Masonic Antiquities, Documents, &C. Jerusalem Encampment, Manchester.

"April 23 rd . 1797 . —Sir David Torr chosen R . G . C .. April 8 th . " 1798 . —The officers chosen were Sir Wm . Young , R . G . C ., & c . "Nov . 1798 . " Here there was only three members present , " and " their patience was tried , some of the brethren having been absent " six months . " No further meeting is registered , for four years . " J erusalem Conclave , —Nov . 24 th , 1802 . " This is the first

intimation of a distinctive title . A competent number of the old members were got together , and a newly-admitted joining member , " Sir George Eggleston elected E . G . M . " ( sic ) ( a visitor in 1791 and at other periods ) , " was regularly installed and took the chair and " then proposed Sir Gilbert Robinson as 1 st . C , and Sir David " Torr as 2 nd . Cap . " The fee was raised to 3 xs . 6 d . " Feby .

" 13 th . 1803 . —The present members agreed that an annual dinner " or feast be held on the nth . day of March "—i . e ., the anniversary of the martyrdom of Jacques de Molay . The minutes at this period mention the title of installation as "Knights Templar of St . John of Jerusalem , " and this was generally in use . Previously to this time great reticence is observed on every thing respecting

the working . There now occurs an interval of one year , and the next meeting entered is on the 29 th . of April , 1 S 04 , when Sir David Torr appears as "R . G . C " Although it is a difficult matter to say what either the York or the Dunckerley working Avas at this period , yet a copy of the Templar lectures as used in 1801 has been placed in my hands

, by the kindness of Sir Knt . Thomas Lonsdale Bold , which may be derived from those of the latter , though the Officers are similar also to Encampments working under Craft Warrants . The Preface is as follows : —

" The Order of High Knights Templar consists of 21 Members " assembled in Grand Chapter and Royal Encampment . The Grand " Master or Captain General is the head , with Captains Commanding , '" Standard Bearers , & c . At all processions are carried a sword and " scabbard , with a blue silk cushion fringed with black . Each Knight " a broad ribbon across the breast hanging down to the left side , " tied with blue ribbon in a bow knotwith the star of the Order

, " on the left breast . At the bottom of the ribbon or scarf hangs a " short sword or dagger , also the image or picture of St . John hangs " pendent to a blue silk ribbon at the middle of the breast . The " habit or ensign of the Order are a marble girdle , caj > , star and garter " or cross . The cross or star of the Order is made of blue silk twist " with gold irradiated with beams of blue . The Knihts of this Order

g " are esteemed clearly the greatest military order in the world . " The manner of electing a Knight of this Order is , when the Grand " Master or Captain General , with the consent of the whole desire to " install a candidate , he draws a letter on which is the cross of the Order , " which is sent to the candidate as follows : — " Conclave of ¦ A . D . " 1801 . Wo the Captain General & c . & cof the Grand Encampment of

, , " the Most Noble , Holy , Invincible , and Magnanimous Order of High " Knights Templar , at our Castle , Conclave , or Encampment , in " Commanding : — " To A . B . Send Greeting : —For the zeal and fidelity you have shewn