influential noblemen of the kingdom. In Portugal, the name of the order has been changed to that of the "Knights of Christ," and its Cross is frequently conferred by the government as the reward of distinguished merit. In England, the Encampment of Baldwin, which was established at Bristol by the Templars who returned with Richard I. from Palestine, still continues to hold its regular meetings, and is believed to have preserved the ancient costume and ceremonies of the order. This encampment, with another at Bath, and a third at York, constituted the three original encampments of England. From these have emanated the existing encampments in the British Islands and in the United States, so that the order, as it now exists in Britain and America, is a lineal descendant of the ancient order.

The connection between the Knights Templar and the Freemasons has been repeatedly asserted by the enemies of both institutions, and as often admitted by their friends. Lawrie, on this subject, holds the following language: "We know that the Knight Templars not only possessed the mysteries, but performed the ceremonies, and inculcated the duties of Freemasons;"* and he attributes the dissolution of the order to the discovery of their being Freemasons, and their assembling in secret to practise the rites of the order. He further endeavours to explain the manner in which they became the depository of the masonic mysteries by tracing their initiation to the Druses, a Syriac fraternity, which, at the time of the Crusades, and long after, existed on Mount Libanus.†

Costume. At the conclusion of this article, a few remarks on the costume of the order may be acceptable. The present black dress of the Templars is derived from the Knights of Malta, to whom, with the Teutonic Knights, their estates were assigned by Pope Clement on the dissolution of the order, and with whom many of the knights united themselves. But originally, as we

Hist. of Freemasonry, p. 58.
Hist. of Freemasonry, p. 88.

have already observed, their costume was white. In the Statutes of the order, as established in Scotland, which were revised in 1843, the ancient costume was exactly adopted. According to these regulations the dress of the Knights Templar is as follows: A white woollen mantle to reach the knee in front, and taper away to the ankle behind, fastened with white cord and tassel, and with a red cross patée on the left shoulder; white woollen tunic, reaching to about three or four inches above the knee, with the cross upon the left breast; white stock with falling white shirt collar; tight white pantaloons; buff boots, with buff tops turned over five inches broad, no tassels; spurs gilt, with red leathers; sash of white silk, half a yard in breadth, tied in a knot in front; the ends edged with a white silk fringe hanging down, and a small red cross near the extremities; white woollen cap with red leather band, or, if he has obtained a diploma from the Grand Master, a red velvet cap; no feather; cross-hilted sword with brass guard, and white ivory hilt; scabbard of red morocco; belt of red leather, with gilt buckle; buff gauntlets, with a red cross on the wrist; badge, and enamelled black cross, with white orle, and a small red cross enamelled thereon, suspended from the neck by a red ribbon with white edges, about two inches broad, passing through the ring of the badge.

In America the dress is very different from that of the ancient knights. The suit is black, with black gloves. A black velvet sash, trimmed with silver lace, crosses the body from the left shoulder to the right hip, having at its end a cross-hilted dagger, a black rose on the left shoulder, and a Maltese cross at the end. Where the sash crosses the left breast, is a nine-pointed star in silver, with a cross and serpent of gold in the centre, within a circle, around which are the words, "in hoc signo vinces." The apron

is of black velvet, in triangular form, to represent the delta, and edged with silver lace. On its flap is placed a triangle of silver, perforated with twelve holes, with a cross and serpent in the centre; on the centre of the apron are a skull and cross-bones, between three stars of seven points, having a red cross in the centre

of each. The belt is black, to which is attached a cross-hilted sword. The caps vary in form and decoration in different encampments. The standard is black, bearing a nine-pointed cross of silver, having in its centre a circle of green, with the cross and serpent in gold, and the motto around "in hoc signo vinces."

L.

