The history of Scottish Templarism is long and complex. Today
it is more difficult than ever for the beginer to decypher
between any fact and fiction that is reported in the Media
and in the evergrowing list of Templar Books that are available
in the bookshops and on the Internet. Our web site has been
set up as a guide to one Branch of Scottish Templarism, The
Scottish Knights Templars.
The history provided below is by no means complete, it is
a guide through time, it is our Quest as Templars to find
out the Truth, "as Truth will Conquer All!". In
the midst of all the confusion that has emanated from various
books, the Prince Henry St Clair Preceptory has set one of
its task on finding whatever evidence is traceable, of what
did happen to the Order of the Temple in Scotland.
1118. The Knights Templar were founded by Hugh de Payen,
history tells us that it was "to protect pilgrim routes
in the Holy Land" this was during the reign of Baldwin
II, who granted them living quarters in Jerusalem on the site
of the Temple of Solomon; hence the name Knights of the Temple,
or Knight Templars.
The secular overlord was the Count of Champagne with spiritual
leadership given by St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
1128. The Council of Troyes was under the guidance
of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
1128-9. Hugues de Payen accompanied by other Knights,
visits Scotland.
1147. Use of the red cross of the Order was initiated.
1154. The act of Louis VII the King of France in 1154
AD recognising the Authority of the Grand Master of the Order.
1274. Robert the Bruce is born.
1291. With the fall of Acre, the Templars found themselves
distanced from the Holy Land and having a fast failing raison
de etre.
1306. On March 27th, Robert the Bruce is crowned King
at Scone.
1307. The arrest of Jaques De Molay, the Grand Master
of the Temple, by Philip of France.
1312. Following false charges the Order is dissolved
by Papal decree and subjected to a cruel persecution. However,
no Order of Suppression was ever issued in Scotland and Charges
against the Order were found "Not Proven". Under
its excuminicated King, Robert the Bruce, the Nation provides
a "safe-haven" for fugitive Templars.
1314. Legend tells us that fugitive Templars fought
at Bruce's side at Bannockburn on the 24th June, Midsummer's
day, the Feast day of John the Baptist. The Legend also informs
us that Bruce creates the Order of Heredom as a mark of appreciation
to the Templar Knights.
1315. Bruce protects the Order and the Temple lands,
in Scotland.
1320. The Signing of the Declaration of Arbroath by
Scottish Nobles.
1329. King Robert the Bruce dies and is buried in Dunfermline
Abbey in the Kingdom of Fife. His tomb becomes a place of
special pilgrimage.
1330. A group of Scottish Knights try to take Bruce's
Heart to the Holy Land, the group encounters a Moorish Army
and after a fierce battle only a few Knights survive to return
to Scotland. The Bruce's Heart is returned back to Scotland
as a mark of respect by the Moors and it is claimed that the
Heart is buried in a casket in Melrose Abbey.
1398. It is alleged that Prince Henry St Clair voyaged
from Orkney to Nova Scotia using acquired Templar knowledge
in navigation and ship-building.
1431. Earl William Sinclair becomes a Knight of the
Golden Fleece and a Knight of the Cockle at Santiago de Compostello.
(see Robert Brydon's "The Guilds, The Masons and The
Rosy Cross" available from Rosslyn Chapel).
1445. Earl William Sinclair lays plans to build Rosslyn
Chapel to contain some of the Old Mystery Traditions plus
maybe secteating other items into the vault, whilst creating
a book in stone to enshrine these for posterity.
The Templar Order is never proscribed in Scotland, it's lands
are administered by the Hospital, but ownership is never transferred
to the Hospitallers.
1689. It is reported that John Grahame of Claverhouse
(Bonnie Dundee) died at Killiecrankie wearing the Grand Cross
of the Order.
1705. General Statutes and Election Charter of the
Order at the Covenant General in Versailles.
1738. Chevalier Andrew Michael Ramsay gives in Paris,
an Oration where he claims that the true origin of Freemasonry
came from Knights during the Crusades.
1742. Karl Gotthelf, Baron Von Hund, is received into
the Order of the Temple in Paris.
