I N T R O D U C T I O N    T O

T H E    H I G H E R    D E G R E E S

O F    F R E E M A S O N R Y

by Jacques Huyghebaert
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INTRODUCTION
_________________

In England, the very name of "Higher Degrees" usually causes strong protest 
and resentment from supporters of Craft or "Blue" Lodges.  

The Constitution of the United Grand Lodge of England declares indeed that 
"Pure and Antient Masonry consists of three degrees, and no more, viz, those 
of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason, including 
the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch."

Moreover, many English Brethren consider the Higher Degrees to be but 
"pure fabrications introduced by those, on the European Continent, to whom 
the operative tradition was not sufficient ..." (1)

The origin of those higher degrees has been and is still the subject of 
extensive historical research and highly emotional controversies among 
Masons.

It is however an indisputable fact that those "Higher Degrees", also called 
"Additional" or "Side" degrees, have played a considerable role in European 
Freemasonry from the 1750's onwards.  

Scottish Rite Masonry, which today represents the most developed and 
widespread system of "Higher Degrees" in the world, counts over six hundred 
thousand members in the United States only.  

In Europe and in Latin America these higher degrees, ranking from the 4th to 
the 33rd degree, are also very popular and are considered as the natural 
itinerary for all those who are interested in perfecting their Masonic education. 

In an official publication issued in 1988, under authority of the Supreme 
Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Washington, D.C., Bro. Rex 
R. Hutchinson writes that : (2)

" Modern speculative Freemasonry did not spring full blown upon the 
historical stage at a London pub or tavern meeting in 1717."  

"The operative Masons had already contributed a long legacy of symbolism 
and tradition that continues to enrich the Craft to this day."

"Also there are persistent references in Masonic ritual, especially in the Higher 
Degrees, to relationships with Rosicrucians, Illuminati, Gnostics, Alchemists, 
Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Christians, Essenes, Persians, Hindus and 
Kabbalists."

"Whether these presumed relations demonstrate a continuous heritage, of 
which modern Freemasonry is the linear successor, or simply emulation is the 
central question of Masonic historical research."

"Whatever the truth of history, the contributions to the symbolism of 
Freemasonry by the religions, philosophies, mythologies and occult mysteries 
of the past lie upon its surface for all to see."

"Rather than being a secret society, Freemasonry is a revealer of secrets.  The 
great truths of ancient man were, in their time, also great secrets and few were 
admitted into the sanctuaries where these truths were taught."

"Today Freemasonry teaches these truths to all worthy men who ask to learn 
them."

"Many of these truths are taught in the three degrees of the Craft Lodge; but 
many more are taught in the Higher Degrees of various Rites which have 
sprung up in the course of Masonic History."


THE SCOTTISH RITE
_________________

What is the Scottish Rite?	

Henry C. Clausen, Past Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme 
Council, 33rd and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, 
Mother Supreme Council of the World, as well as Past Grand Master of the 
Grand Lodge of California, describes the Scottish Rite as follows : (3)

" Historically, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry  evolved from the Rite of 
Perfection  more than 200 years ago on the continent of Europe under the 
Constitutions of 1762."

"Later the Grand Constitutions of 1786 were enacted and became the creative 
and derivative laws for all descendant Supreme Councils of the Ancient and 
Accepted Scottish Rite."  

"The first Supreme Council was organized at Charleston S.C., in 1801, as the 
Mother Supreme Council of the World, and hence all regular and recognized 
Supreme Councils throughout the world must trace their pedigree to it."

"But the actual roots of the Scottish Rite go far deeper.  Tracing them is a 
romantic and exciting quest for adventure in the realm of the mind and the 
spirit.  It is a superb story of success - more intriguing than the storied search 
for the Holy Grail and more rewarding than a successful probe for the 
philosopher's stone."

"Our teachings and symbols preceded our formal  organizations by thousands 
of years.  They go deep into ancient ages.  The signs, symbols and 
inscriptions come from across long, drifting centuries and will be found in the 
tombs and temples of India to those of Nubia, through the Valley of the Nile in 
Egypt down to its Delta, as well as in what was then known as Chaldea, 
Assyria, Persia, Greece, Rome and even in Mexico and Yucatan."  

