[42] "Après la mort de Jacques de Molay, des Templiers Ecossais étant devénus apostats, a l'instigation du roi Robert Bruce, se rangérent sous les banniéres d'un nouvel Ordre institué par ce prince, et dans lequel les réceptions furent basées sur celles de l'Ordre du Temple. C'est là qu'il faut chercher l'origine de la Maçonnerie Ecossaise, et même celle des autres Rites maçoniques.--Du schisme qui s'introduisit en Ecosse naquit un grand nombre de sectes. Presque toutes ont la prétention de dériver du Temple, et quelques unes celle de se dire l'Ordre lui-meme." MANUEL DES CHEVALIERS DE L'ORDRE DU TEMPLE. _Paris, 1825._ The historian, Raymouard, thus formally excuses himself from speculating on the fate of the disbanded Scottish Knights:--"Que devinrent-ils? Ce n'est pas à moi de soulever le voile mystérieux de ces infortunés: l'histoire publique se tait, mon devoir est de me taire comme elle."--MONUMENS HISTORIQUES. [43] An attempt has been very recently made to revive this Order, by the initiation of a number of new members, chiefly Brethren of the Lodge of St. David, Edinburgh. [44] The medal alluded to was struck at the expense of the Chapitre du Choix at Paris, to celebrate the establishment in France of a Provincial Grand Lodge of Heredom de Kilwinning, by a Charter, dated Edinburgh the 1st of May 1786, constituting Mr. John Mattheus, a distinguished merchant of Rouen, Provincial Chief, with very ample powers, to disseminate the Order. The Chapitre du Choix was itself erected by a charter from Edinburgh in the same year, addressed to Nicholas Chabouille, avocat en parlement, and other brethren. Both these documents bear the signatures of William Charles Little, Deputy Grand Master, William Mason, and William Gibb. At a later date, a Provincial Grand Master was also appointed for Spain, in the person of Mr. James Gordon, a merchant at Xeres de la Frontera, whose commission was signed by Deputy Grand Master Dr. Thomas Hay, and Messrs. Charles Moor and John Brown, as heads of the Royal Order. In 1811, there were no less than twenty-six Chapters of Heredom holding of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Order in France, including some in Belgium and Italy.--HISTOIRE DE LA FONDATION DU GRAND ORIENT DE FRANCE. _Paris, 1812._ [45] An abstract of this interesting document will be found in the Appendix.