THE JACOBITE LINK

Keeping a critical attitude towards Chevalier Ramsay and therefore accepting the theory of an "invented genealogy" for the Higher Degrees, would be satisfactory for all historical and Masonic purposes if various documents and letters, containing references to Masonic "Chevaliers" had not been found, indicating that those Higher Degrees were already in existence at the time or even before he wrote his Oration. 

While Cyril N. Batham concludes about this particular point "that this is all so confusing", there is no doubt that Jacobite Lodges played a crucial role in the course of the next decade in spreading the Higher Scottish Degrees and publicizing Templar heritage within Freemasonry. Baron Karl Gottlieb von Hund, a German nobleman and Freemason, was according to himself, initiated into the "Higher degrees" and dubbed "Knight Templar", while in Paris in 1743, by an "Unknown Superior" identified to him only under the name of "the Knight of the Red Feather". [12]

The form of Freemasonry to which von Hund had been introduced was subsequently to become a very popular Rite in Prussia, in the German and Austrian Empires, as well as, until the present day, in the Scandinavian countries, under the name of System of "Strict Observance" which claimed to be descended directly from the Knights Templar. As a matter of curiosity, it should be mentioned that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was initiated in a Lodge belonging to the Strict Observance. [13]

To his own embarrassment von Hund was never able to support his claims and as a consequence already some of his contemporaries dismissed him as a charlatan. This fact did not affect however in any way the success of the Higher Degrees. 

The dubbing ceremony in Paris, he maintained until his death had been performed in presence of, among others, Charles Radclyffe, Earl of Derwentwater, Lord Clifford [14] and the Earl of Kilmarnock[15]; while the "Knight of the Red Feather" he assumed to have been Charles Edward Stuart himself.

"Bonnie" Prince Charles however, when questioned about this particular point, after von Hund's death, is reported to have denied it. Michael Baigent & Richard Leigh have recently discovered some papers indicating that the "Knight of the Red Feather" might have been instead Alexander Seton, more generally known as Alexander Montgomery, Earl of Eglinton. [16]

When Ramsay died, a few months after Von Hund's initiation in Paris into the Higher Degrees, his death certificate was signed by the same Alexander Montgomery, Earl of Eglinton and Charles Radclyffe, Earl of Derwentwater, both of whom were very active Jacobite Freemasons and, as we just have seen, were also directly involved with the development of the Higher Degrees. In the second half of the 18th century the Higher Degrees developed into a large number of systems or Rites many of which were short-lived. 

THE SITUATION TODAY

Only those systems that are worked today in Belgium will be considered here. All systems share one common characteristic, namely that their upper degrees refer to the legends related to the suppression of the ancient Order of Knights Templar and its survival within the modern Order of Freemasonry.

One system already mentioned earlier developed into the Rite of Perfection, which in turn gave birth in the United States to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite .The main problem for members of Chevalier Ramsay Lodge with the A. & A.S.R. is that all Lodges of Perfection, Chapters and Councils work either in French or in Dutch, but not in English.

A second system developed in the United States into what has come to be known as the York Rite. It includes degrees such as Knights of the Red Cross, Knights of Malta and Knights Templar, but the degrees which are worked here are only those of Mark Master and Royal Arch and were transmitted to Belgium from England. The advantage for us is that ritual work in English is available and that membership allows us to meet with Brethren from the four English speaking Lodges in Belgium.

A third system, the Rectified Scottish Rite was created in France and is derived directly from the Rite of Strict Observance, from which it has taken over its specific Christian characteristics. It counts seven degrees including Craft Masonry which it encompasses as well. Several Lodges of this type are active in our Constitution, Geoffrey de St. Omer Lodge being one of them, in Brussels, and working in French. 

In should be stated, that in England and Wales, in some of its former colonies such as south Africa, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Scotland and Ireland membership to some Higher Degrees, Mark and Royal Arch degrees excepted, is restricted to Trinitarian Christians.  In the Scandinavian countries, the same restrictive religious rule is extended to the Craft degrees. 

No such regulation is however applicable in the United States, in Latin America, or in Europe, where the conditions for admission are the same as in Craft Masonry, and where accordingly, a Mason of any faith can join. As an unfortunate consequence, no Masonic relations and intervisitation is possible between Christians-only Masonic Orders and the other Higher Degrees Bodies. This fact should be borne in mind particularly by our English Brethren.  This difference stems from the ritual content of the Higher Degrees, related to the history of Christian Orders of Chivalry in the Holy Land and some episodes of the Crusades. 

