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Article THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE . ← Page 4 of 5 →
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The Order Of The Temple .
modern introduction . There is no trace of any thing of the kind iu any early records concerning the Order . Vi e have the authority of Andrew Fa vine , ( Theatre of Honour , B . ix . ch . 7 ., ) a writer , ivhose testimony is unquestionable , that the Templars having made their profession in presence of Guarimond , the Patriarch of Jerusalem , "he granted their habit to be white , and thereupon Une Croix Patriarchalein the same form as see it here figured . " And he
accord-, you ingly gives in a plate the Cross of the Knights Templars , a patriarchal cross , that is , a cross with two transverse bars , gules , enamelled or . But afterwards , says Favine , " they exempted themselves from obedience to the Patriarch of the Hol y City , and changed their cross , rejecting the patriarchal , anel taking one blacke with eight points , like to that of the Hospitallers of St . John , with an Urle ( orle ) , and bordure white . " This black crosswith orle and hordute whitehas been
, , resumed by the Scottish Templars ; but they have reserved it for the Esquire , who has no right to wear a jewel at all ; and have added a red cross enamelled thereon for their Knights Companions , and surmounted it with a gold crown for Commanders and Grand Crosses ; for all which , I apprehend , there is no authority but their own fancy . The question appears to lie between the Eig ht-pointed Black Cross , with orle and bordure whiteand the Red Enamelled Patriarchal Cross ;
, in either case , suspended round the neck by a scarlet ribbon . I should be strongly inclined to advise the adoption of the Black Cross for Knights not in office , and to give the Patriarchal Cross to Knights Preceptors of houses or bodies of Templars . The Jewel , hoivever , whatever it be , ought only to be worn by Knights , or by such Chaplains as
were Knights before they were ordained . III . In a revival of the Grand Conclave , the Offices of the Order , and the titles of the Officers , as well as the proper designation of regular bodies of Templars , ought to be carefully considered . It is my opinion , that until the different bodies of Templars in different countries shall unite to elect one , no Grand Master of the Order , strictly speaking , can exist ; and I cannot yield to the assumption of the Scottish Templarsthat the head of their bodis the rihtful Grancl
, y g Master of the Order- But , as there is historical authority for giving the title of Master , or Grand Master , to persons in England , n-hose real rank was only Grand Prior of England , and even to persons in Ireland , who were only deputies in that country of the Grand Prior of England , I see no positive objection to the title being used in any country , though I consider Grand Prior would be a move correct , and less assuming one . The other Officers of a local , provincial or national Chapter or
Conclave , are the following . The Seneschal , ( or Vice Prior ); the Marshall ; the Treasurer ; the Draper ; the Chancellor ( or Secretary-General ) ; the Almoner . Under a Provincial , i . e .. National Grancl Master , or Grand Prior , may be several Priors , or " Preceptors of districts , " having superintendence over several Temple houses . The proper designation of the great representative body is a " Grand Conclave or Chapter : " the designation of a regular bodof Templarsis a
proper y , " Preceptory " or " Priory . " I consider " Preceptory " the most correct , though there is authority for the other ; the title "Encampment" is quite incorrect and modern . The proper title of the governor or president of one of these bodies is " ¦ Preceptor" or " Prior : " he may be either a Knight , a Chaplain , or a Serving Brother ; but a Serving Brother should only be allowed to pre-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Order Of The Temple .
modern introduction . There is no trace of any thing of the kind iu any early records concerning the Order . Vi e have the authority of Andrew Fa vine , ( Theatre of Honour , B . ix . ch . 7 ., ) a writer , ivhose testimony is unquestionable , that the Templars having made their profession in presence of Guarimond , the Patriarch of Jerusalem , "he granted their habit to be white , and thereupon Une Croix Patriarchalein the same form as see it here figured . " And he
accord-, you ingly gives in a plate the Cross of the Knights Templars , a patriarchal cross , that is , a cross with two transverse bars , gules , enamelled or . But afterwards , says Favine , " they exempted themselves from obedience to the Patriarch of the Hol y City , and changed their cross , rejecting the patriarchal , anel taking one blacke with eight points , like to that of the Hospitallers of St . John , with an Urle ( orle ) , and bordure white . " This black crosswith orle and hordute whitehas been
, , resumed by the Scottish Templars ; but they have reserved it for the Esquire , who has no right to wear a jewel at all ; and have added a red cross enamelled thereon for their Knights Companions , and surmounted it with a gold crown for Commanders and Grand Crosses ; for all which , I apprehend , there is no authority but their own fancy . The question appears to lie between the Eig ht-pointed Black Cross , with orle and bordure whiteand the Red Enamelled Patriarchal Cross ;
, in either case , suspended round the neck by a scarlet ribbon . I should be strongly inclined to advise the adoption of the Black Cross for Knights not in office , and to give the Patriarchal Cross to Knights Preceptors of houses or bodies of Templars . The Jewel , hoivever , whatever it be , ought only to be worn by Knights , or by such Chaplains as
were Knights before they were ordained . III . In a revival of the Grand Conclave , the Offices of the Order , and the titles of the Officers , as well as the proper designation of regular bodies of Templars , ought to be carefully considered . It is my opinion , that until the different bodies of Templars in different countries shall unite to elect one , no Grand Master of the Order , strictly speaking , can exist ; and I cannot yield to the assumption of the Scottish Templarsthat the head of their bodis the rihtful Grancl
, y g Master of the Order- But , as there is historical authority for giving the title of Master , or Grand Master , to persons in England , n-hose real rank was only Grand Prior of England , and even to persons in Ireland , who were only deputies in that country of the Grand Prior of England , I see no positive objection to the title being used in any country , though I consider Grand Prior would be a move correct , and less assuming one . The other Officers of a local , provincial or national Chapter or
Conclave , are the following . The Seneschal , ( or Vice Prior ); the Marshall ; the Treasurer ; the Draper ; the Chancellor ( or Secretary-General ) ; the Almoner . Under a Provincial , i . e .. National Grancl Master , or Grand Prior , may be several Priors , or " Preceptors of districts , " having superintendence over several Temple houses . The proper designation of the great representative body is a " Grand Conclave or Chapter : " the designation of a regular bodof Templarsis a
proper y , " Preceptory " or " Priory . " I consider " Preceptory " the most correct , though there is authority for the other ; the title "Encampment" is quite incorrect and modern . The proper title of the governor or president of one of these bodies is " ¦ Preceptor" or " Prior : " he may be either a Knight , a Chaplain , or a Serving Brother ; but a Serving Brother should only be allowed to pre-