The New " United Orders."

The- " Masonic Knights Templar" existed for about a century . Few well informed Masons will be found seriously to maintain that there was the sli ghtest connection , except in name , between them and the old chivalric body that after having supplied the text for many a brilliant page of

lnediteval history , at last went down before the united Craft of Kings and Pope . The "United Orders" repudiate the Masonic prefix , and retain connection with Ereemasonry only to the extent of selecting their members from the Masonic body .

They have therefore ceased to be , in the words of our worthy Bro . Hughan , " either Masonic or chivalric , " and must be considered as a completely new organization , with which , as Freemasons , we have no official connection , and whoso

principlesand influences , as set forth and exercised , are not only divergent from , but in a manner positively antagonistic to those of our time-honoured Institution . ¦ That the Templar body has formally severed its union with Ereemasonry , I consider is a subject of congratulation to the latter society I have always maintained that the " high grades , " so-called ,

commencing in this country with the High Knights Templar , " have been to a great extent injurious to the Craft . The requiring from a Candidate of a profession of Trinitarianism , is . a serious departure from the . toleration of Freemasonry , and-there has been for many years past a gradual

growth of the other objectionable element , exclusiveness on social and ancestral grounds , that will , apparently find full scope and exercise hi regulating the admissions into this new " brotherhood of gentlemen !" Apart from Freemasonry there can of

course be no objection to the formation of any society based on exclusive principles . Outside our Order class distinctions have then - legitimate weight , and if in our Order , comprising as it does representatives of all ranks and classes , there are brethren who

in addition to the " rights and benefits " of Freemasonry , pure and shnple feel the want of , or the wish to add other ties peculiar to those in then' own social sphere , by all means let them have the opportunity of gratifying the aspiration . Onlylet it be

, clearly understood , both by the members of the Masonic body and by those outside its ranks , that the new Order , while confining its membership to those possessing the

Masonic qualification , has no other connection with the Fraternity of Freemasons . The difficulty suggested of the Order of the- Temple being disqualified on its severance from our Order , from administering obligations to its initiates , will hardly be practically inconvenient .

An organization , the Grand Master of which is the Heir Apparent to the throne , will easily take any steps that may be necessary to legalize its proceedings , and have extended to it the same legal protection afforded to the ancient Institution ..

Here in Ireland , the change just completed will probably be more distinctly felt than in England , in consequence of the Chivalric Degrees not being recognized as a part of the Masonic system in the latter country . Here , on the contrary , it has for a long time been the usual assumption . that

the Order of Freemasonry includes all the degrees worked , up to the ' "Supreme Council 33 ° , " and most young Masons , and many older ones' who should know better , have-been trained to regard the various " high grade " orders here , as so many steps

in the Masonic ladder . I need not . now dwell upon the injurious effect such , a theory must exercise upon Craft Masonry , nor stop to emphasise the evil of introducing into a system , claiming to be Masonic , barriers to supposed Masonic advancement , consisting of Religious tests , and . class-: or birthright qualifications . 1 hail , as a step in the right direction , the severance of the

Templar body from the Masonic Order ; and I cannot but be glad ¦ to find carried into operation by those who are considered the leaders of Irish Masonry , and ... who deservedly possess the confidence of :-the Irish brethren , principles for the enunciation of whichI have before now

been'de-, nounced as " revolutionary" in Grand Lodge . A question may arise as to what . part such of us as happen to be members of the Templar Order , may feel called on to take under its new Constitution . . I am disposed to think that its success or its failure

will largely depend on the consistency with which it carries out its principles , and : confines its future admissions to those . qualified according to its proposed standard by birth and social qualifications . . ¦ Now , I have no pretentions to , and , possibly , as a consequence , little or no sympathy with " aristocracy , " and one of : the -greatest attractions in Freemasonry , for-me and