Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

410 KNIGHTS
KNIGHTS
knights were tried, and of course, as a foregone
conclusion, condemned . On the 12th of
May, 1310, fifty-four of the knights were publicly
burnt, and on the 18th of March, 1313,
De Molay, the Grand Master, and the three
principal dignitaries of the order, suffered
the same fate . They died faithfully asserting
their innocence of all the crimes imputed
to them. The Order was now, by the energy
of the King of France, assisted by the spiritual
authority of the pope suppressed throughout
Europe . So much of its vast possessions as
were not appropriated by the different sovereigns
to their own use, or to that of their f avorites,
was bestowed upon the Order of the
Knights of Malta, whose acceptance of the
donation did not tend to diminish the ill
feeling which had always existed between the
members of the two Orders .
As to the story of the continuation of the
Order, after the death of James de Molay, by
Johannes Larmenius, under the authority of
a charter of transmission given to him by
De Molay a few days before his death,
that subject is more appropriately treated
in the history of the Order of the Temple,
which claims by virtue of this charter, to
be the regular successor of the ancient
Order .
From the establishment of the Order by
Hugh de Payens, until its dissolution during
the Mastership of De Molay, twenty-two
Grand Masters presided over the Order, of
whom the following is an accurate list, compiled
on the authority of Addison . The roll
of Grand Masters in the Rite of Strict Observance,
and that in the Order of the Tem-
[Adler, de Drusis], who was well acquainted
with the history and customs of Syria, that
the Knights Templar were actually members
of the Syriac fraternities ."
Even if this hypothesis were true, although
it might probably suggest the origin of the
secret reception of the Templars, it would not
explain the connection of the modern Templars
with the Freemasons, because there is no
evidence that these Syriac fraternities were
Masonic .
There are four sources from which the Masonic
Templars are said to have derived their
existence ; making, therefore, as many different
divisions of the Order .
1 . The Templars who claim John Mark
Larmenius as the successor of James de
Molay .
2. Those who recognize Peter d'Aumont as
the successor of De Molay .
3. Those who derive their Templarism
from the Count Beaujeu, the nephew of
Mola
4. Those who claim an independent origin,
and repudiate alike the authority of Larmenius,
of Aumont, and of Beaujeu .
From the first class spring the Templars of
France, who professed to have continued the
Order by authority of a charter given by De
Molay to Larmenius. This body of Templars
designate themselves as the "Order of the
Temple." Its seat is in Paris . The Duke of
Sussex received from it the degree and the authority
to establish a Grand Conclave in England.
He did so ; and convened that body
once, but only once. During the remaining
years of his life, Templarism had no activity
m England, as he discountenanced all Chrisplar,
differ in several names ;
are destitute of authenticity .
but these rolls
1. Hugh de Payens, elected in 1118.
2. Robert of Burgundy, " 1136.
3 . Everard de Barri, 1146.
4 . Bernard de Tremellay, " 1151 .
5 . Bertrand de Blanquefort, " 1154.
91
6. Philip of Naplous,
1167.
7. Odo de St . Amand, " 1170.
8 . Arnold de Troye, " 1180.
9. Gerard de Ridefort, " 1185.
10. Brother Walter,
1189.
11 . Robert de Sable, " 1191.
12. Gilbert Horal, " 1195.
13. Philip de Plessis, " 1201 .
14. William de Chartres, " 1217.
15. Peter de Montaigu, " 1218.
16. Hermann de Perigord, " 1236.
17 . William de Sonnac, 1245.
18 . Reginald de Vichier, " 1252.
19 . Thomas Berard, " 1256.
20. William de Beaujeu, " 1273.
21. Theobald de Gaudini, " 1291 .
22 . James de Molay, 1297.
(See Trans . Quar . Car., vol. XX.)
Knights Templar, Masonic. The connection
of the Knights Templar with the Freemasons
may much more plausibly be traced
than that of the Knights of Malta . Yet, unfortunately,
the sources from which informa-
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tion is to be derived are for the most part
traditionary ; authentic dates and documents
are wanting. Tradition has always been inclined
to trace the connection to an early period,
and to give to the Templar system of
secret reception a Masonic character, derived
from their association during the Crusades
with the mystical Society of the Assassins in
Syria . Lawrie (Hist ., p . 87), or Sir David
Brewster, the real author of the work which
bears Lawrie's name, embodies the tradition
in this form :
"Almost all the secret associations of the
ancients either flourished or originated in
Syria and the adjacent countries . It was
here that the Dionysian artists, the Essenes
and the Kasideans arose . From this country
also came several members of that trading association
of Masons which appeared in Europe
during the dark ages ; and we axe assured,
that, notwithstanding the unfavorable condition
of that province, there exists at this
day, on Mount Libanus, one of these Syriac
fraternities . As the Order of the Templars
therefore, was originally formed in Syria, and
existed there for a considerable time, it would
be no improbable supposition that they received
their Masonic knowledge from the
Lodges in that quarter . But we are fortunately,
in this case, not left to conjecture, for
we are expressly informed by a foreign author