2. The marshal, of that of Auvergne. 7. The grand chancellor, of that of Castile. 8. And the turcopolier,* or captain-general of the cavalry, of that of Anglo Bavaria. In time of war the knights wear over their clothes a scarlet surcoat in the form of a dalmatic, which is embellished before and behind with a broad white cross; such being the armorial bearing of the order. But in time of peace, they wear, when in ceremony, a long black mantle, on the left side of which is sewed a cross of white linen, having eight equal points. And whatsoever be their ordinary dress, this cross must be worn by such as are bailiffs, or grand-crosses, and commanders of the order. Upon their breasts, or from the button hole of their coats, they wear a similar cross of gold enamelled with white: it is surmounted with an imperial crown for such knights, as are of that language, (Germany) and with a regal one for those of the seven other languages. The device which is in the four widest angles of the cross, indicate to which language the knight belongs. The ordinary dress of the grand-master consists of a cassock, or surcoat of black tobine or cloth; it is open before, and is girt about his body with a belt, from which hangs a purse to indicate, that he is the treasurer of the poor and needy: over this he wears a garment of black velvet, upon the left side of which, the cross of the order ap "Tarcopolier, is a term appertaining to the order of Malta, which, previous to the reformation, was the title of the chief of the language of England. Turcopole signified anciently in the Levant, a light-horseman, or a kind of dragoon. The Turcopolier had, in this quality, the command of the cavalry, and of the English marine guards of the order. The military orders gave this name to those light-armed cavaliers, who were the esquires, or serving-brothers, of the knights-hospitalers of Saint John, or knights of Malta, of the Templars, and Teutonic knights." An Imperial spread eagle, denotes the German tongue, or nation: Fleura. de-Lis, the Provencal, the Auvergnat, and the French: a Castle, that of Castile: a Lion, that of Leon, or Arragon: and those of Italy, vary according to the states of the Princes in which the commandaries are situated. Some adopt the Imperial spread Eagle; others the Fleur-de-Lis; in consequence of their possessions being in such, or such dominion as appertain to Princes of the Houses of Austria, or Bourbon. Note by the Editor. pears. He likewise wears the same round his neck, pendant from a rich black watered ribbon, of the breadth of three fingers. The mantle which the knights receive, when they take their vows, is black; and on the ribbon of the order, the mysteries of the passion, sufferings, and death of our Lord and Saviour, are represented in embroidery. The sleeves of this mantle are about a yard long, and one and a half in breadth. The ends are pointed. The dress of the knights-grand-crosses, when they assist at divine service, is a sort of garment, called clocia, or cloak. It is open before, and has large sleeves, and on the left shoulder and breast, is the cross of the order. The jewel-cross, or badge, is worn pendant from the ribbon. They wear their swords upon such occasions. When they assist in council, they wear the same dress buttoned: the grand-cross is worn upon the breast; but the sword and ribbon of investiture are laid aside, being reserved only for the grand ceremonies of the order.* From the time of its foundation until the loss of the Island of Rhodes, this order flourished in a state of unabating splendour; and when established at Malta, it rose again from its ashes. Its situation seems at present extremely precarious. The English are at this juncture masters of the island; and a schism prevails among the members. The transactions relative to this illustrious body of Christian militia, so long and so justly considered as one of the strongest bulwarks of Europe; and which have taken place since it was captured by the French in 1798, are of so extraordinary and complicated a nature, that time alone can unravel them. The last grand master, duly elected, was Ferdinand Baron de Hompesch. On the 17th of July, 1797, he succeeded to that dignity, upon the death of Emanuel de Rohan de Polldux, the last grand master. The bailiwick of Brandenburg, now an appanage of the royal family of Prussia, is a branch of this order, which at the time of the reformation was dismembered therefrom. It was confirm *See Vertot's account of the origin of the order, as recorded by Grand Master Webb, in his work entitled, "The Freemason's Monitor."--Compiler. "When the grand-master dies, they suffer no vessel to go out of the Island till another is chosen, lest the pope should interfere in their election, which is conducted as follows: the several seminaries name two knights each, allowing also two for the English; and those sixteen from among themselves choose eight; those eight choose a knight, a priest and a serving brosher; and they three, out of the sixteen great crosses, elect the grand master." See CLARK's Hist. pag. 50. Vol. 2. ed to the elector of Brandenburg by the treaty of Westphalia, in 1648; and the decorations worn by the knights of this branch, are in every respect similar to those of the order of Malta. Of this order, a junior prince of the house of Brandenburg is always grand master. H. R. H. prince Ferdinand of Prussia, great uncle to his reigning majesty, is at present invested with that dignity; to which the king of Prussia enjoys the exclusive nomination. On the 24th of November, 1798, Paul first, the emperor of Russia, assumed the dignity of grand master of this order. Although we have derived equal assistance and information from Mr. Clark's concise history, with respect to the notes we have added to that of the order of Malta, and for which he has our particular thanks; nevertheless we must request the reader to observe, that with equal justice, we might have quoted the history of the Knights of Malta, by the Abbe de Vertot." "Bridone's Tour," and several modern writers, whose works treat of this order, and who express themselves in nearly the same terms. Vertot, one of the authors before named, amongst other extraordinary accounts of the Knights, states, that a Templar and a citizen of