Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Funeral Oration.
eA erlasfcing kingdom , Avhere the world's great Architect lives and reigns , and will AA-hen time shall be no more .
A Sketch Of The Philosophy, Traditions, And Records Of The Masonic Order Of The Red * Or Knights Of Constantine, At Pre- Sent Under The Command Of Lord Kenlis, M. Ill. G. Sov.
A SKETCH OF THE PHILOSOPHY , TRADITIONS , AND RECORDS OF THE MASONIC ORDER OF THE RED * OR KNIGHTS OF CONSTANTINE , AT PRE- SENT UNDER THE COMMAND OF LORD KENLIS , M . ILL . G . SOV .
By Bro . ROBERT W ENTAVOKTH LITTLE , P . M ., & c .
( Continued from par / e 423 . ) Constantine the first Christian emperor Avas the son of Constantius Chlorus a Roman general , and of Helena a British lady , who for her piety and virtues , has been canonised by both the Greek
and Roman churches . In the year 289 Constantius was selected to assist in the government of the empire as a Cassar , or deputy to the emperor Maximian , and his rule extended over Britain , Spain and Gaul . The youthful Constantine Avas
however brought up at the court of the emperor Diocletian Avho resided chiefly at Nicomedia , a city in Bythynia , and the young prince gave early evidence of the remarkable abilities for Avhich he
was afterwards so distinguished . At this period of his life the future emperor way initiated into the mysteries of the collegia- artiftcum at Rome , and attained the position of master of the colleges of architects , and it Avas unquestionably this
philosophic training Avhich prepared his mind to reject the monstrous polytheism of the ancients , and to seek Avisdom Avhere alone it can be found in the sacred Avritings inspired by the divinity . The father of Constantine was declared emperor on
the resignation of Maximian , but did not longsurvive his accession to supreme authority , his death occurring at York , A . D . 306 , Avhen Constantine was immediately chosen by the army in
Britain as his successor in the purple . The imperial government Avas at this time divided between tAVO monarchs , and the Roman provinces groaned under a succession of tyrants , each of Avhom rose to poAver upon the ruins or
assassination of his predecessor . The senate and people of Rome in the exigency of despair , called upon Constantine to rescue them from the oppression of Maxentius , AA'ho then misgoverned the other moiety of the Empire , nor was their appeal made '
in vain . At the head of 40 , 000 men Constantine crossed the Alps and encountered the troops of Maxentius—four times as numerous as his own—•
on the plains of Turin , Avhen the tyrants' forces were overthrown . A second battle Avas fought near Verona with a similar result , and a third and decisive victory was gained afc a place called Saxa Rubra , close to the
memorable Cremera . It' Avas on this occasion that a manifestation of the divine will occurred , AA'hich not only directed Constantine to the final triumph over his enemies , but led to his conversion to the Christian faith .
We are informed that on a certain day the emperor Avas meditating * upon the various religious opinions then existing * in the Avorld , and being sensible of his own inability to choose the true from the false , prayed fervently to the one Supreme
Being or the unknoAvn god , Avorshipped in the arcana of the Roman architects—supplicating Him to reveal Himself by an indisputable sign when , as the sun began to decline , and in the presence of his whole army , he saAV the figure of a cross traced in light above the orb of day , Avith this inscription " In hoc signo vinces . "
Such a phenomenon created alarm in the minds of many of the soldiers , but the Christians quickly interpreted the sign to the astonished emperor , and Constantine being further convinced by a heavenly apparition in the night , on the next day
commanded a representation of Avhat he had seen in the heaven to be borne on his standards together with a device called the Lahorum , consisting of the two first letters of the name of Christ in Greek characters , so placed as to form a cross . He also
sent for the chiefs of the Christian legion , and formed them into an order of knighthood—directing them to wear upon their armour sixteen stars in allusion to the sixteen letters of the mystic words . These Avarriors afterwards became the body-guard of their sovereign , and Avere placed under the command of Eusebius , bishop of Nico-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Funeral Oration.
eA erlasfcing kingdom , Avhere the world's great Architect lives and reigns , and will AA-hen time shall be no more .
