THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS IN PARIS.

THE foreign correspondent of the Boston Atlas, in a recent letter to that paper, has the following notice of a procession of the Templars in Paris:

"Among the processions noticed in the papers, I see that of the Knights Templars, who assembled at the Pont Neuf, in solemn celebration of the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Grand Master, Jacques Molay, in 1314. Their annual custom is to walk round the statue of Henri Quatre, which occupies the exact spot where stood the funeral pyre, and then to the fountain in the Place du Dauphin, where it is said the ashes of the hero were scattered to the winds. The Revolution has given them also a renewed hope, and their assemblage was more numerous than it has been for many years. One who watched the procession says that it consisted of fortyeight persons, among whom were two individuals of the highest families in France, one belonging to the royal house of Spain, besides a Greek boyard and three British noblemen. Their dress consists of a long black frock coat, upon the lappels of which the scarlet cross is embroidered; this is concealed when the coat is buttoned, and thus escapes observation. Their Order still believe that the dying curse pronounced by Jacques Molay upon all kings and pontiffs is again at work, and that they shall exist through time and change when these shall be no more."

De Molay was murdered by order of Phillip the Fair, King of France, on the 13th March, 1314. We are not aware that he pronounced any such curse as that attributed to him. He did, however, summons Phillip and Clement V. to appear before the judgment seat of God within the year, to answer for their crimes; and, singularly enough, they both obeyed the summons, or, in other words, they both died within the specified

time.

THE GRAND ORIENT AND THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE.

WE learn from the London Morning Chronicle, of the 10th March, that a deputation of the members of the Grand Orient, in full Masonic costume, presented themselves on the 9th, at the Hotel de Ville, for the purpose of tendering to the Provisional Government their adhesion to the Republic. They were received by M. M. Cremieux, Garnier Pages, and Paguerre, all three wearing their Masonic orders. M. Bertrand, ex-president of the tribunal of commerce, representing the Grand Master, delivered a loyal address, which was most favorably responded to by M. Cremieux; after which the deputation withdrew, amidst cries of " Vive la Republique !"

THE GREAT FREDERICK AND GEN. WALLRAVE. "Be true to your Country, as well as to God and the Craft."

Schenectady, N. Y., April, 1848.

C. W. MOORE, Esq. :-Dear Bro. :-Not a few of the biographies of Frederick the Great are extant; but, like all histories of European nations and their monarchs, they deal only in generalities;-they treat of governmental politics, of national schemes and diplomacy, but they leave altogether untouched or only slightly dwelt upon, the intellectual, the moral, and, if I may so speak, the individual history of a people and their rulers: least of all do they enter into those details of private character connected with social life, which alone most truly serve to develope the causes of human action. The work of the hands, and occasionally of the head, may be made apparent to the public scrutiny, but very seldom are the promptings of the heart, that well-spring of the affections and the moving cause of deeds the most momentous, explained or even understood, or if understood, appreciated. The ostensible, not real, motives are exposed to view and commented on. The historian seems to confine himself to what is defined to be his technical, literal province, the recording of national acts, with a general philosophizing on them. The antiquary's province is to investigate the most minute facts regarding individuals and to preserve them. I assert the right and perform the duty of antiquary in presenting to you the subjoined passage in the life of Frederick II., late King of Prussia. It is translated from a German work, of authenticity, entitled "Erwinia."

It will not be impertinent or out of place to premise, that Frederick the Second, surnamed the Great, was born on the 12th day of January, 1712, and died Aug. 17th, 1786. He was initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry while Prince Royal, at his own special request, at a special Lodge held for the express purpose at Brunswick, on the nights of the 14th and 15th August, 1738. The circumstance which induced him to offer himself as a candidate for initiation, is somewhat singular, and deserves especial notice. His father was a violent opposer and enemy of the Freemasonic Order, and was unsparing in the anathemas which he pronounced against it. While at Brunswick, a day or two previous to his initiation, a warm discussion on the merits of the Order took place between his father (the then King of Prussia,) and some of his friends, in the presence of Prince Frederick. He was silent; but weighing well the arguments advanced pro and con, he in his own mind decided in favor of Freemasonry. He took occasion to speak in private to one of the gentlemen who had stood forth as a champion of our Order, and who was himself a Freemason, and expressed an earnest wish to be admitted into the Fraternity. A Lodge was accordingly summoned, and he was initiated with the utmost promptness and privacy. The exalted opinion he entertained of the Order after his initiation, is well expressed in the article trom which I shall presently quote.

