THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—An article on the Masonic Order of Templars in the Spectator of the 12th inst. contains the following passage, the italics being my own :—" The Scotch Templars regard the English. Templars as no more Knights Templars than the Duke of Man- chester's Lodge of Hospitallers are true Johanniter."
In justice and in courtesy, grant me brief space to correct an erroneous impression on the part of the writer regarding a body of gentlemen over which the Duke of Manchester presides. Ms. Grace is at the head of the English branch of the venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem, which now, as at its inception in Palestine,, devotes itself to works of charity and mercy, without distinction. of creed or sect.
It is incorrectly styled a "Lodge," since it has no connection whatever with Freemasonry, and the impression under which your contributor labours, that it is not a lawful section of the ancient Order of Knights Hospitallers, is at variance with fact.—I Sir, &c., EDMUND A. H. LECIIMERH, Secretary of the Sixth or English Langue of the Order of St. John_ CantonClub, April 21, 1873.
[We publish Sir Edmund Lechtnere's letter, but see no reason- to qualify the statement to which he refers. The relation of thee Society of which the Duke of Manchester is head to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem was fully discussed in a correspondence published in the Spectator of October 8, 1870, and several subse- quent numbers. Sir Edmund Lechmere must surely know that. the so-called "English Langue" is not in any way recognised by the authorities of the Order either in Prussia or at Rome.— ED. Spectator.]
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