The Knights Templars.

The more probable story is that , at their commencement , Hugo de Payens and his comrades Avent out and brought in the pilgrims , placing them under the charge of the Hospitallers , ancl in all probability lodged in the Hospital themselves ;

but , when they got a house of their own , they devoted themselves entirely to their proper duties of keeping the highways clear of robbers . Their growing importance , and the fame of their brave deeds , would naturally cause envy to arise among

the Hospitallers , and Gerard then equipped a military force , whicli Avas the germ of the celebrated Order of Malta . It is a matter of history , and will be noticed hereafter , that the Hospitallers did not become a purely military body till after

the yearllGS . One thing is evident—the Templars did not spring out of the Order of the Hospital ; and it is also evident that , in the strict sense of the word , the Templars ivere the first military and -religious Order . De Vertot g ives the year 1118

; as the date of the military element appearing in the Order of Malta , and only mentions the Templars in 1128 , ivhereas Wendover and all other writers mention them in 1118 ; so , even by De Vertot's ¦ OAVU showing , the Hospitallers could have no jire-• cedence as to time .

Baldwin I . conferred upon the Hospitallers -considerable privileges , and Pope Innocent IV . . granted them a dispensation , absolving them from the obligations of their original oath . The duties ¦ of the Knights were to fight against the infidel

, and entertain and protect pilgrims . At first they acknowledged the supremacy of the Patriarch of Jerusalem ; but , Avhen riches flowed in upon them , and their influence became extended , the Pope

absolved them from this servitude , and Pius IV . and other pontiffs endoived them with ample privileges , and exempted them from the payment of tithes . Their dress was the black garb of St . Augustine , with a ivhite cross , of eight points , on the breast ; but in the battle-field they changed this robe for a red cassock . Ashmole writes

that , in his time , the Grand Master had the title of Prince of Malta and Goza , and , among his privileges , ivith the Sovereign Pontiff and the Doge of Venice , he sealed in lead . He acknoAvledged the Pope as his head , and the King of

Spain as his patron . The territories of the Order in the various countries Avere presided over by priors ; and in England this officer was called ¦ " Prior Hospitalis St . Johaunis Jerusalem iu nglia , " and sat in Parliament by that title , as

The Knights Templars.

the first Baron of the Kingdom . The wealth of the Knig hts became so enormous , that in the time of Henry III . they possessed in Christendom no fewer than 19 , 000 manors . AVhen Saladin took Jerusalem , the Order retreated to Acre , and in

1308 seized possession of Rhodes , from which , after a gallant defence , they ivere driven forth , in 1522 , by Solyman . They afterwards settled in Malta ; but , in the time of Napoleon , they ivere forced to quit this isle , which fell into the

possession of the British . Subsequently , they settled in Russia , and the Emperor Paul became their Grand Master . The head-quarters of the Knights is now established in Rome , but their wealth and glory are among the things of the past . There

has lately been a talk of reviving the Order in all its pristine magnificence , but we believe the talk never went further than a dinner to inaugurate the proposal . Such ' an association would be an anomaly at the present day . There is a chapel of the Order in London .

Address To All The Grand Lodges Of The Globe.

ADDRESS TO ALL THE GRAND LODGES OF THE GLOBE .

Most Worshipful and Beloved Brethen , —If the Masonic fraternity to which we all adhere with . enthusiasm and affection , has not hitherto been able adequately to fulfil her sublime missionivhich consists in the task of ennobling and

conciliating mankind , and advancing the happiness of man and the victory of the good principle throughout the world—this want of success is obviously due , in the main , to the imperfect organisation of the Craft as a whole .

" Freemasonry is universal , and all the lodges and Freemasons spread all over the world constitute but one lodge . " This sublime thought which clearly and markedly expresses the fundamental idea of our federation has not yet been realised .

To the first of all Grand Lodges , the Grand Lodge of England , the Craft is doubtless greatly indebted , and thankfully acknowledges its great and manifold merits ; yet , it is not to be denied that this Grand Lodge has neglected sufficiently

to guard in every direction , the unity of the institution . The natural consequence of this is , that while spreading- and developing itself in different communities , the Craft very soon assumed a variety of forms and laws , nay changed its very character

to a certain extent , by reason of local circumstances and special requirements , as well as owning the influence of the spirit of the day .