The Knights Templars.

appear to have held a very important position in the Order . No woman was allowed to belong to the Order , otherwise than as stated in Chapter 55 quoted hereafter , for by Chapter 66 it was considered

dangerous to join sisters Avith the Knights in their holy profession , for the ancient enemy had drawn away many from the right path to Paradise through the society of women . Therefore , that the flower of righteousness might always flourish

among them , it Avas advised that the custom might thenceforth be utterly done aAvay with . The Knights of St . John had Avomen attached to their Order , AVIIO ware called afterwards , " Nuns of Malta ; " and they attended upon the sick , and

discharged duties similar to those of the present Sisters of Mercy . Chapter 55 provides for the Affiliated Members , in these words , " We permit you to have married brethren in this manner , if such should seek to participate in the benefit of

your fraternity : Let both the man and his wife grant , from and after their death , their respective portions of property , and whatever more they

acquire in after life , to the unity of the common Chapter , and in the interim , let them exercise an honest life , and labour to do good to the brethren , but they are not permitted to appear in the Avhite habit and Avhite mantle . If the husband dies first ,

he must leave his portion of the patrimony to the brethren , and the wife shall have her maintenance out of the residue , and let her depart therewith ; for we consider it most improper that such women should remain in one and the same house with the

brethren who have promised chastity unto God . The advantages derived by these Affiliated Members were the protection of the Order , no small safeguard in these days , when blood was

shed like water , and a man ' s life of no more account than a dog's , and a participation in its privileges , sucn as exemption from ecclesiastical interdicts , which secured them the occasional service of the mass , and Christian burial in

consecrated ground . These advantages being of the greatest importance , we find men and Avomen , knights and burghers , paying considerable sums into the treasury of the Knights , Avhile alive , for affiliation , and leaving them the residue of their

fortunes at their deaths . This came in after times to be abused , as we will describe in a future chapter . Among the affiliated members are the names of Fulk , King of Jerusalem , Henry I . and Henry II .

The Knights Templars.

of England , several kings of European states , several popes , and Pope Innocent III ., one of the ablest successors of St . Peter , acknowledges with much pride such a position in the body . Another class consisted of the Donates and

Oblates , who were generally youths destined to the service of the Order , and when of mature age they were received into it—or they were youths who gratuitously aided and assisted the Order in admiration of its sanctity and excellence .

Among these were princes and priests , as well as other persons . These persons , however , were attached to the Order Avithout taking any vows . According to the custom of the Barons of the Holy Land , the Templars employed a vast number

of retainers aud mercenaries , both cavalry and foot , which were commanded by the Knights . According to the rule , they Avere habited in black or broAvn dresses , to distinguish them from the professed . This was a wise provision , for it

protected the Templars from the effects of any excesses committed by these hirelings , who , fighting for their pay , were cursed with the worst vices of the camp . ( To le continued . )

Oration

ORATION

Delivered hj BRO . L . P . MUTIIAM , D . Prov . Q . M ., 0 . Deacon of England , at the Consecration of the Metham and the Dims Lodge , at Plymouth , on Tuesday , 18 Wt inst . To-day two more are added to the long roll of lodges which adorn our province ; a subject of congratulation this to all who believe that

Freemasonry tends to enlarge the mind , to bind the nations of the earth , however distant or however differing from each other , in the bonds of universal brotherhood , to banish strife and dissension between communities and between individuals , and ,

in short , to fulfil the God-like mission of " Peace on earth and goodAYill to man . " It is by such accessions that the cosmopolitan character of our Institution is best maintained and its influence most firmly established . For what man is there ,

possessing a rightly constituted mind , who does not share with us an earnest desire for the bettering of humanity , the renovation of society , and the coming of that good time when the social and moral evils under Avhich the earth has groaned so

long , shall be © ntirely removed by the softening influence of a newborn and better nature ? Who is there , wiaatlier Mason or not , wbo > does not long