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Sketch of the History of the Knights Templars
From the era of the Reformation, the combined Order appears in Scotland only as a Masonic body; but there are some records to indicate that, so early as 1590, a few of the brethren had become mingled with the Architectural Fraternities, and that a Lodge at Stirling, patronised by King James, had a Chapter of Templars attached to it, who were termed cross-legged Masons; and whose initiatory ceremonies were performed not in a room, but in the Old Abbey, the ruins of which are still to be seen in the neighbourhood. The next authentic notice we can find on this subject, is in M. Thory's excellent Chronology of Masonry, wherein it is recorded, that about 1728, Sir John Mitchell Ramsay, the well-known author of Cyrus, appeared in London, with a system of Scottish Masonry, up to that date, perfectly unknown in the metropolis, tracing its origin from the Crusades, and consisting of three degrees, the Ecossais, the Novice, and the Knight Templar. The English Grand Lodge rejected the system of Ramsay, who, as is well known, along with the other adherents of the Stuart Family, transferred it to the Continent, where it became the corner-stone of the hauts grades, and the foundation of those innumerable ramifications into which an excellent and naturally simple institution has been very uselessly extended in France, Germany, and other countries abroad.48
In pursuing the very curious subject of the hauts grades, we may observe, however, that they never obtained much consideration during the lifetime of Ramsay, although they are invariably traced to him and to Scotland, the fairy land of Foreign Masonry,49 but gathered their chief impulse from the disgraceful dissentions in the Masonic Lodges at Paris, about the middle of last century, which induced the Chevalier de Bonneville, and other distinguished persons at the Court of France, to form themselves into a separate institution, named the Chapitre de Clermont, in honour of one of the Princes of the Blood, Louis de Bourbon, Prince de Clermont, then presiding over the Masonic Fraternities. In this Chapter they established, amongst other degrees, Ramsay's system of the Masonic Templars, which, along with other high grades, was soon conveyed into the Northern Kingdoms of Europe, by the Officers of the French Army, but especially, by the Marquis de Bernez, and the Baron de Hund, the latter of whom made it the ground-work of his Templar Regime de la Stricte Observance, which occupied, for several years, so prominent a place in the Secret Societies of Germany. This adventurer appeared in that country with a patent, under the sign-manual of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, appointing him Grand Master of the seventh province; but although he had invented a plausible tale in support of his title and authority, – both of which he affirmed had been made over to him by the Earl Marischal on his death-bed, – and of the antiquity of his order, which he derived, of course, from Scotland, where the chief seat of the Templars was Aberdeen,50 – the imposture was soon detected, and it was even discovered that he had himself enticed and initiated the ill-fated Pretender into his fabulous order of Chivalry. The delusions on this subject, however, had taken such a hold in Germany, that they were not altogether dispelled, until a deputation had actually visited Aberdeen, and found amongst the worthy and astonished brethren there, no trace either of very ancient Templars or Freemasonry.51 From some of the Continental States, it is conjectured that Masonic Templary was transplanted into England and Ireland, in both of which countries it has continued to draw a languid existence, unconnected with any remnant of the Knights of St. John, whose incorporation in the Scottish Order, is one of the most remarkable features of that Institution. We are happy to add, nevertheless, that the most fraternal feelings and intercourse subsist between the Scottish brethren and the Templars of the sister kingdoms, and we can ourselves testify to the cordiality with which the former are received in the encampments of London.
