of fish Avas taken alarmingly ill , and died at Acre . Before the end of the year Queen Isabella and Almeric's infant daughter

also died . The crown of Jerusalem then descended to Mary , Isabella ' s daughter , by Conrad de Montferrat . This Princess was fourteen when she

succeeded to the throne , and the Templars and Hospitallers , who Avere her guardians , ruled both in camp and cabinet , and according to the " Centuriatores Magdeburg , " Avith zeal and success . * When she Avas seventeen years of age , the Knights

sent to the King of France , requesting him to choose a husband for her , and his choice fell upon Count John of Brienne . f Still eagerly bent upon driving the Musselmen