Address Of The V. H. And E. Sir Kt. Col. W.J. B. Macleod Moore.

most probably introduced into the speculative system of this high grade of Masonry by some of the continental members of the chi valric Order of the Temple , now obsolete , which it is said had been revived and continued from the time of the martyrdom of Be Molaiand that the order thus preserved

, was aftei-Avards grafted on the English York rite of Freemasonry . There appears to be some foundation for this theory , as the Englith modern Templars conferred formally years , iu the body of their encampmentsthe degrees knoAvn as the " Rose

, Croix , " IIOAV the ISth degree of the A . & A . S . Rite , and the "Kadosh , " the 30 th degree of the same rite ; and it Avas only a feAV years since , that these grades Avere surrendered by the greater number of the encampments in England to the A . & A . S .

Rite , on its establishment there , Avhile they are still retained by a few of the most ancient of the bodies of English Templars . The order called "Knight Templar Priest , " or " Holy Wisdom , " Avas also a grade conferred in the encampments , claiming to have been instituted in Avhat Avas called the

Year of Revival , 1080 , and was the religious ceremony constituting chaplains of the order . The "Rose Croix" taught the Templar his faith—the greatest and most important truths of Christianity—that by Christandby His name onlycan he be saved .

The " Kadosh" Avas instituted to keep in perpetual remembrance the constancy , courage and sufferings of the Templar Knights , and the martyrdom of their Grand Master Jacques De Molai , at Paris , on 11 th March , 1313 . The reception of the Templars Avas ahvays in secret , none but members of the order being present ; and their formulas were hidden from the

vulgar eye . We have , therefore , reason for supposing that many of the features of the esoteric communications at recerjtions have been preserved and handed CIOAVU to us in the ritual of installation , by its association with Freemasonrv as a secret

society . The Order of Malta , originally knoAvn as the Knights Hospitallers of St . John of Jerusalem , Avas a distinct society from that of the Templars . This grade keeps in remembrance this once famous order , and its amalgamation of a portion of the femplars , and the union that took place in Scotland betAveen these two orders . The old Order of St . John and Malta never had

a secret system of initiation , or any connection Avhatever . legendary or otherwise , with Freemasonry until the degree called Knights of Malta appeared during the last century , connected with the Templars in the York rite , but quite distinct in its organization from the military and political Order of

Malta then occupying that island , and has so continued to the present time . The combined orders are HOAV known as the United , Religious and Military Orders of Knights Templar and Knights Hospitallers of St . John of JerusalemPalestineRhodesand

, , , Malta . The assumption of the name " Palestine" is only to be accounted for as the Templars and Knights of St . John resided there for several years . " Rhodes " and " Malta" from the Hospitallers of St . John , not the Templars , having held

possession of those islands—that of " Rhodes , " for 200 years after they Avere forced out of tho Holy Laud ; and , when driven from that island by " Soliman the Magnificent , " the Emperor Charles V . of Spain , iu 1530 , gave them Malta , Avhere they remained until it was surrendered to the French in 1796 , and the political poAvor of the order abolished .

The installation of H . E . Highness as Grand Master of the Templar Order , and the careful revision of the Statutes , in accordance with ancient usages , has materially tended to restore it to its proper position . Few can deny , excepting those

determined to find fault , that a thorough revision Avas required . If the order is to be considered ( and Avhat else is it ]) as representing the Templars of the Crusades , it Avas surely necessary to folloAv out the ori ginal organization as nearly as the

usages of the present age would admit . My OAVU conviction remains unshaken as to the legitimacy of considering ourselves as representing the ancient Order of the Temple ; and in this I am certainly not singularfor at the installation of H . R .

, Highness as Grand Master , the Arch-Chancellor of the order , Judge ToAvnsend , LL . D ., of Dublin , in his beautiful address , speaks of the Prince having been admitted a Templar under the auspices of a Sovereign who claimed to be a lineal successor of the

ancient Grand Masters of the order , alluding to Sweden . There , it is asserted , one of the original members of the " Order of Christ , " in Portugal , the name assumed in that kingdom by the Templars after their