During the whole of the eighteenth century the combined Order of the Temple and Hospital in Scotland can be but faintly traced, though I have the assurance of well-informed Masons that thirty or forty years ago they knew old men who had been members of it for sixty years, and it had sunk so low at the time of the French Revolution, that the sentence which the Grand Lodge of Scotland fulminated in 1792 against all degrees of Masonry except those of St. John, was expected to put a period to its existence. Soon after this, however, some active individuals revived it, and with the view of obtaining documentary authority for their chapters, as well as of avoiding any infringement of the statutes then recently enacted against secret societies, adopted the precaution of accepting charters of constitution from a body of Masonic Templars, named the Early Grand Encampment, in Dublin, of whose origin we can find no account, and whose legitimacy, to say the least, was quite as questionable as their own. Several charters of this description were granted to different Lodges of Templars in Scotland about the beginning of the present century, but these bodies maintained little concert or intercourse with each other, and were certainly not much esteemed in the country. Affairs were in this state when, about 1808, Mr. Alexander Deuchar was elected Commander, or Chief of the Edinburgh Encampment of Templars, and his brother, Major David Deuchar, along with other Officers of the Royal Regiment, was initiated into the Order. This infusion of persons of higher station and better information gave an immediate impulse to the Institution, and a General Convocation of all the Templars of Scotland, by representatives, having taken place at the Capital, they unanimously resolved to discard the Irish Charters, and to rest their claims, as the representatives of the Knights of old, on the general belief of the country in their favour, and the well-accredited traditions handed down from their forefathers. They further determined to entreat the Duke of Kent, who was a Chevalier du Temple, as well as the chief of the Masonic Templars in England, to become the Patron Protector of the Order in North Britain, offering to submit themselves to His Royal Highness in that capacity, and to accept from him a formal Charter of Constitution, erecting them into a regular Conclave of Knights Templars, and Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. The Duke of Kent lost no time in complying with their request, and his Charter bears date 19th of June 1811. By a provision in it, Mr. Deuchar, who had been nominated by the Brethren, was appointed Grand Master for life.
These wise and vigorous measures rescued the Order from obscurity; and in its improved condition, we find that it continued rapidly to flourish, numbering, in the course of a few years, no less than forty encampments or lodges in different parts of the British dominions holding of its Conclave. In 1828, the Order seemed to have received a fresh impulse, and assumed a novel and interesting aspect by the judicious introduction of the ancient chivalric costume and forms. Dissentions, however, unfortunately occurred, from 1830 to 1835, tending to impede the further progress of the Order; and for a while it may be said to have again almost fallen into abeyance. In the end of the latter year, a committee of ten gentlemen was appointed to settle all differences, as well as to frame proper regulations for the future government of the Order. Under their arrangement and arbitration, the present statutes were established, and a reconciliation effected between the contending parties. In January 1836, Admiral Sir David Milne, K. C. B. was unanimously elected Grand Master, and at a general election in the same month, Lord Ramsay (now Earl of Dalhousie) was appointed his Depute, the various other offices in the Order being filled by gentlemen, generally well known, and of a respectable station in society. In the course of three months after the re-union, not fewer than a hundred persons, chiefly men of fortune, officers, and members of the learned professions, had been received into the Order in the Edinburgh Canongate Kilwinning Priory or Encampment alone. Since then, other Priories have been established in the country, and the Institution has assumed an importance and dignity worthy of the highest class of gentlemen connected with the Masonic Institutions of Scotland.
APPENDIX
Bull of Pope Clement V
Ordinis statum habitum atque nomen, Non Sine Cordis Amaritudine et Dolore sacro approbante concilio, Non Per Modum Definitivæ Sententiæ, cum eam super hoc secundum inquisitiones et processus super his habitos, Non possumus Ferre, de Jure, Sed Per viam Provisionis, seu ordinationis apostolicæ, irrefragabili et Perpetuo Valitura sustulimus sanctione, ipsum prohibitione Perpetuæ supponentes, distinctius inhibendo ne quis dictum Ordinem de cœtero intrare, vel ejus habitum suscipere aut portare, vel pro Templario gerere se præsumeret; quod si quis contra faceret, excommunicationis incurreret sententiam, ipso facto. Datum Viennæ, vi. non. Maii, pont. nostrianno vii. (ii. Maii MCCCIII.)
Charter of Transmission
Ego Frater Johannes-Marcus Larmenius, Hierosolymitanus, Dei gratia et Secretissimo Venerandi sanctissimique Martyris, Supremi Templi Militiæ Magistri (cui honos et gloria) decreto, communi Fratrum Consilio confirmato, super universum Templi Ordinem Summo et Supremo Magisterio insignitus, singulis has decretales litteras visuris salutem, salutem, salutem.
Notum sit omnibus tam præsentibus quam futuris, quod, deficientibus, propter extremam ætatem, viribus, rerum angustia et gubernaculi gravitate prepensis, ad majorem Dei gloriam, Ordinis, Fratrum et Statutorum tutelam et salutem ego, supra dictus, humilis Magister Militiæ Templi, inter validiores manus Supremum statuerim deponere Magisterium.
