The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-02-18
The Full Moon Will shine Over the Wa.

i ter.
| Such Of our readers as have been
in London and have "prospected"
for relics Of antiquity in that great
metropolis, may perhaps have pass.
ed through West Smithfield up St.
Johns street, and turned off to the
west into st. Johns Lane, across
which an ancient arch rears its ven
cradle form. This Is St. Johns Gate,
built in 1904 by the Lord Prior
Dockwray, as an entrance to the ten
acres Of abbey, offices and grounds
belonging to the Knights Of St.
John, Of Jerusalem, subsequently,
known as the Knights OF Malta. The
monastery to which this gate admit.
ted the visitor is described by Stow
to have been Of great splendor in the
time OF the later IIenries. lie says
that the great bell tower was "a
most curious piece of workmanship.
craven, gilt and enameled, to tie
great beautifying Of the city, and
surprising all the others that have
seen" A portion of the monastery
buildings still exists and forms the
present parish church OF st. Johns
Clerkenwell. The gate exists in al.
most the same exterior state "a when
the monastery was suppressed by
Henry VIII. The orchards and
stately residences which formerly
existed in the neishborhood have
given place to close built streets ten
ented by people Of moderate means.
The old gate has had a chequere1
history, AMI finally descended SO low
as to become the "Jcrusslem Tav-
ern," and the great hall over the
gateway was usel as the meeting
room OF club OF jolly good fellows.
Since then, we believe, II portion OF
the building his been occupied as a
book store.
We have adverted to the history
ot this relic Of past ages in conse.
qnence of the following extract from
recent Lon'lon newspaper:
Foe sotnc time past il has been
known I" many persons that "A SC.
cret order, calling Themselves Sons
of Malta. AMI claiming descent from
that tormil lble orier OF mill ary
monks known in history as the
Knights Ilospitaliers. or knights ot
Malta, has existence in this country.
il not in all payts OF the civilized
globe. ~ recent enqnires we tnl
that vast nnrnbcr oi Lodges OF the
order are at present spreal over
Great Britain and the Continent.
whilst the newspapers OF the United
States show that it has gained a
strong ioothold in America. From
a circular that has come into our pos
session, We learn that on the 17th OF
February it is contemplated To hold
Grand Chapter Of the Or er in the
Jerusalem Chamber OF St. Johns
Gate. CIrrkenwell. which was ORR
ginally built by the uospitalers,
and which afterwards became ia
nous IN the literary world as the
building from which Cave issued his
"Gcntlernan's Magazine" 1t is al
40 saii that three delegates from the
Grand Lodge of France. one from
Russia, two from Austria, three
from the Unitel States, one from
Canada. one from r 'me, and one
from Turkey will be present, whilst
n representatives from several other
European States, an1 one now in
Lrni,n, from Calcutta. are expect.
ed 20 attend. One Object of the
'feeting. we learn is to take into
consideration the purchase of ST
Johns Gate for thu purpose Of re-
It ring it to its ancien. splrnior and
keeping it for the use of the Grand
Lodge Of Great Britain.
1T is also stated that there will
be a grand gathering OF all the Lodg
es Of Great Britain to commemorate
come great Feast of the Order which
takes place on tho l7th OF February
Cleveland Herald.