LABOUR. From the time of opening to that of closing, a lodge is said to be at labour. This is but one of the numerous instances in which the terms of operative masonry are symbolically applied to speculative; for, as our operative ancestors, when congregated in lodge, were engaged in the building of material edifices, so Free and Accepted Masons are supposed to be employed in the erection of a superstructure of virtue and morality, upon the foundation of the masonic principles which they were taught at their admission into the order. Extending the allusion, the lodge is said "to be called from labour to refreshment," whenever, in the course of the meeting, it adjourns for a definite period, or takes a recess of a few minutes. During this time, the Junior Warden presides over the craft.

LADDER. See Jacob's Ladder.

LANDMARKS. In ancient times, it was the custom to mark the boundaries of lands by means of stone pillars, the removal of which, by malicious persons, would be the occasion of much confusion, men having no other guide than these pillars by which to distinguish the limits of their property. To remove them, therefore, was considered a heinous crime. "Thou shalt not," says the Jewish law, "remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of

old time have set in thine inheritance."*

Hence those peculiar marks of distinction by which we are separated from the profane world, and by which we are enabled to designate our inheritance as the " sons of light," are called the landmarks of the order. The universal language and the universal laws of masonry are landmarks, but not so are the local ceremonies, laws, and usages, which vary in different countries. To attempt to alter or remove these sacred landmarks, by which we examine and prove a brother's claims to share in our privileges, is one of the most heinous offences that a Mason can commit.

There are, however, certain forms and regulations, which, although not constituting landmarks, are nevertheless so protected by the venerable claim of antiquity, that they should be guarded by every good Mason with religious care from alteration. is not in the power of any body of men to make innovations in

masonry.

It

LANGUAGE, UNIVERSAL. Freemasons boast, with truth, that they possess an universal language, which men of all languages can understand. "An universal language," says Mr. Locke," has been much desired by the learned of many ages. It is a thing rather to be wished than hoped for. But it seems the Masons pretend to have such a thing among them." We who possess that language, can estimate its value, for we know that its eloquent tones have often won sympathy from the most unfeeling, and converted the indifferent stranger into the faithful brother.

LAPICIDA. A Freemason. See Latomus.

*Deuteronomy xix. 14.

It has been supposed, by some authorities, that all laws which were in existence in 1717, at the re-organization of the Grand Lodge in the south of Eng. land, are to be considered as landmarks.

That is, if Leland's Manuscript be authentic.

LATIN LODGE. In the year 1784, Brown, the celebrated physician, organized the Roman Eagle lodge at Edinburgh, the whole work of which was conducted in the Latin language.

LATOMUS. A Latin term derived from the Greek λatopos a stone-cutter. It is used in the sense of a Freemasons in Molart's Latin Register, quoted in the notes to Preston, note 17. A purer Latin word is lapicida, which Ainsworth defines "a stone-cutter, a Freemason."* Architecto is used by some writers.

LAWS OF MASONRY. The laws of masonry are of two kinds, local and universal. The local laws are those enacted by Grand and subordinate lodges for the government of their members. These, of course, may be altered or annulled at the pleasure of the bodies who originally framed them. The universal laws are those handed down by universal consent from times immemorial, and which govern the fraternity throughout the world. These are irrevocable, for they constitute a part of the ancient landmarks. We will give an example of each kind. The rule regulating the amount of the fee to be paid on the admission of candidates is a local law, and varies in every country. But the law which declares that no woman can be admitted, is universal, and controls every lodge on the face of the globe.

LEBANON OR LIBANUS. A mountain, or rather a range of mountains in Syria, extending from beyond Sidon to Tyre, and forming the northern boundary of Palestine. Lebanon is celebrated for the cedars which it produces, many of which are from 50 to 80 feet in height, and cover with their branches a space of ground, the diameter of which is still greater. Hiram, King of

The "Acta Latomorum," a modern French work, states that the word latimus was first applied by the Jesuits to designate a Freemason. The use of it in 1429, by Molart, proves that this is not so. Ragon has very truly said that the statements of the "Acta Latomorum" require verification before they can be received as authentic.