Idcirco, Deo juvante, unoque Supremi Conventus Equitum consensu, apud eminentem Commendatorem et carissimum Fratrem, Franciscum-Thomam-Theobaldum Alexandrinum, Supremum Ordinis Templi Magisterium, auctoritatem et privilegia contuli, et hoc præsenti decreto pro vita confero, cum potestate, secundum temporis et rerum leges, Fratri alteri, institutionis et ingenii nobilitate morumque honestate præstantissimo, Summum et Supremum Ordinis Templi Magisterium summamque auctoritatem conferendi. Quod sic, ad perpetuitatem Magisterii, successorum non intersectam seriem et Statutorum integritatem tuendas. Jubeo tamen ut non transmitti possit Magisterium, sine commilitonum Templi Conventus Generalis consensu, quoties colligi valuerit Supremus iste Conventus; et, rebus ita sese habentibus, successor ad nutum Equitum eligatur.
Ne autem Languescant Supremi Officii munera, sint nunc et perenniter quatuor Supremi Magistri Vicarii, supremam potestatem, eminentiam et auctoritatem, super universum Ordinem, salvo jure Supremi Magistri, habentes; qui Vicarii Magistri apud seniores secundum professionis seriem, eligantur. Quod Statutum e commendato mihi et Fratribus voto sacrosancti supra dicti Venerandi Beatissimique Magistri nostri, Martyris (cui honos et gloria) Amen.
Ego denique, Fratrum Supremi Conventus decreto, e suprema mihi commissa auctoritate, Scotos Templarios Ordinis desertores, anathemate percussos, illosque et Fratres Sancti Johannis Hierosolymæ, dominiorum Militiæ spoliatores (quibus apud Deum misericordia) extra girum Templi, nunc et in futurum, volo, dico et jubeo.
Signa, ideo, pseudo-Fratribus ignota et ignoscenda constitui, ore commilitonibus tradenda, et quo, in Supremo Conventu, jam tradere modo placuit.
Quæ vero signa tantummodo pateant post debitam professionem et equestrem consecrationem, secundum Templi commilitonum Statuta, ritus et usus, supra dicto eminenti Commendatori a me transmissa, sicut a Venerando et Sanctissimo Martyre Magistro (cui honos et gloria) in meas manus habui tradita. Fiat sicut dixi. Fiat. Amen.
Ego Johannes-Marcus Larmenius dedi, die decima tertia februarii 1324.
Ego Franciscus-Thomas-Theobaldus Alexandrinus, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1324.
Ego Arnulphus De Braque, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1340.
Ego Johannes Claromontanus, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1349.
Ego Bertrandus Duguesclin, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1357.
Ego Johannes Arminiacus, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1381.
Ego Bernardus Arminiacus, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1392.
Ego Johannes Arminiacus, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1419.
Ego Johannes Croyus, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1451.
Ego Robertus Lenoncurtius, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1478.
Ego Galeatius de Salazar, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1497.
Ego Philippus Chabotius, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1516.
Ego Gaspardus De Salciaco, Tavannensis, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1544.
Ego Henricus De Monte Morenciaco, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1574.
Ego Carolus Valesius, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1615.
Ego Jacobus Ruxellius de Grancio, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1651.
Ego Jacobus-Henricus De Duro Forti, dux de Duras, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1681.
Ego Philippus, dux Aurelianensis, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1705.
Ego Ludovicus-Augustus Borbonius, dux du Maine, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1724.
Ego Ludovicus-Henricus Borbonius-Condœus, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1737.
Ego Ludovicus-Franciscus Borbonius-Conty, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1741.
Ego Ludovicus-Hercules-Timoleo de Cosse-Brissac, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo, 1776.
Ego Claudius-Mathæus Radix de Chevillon, Templi senior Vicarius Magistri, adstantibus Fratribus Prospero-Maria-Petro-Michaele Charpentier de Saintot, Bernardo-Raymundo Fabre-Palaprat, Templi Vicariis Magistris, et Johnne-Baptista-Augusto de Courchant, Supremo Præceptore, hasce litteras decretales a Ludovico-Hercule-Timoleone de Cosse-Brissac, supremo Magistro, in temporibus infaustis mihi depositas, Fratri Jacobo-Philippo Ledru, Templi seniori Vicario Magistro tradidi, ut istæ litteræ, in tempore opportuno, ad perpetuam Ordinis nostri memoriam, juxta ritum (voyez le Rituel levitique) Orientalem, vigeant: Die decima junii 1804.
Ego Bernardus-Raymundus Fabre-Palaprat, Deo juvante, Supremum Magisterium acceptum habeo: Die quarta novembris 1804.
