Ar00100

( Contents . PAGE . The Templars and Freemasonry—By Lupus 81 A Public Order of Merit— By Lupus 83 The Lodge of Glasgow St . John—By Bro . W . P . Buchan 83 How I Spent my Five Weeks'Leave 85 Masonic Jottings—No . 6 88 The Rise and Purposes of Speculative Masonry 88

The Origin of the Lodge St . Ayles , Anstruther 89 Masonic Notes and Queries 89 Correspondence 91 Masonic Moms 94 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival 94 CRAFT LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 94 Provincial 95

Malta 98 Royal Arch 99 Reviews 99 Professor Anderson and the Freemasons of Dundee 99 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 100 To Correspondents 100

The Templars And Freemasonry.

THE TEMPLARS AND FREEMASONRY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JANUARY 29 , 1870 .

By LUPUS . After the recent statement of "A Masonic Student , " I cau have no doubt that the late Mr . Winthrop did publish the letter alluded to : but I should think the assertion that no one excepting Freemasons could understand the records at Malta , must be in some measure qualified . I am aware

that Mr . Winthrop was a Mason and a Masonic Templar ; and that he was well acquainted with the Maltese records is proved by the complimentary mention of his name in the preface to Colonel Porter ' s history of the Order ; still it is somewhat

past the limits of belief that the records of auy fraternity could be only understood by the members of another and antagonistic brotherhood . I think Mr . Winthrop jejined the Templars subsequently to the period referred to by " Student . " I may add that I believe Colonel Porter is not a Mason .

I agree that the evidence of a secret reception by the Templars is reasonably satisfactory ; but with reference to the Order of St . John , I go farther than " Student" appears at present inclined to do . It seems to me clear , from the evidence

in our hands , that there was , and is ( here I speak positively ) , a ceremonial of installation in the latter Order , but no secret reception . The ancient establishment ofthe Order at Malta was not broken up until 1798 , in which year , on the 14 th of June ,

its capitulation by the Kni ghts was signed . It became then distributed iu various fragments ; individual members took service with foreign powers , or settled in places of residence as their inclination , and perhaps their opportunities dic-

The Templars And Freemasonry.

tated . A few of the conventual chaplains remained '' in Malta , as also did two or three Knights , the last of whom . died there about 1854 . The main number of the Order settled in several kingdoms and states , preserved their original constitution ,

and can all be readily accounted for at this moment . Many Englishmen received the decoration of the Order shortly before aud after the capitulation of Malta , amongst whom may be enumerated Lord Nelson , Sir James Lawrence , Sir Home Riggs

Popham , Admiral Sir William Sydney Smith , Yice Admiral Sir William Johnstone Hope , Sir Joshua Colles Meredith , Bart ., and Sir Warwick H . Tonkin . Several of these Knights were well known to persons now living who are friends of

mine , but much older than myself , and from whom I have derived information which thus becomes almost direct evidence . I have had the opportunity , too , to . peruse the original autograph letters of an officer employed on staff service two or three

years before the loss of Malta , giving descriptions of the ceremonials of the Order at a time when he was enjoying the personal civilties of the 69 th Grand Master . George IV ., William IV ., and Prince Albert each held the decorations of the Order of St . John .

The Masonic Order of St . John appears to have been always combined with that of the Templars until 1853 , aud in this form only does it seem possible it could have any connection with Freemasons , and then only through Scotland , where

the Orders did no doubt amalgamate , whilst all the other branches of the original Order of St . John are yet alive to claim their own . But even as regards Scotland , we must not forget the interests of truth , and remembering

this , there remains much to be reconciled if the claims of the present Masonic Orders are to find footing . In consequence of the general persecution of the Order ( 1307 ) , it is recorded that the

Templars of Scotland amalgamated with the Order of St . John , and by a Charter of James IV . ( who died in 1513 ) , they appear to be then treated as amalgamated Orders . It may be fairly assumed that they so continued to the time of the last

Preceptor ( Tovphichen ) of the Order of St . John in Scotland , Sir James Sandilands , who , iu 1553 , abandoned the Roman Catholic faith by the persuasion of his intimate friend , John Knox , the Reformer . He still for some time retained his office j but ultimately , owing to his dissatisfaction