The Portland daily press., 1879-04-11
FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL IL.
Ancient Masonic Knighthoods.

The KNIGHTS of Rome and the Red Gross of
Constantine claims to be the most ancient
order of Christian knightbood.' 1t has but re-
Gently been permanently established in this
country. About four years ago several grand
bodies were formed, the requisite number of
conclaves having been established in each
State, and general grand conclave for the
United States. In England the rite has been
quite active. The date of its introduction there
Is said to be coeval with the return Of Richard
C9ur de Lion from the Holy Land, A. ID. 1885.
The original seven orders Of chivalry conferred
In Eugland were, first, Red Cross of Con-
stantine; second, knights Templars; third,
Kuighs of Malta; fourth, Knights of
the Holy Sepulchre; fifth, Rose Croix; sixth,
Templar Priest Lord; seventh. Commander.
Knight Kadosb. These have been divided,
knights Templars of the Communicates having
control of some of the degrees, and the Knights
of Constantine now work only three, viz, first.
Red Cross of Rome and Constantine; second,
Knights Of the Holy Sepulcbre; third, Novice
and Knight of st. John the Evangelist. These
can only be conferred upon Knights Templars
in this jurisdiction. In some localities they
have been conferred on Royal Arch Masons;
but efforts have been MADE to c0ntioe the de-
grees to Knights Templars only The Red
Gross of Rome and Constantine degree claims
to have been instituted by Constantine the
Great, emperor Of Rome, A. d 3l3, as me-
moral of the divine miracle which effected his
conversion TO the Christian faith. aud also as a
reward for the valor of certain of his soldiers.
The manner Of his conversion is familiar to all
Sir Knights. One evening the army being on
its march towards Rome, Constantine, reflect
ing on the dangers of his expedition and sepsl-
bic OF his own shortcomings, was m-dtsting
on the various religious opinions which then
divided mankind. He sent up his calculations
to heaven for Inspiration and wisdom to choose
the right path. His prayer was heard, for, as
the sun was declining. pillar of light ap.
peared in the heavens 10 the shape of a cross
with the inscription, "In hoe signo vinces." "
His sarmy expressed the utmost establishment
at this remarkable occurrence but Con-
staDtine, being treasured by the visions
Of the night caused a royal standard to
be made like that he had seen in the
heavens, to be carried before him as an
The second, Knights of the Holy Sepulcbre, il
founded on traditional Incidents connected
with the tomb of our Saviour, in the year O
our Lord 1926. Helena of Britain, mother O.
Constantine the Great, made a journey to the
Holy Land in search Ut the cross of the BE
deemer, and this degree is TO commemorate the
finding of it and the peculiar arrangement
made for its preservation and protection. The
third degree, that OF Novice and Knight of St
John the Evangelist, had its origin as follows
The crusaders finding Themselves unable to ex
pei the Saracens from the Holy Land, agreed
with Godfrey de Bouillon to veil the mysteries
of religion under emblems, to maintain thei
devo.iOns in secret and secure themselve
against the intrusion of traitors and pretended
friends. Those who had attained this degree
were considered the true Masons, as they onl,
received it after warfare with the enemies O
the faith and were admitted in full communion
with the brotherhood. The moral qualifcs
ton and social position of candidates are in
sisted upon. This order was Incorporated witt
and Germany in the middle of the last cent?
ry. Previous TO that time it had been sovel
eign militsry order, and it still exists in a mod
lied form as such an order in Austria. Freser
lex the Great gave it Masonic importance il
Germany, and the princes of the house Q
Guelph have protected it in Great Britain
New York World.