Beziers, having been apprehended for some crime, and committed together to a dungeon, for want of a priest confessed each other; that the citizen, having heard the Templar's confession, in order to save his own life; accused the order to Philip, king of France; charging them, on the authority of what his fellow prisoner had told him, with idolatry, sodomy, robbery, and murder; adding, that the Knight Templars being secretly Mahometans, each Knight, at his admission into the order, was obliged to renounce Jesus Christ, and to spit on the cross, in token of his abhorrence of it. Philip, on hearing these accusations, pardoned the citizen, and disclosed to the pope this extraordinary confession, with a request that their order should be suppressed. Not only every Knight Templar must know to a certainty the absolute falsehood of these charges, but every unprejudiced reader of Vertot's history must perceive that the whole of this accusation was the production of Philip's own brain, in order to accomplish his long wished for object of suppressing the order, and getting possession of their vast riches in his dominions. It is therefore evident, that the story of the Templar's confession was all a forgery, and that the citizen was no other than the tool of Philip, who, to ensure his own pardon, was prevailed on to make oath of such a confession having been made to him by the Templar. This historian proceeds to say, that in consequence of this accusation, the Knight Templars in France, and other parts of the pope's dominions, were imprisoned by his order, and put to the most exquisite tortures, to make them confess themselves guilty. They, however, bore these tortures with the most heroic fortitude, persisting to the last in asserting their own innocence and that of their order. In addition to these proceedings, the same author observes, that pope Clement, in the year 1312, issued his bull for the annihilation of the order of Knights Templars, which he caused to be published throughout every country in Christendom. He at the same time gave their possessions to the Knights of Malta, which appropriation of the Templar's estates was assented to by most of the sovereigns in Europe; and there is now extant among the English statutes, an act of parliament, whereby, after setting forth that the order of the Templars has been suppressed, their possessions in England are confirmed to the order of St. John. Those most conversant with Masonry, will not hesitate to admit, in the fullest extent, this part of the historian's account; for it is a melancholy fact, that even in this enlightened age, the head of the church of Rome, who styles himself infallible, with many of his minor auxilliaries, have, from time to time, issued their bulls and proclamations, not only against this order, but every thing relating to Freemasonry. Who does not know, that even in the United States many worthy brethren have been compelled to withdraw from that social intercourse which is the concomitant of all true masons, or forfeit all claim to church-membership; and may I not add, dreadful to relate, all hopes of future happiness. What well informed mason, may I not ask, is not well assured, that some of their order, renowned for virtues, I mean the christain virtues, which are inseparable from true Masonry, have been denied christian burial, for no other crime, than because they were Freemasons. That these things are so, we know, but why they are so, let those who practise them say, and let them justify their conduct, not with Masons, but with those who know it only by name-let them come forward boldly, we court investigation, and are fully prepared to refute calumny, and vindicate the rules of an Order, which next to Divine Revelation, is, as has been before remarked, the richest behest from heaven to man. Charity, however, induces our pen to add, that these misguided zealots are probably unable to discriminate between the conduct of real Masons, and those miscreants, who according to professor Robinson and the Abbe Barreuil, have, under the character of Illuminati, miscalled Masonry, deluged the world in blood. Will any person not actually deprived of his reasonable facul ties, conceive for a moment, that most of the crowned heads of Europe, with a host of nobility and gentry in their train, would be among the most forward to promote and inculcate the principles of an institution which has for its tendency. the subversion of the virtue and allegiance of their subjects. But why need we cross the Atlantick, or call in the aid of monarchs or princes to prop our flourishing institution? If it were necessary, we could add, that a Washington was the friend and patron of Masons, and not unfrequently presided at their meetings, and that his love for the brethren and their work, ceased only at his dissolution. We might also add a Franklin, a Hamilton, with a host of worthies, and conclude, by observing, that one of the most accomplished statesmen our country can boast, at the present day, considers it an honour to preside at the head of ancient Masonry in America. If it should be said, that we are in any respect deviating from an established rule by indirectly introducing either religion or politicks in our work: let it be remembered, that we are bound to expose and refute calumny. It would indeed show a criminal indifference to suffer our excellent institution to be traduced without raising our standard; nay, as knights, unconnected by the foregoing degrees, we are bound to protect our holy code; and we will defend it, notwithstanding the raillery and opposition of Jews, Turks and Infidels, and unbelievers and scepticks of every description-for under our banner, our motto inspires us with, and insures success. In hoc signo vinces. COMPILER. The same author, Vertot, further says, that in Germany, the historians of that nation relate, that pope Clement having sent his bull for abolishing the order, to the archbishop of Metey, for him to enforce, that prelate summoned all his clergy together, that the publication might be made with greater solemnity; and that they were suddenly surprised by the entry of Wailgruffor Count Sauvage, one of the princi * See Masonic Unity, page 30, Appendix. † His Excellency De Witt Clinton, Governor of the state of New-York. |