1745. It is reported that Prince Charles Edward Stewart,
gives a soiree for the Chivalry of the Order of the Temple
in Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh.
1790. Alexander Deuchar becomes the Heritor to the
Scottish Templar legacy.
1804. The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple is
restored by Dr. Bernard-Raymond Fabre-Palaprat.
1807. It is recorded that Alexander Deuchar holds a
meeting of Knights Templar in Edinburgh.
Alexander Deuchar becomes Master of Scottish KnightTemplars,
an office he was to hold until 1835.
1853. The Imperial Decree of His Imperial Majesty Napoleon
III, Emperor of France, dated the 13th of June stating that
the Order of the Temple is a Sovereign Power and Granting
the right to carry Decorations and Badges on French Territory.
1894. Reinstatement of the Regency, and the Establishment
of an International Secretariat of the Templars, with Magisterial
Powers.
1942. Count Antonio Campello Pinto de Sousa Fontes,GC,
becomes Regent by Magisterial Degree. The Archives of the
Order are transferred to Portugal for safety during the War.
1978. The Scottish Grand Priory becomes a Officiated
Associate of S.M.O.T.J. but retains it's separate historical
and ecumenical character.
1996. On St. Andrew's Day, November the 30th, the British
Government sends from London,to Edinburgh Castle in Scotland,
'A' Stone of Destiny ( Stone of Scone) where it now sits amongst
the Honours of Scotland. There is still much debate about
this stone, and its authenticity by the doubting Scots, is
it the real one, or is it a fake, certain people have the
answer.
The motto of the Order is:
Non nobis Domine, non nobis sed Nomini Tuo da Gloriam
Not for us O Lord, not for us but in Your Name is the Glory
a) The organisation is an Order of Knight Templars
b) The Order is an ecumenical Christian organisation
c) The Order is democratic
d) The Order is apolitical
The aim of the Order is to serve God and Scotland, and to
foster international brotherhood. In pursuit of the aim to
serve God and Scotland, members of this Templar Order engage
in activities which:
a) Help preserve and be the guardians of Scotland's traditions
and heritage
b) Support charitable interests.
Full Membership of the Order is normally open to professing
Christians world wide.
In keeping with the ecumenical nature of the Order a broad
definition of the term 'professing Christian' is applied and
membership may be open to all men and women who support Chivalric
'Christian' Ideals. People of high ideals, who hold other
beliefs may also be admitted to membership. Members may be
absolved from any ritual practices of the Order which may
be contrary to the practices of their religious beliefs.
The Order is opposed to sexism and welcomes female members
without restriction on opportunity.
The Order welcomes members from all ethnic backgrounds without
restriction on opportunity.
Preceptors have the authority to admit Squires.
A majority vote of the Grand Council is required to empower
the Grand Prior to admit a member of Chivalry to the grade
of Chevalier or above according to the admission procedures
as described in our Bye-laws.
The Grand Council may by majority vote at a meeting of the
Grand Council expel any member from the Chivalry or re-instate
any member to membership of the Chivalry.
There is an associate membership where individuals can join
to use our facilities and join in our assemblies without becoming
a Knight Templar.
There is an honorary grade of membership with admission at
the discretion of the Grand Prior.
Our Order is looking at an Affiliate Membership for UK and
non UK residents.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Does
our Order need new members ?
Yes, the Members Of Chivalry are the life blood of the Order,
membership is quite literally an opportunity to serve.
Is membership available on application ?
No, there are both informal and formal vetting procedures.
How are new members introduced ?
Most new members are invited to become a member, new members
are usually
recommended by a personal friend or contact but anyone who
is seriously interested
in learning more about the Order is welcome to seek contact
with our Preceptor who would typically respond with an opportunity
to attend a Templar social event, or lecture by way of initial
introduction.
For all formal communications and Membership enquires to our
Order, please contact:
Chev. Ian Sinclair KGCTpl.
Scottish Knight Templars
Clan Sinclair
House
Noss Head Lighthouse
Wick
Caithness
KW1 4QT
Scotland
Tel:
01955 606700
