RESCUE JERUSALEM.

A recent number of the Keystone, in an article on masonry in the Holy Land," says :

Free

"The Holy Land was the cradle of Freemasonry, and is par excellence, the Masonic land, the Freemason's home. Jerusalem, the city of the Great King, is a Masonic city, for it contains the remains of the temple of our Grand Master Solomon, the type of every Lodge of the Craft the world over."

In addition to the above we would like to call the attention of Knights Templar to the circumstances connected with the organization of their body. When the intelligence of the capture of Jerusalem by the crusaders (A. D. 1099) had been conveyed to Europe, the desire to visit places of sacred interest blazed forth afresh. The Turks had, indeed, been driven out of Jerusalem, but not out of Palestine. The lofty mountains bordering on the seacoast were infested by warlike bands of fugitive Musselmen, who maintained themselves in various impregnable castles and strongholds, from whence they issued forth upon the high roads, cut off communication between Jerusalem and the sea-ports, and revenged themselves for the loss of their habitations and property by the indiscriminate pillage of all travelers. To alleviate the dangers and distress to which they were exposed, nine noble gentlemen who had justly distinguished themselves at the siege and capture of Jerusalem, formed a holy brotherhood in arms, and entered into a solemn compact to aid one another in clearing the highways, and in protecting the pilgrims through the passes and defiles of the mountains, to the Holy City.

Warmed with the religious and military fervor of the day, and animated by the sacredness of the cause to which they had devoted their swords, they called themselves the "Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ."

In 1118, Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, granted them a place of habitation within the sacred inclosure of the temple on Mount Moriah; they then became known by the name of "The Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon." The views and exertions of the order now became more extensive, and it added to its profession, of protecting poor pilgrims, that of defending the kingdom of Jerusalem, and the whole Eastern Church from the attack of infidels.

History tells us of their heroic deeds in battling for the Cross, but at length they were driven from the Holy Land; the followers of the false prophet, resumed again the power, which they had taken

from their hands, and to-day over the soil dear to us as Masons, and as Christians, the Crescent floats above the Cross. That this is disgraceful to us no one who has thought upon the subject will attempt to deny; but how can it be remedied? The jealousy of Christain nations, one toward the other, has and does still prevent any one of them from claiming possession of the land consecrated by the birth and death of our Lord. We see no hope of any change in this direction. Shall we then continue resting under the disgrace now upon us? God forbid. We call upon the several Commanderies of Knights Templar throughout Christendom to take this subject into serious consideration. Remember for what your Brotherhood was formed; and shall we lose sight of the very foundation principles of our organization, and thus prove ourselves to be degenerate successors of noble men? We do not propose an appeal to the sword; but the employment of peaceful means (for example the late Geneva Council of Arbitration), by which the Holy Land shall be held by the Brotherhood of Knights Templar in trust for the Christian world. There could be no objection on the part of Christian nation, that the sacred soil should be thus held by an organization, which has its Commanderies throughout Christendom, thereby excluding national jealousies. We ask for the agitation of this subject. Let the Local Commanderies and State organizations consider the matter well, (the object is legitimate and worthy) and then let it be the subject of inter-national communication with our brethren in Europe. That there are difficulties in the way, we do not deny; but forget not your glorious motto, " In hoc signo vinces." We believe the subject to be feasible, and that by uniting the influence and power power of the brotherhood in this country and in Europe the banner of the cross shall wave over the birth-place of the world's redemption. Not long since it was rumored through the press that the Rothschild's thought of purchasing Palestine from the Turk: even though false, the rumor does not astonish us for we believe that they have influence and power enough to carry out such a purpose. We then can estimate the strength of such an organization. as the Knights Templar, having within their pale, men eminent in diplomacy; men eminent for their scientific acquirements, men eminent for their warlike achievements; men eminent for their wealth, and men in every honest, industrious calling, thereby exercising an influence widespread and powerful throughout the civilized world.

To such an organization, with the Cross on their banners, suceess will crown such an effort as we propose, and a grateful Christendom will gratefully bestow upon them their well deserved meed of praise.-Courant.

We most heartily second the above movement. Let that country be obtained from the scoffing Turks, and the land once the place of rest for an ancient Christians Sir Knights be in the possession of friends. We hope that the influence of every Commandery, every Chapter, every Council and every Lodge in every country will present a request of this nature. Set the ball in motion. If nothing better, encourage the rich Rothschild's to purchase it. As the Jewish people were anciently true friends to our ancient Masonic brotherhood, and are at this day of our own Fraternal kindred if they should obtain possession of that land, the Christian Sir Knights, would ever receive a true welcome.

For one, we long for the time when Masonic tolerance, and true Knightly courtesy will extend over the entire globe. Let the "partition wolls between Jews and Gentiles," crumble to dust. Every Mason should work upon the walls of a more glorious Temple than discord intolerance and party aggraudizement.-Ed.

EVANGELS.

