Knights Templar
The Knights Templar is the final order joined in the York Rite, and the only not to deal with Hiramic Legend. Also unlike other Masonic bodies which only require a belief in a Supreme Being regardless of religion, membership in the Knights Templar is open only to Freemasons who profess a belief in the Christian religion and who have completed their Royal Arch and in some jurisdictions their Cryptic degrees.
This body is modeled on the historical Knights Templar and hopes to carry on the spirit of their organization. Throughout history it has been claimed that Freemasonry itself was founded by the Knights Templar or that the Knights Templar took refuge in Freemasonry after their persecution. The Grand Encampment of the United States acknowledges the existence of these theories but states that there is no proof to justify such claims. A local Knights Templar unit is called a Commandery and operates under a state level Grand Commandery as well as The Grand Encampment of the United States. This is unique among Masonic bodies as most report to the state level alone. The Knights Templar confer three orders as opposed to the standard degree system found elsewhere in Freemasonry: |
Greenville Signet #11
This fourth, and last, of the York Rite Bodies of Masonry, Commanderies of Knights Templar serves as the crowning glory in completing the Christian Path towards Masonic Light. This is the only recognized Masonic Body that has religious connotations, since it is based on the Christian Religion and virtues. As a consequence, while not all Masons will become Knight Templars, every Christian Mason should to complete his Masonic journey. Today's Knight Templar is a man dedicated to the living Christ, and the defense of the virtues contained in the practices observed by all true Christians.
In the Commandery, the Chivalric Orders of Christian Knighthood are conferred as follows:
I. The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross II. The Order of Knight of Malta III. The Order of the Temple The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross is founded upon Truth - a divine attribute, the foundation of every virtue. The Order of Knight of Malta, first called Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem, is known to have been in existence as early as 1099 A.D. It was the first organized body whose avowed purpose was the succor and care of the injured on a field of battle. The teaching of the Christian application of Masonic precepts begins with this order. The Order of the Temple, the crowning glory of York Rite Masonry, has been characterized by many as the most solemn and impressive experience in Masonry. Here the aspirant progresses step by step, the way trod by Jesus of Nazareth until the empty tomb joins with the Sprig of Acacia to teach that at last we shall dwell forever in realms of life and light eternal. |