Knights of Templar link to Freemasonary

Knights Templar, members of a medieval religious and military order officially named the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ. They were popularly known as the Knights of the Temple of Solomon, or Knights Templar, because their first quarters in Jerusalem adjoined a building known at the time as Solomon's Temple. The order developed from a small military band formed in Jerusalem in 1119 by two French knights, Hugh des Payens and Godfrey of Saint-Omer; its aim was to protect pilgrims visiting Palestine after the First Crusade. Military in purpose from its inception, the order differed in that respect from the other two great 12th-century religious societies, the Knights of St John of Jerusalem and the Teutonic Knights, which began as charitable institutions.

The Knights Templar obtained papal sanction for their order, and in 1128 at the ecclesiastical Council of Troyes they were given an austere rule closely patterned on that of the monastic order of Cistercians. The Knights Templar were headed by a grand master, under whom were three ranks: knights, chaplains, and sergeants. The knights were the dominant members, and they alone were allowed to wear the distinctive dress of the order, a white mantle with a large red Latin cross on the back. The headquarters of the Knights Templar remained at Jerusalem until the fall of the city to the Muslims in 1187; it was later located successively at Antioch, Acre, Caesarea, and in Cyprus.

Because the Knights Templar regularly transmitted money and supplies from Europe to Palestine, they developed an efficient banking system, on which the rulers and nobility of Europe came to rely. The knights gradually became bankers for a large part of Europe and amassed great wealth. After the last Crusades had failed and interest had waned in an aggressive policy against the Muslims, the Knights Templar were no longer needed to guard Palestine. Their immense riches and power had aroused the envy of secular as well as ecclesiastical powers, and in 1307 the impoverished Philip IV of France, with the aid of Pope Clement V, arranged for the arrest of the French grand master Jacques de Molay on charges of sacrilege and Satanism. Molay and the leading officers of the order confessed under torture, and all of them were eventually burned at the stake. The order was suppressed in 1312 by Clement V and its property assigned to the rival Knights Hospitaller, although most of it was in fact seized by Philip and by King Edward II, who disbanded the order in England.

Knights Templar now are members of the York Rite of the Masonic system.



"Knights Templar," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2005
uk.encarta.msn.com... © 1997-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
© 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

You are quite right it does say

Knights Templar now are members of the York Rite of the Masonic system.

It is the only Encyclopedia where I can find that last comment.

en.wikipedia.org...

Says

Another branch of Masonry however, York Rite, does require its members to be of Christian faith. Among the three branches of the York Rite is The Commandery of Knights Templar. York Rite and Chivalric Masonry claim to be inspired by the Templars, but are not direct descendents of them. Here also, the Templars are firmly enshrined in the orders and rituals.

Which is a far more accurate description.

The point being the York Rite emulates the story of the Templars , it is not a reincarnation of the Knights Templar. But I am not in York Right so I must leave it there.

Is there anyone on this board that is a Knight Templar in the York Rite?

Yes, the prerequisite is simply completion of the degree of Royal Arch in a Royal Arch chapter then we get to play more with swords and wear longer tunics. But the KTs are unlikely to participate in any modern day Crusades.

Originally posted by pbrez
Is there anyone on this board that is a Knight Templar in the York Rite?

I am.

Originally posted by pbrez
Is there anyone on this board that is a Knight Templar in the York Rite?

K.T. here.

I had a friend join KT in East Anglia , England.

He said he loved the ceremony , but was a bit concerned that the average as was such that if the guys did not have a sword each, he reckons most would have fallen over.

But I never quite know if he is making up some of his stories.

Originally posted by Mista_D

Knights Templar now are members of the York Rite of the Masonic system.

The so called 'York Rite' dose not exist in the UK as such, it is realy just the 'American Rite'.

It is also worh pointing out that the historical Knight Templars have no conection whith the Masonic degree. The masonic Knight Templars borow the name and regalia of the medieval order but follow an invented, and somwhat boy scoutish, ritual.





[edit on 2-3-2005 by pignut]

Originally posted by pignut

Originally posted by Mista_D

Knights Templar now are members of the York Rite of the Masonic system.

The so called 'York Rite' dose not exist in the UK as such, it is realy just the 'American Rite'.

It is also worh pointing out that the historical Knight Templars have no conection whith the Masonic degree. The masonic Knight Templars borow the name and regalia of the medieval order but follow an invented, and somwhat boy scoutish, ritual.





[edit on 2-3-2005 by pignut]

define "boy scoutish" for me if you please.