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

FREEMASONRY AND KNIGHTS TEMPLARwhich still acknowledged the Christian sway. Atthis epoch, the Hospitallers suffered much fromtheir disputes and rivalries with the Templars but;in times of danger both brotherhoods gave theirbest blood in defense of the common cause. In 1191they made Acre their principal place of residence,and in 1291, after the fall of that city, they fled tothe island of Cyprus, where they established theirconvent. It was there they became a maritimepower, having their own fleets and winning theirown victories in the eastern Mediterranean. Intime their residence in Cyprus became unpleasant.The king, by heavy taxes and other rigorous exactions,had so disgusted them, that early in the fourteenthcentury they left and seized the island ofRhodes, where they established their power and defiedthe Turks for more than two hundred years. Inthe latter part of 1522 they were attacked by theTurkish forces and surrendered. The Knights werepermitted to retire with all their personal property,whence they sailed away and sought refuge in theisland of Crete or Candia; from there to Messinain the island of Sicily, and then to the mainland ofItaly, where, after seven years' negotiations withFmperor Charles V. of Germany, they obtainedcomplete control of the island of Malta, and in 1530they took formal possession. From this time theOrder received the name of "Knights of Malta."The sea-born possession they converted into afortress which, in spite of the most strenuous effortsof the Turks, was held by the Knights until T;