The Grand Master of the State of Georgia, has been into the quarries and brought up his work for inspection. It is marked and described as follows:

66 The old mistake, or at least confused idea of the objects of Freemasonry, is nearly passed away, and the light is being seen and acknowledged by the brethren, and by the world, in all its brightness, and in its fullness, and in its truth. No longer do men point to our institution as a mere social or elcemosynary society, but recognize and own in it far nobler objects-objects in the attainment of which all those are added. It should be our pride, my brethren, to be privileged to contribute to this result. A few in their blindness, are yet heard to grumble, and object that this elevated view of Freemasonry has a tendency to evangelize it. They seem afflicted with some terrific dread of that word evangelize. But they are yet in darkness, and know not of what they speak. Evangelize Freemasonry! Why, it is already evangelized to their hand. What is it in its inception, in its objects, in its work but an Epaffaeion, a good messenger of good tidings to mankindthe giving of light to the blind? And what are we, my brethren, each and all of us, every one who has truly received our mysteries, but Evangels in the best sense of the word, messenger of good tidings, bearing on spreading over, as on the winged winds of heaven, to the four corners of the earth, the good messenger. "Glory to God in the highest! On earth peace, good will towards men.'

THE GRAND BODIES OF ILLINOIS.

EDITORS OF STAR:-I have frequently noticed in the STAR during the last three years, allusions to the officers in the Masonic Grand bodies in this State, and I think it has been estimated that they were controlled by a ring or rings as the case may be. I know I have often had the question asked, and as often refuted the imputation, until I was kindly asked to examine the proceedings a few years back and draw my own conclusions. I hand you herewith the result and freely confess that if such is not the case, that circumstances look very suspicious, that may and leave others to draw their own conclusions.

Bro. Green, will probably remember me and as a further evidence of who I am, would beg leave to refer you to Bro. Bounsville of this place. Truly Yours

F. M. BARRETT.

The above remarks were accompanied with a list of officers of the Grand bodies for several years as proof of rings. We are unable to see the evidence clearly by what our brother has presented. And we do not not recollect of the frequent allusions to rings connected with the Grand bodies of Illinois exclusively. We have spoken against rings in general terms. And in looking over the list as sent us by our brother, nearly every Grand Jurisdiction presents the same testimony. We do not deem it necessary to publish the list that our correspondent presents, but leave all our readers to examine for themselves. It is quite evident that if a brother gets started in one body, that runs about parallel in other bodies. But whether this is owing to rings, or to the popularity and influence the brother possesses, we will not say.

TRUTH.

"Truth is a divine attribute and the fountain of every virtue." Upon truth we really erect our Temple, that Temple whose chief corner-stones are Brotherly-love, Relief and Charity; surely artists engaged in building such a house must receive the reward of T. G. A. O. T. U. when they shall be summoned to the Grand Lodge above. Truth should ever, therefore, be exemplified in the Mason's life, as otherwise he betrays his trust. A lie on the lips of a Mason is a double outrage, first against himself, next against the Fraternity. Let our brethren be very careful of their behavior towards all, and never allow themselves to disgrace the Fraternity to which they belong by anything so base as a falsehood. "Truth is mighty, and it will prevail," and we. Brothers of the Mystic Tie, should prove to the world that grand old adage.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, OR KADOSH.

A writer in the Monitor, who betrays his reverend calling, as well in the source of his information as the manner of expression, revamps the old charge of A. D. 1310, against Masonry, being unable to present any other. He quotes, as he says, from a work acknowledged correct by the Grand Orient of France, as follows:

"When the Chevalier Kadosh (or Templar) has pronounced the oath, the crucifix is placed at his feet, then the President says: 'Trample under foot this image of superstition; break it into pieces !"

We propose to show that the above is taken almost verbatum from the infamous charges perferred against the Knights of the Temple (Templars, or Kadosh) by King Philip of France, and his confessor, Wm. Imbert, seconded by two infamous characters, William de Nogaret, and William Plesian.

On the elevation of Clement V. to the papal chair, King Philip, who had a long cherished enmity against the Knights of the Teinple, by reason of their siding with Pope Boniface in the quarrel between Philip and that pontiff, immediately accused the Knights, to the Pope, of incredible and abominable crimes. The Pope summoned the Grand Master of both Orders of Knights, to appear and answer the charges. The Grand Master of the Hospitallers, knowing the character of both Philip and Clement V., knew there was treachery about, and that the Pope and King Phillip but wanted an excuse to suppress the Order and confiscate their vast estates, as neither could longer use the Order to further their nefarious purposes, and therefore both sought its destruction; therefore, putting no confidence in their honor, he escaped in his war galley to Scotland. But Sir Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Templars, being less suspicious, presented himself before the Pope with sixty of his Sir Knights, and after obtaining an audience, was ordered back to Paris, where, he was assured, the matter would be settled justly, and where it was proposed to establish the headquarters of the Order.

On the thirteenth of October, 1307, when the Templars could, at brief warning, bring fifteen thousand mail-clad Knights into the field, King Philip issued secret orders that every Templar in France should be quietly arrested and thrown into prison. All Europe stood aghast at this despotic course, yet dared not raise either arm or voice against the infamous proceeding, because it was sanctioned by the Pope, to whom all were forced to bow allegiance.

Now comes the charges brought against the Templars; which charges are rehashed in the Monitor by one who knows more of the