The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar ... - Lodge Prudentia

FREEMASONRY AND KN'IGIITSTEMPLARdoms of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, wherethe Templars had not extended their possessionsand their influence.I n all the Provinces there were numerous templehousescalled Preceptories, presided over by a Preceptor.Some of the houses were also called Commanderies.The latter name has been adopted bythe Masonic Templars of this country.Knight ofthe Red Cross.This degree, whose legend dates it far anteriorto the Christian era and in the reign of Darius,has no analogy with the chivalric orders of knighthood.It ispurely Masonic and intimately connectedwith the Royal Arch degree. In this countryit is always conferred in a Commandery ofKnights Templar and isgiven as a preliminaryreception in that degree. The legendis as follows :"After the death of Cyrus, the Jews, who had beenreleased by him from their captivity and permittedto return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuildingthe temple, found themselves obstructed in the undertakingby the neighboring nations and especiallyby the Samaritans. Hereupon they sent an embassy,at the head of which was their prince, Zerubbabel,to Darius, the successor of Cyrus, to cravehis interposition and protection. Zerubbabel, awaitinga favorable opportunity, succeeded not only inobtaining his request, but also in renewing thefriendship which had formerly existed between theking and himself. 1 In commemoration of these1See page 104.112