Boisgelin, himself a Knight of Malta, gives the following authentic copy of the Oath of Profession, from the original text, which every Candidate took at his reception into the Order: —
Vow of the Knights of St. John"Io N. faccio voto e prometto a Dio Omnipotente, ed alla Beata Maria sempre Vergine, Madre di Dio, ed a San Giovanni Battista d'osservare perpetuamente, con l'ajuta di Dio, vera obedienza a qualunque superiore che mi sera data da Dio e dalla nostra religione, e di più vivere senza proprio e d'osservare castità."
Ego,
Ordinis Templi Militiae Sanctae memetipsum ad praesens et in oevum devovens, libere solemniterque Obedientiae, Paupertatis, et Castitatis, sicut et Fraternitatis, Hospitalitatis et Praeliationis Votum suscipere profiteor;
Quo voto firmam et non quassabilem edico voluntatem, ad Religionis Christianae, Ordinis Templi, Commilitonumque causam, tutelam et honorem, maximamque illustrationem, et ad Templi Sepulchrique Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Palestinae, Orientisque terrae et Patrum dominiorum recuperationem, gladium, vires, vitamque et singula alia mea impendendi,
Regulae S. P. Bernardi, Chartae transmissionis, regulis, legibus, decretis, singulisque aliis actis, secundum Ordinis Statuta emissis me submittendi: nullos Equites creaturus, nullosve titulos aut gradus ritusque et usus Ordinis proditurus, nisi patuerit ex Statutis licentia: omni denique modo, sive in Ordinis domibus sive foras et in quocumque vitae, statu Supremo Magistro, omnibusque et singulis in Militia superioribus absolute obediturus.
Sic Fratres meos Equites Templi, Sororesque Equitissas in charitate habendi, ut ipsos, Fratrumque Viduas et liberos, sicut et Sororum liberos, gladio, concilio, copiis, opibus, auctoritate, singulisque rebus meis adjuvem, illosque semper et ubique, nullo casu excepto, cuivis Commilitonum Templi non consorti praeferam;
Pios peregrinos tuendi; captivorum propter crucem, infirmorumque et pauperum subsidio simul et solatio inserviendi:
Infideles et incredulos, exemplo, virtute, bonis operibus, alloquiisque suasoriis oppugnandi: in Infideles autem et incredulos gladio Crucem aggredientes, propter Crucem gladio praeliandi:
Ab omni impudicitia abhorrendi, et ad nullam carnis operam, nisi debitam, et tantum cum uxore legitima accedendi:
Tandem apud singulas quas adibo Gentes, ipsarum, salvo Religionis Ordinisque jure, legibus et moribus obtemperandi: Gentibus vero Hospitalitate et amicitia Ordinem colentibus, Cuis et Equitis fidelissimi sacra officia praestandi.
Haec sic, coram Equitibus (huicce Conventui adstantibus) Voveo, alta voce Dico, et Vovere Profiteor. Quod Votum Sanguine meo subsigno et confirmo, atque in tabulas (conventuales) iterum scribo et subsigno, subsignantibus supra dictis testibus.
Gloria Patri + et Filio + et Spritui Sancto, +AmenN.B. – The above Vow is always signed with the interpretation explained in the text annexed to it.
Le Trésor
Inventaire des Chartre, Statuts, Reliques et Insignes composant le Trésor sacré de l'Ordre du Temple, extrait de la minute du procès-verbal qui en a été dressé le 14e. jour de la lune de Tab., l'an de l'Ordre 692, du Magister le 6e. (18 mai 1810.)
Ire. PIÈCE DU TRÉSORLa chartre de transmission (par J. M. Larmenius), écrite en deux colonnes et demie sur une très-grande feuille de parchemin, ornée, suivant le goût du temps, de dessins gothiques architecturaux, de lettres fleuronnées, coloriées, dorées et argentées, dont la première offre un chevalier appuyé sur un bouclier armorie de la croix de l'Ordre.
Au haut, en tête, est peinte la croix conventuelle dans la forme aulique.
Au bas est le sceau de la milice, suspendu par des lacs de parchemin.
Les acceptations par les Grands-Maîtres commencent vers le milieu de la troisième colonne, se continuant à la troisième, et finissant aux deux tiers inférieurs de la marge à droite.
IIe. PIÈCEL'archétype des Statuts de l'an de l'Ordre (587,) transcrits à la main sur vingt-sept feuilles de papier, reliés en un volume petit in-folio, couvert en velours cramoisi, doublé en satin idem, doré sur tranche. – Cette pièce signée Philippus (d'Orléans.)