A Sketch Of The Philosophy, Traditions, And Records Of The Masonic Order Of The Red * Or Knights Of Constantine, At Pre- Sent Under The Command Of Lord Kenlis, M. Ill. G. Sov.
A SKETCH OF THE PHILOSOPHY , TRADITIONS , AND RECORDS OF THE MASONIC ORDER OF THE RED * OR KNIGHTS OF CONSTANTINE , AT PRE- SENT UNDER THE COMMAND OF LORD KENLIS , M . ILL . G . SOV .
By Bro . ROBERT W ENTAVOKTH LITTLE , P . M ., & c .
( Continued from par / e 423 . ) Constantine the first Christian emperor Avas the son of Constantius Chlorus a Roman general , and of Helena a British lady , who for her piety and virtues , has been canonised by both the Greek
and Roman churches . In the year 289 Constantius was selected to assist in the government of the empire as a Cassar , or deputy to the emperor Maximian , and his rule extended over Britain , Spain and Gaul . The youthful Constantine Avas
however brought up at the court of the emperor Diocletian Avho resided chiefly at Nicomedia , a city in Bythynia , and the young prince gave early evidence of the remarkable abilities for Avhich he
was afterwards so distinguished . At this period of his life the future emperor way initiated into the mysteries of the collegia- artiftcum at Rome , and attained the position of master of the colleges of architects , and it Avas unquestionably this
philosophic training Avhich prepared his mind to reject the monstrous polytheism of the ancients , and to seek Avisdom Avhere alone it can be found in the sacred Avritings inspired by the divinity . The father of Constantine was declared emperor on
the resignation of Maximian , but did not longsurvive his accession to supreme authority , his death occurring at York , A . D . 306 , Avhen Constantine was immediately chosen by the army in
Britain as his successor in the purple . The imperial government Avas at this time divided between tAVO monarchs , and the Roman provinces groaned under a succession of tyrants , each of Avhom rose to poAver upon the ruins or
assassination of his predecessor . The senate and people of Rome in the exigency of despair , called upon Constantine to rescue them from the oppression of Maxentius , AA'ho then misgoverned the other moiety of the Empire , nor was their appeal made '
in vain . At the head of 40 , 000 men Constantine crossed the Alps and encountered the troops of Maxentius—four times as numerous as his own—•
on the plains of Turin , Avhen the tyrants' forces were overthrown . A second battle Avas fought near Verona with a similar result , and a third and decisive victory was gained afc a place called Saxa Rubra , close to the
memorable Cremera . It' Avas on this occasion that a manifestation of the divine will occurred , AA'hich not only directed Constantine to the final triumph over his enemies , but led to his conversion to the Christian faith .
We are informed that on a certain day the emperor Avas meditating * upon the various religious opinions then existing * in the Avorld , and being sensible of his own inability to choose the true from the false , prayed fervently to the one Supreme
Being or the unknoAvn god , Avorshipped in the arcana of the Roman architects—supplicating Him to reveal Himself by an indisputable sign when , as the sun began to decline , and in the presence of his whole army , he saAV the figure of a cross traced in light above the orb of day , Avith this inscription " In hoc signo vinces . "
Such a phenomenon created alarm in the minds of many of the soldiers , but the Christians quickly interpreted the sign to the astonished emperor , and Constantine being further convinced by a heavenly apparition in the night , on the next day
commanded a representation of Avhat he had seen in the heaven to be borne on his standards together with a device called the Lahorum , consisting of the two first letters of the name of Christ in Greek characters , so placed as to form a cross . He also
sent for the chiefs of the Christian legion , and formed them into an order of knighthood—directing them to wear upon their armour sixteen stars in allusion to the sixteen letters of the mystic words . These Avarriors afterwards became the body-guard of their sovereign , and Avere placed under the command of Eusebius , bishop of Nico-