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That’s a tough question and one I hope I’m never faced with. Under any torture similar to what Jacques de Molay must have endured I’m sure I would have confessed to anything.
It would be very difficult to choose death. That’s why martyrs like de Molay are to be honored and respected for making a choice most of us would not have the courage to face.
How could someone go about finding out if one of their family members or ancestors were members? Is there any kind of database or list with all the names of past Knights Templar?
The biggest help would be to know the city where your father lived and if you could describe or even post pictures of the objects (swords or clothing?) you found that made you realize he was possibly a Knights Templar. With pictures of those items, we could probably help you identify the group.
Feel free to forward a picture of them to: Prior@TheKnightsTemplar.org
There was also a branch of the Masons called the Knights Templar that has been around for 100 years found here: http://www.KnightsTemplar.org. The items from this organization would most likely be swords, and apron, and almost a “Navel Officer” looking hat and costume.
The two oldest non-masonic Templar organizations in the USA started in 1962 and us in 1973.
Well, When my father passed away a few years ago we stored some of his things in my brother’s loft. We ran across it recently and found some of his Masonic things. I didn’t know anything about dad being a Mason or anything like that and my brother only knew a little. He said dad had been in some other organization, not exactly Masonic but he wasn’t sure what. That’s what sparked my interest and started my research.
Fascinating! Did you ever find out what the other organization was that your Dad was in?
St Bernard had to be one of the most charismatic men of his day! All that traveling must have been terribly difficult in those days. Being from a good family and educated, he could have easily accepted a more comfortable station in life. It seems amazing by today’s standards that religion had so much meaning and influence back then.
It is hard to relate to those times isn’t it? The Catholic Church in those days was more powerful than most nations. Hard to get my head around a church being that powerful.
I have come across many sites that say Knights Templar but how can you validate the findings? I would hate to purchase something and then find out it is a fake.
Especially after spending the kind of money they’re asking for!
That is a great point Ed. I guess I would start at that town’s local French Historical Association, and that town’s librarian. Truth is, there’s a lot of scammers out there.I checked both sites looking for some historical reading about the Knights Templar. The first one is a bit radical for my interests but the second one has very some good historical articles. I’m headed back to finish reading them now.
I’m glad to hear the second site fit the bill for you Montoya! What perked your interest in the Knights Templar?
It seems unusual that there is no definitive history of that. It would make sense that they sailed to Scotland and settled there. But there is a huge gap in their history from that time until the later versions appeared. Perhaps archaeology will find the link someday?
Agreed, we can only hope so Charland. Archaeologists are not done finding clues to where the Templars ended up. I’m encouraged that there is enough interest in the Templars to keep the search alive.
The KT’s were allowed and protected from the inquisition in some countries. I’m curious what happened to those groups. If they didn’t disband, what happened to them? If they did, why?
Exactly right, in Portugal and Scotland, for example, the Knights Templar were not persecuted like they were in France. Thus these were two countries where they survived.
When the templars were suppressed elsewhere, the King Denis of Portugal got an exemption from the Pope and all lands etc were kept safe for the order. The name reverted to the original name of the order, the Order of Christ and the gift was in the hands of the king. This is the Portugeuse Order of Christ which is a state order.
The Pope only allowed this however, if he also was able to confer the Order of Christ. Thus there are two branches today of the Templars related to Portugal, “The Order of Christ” which is a Portuguese order and the highest order of the Vatican state, also called “The Order of Christ.” Only these two branches of the same order can claim to have any decent from the Templars.
Elsewhere, Templars that escaped persecution stayed underground in a secret organization they called the “Brotherhood.” It is a guess that the “Brotherhood” might have lived in what is modern day Switzerland or elsewhere.
Scotland was likely a haven for the Templars as the Scottish King at that time did not recognize the Pope. There is much written about the Templar’s ability to survive in Scotland where the Papel Bull suppressing the order was never read.
Right now I can only think of four and I know one is missing but I am not sure which it is. Is there an easy way to remember these (maybe like a memory acronym)?
You have a good memory Ed, even remembering 4 of them is a lot. Remember they were “Alleged” charges pushed by a King who wanted the Templars out of the way to seize their wealth and have his debts to the Templars erased. The Chinon Parchment later reveals that the Vatican found the Templars innocent of these charges as you can read here about here by clicking here: Chinon Parchment.
I had to go to Wikipedia to get them right:
1) The renouncement and spitting on the cross during initiation into the Order.2) The second was the stripping of the man to be initiated and the thrice kissing of that man by the preceptor on the navel, posteriors and the mouth.
3) The third was telling the neophyte (novice) that unnatural lust was lawful and indulged in commonly.
4) The fourth was that the cord worn by the neophyte day and night was consecrated by wrapping it around an idol in the form of a human head with a great beard, and that this idol was adored in all chapters.
5) The fifth was that the priests of the order did not consecrate the host in celebrating Mass.
Subsequently, the charges would be increased and would become, according to the procedures, lists of articles 86 to 127 in which will be added a few other charges, such as the prohibition to priests who do not belong to the order.
The whole topic is fascinating. Being a history buff, I only recently began reading about this period and the Knights Templar. There is so much myth and fiction available about this, past and present, that I wanted to learn more about the true story. I find it particularly interesting that a group that was so instrumental in protecting the interests of the church was later persecuted to near oblivion.
You are so right about that Charland. They did so much for the church, and in the end the church stood aside as King Philip the IV persecuted them.
The church would say that Pope Clement was in France and at the mercy of King Philip IV at that time so he may not have had many options but to stand aside. It seems that King Philip IV was a more responsible for the tragedy here. Although the church is not blameless either.
