Part Fifth: The Transfer of Spirit and the Modern Commandery

The Grand Finale: From Military Order to Masonic Fraternity


In the final section of The Knights Templars, Robert Macoy addresses the question that every "Bright Mason" asks: How did a military order suppressed in 1312 become an appendant body of Freemasonry? Macoy claims that the Order was never truly extinguished, but rather its "forms and spirit" were transferred to the Masonic Fraternity.

Macoy states, “There are three theories concerning the modern history of the Templars, and the debate is fierce and furious.

One denies all merger of the Knights Templars into any organization whatsoever, affirming, in gross, that their light was extinguished, their oil exhausted, their lamps utterly broken, and the shreds cast aside in the death of De Molay.

The second finds in the Order of Freemasonry the succession of Knight Templary.

The third recognizes the merger of the gallant Brotherhood of the Temple into the Order of Christ, a Portuguese Order, of which Sir Edmund Burke, Ulster King of Arms, expatiates in his

" Book of Orders of Knighthood " (London, 1858, 8vo, pp. 409).”

 

We will leave this debate for the future.  For now, let’s examine Macoy’s Claims and the Actions Masons can take today.

4 Distinguishing Claims: The Masonic Succession

  1. The Survival in the Shadows Macoy argues that despite the Papal bull of 1312, the Order survived through its provincial masters who sought refuge within the guilds of "speculative" masons. He claims that the "secret discipline" and Chivalric values provided the intellectual framework that allowed the fraternity to flourish in the West.
  2. The Preservation of Ritual Macoy asserts that modern Templary is the designated "custodian" of the ancient Knights' honor. He highlights that the "American System" of Templary is the most perfect evolution of these ideals, preserving the spirit of Chivalry for the "enthusiastic and the aspiring".
  3. The "Undivided Light" of Chivalry In his concluding remarks, Macoy emphasizes that the true value of the Order is not found in its ancient manors or bank accounts, but in its commitment to "Christian moral character". He claims that the glory of the Templars and Hospitalers still "shines with undivided light" through those who practice these virtues today.
  4. The Prophecy of the Last Stand Macoy reminds his readers that the martyrdom of Jacques de Molay was not an end, but a seed. By summoning his persecutors to the "Tribunal of God," De Molay proved that truth and integrity outlast any King or Pope—a lesson that remains the bedrock of Masonic education.

4 Final Actions: The Legacy of a Knight

  1. Become a "Custodian" of Truth The Templars survived because they were better organized than the Kings who sought to destroy them.
    • The Action: Identify the "authentic roots" of your own beliefs. Don't rely on hearsay; study primary sources like Macoy to build your own "Mastery of the Order."
  2. Practice the "Social Graces" of Chivalry Macoy dedicated his work to those who honor their profession through "Social Graces".
    • The Action: Pick one courtly virtue—generosity, courtesy, or loyalty—and apply it to your business interactions this week. Move from being a "competitor" to a "knight" in your industry.
  3. Audit Your Spiritual "Stronghold" The Templars failed only when they became "paralyzed for want of a leader".
    • The Action: Take a "Physical Pilgrimage" this weekend. Visit a place of historical or spiritual significance without your phone. Reconnect with the "power of association" that Macoy says can never perish.
  4. Invest in the "Next Era" The " spirit" of the Order was carried forward by those who planned for a future they would not live to see.
    • The Action: Mentor your "Junior Deacon." Identify a younger colleague or brother with verified leadership quality and begin the "Transfer of Spirit" today.

Watch the video of this blog here

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