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Scottish Knights Templar

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The Eight Pointed Cross of The Scottish Knights Templar.

Following the medieval period there appear myths, legends, and anecdotes connecting the Knights Templar to the Battle of Bannockburn. Degrees in Freemasonry, such as the Royal Order of Scotland, allude to the story of Rosslyn and the Scottish Knights Templar.[1] In modern times, these myths have been used, in part, as the basis for a revival of Templarism in Scotland.

Myth and legend

The Cross of The Grand Priory of the Scots.

The theme was elaborated in apocryphal stories by Andrew Michael Ramsay and Fr. Hay in the 18th century and was repeated in the pseudohistory book The Temple and The Lodge by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, first published in 1989. On the subject of a possible Bruce connection, Masonic Historian D Murray Lyon wrote

"The fraternity of Kilwinning never at any period practiced or acknowledged other than the Craft degrees; neither does there exist any tradition worthy of the name, local or national, nor has any authentic document yet been discovered that can in the remotest degree be held to identify Robert Bruce with the holding of Masonic Courts, or the institution of a secret society at Kilwinning."[2]

St Clair - Sinclair speculation

The St Clair, later Sinclair, Earls of Rosslyn or Roslin have also been connected to Templarism in Scotland, but Mark Oxbrow and Ian Robertson in their recent book, 'Rosslyn and the Grail'[3], note that the St Clair of Rosslyn testified against the Templars at their trial in Edinburgh in 1309. Dr. Louise Yeoman points out that the Rosslyn/Knights Templar connection is false, having been invented by 18th century fiction-writers, and that Rosslyn Chapel was built by William Sinclair so that Mass could be said for the souls of his family [4]. The Sinclair well documented connections are with Scottish Freemasonry which has a Templar degree. William St Clair, (William Sinclair) 3rd Earl of Orkney, Baron of Roslin and 1st Earl of Caithness built Rosslyn Chapel. A later William Sinclair of Roslin became the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland[5]. See Masonic Knights Templar and Clan Sinclair.In Michael T.R.B Turnbull's book Rosslyn Chapel Revealed he states that "Eighteen years after the suppression of the Order, Sir William Sainteclaire, in the role of a Crusader(not Templar), made a brave and honourable bid to fulfil the wishes of his late monarch, King Robert The Bruce".[6]. He then explains that he and his wife Lady Margaret Ramsay of Dalhousie produced a son (also Sir William)to succeed him as the 8th Baron of Rosslyn. Turnbull States that "His father could never have been a Knight Templar, as his wealth and marriage would have broken two of the three Templar vows - Poverty and chastity".[7].

Templar survival in Scotland

John Graham of Claverhouse, "Bonnie Dundee", a Tory and Episcopalian[8], was killed at the Battle of Killiecrankie on 27th July 1689. He is said to have been the Grand Master of a Jacobite "Convent" the Temple in the Montrose area, appointed on the authority of Dom Calvet and was found to be wearing the Grand Cross of the Order under his breast plate[9]. After his death the Mar is said to have held the office [10] , and then Atholl [11]. There are a number of references to Templars continuing to the present day in Scotland, including the Medieval Hospice & The Preceptory of St Anthony [12], which suggest that the Order survived, however none of these bear critical exmaination. The 'Templars' referred to in 16/17th century rentals were tenants on properties that had been in Tempalr hands before the suppression and the Percetory of St. Antony offers no evidence at all of Templar survival beyond the dissolution of the order.

Eighteenth century revival

Templarism experienced a revival of interest in the eighteenth century through Freemasonry with a Scottish influence. The first record of this is in Ramsay's Oration in Paris in 1737. Andrew Michael Ramsay was tutor to the Young Pretender, Prince Charles Edward Stuart. He claimed that Freemasonry had begun among crusader knights and that they had formed themselves into Lodges of St John. The next development was with Karl Gotheif, Baron Von Hund, and Alten-Grotkau, who had apparently been introduced to the concept by the Jacobite Lord Kilmarnock, and received into a Templar Chapter by a mysterious "Knight of the Red Feather"[13]. Baron von Hund established a new Masonic rite called the "Strict Templar Observance". The "Knight of the Red Feather" has been identified subsequently as Alexander Seton better known as Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton, a prominent Freemason in the Jacobite movement. [14],[15]