Whereas in countries where Christians dominate, ritual is considered in its literal sense, elsewhere Brethren see, much beyond the religious, traditional and historical interpretations of the ceremonies, the more important source and deeper meaning of Chivalric symbolism and allegories, so expressive and capable of dramatic enactments.

Chivalric ceremonies have been retained within Masonry for their power to illustrate and explain the same moral, spiritual and Masonic truths, which we already have been taught in Craft Masonry, and the universal value of which extends to all mankind without distinction.

THE CHIVALRIC ORDERS

As already stated, while any direct connection with the original Knights Templar, Knights of Malta or Knights of St. John has yet to be proved, several of the upper Higher Degrees ceremonies and rituals, are actually based upon the ancient orders of chivalry. [17] A brief account of the history of these ancient orders is therefore necessary.

Palestine had been under Arab control since 637 A.D. The Mohammedans considered Jesus of Nazareth the second prophet after Mohammed and permitted Christian pilgrims free access to the holy shrines.  Small hospitals had been established by Christian residents to provide for the pilgrim needs. One of these had been established in Jerusalem in 1046 by the merchants of Amalfi, Italy and was named the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. This was manned by serving brothers having no initial affiliation with a religious order.

In 1076 A.D. the Ottoman Turks conquered the Holy Land and proceeded to persecute the Christian community and defile the Christian shrines. A pilgrim, known as Peter the Hermit, returned to Europe and began to preach a crusade to free the Holy Land from the Turkish scourge.  Pope Urban II called for a church council at Clermont, France in 1095 to organize a "Holy War ..." While the Princes of Europe were assembling their armies, Peter the Hermit led an unruly mob toward Jerusalem. The remnants of this "Peoples Crusade" were annihilated by the Turks at Nicaea. 

The First Crusade set out for Palestine in 1096. The Crusaders were led by Count Raymond of Toulouse, Robert of Normandy, the Divinefrey of Bouillon, his brother Baldwin of Flanders, Tancred, Count Bohemond, Hugh de Vermandois, brother of the King of France, and Stephen of Blois.

Taking different routes, the various armies assembled at Constantinople.  Proceeding towards Jerusalem, they invested Nicaea which surrendered rather than to be destroyed. The army then advanced to Antioch in 1097 and captured it by bribing a tower guard on June 3, 1098. Marching through the deserts and mountains of northern Palestine, the Christian army of approximately 20,000 men arrived before the gates of Jerusalem. 

After prayers of thanksgiving and supplication, they humbly marched barefooted around the walls and then invested the city. They captured Jerusalem by assault on July 15, 1099, thus bringing the First Crusade to a successful conclusion. 

The Divinefrey of Bouillon was selected to be King of Jerusalem but he only accepted the title of "Baron and Defender of the Holy Sepulcher", declining to wear a crown of gold where Christ had worn a crown of thorns.  The country was portioned out to the nobility of the crusade and castles were constructed for defense. the Divinefrey died within a year and was succeeded by his brother Baldwin.  Many Europeans now undertook pilgrimages to the Holy Land but were constantly attacked and ravaged by bands of thieves and robbers, who inhabited the mountains and deserts of Palestine. 

According to Chevalier Ramsay's Oration, the origin of Masonic signs and words is to be found during the Crusades, when a language was composed, taken from operative Masonry, sometimes mute, sometimes very eloquent, in order to communicate with one another at the greatest distance, to recognize Brothers of whatever tongue and thus to guarantee them from the surprises of the Saracens, who often crept in amongst them to kill them.  These signs and words, Chevalier Ramsay adds, were only communicated to those who promised solemnly, even sometimes at the foot of the altar, never to reveal them. 

Ramsay further declares that, sometime afterwards, our Order formed an intimate union with the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and has, from that time, adopted that name to designate our own Lodges.

Finally, drawing a parallel between the Biblical account of the reconstruction of King Solomon's Temple after the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, Ramsay compares the Union between Knights and Masons with the ancient Israelites, who, whilst they handled the trowel and mortar with one hand, in the other held the sword and buckler. 

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR 

In 1118, nine Christian Knights formed a fighting unit to patrol the Palestine roads and escort pilgrims on their journey. Their leader was Hugh de Payens, a Burgundian Knight. They named their band the "Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ".

Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, assigned this organization quarters near the Moslem Dome of the Rock, the former site of King Solomon's Temple, which soon became shortened to Order of the Knights of the Temple. The Templars assumed a perpetual vow to be faithful to the Order before the Patriarch of Jerusalem. 

In 1128 A.D., Hugh de Payens, with a companion, were sent as emissaries of King Baldwin to the Church Council of Troyes. On their journey they solicited the aid and support of Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux [St. Bernard] to secure ecclesiastical sanction for their order. In this they were successful and the Templars assumed the rule of the Benedictines and the white habit of that order. Pope Eugenius III decreed that they would wear a red cross above the heart. While in Europe, Hugh de Payens secured additional support for his order in the form of recruits and financial assistance.

The order was divided into three branches, the Knights, who had to be of noble birth; the serving brothers who served as sergeants and men-at-arms; and the Chaplains.

The Templars built many castles throughout Palestine. They participated in all of the major battles and the various crusades, until the Christian forces were driven from the Holy Land in 1291 A.D. Philip IV, the King of France, being envious of the power and wealth of the Templars, and requiring funds for his personal projects, entered into an arrangement with Pope Clement V to suppress the Order and avail himself of their French properties.

Pope Clement invited the Grand Master of the Temple, Jacques de Molay, to Paris ostensibly to discuss plans for a new crusade. The Grand Master of the Hospital was also invited but declined the invitation. Upon arriving in Paris, DeMolay and his followers were arrested on October 13, 1307.  The Knights Templar were charged with many alleged crimes, tortured, and the Grand Master Jacques DeMolay was burned at the stake on an Island in the Seine River on March 18, 1314, along with Guy de Charney, Grand Preceptor of Normandy. To the last, DeMolay maintained his innocence and that of the Order.

Pope Clement issued a Papal Bull suppressing the Order. This was enforced in each country, but to different degrees. France executed all Templars who would not recant, many however escaped.

The Templar properties in England were turned over to the Knights of St. John but the members melted away. There is no record of persecution in Scotland and Spain, however, the Templar properties acquired other owners. Within 3 years a new organization titled the Order of Knights of Christ was formed in Portugal by king Dion II and Pope John XXII permitted the Templar estates to be turned over to that new order in 1319. Thousands of Templars survived the suppression. Considering that most of the members had been either soldiers, administrators in banking and commerce, and craftsmen with numerous trades, this influx into the European economy must have had a decided effect. The Templar way of life was dispersed rather than suppressed.

First, the Templars were not persecuted in Scotland. In 1314, Robert the Bruce defeated a major English army at Bannockburn and became King of Scotland. Masonic ritual reports that the Scottish Templars were fighting on his side. Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh claim to have discovered hundreds of ancient tombs in Scotland bearing Masonic and Templar signs to support this legend. [18]

Additionally, Wylie B. Wendt, the noted Masonic scholar has written, on what he considers fair authority, it is reported that Sir John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, was Grand Master of the Scottish Templars, when he fell at the Battle of Killie-Crankie on July 27, 1689 and was found wearing the Grand Cross of the Order. While this proves nothing, it indicates a thread of Templar existence after the suppression.

Second, one John Mark Larmenius claimed as early as in 1324 that Grand Master DeMolay had appointed him to succeed to the Grand Mastership. While there is no proof that Larmenius was the lawful successor to DeMolay, this circumstance demonstrates an immediate attempt to preserve the Templar organization from the outset, whether legal or not. 

Third, as mentioned thousands of the Templars were dispersed throughout Europe. A great number of them were skilled craftsmen. Many had much experience as Masons and in designing and building fortifications. Many had learned their skills in the east and were more advanced than many of the European workmen.  Masonic tradition again reports that a great number of these survivors sought a sanctuary within the Freemason's companies with whom the Order had been closely connected since the Crusades. [19]

Further theories have been pursued whereby surviving Templars followed Pierre d'Aumont, Provincial Grand Master of Auvergne, to Scotland where he was elected Grand Master of the Temple and later moved to Sweden. Baron Von Hund selected this account upon which to base his claim that Freemasonry was founded upon Templary through "The Rite of Strict Observance". We have mentioned "The Order of Christ" in Portugal. Finally, there is the theory that a number of Templars joined the Knights of St. John and transmitted their customs and ceremonies under the cover of that organization.

[ Introduction Part Three ]

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