IIIe. PIÈCEUn petit reliquaire de cuivre, en forme d'église gothique, contenant, dans un suaire de lin, quatre fragmens d'os brulés, extraits du bûcher des martyrs de l'Ordre.
IVe. PIÈCEUne épée de fer (cruciforme) surmontée d'une boule, et présumée avoir servi au G. – M. J. Molay.
Ve. PIÈCEUn casque de fer, à visière, armorié de dauphins et damastiqué en or, présumé être celui de Guy, dauphin d'Auvergne.
VIe. PIÈCEUn ancien éperon de cuivre doré.
VIIe. PIÈCEUne patène de bronze, dans l'interieur de laquelle est gravée une main étendue, dont le petit doigt et l'annulaire sont repliés dans la paume.
VIIIe. PIÈCEUne paix en bronze doré, représentant Saint-Jean sous une arcade gothique.
IXe. PIÈCETrois sceaux gothiques de bronze en forme ovale pointue, et de grandeur différente, désignés dans les Statuts sous les noms de sceau du G. – M. Jean, sceau du chevalier croisé, et sceau de Saint-Jean.
Xe. PIÈCEUn haut de crosse d'ivoire et trois mitres d'étoffe, l'une en or, brodée en soie, et deux en argent, brodées en perles, ayant servi aux cérémonies de l'Ordre.
XIe. PIÈCELe baucéant en laine blanche, à la croix de l'Ordre.
XIIe. et dernière PIÈCELe drapeau de guerre, en laine blanche, à quatre raies noires.
Guillaume-Sidney,
Par la Grace de Dieu, et la désignation Testamentaire du dernier Grand-MaîtrePrince Magistral, Régent de l'Ordre du Temple;A Tous Ceux qui ces Présentes, Verront:Salut.
Vu, l'Article 38 des Statuts de l'Ordre du Temple, et le 3me paragraphe de la Charte de transmission;
Vu, les Articles 13, 15, 16 et suivans desdits Status;
Considérant, que l'etat de haute civilisation des diverses Nations Européennes et principalement de la France, ou se trouve le siège Magistral, permet toute Réunion du Convent Général, sans qu'il puisse en resulter le moindre danger pour les Chevaliers;
Considérant, que les tems sont venus de rendre au Convent général tous les droits dont il a joui jusques au G. M. Jacques de Molay, (à qui scient honneur et gloire), et de faire rentrer dans de sages et constitutionnelles limites la puissance du Magistère;
Considérant, qu'une reforme prudente et réfléchie des Statuts, dans les parties qui ne sont plus en harmonie avec la Charte de transmission, les moeurs du siècle et la règle, est le moyen le plus efficace de rendre possible l'accomplissement des hautes destinées auxquelles l'Ordre du Temple est appellé;
Le conseil privé entendu;
Nous avons décrété et décrétons ce qui suit:
Article PremierLe Convent Général de l'Ordre du Temple est Convoqué pour le dix Novembre, 1838.
Article IIImmédiatemement après sa réunion, le Convent général devra se prononcer sur la présentation du Prince Magistral Régent, désigné par Bernard Raymond (à qui soient honneur et gloire) pour lui succéder en qualité de Grand Maître de l'Ordre du Temple.
Article IIIEn tête du Commentarium sera placé la revision du Chapitre IV et de tous les Articles des Statuts qui ont des connexions avec ce Chapitre.
Article IVIl sera ouvert à la Sécretairerie Magistrale un Registre destiné à l'inscription des propositions faites pour être présentées au Convent général, et qui seront insérées au Commentarium, conformément aux Statuts.
Soit, le présent décret, expédié, enregistré et scellé par qui et a qui de droit; adressé spécialement au Grand Connétable, au Gouverneur général et au Grand Maître des Dépêches, qui sont chargés de son exécution;
Soit aussi, ledit Décret, envoyé par lettres communicatoires, 1o, au Prieur de chaque Convent, pour être porté à la connaissance de tous les Chevaliers de son obédience, 2o, et personnellement, aux Chevaliers qui ne feraient partie d'aucune Maison de l'Ordre.
Donné à Paris, en notre résidence Magistrale, le 1er du mois de Mai, de l'an de N. S. J. C. 1838, 720e. de l'Ordre.
Signé