The modern revival

The modern revival of Templarism in Scotland starts with Alexander Deuchar. The records of one of Scottish Freemasonry's most prestigious lodges, the St Mary's Chapel Lodge of Edinburgh, describe the visit of a "...deputation from the Grand Assembly of the High Knights Templar in Edinburgh… headed by their most worshipful Grand Master, Alexander Deuchar...the first time for some hundred years that any Lodge of Freemasonry had been visited by an assembly of Knights Templar, headed by their Grand Master." This implies that there was an Order in existence 100 years earlier. In 1811 with a Charter from the Templar Grand Master in England, the Duke of Kent, Alexander Deuchar established the Grand Conclave of Knights of the Holy Temple and Sepulchre, and of St. John of Jerusalem. Controversially in 1836 "...it was proposed that non-Masons be admitted to the Order, at the same time the ritual was adapted in order to allow this to happen. [16], [17], [18]. Previously only Royal Arch Masons in Good Standing were allowed to join. Only the Royal Grand Conclave was allowed to admit non-Masons and these men were never members of any Encampments, only of Grand Conclave." The modern non Masonic Order Militi Templi Scotia claims descent from Alexander Deuchar who was a Freemason.

Masonic and non-Masonic orders

Templarism in Scotland has been claimed as the root of both Masonic and non-Masonic Orders. The Masonic Movement is the Royal Order of Scotland. There are today a number of small Groups of non-Masonic Knights Templar in Scotland, though not all claim descent from either the medieval Knights Templar in Scotland or Alexander Deuchar. They include The Sovereign military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, The Confederation of Scottish Knights Templar, The Ancient Scottish Military Order of Knights Templarand Militi Templi Scotia. The recently retired Grand Chancellor for Militi Templi Scotia back in 2002 was quoted as saying "Yes, we believe that Templar Knights fighting on Robert the Bruce’s side swung the balance," says Paul McGowan, recently retired Grand Chancellor of Militi Templi Scotia. "We think they deserve recognition for that, but we tread a very thin line here...We find Templar history and its influence throughout the ages simply fascinating," says MacGowan. "It crops up in the most unexpected places, like the American Constitution. What we do have problems with is people looking at it from a nationalist point of view, and we don’t associate ourselves with extremist splinter groups who turn up at Bannockburn anniversaries with ulterior motives in mind." [19]. He added Militi Templi Scotia was chivalric, as opposed to Masonic but does admit Freemasons into its ranks. Evidence of their continued history can be viewed on their web sites.

European influence

In 2006 the "Commandery of St. Clair" No S1, Edinburgh, was chartered by the OSMTH Grand Priory of France[20]. The Commandery recently received affiliation of OSMTH International [21] at Commandery Status under the Mentorship of the Grand Priory of France. Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani - The Grand Priory Of The Knights Templar In Scotland Ltd is registered with Companies House in the UK[22] and is working under the authority of The Commandery of St Clair, Edinburgh, No S1,Grand Priory of France (GPFT), OSMTH International.

The Scottish Templar Cross

The Cross Pattee of The Scottish Knights Templar from the Scottish Commandery of St Clair.

Knights Templar Internationally use the Cross pattée, including the Commandery of St Clair in alignment with the International Order OSMTH, The Grand Priory of the Scots (mainly American Scots) a Cross with two branches, and other Scottish Knights Templar Groups use the Eight Pointed Cross coloured red [23] more commonly but not exclusively known as the Maltese Cross, of the Knights Hospitaller or Order of St. John or Cross of Amalfi [24]. The Scottish Templar use of the Maltese Cross probably dates to the 1960s although the Cross itself is much older.

Scottish Knights Templar Tartan

The Scottish Knights Templar of OSMTH International have their own tartan. It was ratified and approved by the Grand Conclave of Militi Scotia S.M.O.J in Perth 28th March 1998. The original name was "Scottish Knights Templar of Militi Templi Scotia International." but it was changed to "Scottish Knights Templar of OSMTH International" in 2006. OSMTH stands for; "Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani".[citation needed]