"The Scottish Rite, therefore, is a treasure house in which there is stored the 
ageless essence of immutable laws, the accumulation of thousands of years 
of human experience."

"We learn our mission in a system of progressive degrees of instruction.  We 
teach our members the highest ethics, the wise expositions of philosophy and 
religion, the blessings of charity.  Our code of conduct stems from the precepts 
of Chivalry, the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule.  We reveal truly the 
wisdom of the Lesser and Greater Mysteries and their symbols of words and 
phrases long considered lost.  These were the truths that Plato, Pythagoras, 
Socrates, Homer and other intellects of the ages held in high esteem, that 
have reappeared in later religions, and that never were disclosed until after 
timely preparation of selected and trusted Initiates."

"Our degrees represent the study of many men during many years and at a 
heavy cost, the culling of hundreds of volumes for effective portrayals and 
illustrations and more labour than the accumulated endeavours of a lifetime 
engaged in efforts to attain eminence or riches.  

"Our members therefore receive a gift of the greatest value.  They gain a 
comprehensive knowledge of our heritage of history, philosophy, religion, 
morality, freedom and toleration, and of their relationship to their Creator, their 
country, their family and themselves.  

"These may well lead to that understanding of identity, clarity of mind and 
energy of will that propel toward personal success in life."

"We carry our mission in a series of spiritual, charitable and moral programs. 
We make living, breathing, vital parts of our activities the recovery and 
maintenance of moral standards and spiritual values, the pride of patriotism 
and love of flag and country, the dispensing of a charity without regard to race, 
colour, or creed."

"We stand for positive programs but fight with moral courage and enthusiasm 
every force or power that would seek to destroy freedom, including spiritual 
despotism and political tyranny.  We believe and teach that sovereignty of the 
state resides in control by the people themselves and not in some self-
appointed dictator or despotic totalitarian. We therefore advocate complete 
separation of church and state, absolute freedom and protection of religion, 
press and assembly, and the dignity of every individual.  Those we consider 
vital for the ultimate liberties and independence of our people."
					

CHEVALIER RAMSAY
________________

Cfr. "Chevalier Ramsay, a new appreciation", by Cyril N. Batham, Transactions 
of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge, 1967, Volume 81, pp. 280-315.

"Little scientific evidence is available about the beginnings of Freemasonry in 
France and French Masonic historians vary greatly in their accounts." 

"Masonic tradition reports that Freemasonry had been in existence in France 
long time before the arrival in France of contingents of the defeated Jacobite 
army in 1688."  

"Indeed, according to Chevalier Ramsay, Freemasonry had managed to 
"preserve its splendour among those Scotsmen to whom the Kings of France 
confided during many centuries the safeguard of their Royal persons".

"The first authoritatively documented foundation of a  Lodge in Paris however 
dates only from 1725. (4) One of the pioneers in this development was 
Charles Radclyffe, a Stuart exile, who later assumed the title of Earl of 
Derwentwater  and was Grand Master in Paris from 1736 to 1738." (5)

"On 17th March 1730, the London Evening Post announced that Chevalier 
Ramsay had been made a Mason by the Duke of Richmond at the Horn Lodge 
in Westminster." (6)(7)

"Chevalier Ramsay, who had been staying in England since 1729, had been 
admitted previously to the Royal Society and to the Gentlemen's Society of 
Spalding.  It should also be recorded that he was the first Catholic since the 
Reformation to receive the degree of Civil Law at Oxford University."

"After his return to France, we note both Ramsay and Radclyffe as members of 
the Grand Master's (St.Thomas) Lodge."

"It is obvious that Chevalier Ramsay must have derived great satisfaction from 
Masonry and devoted himself to the Craft with zeal and enthusiasm, for we 
soon hear of him as Grand Orator of the Order." (8)

"It is widely believed that Ramsay prepared his famous oration for delivery at 
the Grand Lodge meeting in Paris on 21st March 1737."

