The Temple Church. By George Worby. (George Bell and Sons.
ls. 63. net.)—This is a short and excellent account of the church of the Knights Templars in London, prefaced by a brief history of the Order. Nothing has been forgotten that the curious may reasonably want to know. Tho specifications of Schmidt's organ (1688) and that of Forster and Andrew's recon- struction, and the last revision in 1896, are appended, and very interesting they are. An organ is indeed the king of instrinuents if perfection depends on such a mass of details. It is remarkable how little we actually know about the Knights .Templars. The -historical value of the " Crusader" posture of the effigies is uncer- tain. It is ever the same story. Unwritten laws and customs are
forgotten, and without them one reconstructs in vain these traditions,—most full of meaning in mediaeval times. The power and fame of the Knights Templars lasted but a short time, and one wonders that so wealthy a body could net avert-their fate. Had there been no Knights Hospitallers they would have survived; but the two quarrelled, and no one doubts that the less worthy went to the wall. As we know, even the Hospitallers nearly became extinct in later days. To-day, perhaps, few concern themseh-es with their story ; their monument alone attniett the curious. • Yet the round churches and their connexion with the Templars are of peculiar interest, if only to show us how important a part individual societies have always played in religions history. To any one interested in the matter, such an excellent handbook as this, with its lucid explanations, plan.s, photographs, and technical information of the very best, is indispensable.
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