The Knights Templars.

protection , when the Templars rolled them forward to the attack , Ebn-Nejaz * , a brazier of Damascus , set them on fire hy discharging upon them a highly inflammable and unextinguishable composition , from brass pots . These machines had cost the Order an

enormous sum of money , and the brethren were much chagrined at their destruction . In the month of July , several short but sanguinary conflicts took place , in all of which the military Orders supported their name for dauntless courage . In one of these conflicts the Templars lost several

of their bravest brethren through the incautious conduct of the Christians . Perfectly unacquainted with the military tactics of the Musselmen , and deaf to the remonstrances of the Templars , when Saladin ' s army broke , and pretended to flee , the Christians followed

hotly and disorderly in pursuit , whereupon the Sultan charged the Templars at the head of his reserve , and completely surrounded them . The Knights , however , instantly closed their ranks , made a desperate resistance , and succeeded in cutting their way to the camp through the dense masses of the

enemy , hut leaving dead upon the field of battle many a gallant comrade . But Saladin had little cause to boast of this encounter . For every Templar that fell , ten of his men bit the dust . Although losing great numbers of their troops needlessly in these conflicts , the Christians never seem

to have grown intimate with the Musselmen mode of fight , for battle after battle , no sooner did the enemy break and flee , than they abandoned themselves to pillage , and fell an easy prey to the Parthian foe . The Templars in vain remonstrated with the leaders ,

upon this dangerous and absurd practice , but they were either unable or unwilling to curb the reckless plunderers , and thus not only did the pillagers themselves fall victims to their cupidity , but Gerard de Ridefort and the Templars lost their most precious lives . Had examples been made of these pillagers

, ¦ and a score or so of them strung up , victory would have crowned the arms of the Crusaders ; but where there were so many leaders , aud every one heedless of command , saA ^ e from his immediate chief , it is not to be wondered at that success in these encounters ¦ smiled so faintly on the Christian arms .

In spite of these drawbacks , the siege of Acre was ¦ conducted with so much skill , that the inhabitants were reduced to the greatest straights . By means of pigeons , divers , and the like , and by taking every advantage offered by the carelessness of the Christians , they still succeeded in keeping up communications with "Saladin , who assisted them as opportunity presented itself . By such help the fall of ihe city was delayed .

The Knights Templars.

The Templars used every precaution to prevent supplies being conveyed to Acre , and to cut off all communication by the sea , armed one of their galleys , which they despatched to capture the Tower of Flies , a strong fortress built upon a rock , surrounded by the sea , and commanding the port of Acre . They

were unsuccessful in this attempt , for the attacked , by means of their destructive fire , set the galley in flames and all on board perished . On another occasion , when the Templars had constructed two immense battering machines , the besieged succeeded in

destroying them with the fire . f Finding these schemes futile , it was resolved to reduce the city by famine . ( To be continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

GEAND LODGE OE ANCIENT MASONS IN GEEMANY . See the communications , pages 128 and 147 of the present volume , and see Mr . Wyatt Papworth ' s paper , "Masons of England and their Works , " Freemasons' Magazine , vol . vii ., page 169 . The words taken from my bundle of literary and Masonic

n . otes are , "It is said to be clearly ascertained that the Grand Lodge of ancient Masons in Germany was not formed until so late as the year 1452 . " The words of Mr . Papworth are , " In Germany , it may be mentioned , it is clearly ascertained that the Grand Lodge of Masons of that country was not formed until so late as 1452 . "—C . P . COOPEE .

CHAPTEE OB CHAETEE . An edition of Ahiman Rezon , published in Dublin by a worthy brother , and dedicated to William Earl of Blessington , among other curiosities has a copy of the Chapter of Incorporation of Free and Accepted Masons . I suppose it means charterand not

chap-, ter , as it begins Avith George the Third by the grace of God , & c . Can any of your readers inform me if the said charter is still iu existence and applicable to Freemasonry in the present day ?—V . B .

PEEPDEXITX . An Oxford Fellow-Craft writes in what he calls a " pitiable perplexity . '' Some extracts from recent numbers of the Freemasons' Magazine Avhich he encloses will explain this perplexity . I subjoin them . There are some introductory words Avhich I have

thought it better to omit . " The first eminent brother , member of the German Union of Freemasons ( writes my young correspondent ) , affirms that much good has been done to the Craft by the labours of such Masons as Bro . H . B . "Whiteauthor of an interesting article on

Free-, masonry and Christianity , as their researches have culminated in placing the keystone of Revelation in tiie arch of the Craft . Again , he quite agrees with Bro . White as to the Christian nature of ancient