"From 1738 onwards, it seems that reprobation of the Order by Prime Minister 
Cardinal Fleury  as well as a failing health may have caused a falling off in 
Chevalier Ramsay's Masonic activities." (9)


RAMSAY'S ORATION
________________


In his oration, Ramsay referred to Masonry as having been founded in remote 
antiquity, but said that it was renewed in the Holy Land by the Crusaders who 
had united in Palestine for a noble purpose and to whom he referred to as our 
Ancestors.  

In saying this, unless of course we believe the full content of his oration to be 
pure truth, which Masonic scholars are not inclined to do, by lack of sufficient 
historical evidence, we can only speculate that Ramsay, who had been 
granted a Certificate of Nobility and created Knight and Baronet by King 
James, the Old Pretender, may perhaps have been inspired by the references 
made to medieval orders when he was dubbed a Knight of St. Lazarus.

The order, it should be stressed, into which he was admitted was not a 
Masonic Order, but a very real and prestigious Order of Nobility, founded 
about 1220 in Jerusalem by the Crusaders.  Its full name was " the Military 
Order of the Hospitallers of Saint-Lazarus of Jerusalem" (10)

In addition, we can assume that his interest in the Crusades may have been 
aroused by his professional connections with the Turenne family, who was 
descended from Godfrey of Bouillon, the leader of the first Crusade, and who 
owned the old ancestral castle in the Ardennes.  (11)

It could also have been that he was anxious to make Freemasonry attractive to 
the many members of the nobility who had joined Masonry or that he had 
been given some directions as to the content of this particular address by his 
friend and Brother Charles Radclyffe, who was Grand Master at the time.

Somewhat similar considerations may have prompted him to refer to 
Kilwinning, whose Masonic history was no doubt well known to him through 
his association with that town.  

An anonymous "Letter from the Grand Mistress" which had been published in 
1724 stated indeed that : "The famous old Scottish Lodge of Kilwinning, of 
which all the Kings of Scotland have been, from time to time, Grand Masters 
without interruption, down from the days of Fergus, who reigned there more 
than two thousand years ago, long before the Knights of St. John of 
Jerusalem, or the Knights of Malta, to which two Lodges I must nevertheless, 
allow the honour of having adorned the ancient Jewish and Pagan Masonry 
with many religious and Christian rules ... "

Nowhere however in his speech did Ramsay refer or suggest the actual 
creation of any additional degrees.  We also have no trace that Ramsay 
himself was ever made a member of any Higher Degree Masonic Body.  

Prior to his Oration, there is little trace of what is known as "Scots Masonry", 
but it appears in France soon afterwards and spreads rapidly.

By coupling the Crusades and Masonry in Scotland in his Grand Lodge 
Oration, Chevalier Ramsay gave authority and honourability to the nascent 
Higher Degrees.

Indeed, since these rites could not be put forward as modern inventions, 
respectable ancestry had to be found for them in order to make them 
acceptable.

Scotland was the obvious choice. It was remote enough, it had a long political 
alliance with France and many of its countrymen were living in France, either 
by choice or as Stuart exiles.  Ramsay, a Scot, a Grand Lodge Officer and a 
prominent Freemason at that time, was on hand and had made a speech 
providing Masonry with an ancient, noble and romantic history and he had 
referred to its existence from prior to 1286.  Nothing could have been better.

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 Sottish Degrees and 
publicising 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 Hong, 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 bourne 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 Palestinein 1096.  The Crusaders were led by 
Count Raymond of Toulouse, Robert of Normandy, Godfrey 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.

Godfrey of Bouillon was selected to be King of Jerusalem but he only 
accepted the title of "Baron and Defender of the Holy Sepulchre", 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.  Godfrey 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, wilst 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.

THE KNIGHTS OF ST.JOHN
__________________

When the armies of the First Crusade captured Jerusalem in 1099 A.D., the 
Christian community of that city greatly expanded and the small Hospital of 
St.John was hard pressed to provide for their needs.