See Also

References

  1. ^ http://www.templarhistory.com/scotland.html The Legend of Bruce and the Legend of D'Aumont
  2. ^ Mackey, Albert Gallatin. Encyclopedia of Freemasonry Part 1 and Its Kindred Sciences Comprising the Whole Range of Arts. p 447
  3. ^ Rosslyn and the Grail, Mark Oxbrow and Ian Robertson ISBN 1-84596-076-9
  4. ^ Scotsman.com News
  5. ^ Arcane Schools, John Yarker, ISBN 1-56459-306-1 page 434
  6. ^ Rosslyn Chapel Revealed, Michael T.R.B Turnbull, ISBN 978-0-7509-4467-0 page 152
  7. ^ Rosslyn Chapel Revealed, Michael T.R.B Turnbull, ISBN 978-0-7509-4467-0 page 152
  8. ^ Lectures, Legal, Political, and Historical: On the Sciences of Law and Politics; Home and Foreign Affairs by Alexander Robertson, published 1889 Stevens & Haynes:"Claverhouse himself was a Tory and an Episcopalian, ... a Privy Councillor of a Tory and Episcopalian Government in Scotland."
  9. ^ Restoring the Temple of Vision: Cabalistic Freemasonry and Stuart Culture By Marsha Keith Schuchard, p 767 "According to the early eighteenth-century writers, Jacob de Lennep, Abbe de Buisson, and Dom Calvet, Dundee was wearing a Templar Cross, emblematic of his role as Grand Master of the Scottish Order of the Temple."
  10. ^ The Stuart Court in Rome: A Legacy of Exile (Visual Arts Research Institute Edinburgh S.) Edward Corp (Editor) ISBN 0-7546-3324-1 page 104
  11. ^ Arcane Schools: A Review of Their Origin and Antiquity; with a General History of Freemasonry by John Yarker
  12. ^ Prototype SLPC Home Page
  13. ^ Network North: Scottish Kin, Commercial and Covert Associations in Northern Europe 1603–1746 By Steve Murdoch p.337
  14. ^ The Stuart Court in Rome: A Legacy of Exile (Visual Arts Research Institute Edinburgh S.) Edward Corp (Editor) ISBN 0-7546-3324-1 page 104
  15. ^ Arcane Schools, John Yarker, ISBN 1-56459-306-1 page 434
  16. ^ [http://www.compulink.co.uk/~craftings/200years.htm A brief history of the Knights of the Temple and of the Preceptory and Priory of St. George Aboyne 1794–1994 An original Paper by E. J. Boyd
  17. ^ New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry 1921 by Arthur Edward Waite Pages 231-232 ISBN 0-7661-2973-X "In 1811–1812, Alexander Deuchar, Eminent Commander of Edinburgh Encampment, No 31, under the Early Grand Constitution, established what is termed a schismatic body with the style and title of the Supreme Grand Conclave of Scotland. He is said to have assumed the Office of Grand Master for life, notwithstanding the displeasure of his associates. The Conclave appears to have been moribund in 1830. In 1836 it was remodelled, vacating its Masonic position and admitting non-Masons to membership, including the Bishop of Aberdeen and the Duke of Leeds."
  18. ^ The Royal Masonic Cyclopedia 1877 by Kenneth R H MacKenzie Page 156 ISBN 0-76612-6110
    "DEUCHAR CHARTERS.-So called from Alexander Deuchar, an engraver, who was the principal mover in the establishment of the Grand Conclave of Knight Templar in Scotland, and its first Grand Master in the early part of this century. Deuchar seems to have become acquainted with Knights Templarism, in consequence of communications he had with Fratres serving in the Shropshire Militia, who had been dubbed under a warrant emanating from Dublin. This corps was quartered in Edinburgh in 1798 ; and from the Fratres of this corps it is most probable that the first Grand Assembly of Knights Templar was opened in Edinburgh ; this, however gave place to the Grand Assembly of High Knights Templar, working Under a charter No 31 from the Early Grand Encampment of Ireland, of which Deuchar was Grand Master. But these Deuchar Charters were clearly extra-Masonic, as they authorised Encampments to install Knights Templar and Knights of St John of Jerusalem, on the one condition that that such Encampments should not hold any communion or intercourse with any Chapter or Encampment, or body assuming that name, holding meetings of Knights Templar, under a Master Mason's Charter This body, however, lost its authority, in consequence of having nothing over which to exercise it, about 1837."
  19. ^ The Scotsman
  20. ^ http://fr.osmth.org Grand Prieuré de France du Temple (GPFT)
  21. ^ http:www.osmth.org
  22. ^ http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/0ec3b0da4cb2c2af42ff8e223f5e9fba/comp search Companies House record for "Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani - The Grand Priory Of The Knights Templar In Scotland Ltd
  23. ^ http://www.skt.org.uk/CJdeM1314/The_Eight_Pointed_Cross.html The Eight Pointed Cross from the Scottish Knights Templar website
  24. ^ Amalfi

Further reading

  • The Rosslyn Hoax? Robert L. D. Cooper. Lewis Masonic. 2006. ISBN 0-85318-255-8.
  • History of the Order of the Temple of Jerusalem: From 1118 to 2005, Chev Leo Thys KCTJ ISBN 90-901931-7-0 page 18
  • Piers Paul, The Templars, Weidenfeld & Nicolson history; ISBN 1-84212-142-1

External links

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