Le Grand-Orient De France.

The thirty-three degrees of French Masonry are divided under the Scottish rite into seven classes : The first class is composed of lodges ; the second , third , fourth , and fifth classes meet in chapters ; the Gth class , and the 28 th , 29 th , and

30 th degree are convoked in councils ; the 31 st degree is summoned as a tribunal ; the 32 nd degree sits as consistory ; and the 33 rd degree form the Supreme Conseil . The thirty-three degrees are , in consequence of

their facilities , much easier of attainment than in England , and the gradation of the degrees is precise and regular . At no distant date the attitude of the Grand Lodge of England with reference to this matter will have to be again

considered , and without believing that the French system would necessarily work well with us , we think that some simple and effective means of regulating the higher degrees might be adopted .

The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . ( Continued from page 204 . ) BOOK IL—CHAPTER VI . —( contd . ) The Sub Marshal , Standard Bearer , Farrier ( a

most important character in the Middle Ages ) , Cook and Preceptor of the coast of Acre , were elected from the serving brethren . They were also often Preceptors of Houses , and placed over the various estates and farms as stewards . Acre being

the seaport at which all the shipments of the Order to and from Europe took place , the Preceptory there was an office of toil , and required a person well acquainted with commercial business to manage it . It was thus unsuitable for a Knight ,

and , consequently , fell to the care of a servingbrother of experience and eminence . The Turcopilar commanded the light horse , and was under the direction of the Marshal . He was allowed four horses .

The Guardian of the Chapel had the care of the portable chapel , and the vessels of the Altar . In the field the Templars had always such a chapel . It was a round tent , and pitched in the centre of the Templars ' encampment . The brethren

surrounded it , for the double reason of protecting it carefully , and the more easily of attending divine service . In this chapel was carried the wood of the True Cross .

Retired from the world , says Michaud , tire-Templars had no other country but Jerusalem ,, no other family but that of Jesus Christ . Wealth ,, evils , and dangers , were all in common amongsfcthem ; one will , one spirit , directed all their ,

actions and all their thoughts all were united in . one house , which appeared to be inhabited but by . one man . They lived in great austerity , and the . severer their discipline became , the stronger appeared the bonds by which it enchained their

hearts and their wills . Arms formed their only decoration ; precious stones were never seen upon , their persons ; and in their houses , for ornaments ,, abounded lances , bucklers , swords , aud standards , taken from the infidel . They feared neither

thenumber nor the fury of their foes , proud to conquer , happy to die for Jesns Christ , believing victory or death proceeded direct from God . In

spite of the weight of their armour , nothing could . exceed the rapidity with which they passed to places the most distant . At the same time , they wera to be found fighting in Egypt , on the Euphrates , and on the Orontes , and only left these ,,

their customary theatres of victory , to threaten the principality of Damascus or some city of Arabia . The battle-field was the delight of the Templars . To fly from the presence of a foe , however unequal the fight , was the height of dishonour :

to abandon a friend , or to retire before an enemy , an action equally infamous in the sight of God . and man . Thus the principle of honour took the place of discipline , and made them terrible in the sight of an enemy . In battle , their close ranks

their lofty stature , their war horses covered with , steel like themselves , overthrew and scattered like ohaff before the wind the hordes of Saracens . In

every part of Palestine they were to be found ,, recognising no law but victory , and asking * only of their officers pre-eminent examples of valour . They did not wait for the approach of an enemy ; they , went forth to meet them without any attempt at

concealment , and whatever might be the disparity in number , attacked and put to flight hosts , or fell , man by man , in the combat . They were the guardians of the Holy Cross , and on the march , formed the vanguard of the army , while the

Hospitallers formed the rear . In the field , the Templars formed the right wing , and the Hospitallers the left . At the call of the Marshal , the Templars mounted , and proceeded at a walk or small troton their march , which , on account of the heat of Palestine , took place at night , the Standard