Freemasonry and the Knights Templar: A New Order?

Freemasonry and the Knights Templar are both fraternal organizations, but they have different origins and beliefs.

Freemasonry is a fraternity that traces its origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons, which from the end of the fourteenth century regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. These fraternities were composed of stonemasons who were working on the construction of the great cathedrals and castles of Europe. They developed a system of moral teachings and a code of conduct that was passed on to new members through a series of rituals and ceremonies. Over time, these fraternities evolved into a more speculative organization, which came to be known as Freemasonry. Today, Freemasonry is a fraternity that is open to men of good character who believe in a Supreme Being. It is a fraternity that emphasizes personal development and self-improvement through a system of moral teachings and symbols.

On the other hand, The Knights Templar were a medieval Christian military order founded in the 12th century. The order was created to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. The Templars quickly grew in power and wealth, and they became one of the most powerful organizations in Europe. They were also known for their secrecy and their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross. The order was dissolved by Pope Clement V in the early 14th century, and many of the Templars were arrested, tortured and executed.

While Freemasonry uses the imagery and symbology of stonemasonry as a metaphor for personal development, the Knights Templar were a religious order. Some people believe that Freemasonry has its roots in the Knights Templar, but there is no evidence to support this claim. Some conspiracy theories suggest that the Templars went underground after the suppression of their order and that they became the basis of the Freemasons. But there is no historical evidence to support this claim. Furthermore, the principles and beliefs of the two organizations are vastly different. The Knights Templars were a religious order and the Freemasonry is a fraternity, with no religious connotation, but it requires its members to have a belief in a Supreme Being.