On his return to Berlin, he favored the raising of the Lodge there, to which he gave the name of "The Three Globes." The patronage and aid which he extended to the Freemasonic cause during the lifetime of his father, he durst not extend openly; indeed, while his father lived he did not even avow himself a Freemason. But on ascending the throne, he publicly declared himself to be a

member of the mystic Order. He constituted the aforesaid Lodge of "The Three Globes," a GRAND LODGE-and to the astonishment of all Europe and the great joy of the Fraternity, he proclaimed himself its Grand Master, and the protector of ancient Free and Accepted Masonry.

I proceed now to the promised extract from the work referred to.

Y.

Frederick had learned to understand the true aim of the Freemasons. He looked upon the Institution as one entirely devoted to the welfare of humanity, and which had assumed the task of of striving to elicit or cause to germinate all the good and noble sentiments of man. He considered it as designed to be a school for the human heart, as a mediator between law and virtue, as a teacher of true philosophy, equality, fraternity, concord, benevolence, honesty and all the social virtues, of our duty to God and our country, ourselves and our fellow-men. He made himself fully acquainted with all Freemasonic laws and regulations, and those ancient descriptions of the purest morality which have been perpetuated to the present day, and those fundamental principles professed and propagated in all the Freemasonic reunions established over the surface of the globe. He considered the Masonic Order, whilst it remained faithful to its original mission, as a most holy institution, of which, under its allegoric and symbolic envelope, he had discovered the profound aim, (the hidden meaning.)

In the first year of his reign, he founded a private Lodge, in which he held the mallet as Worshipful Master. This Lodge was composed of his most intimate friends, whom he highly appreciated. He knew, or sincerely believed, them all to be men of loyalty as well as morality. But alas! all who happen to be called are not chosen; and man cannot always read the heart of his brother. In man, who carries within himself the germ of evil as well as good, the noxious plant of evil will sometimes shoot forth and choke the wholesome flowers and fruits of virtue. Imperfection marks every thing sublunary, and man remains fragile in whatever position in life he may be placed: from weakness no one is exempt. Frederick was destined to pass through a practical experience of this melancholy fact. Within the small circle of his Lodge, composed of no more than twentyseven members, was found a man who proved a traitor to his king, his country and the Order; and to this Judas, Frederick conducted himself, as a King and a Freemason, with more than human generosity.

The great King, after having conquered Silicia, found it necessary to take proper measures to secure his conquest, as well as to preserve his other provinces. He accordingly resolved to rebuild or repair his ancient strong places, and also to erect new ones. He confided the execution of these plans to Gen. Wallrave, one of his most learned engineers. The fortress of Neise in particular, he resolved to put in the most complete state of defence by the erection of forts and mines, which surrounded the city to the distance of a quarter of a league. It was a frontier post, destined to defend Prussia against Austria. Gen. Wallrave was the acknowledged and especial favorite of King Frederick, and one of the select twentyseven of the Lodge over which the King presided; yet Wallrave, not having the moral principle fixed firmly within him, yielded to temptation. He caught at the bait of gold which was offered to him. Seduced by a bribe, he entered into

a correspondence with Prince de Kaunitz, at Vienna, and bargained to sell at a stipulated price, the plan of this fortress, indicating the mines and their communication with the works of the place. But his negotiations not having been conducted with sufficient caution and prudence, the Director General of the posts had his suspicions awakened, and communicated them to the King. The General was watched, and the first letter that he attempted to send was intercepted and carried to King Frederick, who broke it open, and found in it the most direct and certain proof of Wallrave's criminality. He found himself betrayed by his favorite, by a member of his Lodge, united to him by the most sacred ties; one in whose fidelity and devotion he had placed the most implicit confidence. He found that he was the victim of a betrayal the most base, that he had been sold as a King, as a friend and a Freemason, and reduced to the necessity of punishing, as guilty of high treason, him whom he had loaded with favors and embraced as a Brother.

