-
Articles/Ads
Article THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE . Page 1 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Order Of The Temple .
THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE .
To the Editor ofthe Freemasons' Quarterly Review . SIB AND BROTHER , —The exertions ivhich I understand to be now making in London to revive the Grand Conclave of the reli gious and military Oreler of the Temple , and the prospect which appears of these exertions being successful , have seemed to me to give a good opportunity for laying before the Brethren of the Order some remarks concerning its
constitution , such as may perhaps assist those who are engaged in the work of revival , and make their performance more complete . It is acknowledged , I believe , by all intelligent Knights Templars , that many irregularities both in government and practice have crept into the Order , connected as it is with the Masonic fraternity and it seems clear to me , that in order to get rid of many of these it is necessary to look back anel revert as much as possible to the ancient statutes and constitutionunder
, which the Order of the Temple spread over the whole of Christendom . I cannot but admire the zeal and energy with which , since 1837 , the Scottish Templars have engaged themselves in remodelling and reviving the Order in their country ; but there are several important particulars in ivhich I so decidedly differ from them , that I desire to do what lies in my power to prevent the Grand Conclave of England , in any revisal or remodelling of the statutes and usages in England , from falling into
similar mistakes , which may he more easily avoided at first than amended , afterwards . As hoivever it is not my purpose to make an attack upon the Scottish Templars , for whose zeal and chivalrous bearing I have a hi gh esteem , I shall only notice such mistakes as I must
think they have made incidentally and when they fall in my way ; and then as gently as I can . I will take it for granted that the Order of the Temple has been perpetuated from the clays of Jacques cle Molai to our own , and that it has been preserved b y the concealment of its peculiarities under the veil of Masonic secrecy . I know no other way of accounting for the existence of small bodies of members of the Order in different parts of England , Irelandand Scotlandexcept hbelieving that some few of the Knights
, , y , and probably very many serving Brethren , sought the protection of a body so widely spread , and so greatly privileged as the fraternity of Freemasons . Whether any connexion had , previously to the persecution which caused the Templars to seek the protection of Freemasonry , existed between them , it is not easy to determine ; and each Brother will form his own opinion on the subject ; for my own part , I think there are very strong esoteric reasons to deckle me in the
affirmative . At any rate , there has been such a connexion for centuries ; and an attempt now to sever it , and to admit into the Order of the Temple any person without his having a certain degree in Masonry woulel , in my judgment , be most unwise . It is not , however , to be considered a degree qj' Masonry , but an Order per se , ivhich has been long connected for convenience and security ' s sake with Masonry ; although in many particulars of its constitution , rituals , & c , much of Masonic or Masonlike matier has been introduced ; which 1 , for one , would wish to see corrected .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Order Of The Temple .
THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE .
To the Editor ofthe Freemasons' Quarterly Review . SIB AND BROTHER , —The exertions ivhich I understand to be now making in London to revive the Grand Conclave of the reli gious and military Oreler of the Temple , and the prospect which appears of these exertions being successful , have seemed to me to give a good opportunity for laying before the Brethren of the Order some remarks concerning its
constitution , such as may perhaps assist those who are engaged in the work of revival , and make their performance more complete . It is acknowledged , I believe , by all intelligent Knights Templars , that many irregularities both in government and practice have crept into the Order , connected as it is with the Masonic fraternity and it seems clear to me , that in order to get rid of many of these it is necessary to look back anel revert as much as possible to the ancient statutes and constitutionunder
, which the Order of the Temple spread over the whole of Christendom . I cannot but admire the zeal and energy with which , since 1837 , the Scottish Templars have engaged themselves in remodelling and reviving the Order in their country ; but there are several important particulars in ivhich I so decidedly differ from them , that I desire to do what lies in my power to prevent the Grand Conclave of England , in any revisal or remodelling of the statutes and usages in England , from falling into
similar mistakes , which may he more easily avoided at first than amended , afterwards . As hoivever it is not my purpose to make an attack upon the Scottish Templars , for whose zeal and chivalrous bearing I have a hi gh esteem , I shall only notice such mistakes as I must
think they have made incidentally and when they fall in my way ; and then as gently as I can . I will take it for granted that the Order of the Temple has been perpetuated from the clays of Jacques cle Molai to our own , and that it has been preserved b y the concealment of its peculiarities under the veil of Masonic secrecy . I know no other way of accounting for the existence of small bodies of members of the Order in different parts of England , Irelandand Scotlandexcept hbelieving that some few of the Knights
, , y , and probably very many serving Brethren , sought the protection of a body so widely spread , and so greatly privileged as the fraternity of Freemasons . Whether any connexion had , previously to the persecution which caused the Templars to seek the protection of Freemasonry , existed between them , it is not easy to determine ; and each Brother will form his own opinion on the subject ; for my own part , I think there are very strong esoteric reasons to deckle me in the
affirmative . At any rate , there has been such a connexion for centuries ; and an attempt now to sever it , and to admit into the Order of the Temple any person without his having a certain degree in Masonry woulel , in my judgment , be most unwise . It is not , however , to be considered a degree qj' Masonry , but an Order per se , ivhich has been long connected for convenience and security ' s sake with Masonry ; although in many particulars of its constitution , rituals , & c , much of Masonic or Masonlike matier has been introduced ; which 1 , for one , would wish to see corrected .