New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-23
How the knights Templar Were Initiated
In the Olden Times.

Something over 800 years ago-and the
world has moved fast in the centuries since
then-two French knights, joining with
them seven others, started out as an escort
to pilgrims to Jerusalem. Baldwin H., the
then king of the crusading occupation of
that ancient town, welcomed them warmly
and gave them lodgings near the supposed
site Of the temple Of Solomon, of Ezra and
of Herod. Their numbers increased until
finally St. Bernard, of Clairviaux, drew up
for them rules Of life, and they became that
curious complex, monastic soldiers. In the
year 1891, after fight of nearly 200 years,
they were driven from Acre, their last hold
in Syria, with frightful slaughter, and landed
in the Island of Cyprus with the Knights of
St. John. All over Europe at this time the
order was flush with stately houses OF con-
vocation and immense wealth. The kings
of Europe about then were exceedingly
short Of cash, and Philip the Fair, OF
France, having persuaded Pope Clement
V. to issue bun authorizing an inquiry
into the morals and purposes of the order,
took at once occasion to squeeze out of the
unfortunate knights all shat the terrible
torture of the day could bring forth. Says
an ancient chronicle:
THE grand master Of the ci-decant Order
Of the Temple and three other Templars,
the visitor Of France, and the grand mas
tiers of Normandy and Aquitaine, the
right of pronouncing deEnitive Judgment
against whom the Pope had reserved to
himself, appeared before the Archbishop of
Sens and an assembly Of other prelates
and doctors Of divine and cauon law, con-
vened for this special purpose at Paris.
The four above named then having publicly
and solemnly acknowledged the crimes
with which they were accused, were con-
demned to be burnt at the stake, and we're
accordingly, with all due solemnity,
roasted to death"
Between his arrest and execution Jacques
de MOlay, grand master of the Templars,
as weak as Cranmer, under Mary of Eng
land, first, in fear Of pain of torture, told
or attempted to tell, all that he knew, and
yet, when the stake faced him, died as
game as only men can die. The story of
the martyr was this, and how true the
traditions of the Templars are, and how
true the claims of those who use their name
to-day Is to wear it can only be known by
those who can see in the old, old story of
centuries back story that they can under
stand:
One of the witnesses. q Templar under
the torture, deposes that when he refused
to deny God and spit upon the cross. Ray
mend de Brignolies said to him, laughingly:
Compose yourself-lt is only farce" In
the important deposition of the preceptor
ceremony of the time, together with an
explanation of its origin. The knight who
initiated the candidate. having first invest
ed him with the cloak of the order, pre-
sented him with q crucifix on q macs book,
and told him to deny Christ nailed to the
cross. When in great terror he refused,
crying ont: "Alss, my God, why should l
do sol l will in nowise do it." do it
without fear" replied the other; II swear
hat okol <o;n i,,s,,
either in soul or conscience, for it is cere
mony of the order, introduced by wicked
grand master, who being taken prisoner by
3 sedan, could obtain his liberty only by
taking his oath to make all future candi-
dates for admission into the order ab
jure Christ after this fashion, which
has been done ever since, and 90