After long and serious reflection, Frederick determined upon a course of conduct truly magnanimous, and which elevated him to the rank of a true Mason of the G. A. of the Universe.* He convoked a meeting of his Lodge. After the Lodge had been opened, he spoke with warm eloquence of the duties every true Mason owed his Order and his Brothers, and the State and country he lived in and which protected him in his rights. At the conclusion of his discourse, he arose in his seat and added with emphasis the following words, which sent a thrill of astonishment among his auditory:-" One of the Brethren here present, has violated at once the laws of the Order, his duties towards the State, and his obligations as a subject of the civil government and as a member of the Freemasonic Order. Forgetting every sentiment of fidelity and gratefulness towards his Worshipful Master and his King, he has been guilty of an enormous, a capital offence. As King, I desire to know nothing; as Worshipful Master, I pardon him; as a Brother. I extend to him my right hand, to raise him from his fallen state; and as a man, I wish to forget the past. All I exact is, that he here avow his guilt; that he re-enters within himself, (holds communion and counsel with his own heart and conscience,) forsakes his evil designs, and amends, asking forgiveness. If he does this, all will be well. The knowledge of his treason shall be kept secret in the breasts of the members of this Lodge, and no further mention shall be made of it. But if he remains silent and does not accept the proffered pardon, I must inform him that I shall retire from this Lodge as Worshipful Master, and in virtue of my duty as King, and chief functionary of the State, I shall deliver him into the hands of justice."

In silence and with dismay, each looked at each other with an interrogating eye. The terrible words of the King no one could explain to himself except Wallrave, the guilty one. He was taken by surprise at the sudden discovery of

"To err is human; to forgive, divine." Our conduct deserves to be called superhuman, in the same proportion that it resembles that of the Deity. "He that confesseth and forsaketh his sins, God is merciful and just to forgive those sins and blot them from the book of his remembrance" An offending Brother who expects "healing" and forgiveness without confession of wrong and amendment of conduct, expects more from men than the Deity awards under like circumstances.-Y.

his treason, and well knew that it was of himself the King spake, his own conscience telling him "thou art the man." ." He, however, remained silent and sullen. After a short pause, the King repeated the same words. Still the silence remained unbroken. Frederick then made a third appeal. No one answered. With eyes filled with tears, the King resumed. "As a Freemason, I have fulfilled my duty. I am reluctantly convinced that no Masonic sentiment can unanimously reign even among so small a number of selected initiates as constitute this Lodge-that vows of duty and fidelity, and gratitude, are not all powerful to bind men and bridle the heat or effervescence of human passions. I shall, therefore, this day, for the last time, close this Lodge.* Its mallet I shall never more resume." Frederick then proceeded with due solemnity, and agreeably to ancient Masonic form, to close his Lodge, which he had founded for his own special enjoyment and improvement with select and tried companions. Moved to the very bottom of his soul, with head uncovered he deposited the mallet on the altar. In the antechamber, the King ordered Gen. Wallrave to give up his sword, and had him arrested and put in judgment.

The culprit was condemned to perpetual banishment, (a mild punishment compared with his deserts.) He was conducted to Magdebourg, and confined in a prison, with the construction of which he had once himself been charged. That prison had been expressly prepared for a State prisoner, and so constructed as to render impossible escape or suicide. The captive could not even wound himself by striking his head against the walls or any other parts of the rooms, as they were mattressed and covered with black hangings. Wallrave passed seven years in close captivity, deprived of all light other than a faint light admitted from the top of his prison, without paper, pen, ink, or books, abandoned to himself and his own reflections. No one was allowed to speak to him, not even the officer appointed to bring him his food, which he was obliged to take without knife, fork or spoon. At the expiration of seven years his captivity was mitigated. He was removed to a more comfortable prison. He had at his disposal a small garden, where he could breathe the air and move with more freedom. He remained thus secluded from the world until the day of his death, or for thirty years, from 1746 to 1776. During all this period did Wallrave remain stubborn, and refuse to ask pardon of his King. Only once did he make approximation towards it, when he sent to the King a copy of the 88th Psalm of David. The monarch replied by sending him the 101st Psalm.

From the moment Frederick had been thus forced to break the ties which had bound him to a Brother Freemason, he ceased to engage in the active “works” of

* It may be asked why King Frederick should resolve to forego the active duties of a Lodge, because of the defection of a single member of the Fraternity. But if we duly consider the precise position in which he was placed, if we duly weigh the peculiar and extraordinary circumstances of the case in question, we can readily account for the revulsion his feelings must have undergone at the conduct of Wallrave, that induced his sudden determination to which he so rigidly adhered through life. The erroneous opinion entertained by some that he forsook the Order, had its origin doubtless in the well known fact of his dissolving his own private Lodge. His determination would have been different had Wallrave accepted the terms offered to him. Strange indeed appears the infatuation which led him to reject those terms!-Y.