Gerard, the Master of the Hospital, completely reorganized his establishment.  
He secured larger quarters and recruited additional members.  Many of the 
crusaders made substantial contributions to the hospital.  New regulations 
were adopted to govern the organization and these were based on the 
Augustinian rule for a monastic society.  The rules of government were 
complete down to precise instructions for treatment of the sick.  The members 
took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and adopted a black robe for 
their habit.  The insignia of their order was a white fishtailed cross of eight 
points to be worn on the left breast.  On February 15, 1113, Pope Paschal II 
placed the Order under his personal protection and the organization 
prospered.

Raymond du Puy succeeded Gerard as Master in 1118.  He also conceived of 
the need for military defenses against their warlike Moslem 
neighbours.Securing the approval of King Baldwin II, and of the Patriarch of 
Jerusalem, the Hospital developed a military arm in order to defend itself 
against the heathens and soon rivalled the Templar Order in feats of bravery 
and skill.

In later years, while the Templars defended the right in battle, the Hospitallers 
maintained the left of the line.  

However, until the end of their active existence as a fighting force on the 
Island of Malta in 1798, their initial concern and attention was directed toward 
their function as a hospital.

When the Order of St.John assumed its military role, Raymond du Puy added 
a regulation for their conduct which included the following admonition, " ... and 
to practice all of the other moral and religious virtues; so that, inflamed with 
charity, they shall not fear to take the sword in hand, and to expose 
themselves with prudence, temperance and energy, to every kind of danger, 
for the defense of Jesus Christ and of the sacred cross, in the cause of justice 
and in that of the widow and orphans" .  The Chivalric Freemason of today has 
subscribed to these identical sentiments.

In 1187, Jerusalem was captured by the Saracens and in May 1291, the 
remnants of the Christian armies were finally driven from Acre, the last 
stronghold of the Crusaders in the Holy Land.

The headquarters of the Knights of St. John was moved to Margate, where 
they had maintained a hospital, and later to Acre, the last stronghold of the 
Christian forces in the Holy Land.  Finally, in May 1291, the remnants of the 
Christian armies were driven from Acre.  

The Hospitallers, and the Templars took ship to Cyprus where they remained 
for a number of years.

The Teutonic Knights, composed exclusively of German Nobles, went to 
Prussia and were given all lands to the East they could conquer from the 
Infidels.

The Knights of St.John secured reinforcements and financial aid from their 
Priories in Europe.  They purchased ships and began to patrol the 
Mediterranean Sea.  They very successfully opposed the Moslem pirates and 
slavers that infested the shipping lanes and opened the sea routes for 
peaceful trade and pilgrimages.

Desiring a home of their own, the Hospitallers attacked and took the Island of 
Rhodes, and occupied it on August 15, 1310.  Improving the fortifications of 
the island and the harbour facilities, the Order continued to police the sea 
lanes of the area. At this period of their existence they acquired the name of 
Knights of Rhodes.

When the Templars were suppressed in 1312, a great amount of their property 
was turned over to the Knights of Rhodes.

In 1320, the Order of St.John was reorganized into 8 division, or languages, 
with one of the principal officers in charge of each country.  These were : The 
Grand Commander, Provence; the Grand Marshal, Auvergne; the Grand 
Hospitaller, France; the Grand Admiral, Italy; the Grand Conservator, Aragon; 
the Grand Bailiff, Germany; the Grand Chancellor, Castile; and the Grand 
Turcopolier, England.  The Grand Master always resided at the headquarters, 
at this time, Rhodes.

In T1522 the Turkish Sultan, Suleiman II, the Magnificent, attacked the Island 
of Rhodes with 400 ships and 140,000 men.  After valiant defense for 6 
months and finally reduced to starvation, th and compelled the Knights to 
surrender.  Because of their valiant and knightly conduct during the hostilities, 
the Hospitallers were permitted to withdraw from the island with all the 
honours of war.  The Knights sailed to the Island of Candia (Crete) and many 
returned to their European preceptories.

Emperor Charles V of Spain granted the Island of Malta to the Order in 1530, 
as a sovereign state, under his dominion.  The order then changed its name to 
"The Sovereign Order of Knights of Malta".  

They again took up their quest of securing the sea lanes of the Mediterranean.  
Their activities included attacking Turkish ships and freeing Christian galley 
slaves.  This was objectionable to Suleiman II and, regretting his former 
generosity toward the Knights, attacked the Island of Malta.  The battle raged 
for 4 months in 1561 and after half of the Knights had been slain, and 
reinforcements reached them from Europe, the Turks withdrew, having lost 
25,000 men who were killed in the enterprise.

For the next 200 years the seagoing Knights maintained patrol on the 
Mediterranean Sea.  When the French Revolution occurred in the 1780's, the 
Order sided with the French Monarchy.  Napoleon took control of the island in 
1798 and ejected the Knights.  England gained control of the island in 1814 
by the terms of the Treaty of Paris.





WHAT REALLY MATTERS !
______________________

While the foregoing brief account provides perhaps interesting lines of 
research, it should again strongly be emphasised that insufficient evidence or 
proof is available in order to establish the possibility of a direct link between 
the old Chivalric Orders and the Masonic Higher Degrees.

To avoid any misunderstanding, it must be stressed therefore, that whenever 
our ritual states that "Masonic Tradition reports ..." such statement is not meant 
to signify to us that the events, portrayed or referred to in the ceremonies 
which they allude to, are historically true.

This is not the main point.  

What really matters to us, is of a different nature.

As a subject of comparison, we should remember that the truly religious man 
will not be worried to enquire whether the Bible, the Coran or the Vedas, etc. 
have a historical value or fully match the findings of scientific research.

Nor will he waste his time trying to discover documents and other evidence 
concerning the birth, life and death of Moses, Christ or Muhammed.

The true believer will instead base his religious conduct on faith.  He will 
concentrate his reflections on the spiritual and moral teachings of his religion, 
and make use of them as the guide and rule in his life.

Similarly, in Craft Masonry, any wise Brother will know that he should not look 
upon the story of the building of King Solomon's Temple nor upon the 
Masonic ritual, as a true account of historically established facts, nor will he 
start digging as a stupid archeologist on and about Mount Moriah in order to 
try recovering the lost Master's word.

Using a distinctive method of teaching, which it has in common with the 
Mysteries of Ancient Egypt and Greece, Freemasonry conveys a spiritual 
message, through its solemn ceremonies, veiled in allegories and symbols, 
meant to address the heart rather than the intellect, and which in order to be 
transmitted properly require from its recipients personal  participation, 
patience and perseverance.

Likewise again, in the Higher Degrees, the ritual is built upon legendary and 
poetic epics, the moral and spiritual content of which, is much more important 
for Masons than any presumed facts, upon which the ceremonies may have 
been based.  

The Higher Degrees rituals span a long period of Human history, covering 
episodes some of which are supposed to have taken place thousands of 
years ago, others which occurred during the Crusades, and still other which 
provide the legendary link between Knights Templar and Speculative 
Masonry.

The Masonic ritual in the Higher Degrees, performed like a theatre play, with 
each actor memorising his part, reinforced by attractive music, the use of 
dazzling costumes, elaborate   paraphernalia, fantastic decorations and 
dramatic light effects, where the unprepared, ignorant candidate is himself 
part of the cast, and is made to play a central role in the performance, greatly 
contributes in creating that favourable emotional climate whereby the initiate 
is most likely to best feel and understand the secret message which each 
degree is meant to convey. 

I do not believe like R.F. Gould that such decorum is likely to impress only 
upon such particular bent of the mind as is proper to the French "which we 
know to be volatile, imaginative and decidedly not conservative in their 
instincts, loving glory and distinction..." and " very eager to introduce 
mysterious ceremonies ... " (20)

I had occasion to visit the Rose-Croix Chapter in Dublin, Ireland and see its 
fantastic Gothic stalls, carved from solid oak, the stained glass windows and 
the rows of banners.  I also was taken there in the Grand Royal Arch Temple 
which is entirely built in Egyptian style. 

Surely this proves that this phenomenon is not limited to France or some Latin 
countries.  

The most extravagant Masonic reconstructions of Egyptian and Greek 
Temples are probably  located in the United States, where degree work is 
conducted in Hollywood style, using all possible stage effects, and with a 
number of participants that is only possible in America ...

In opposition to Craft Lodge ritual, which is as simple and stately as the Gothic 
style of Medieval Masonry, so is the ritual in the Higher Degrees as rich, 
varied and ornate as 18th century Baroque Architecture.

Truth is one but can be reached from many sides., Craft Masonry, Scottish Rite 
and York Rite are like different roads leading to the same place.

Masonic ceremonies have but one aim : to maintain our enthusiasm, to excite 
our intellectual curiosity, and to awaken our reflections,  in order to help us to 
understand and assimilate those important spiritual truths and moral virtues, 
which extend beyond the grave, beyond time and space, through the 
boundless realms of eternity ...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1	Beyond the Craft" by Keith B. Jackson, 1982, Lewis Masonic, 
	Shepperton, Middlesex.

2	"A bridge to Light" by Rex R. Hutchinson, 32nd K:.C:.C:.H:., Supreme 
	Council of the A:. & A:.S:.R:.,  Washington, D.C., 1988, Electric City 
	Printing Company, Anderson, South Carolina.

3	"Clausen's commentaries on morals and dogma" by Henry C. Clausen,       
	Supreme Council of the A:. & A:.S:.R:.,  Washington, D.C., 1983, 
	Neyenesh Printers, San Diego, California.

4	"Les Ducs sous l'Acacia, ou les premiers pas de la Franc Maconnerie 
	Francaise, 1725-43", par Pierre Chevalier, 1964, Librairie 
	Philosophique Vrin, Paris.

5	Charles Radclyffe, Earl of Derwentwater (1693-1746) was an 
	illegitimate grandson of King Charles II. Cfr. La Franc-Maconnerie en 
	France, des origines a 1815, 1908, Nouvelle Librairie Nationale, Paris. 
	Slatkine Reprint 1985 Paris. see pp. 109-151 chapter on Charles 
	Radclyffe.

6	The Duke of Richmond, Duc d'Aubigny, was also an illegitimate 
	grandson of King  Charles II and was Grand Master of the Premier 
	Grand Lodge in 1724/25. Accordingly the Duke of Richmond and 
	Charles Radclyffe were cousins.  Cfr. Le Mystere du Chevalier Ramsay, 
	par Eliane Brault, 1973, Editions du Prisme, Paris, p.81.  

7	Transactions of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge, 1934, Volume 47, p.77

8	Bibliotheque Nationale, Col.J. de Fleury, Paris, Volume 84, p.122

9	Two letters from Ramsay to Cardinal Fleury, Archives du Ministere des 
	Affaires Etrangeres, 1308, Fos 211-212.

10	"Ordre hospitalier et militaire de Saint-Lazare de Jerusalem." cfr. 
	Larousse du XXe siecle, vol.4, p.373.  

11	Ramsay was for some time tutor to the Prince of Turenne, Duke of 
	Bouillon and published a "History of Turenne".  The Duke  granted him 
	a pension and gave him a country house, where Ramsay spent the last 
	years of his life. 

12	"The Temple and the Lodge" by Michael Baigent & Richard Leigh, 
	1989, Jonathan Cape, London. p.194

13	Cfr. "La Franc-Maconnerie Templiere et Occultiste" by Rene Le 
	Forestier, 1987, La Table d'Emeraude, Paris.

14	Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, related by marriage to Radclyffe.

15	The Earl of Kilmarnock, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, 
	1742-43.

16	"The Temple and the Lodge" ibid. p. 197

17	"The York of Freemasonry, a History and Handbook" by Frederick 
	G.Speidel, 1978, approved by the General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch 
	Masons International, Press of Oxford Orphanage, Raleigh, North 
	Carolina. p.56-61	

18	Ibid. "The Temple and the Lodge" pp.1-13

19	"Born in Blood"  by John J.Robinson, 1989, M. Evans & Co. New York.  
	The author tells how Knights Templar, fleeing arrest and death, were 
	accepted by Freemasons in Britain. Bro. J. Robinson is an amateur 
	historian and a member of the Southern California Research Lodge.

20	"History of Freemasonry" by R.F Gould, 1931, London.

