Delve into the captivating world where Freemasonry and the legendary Knights Templar intertwine! This podcast uncovers the intriguing symbolic connections between these two historic organizations, exploring their shared themes of chivalry, brotherhood, and spiritual growth.

Crucially, while popular culture sensationalizes a direct historical lineage, our episodes illuminate their true relationship: a rich tapestry of symbolism and ritual, not historical descent. The first links between Freemasonry—a fraternal organization rooted in operative stonemasons' guilds—and the medieval Knights Templar emerged in the 18th century. This period introduced the Knights Templar degree, a new Masonic degree borrowing themes of chivalry and medieval symbolism from the romanticized image of the Templars.

Journey with us as Scottish Freemasonry further developed Templar themes in the early 19th century by incorporating degrees like the “Order of the Temple,” constructing a narrative linking the two. We'll explore prominent Masonic orders embracing these themes, such as the York Rite’s Knights Templar Commandery, focusing on chivalric and Christian aspects, conferring degrees like the "Order of the Temple" emphasizing virtues such as bravery, piety, and self-discipline. Even the Scottish Rite’s 18th degree, the Rose Croix, holds thematic connections to medieval knighthood and Templar ideals.

We'll dissect shared symbols—like the cross—and elaborate rituals that forge this atmospheric link. While bestsellers popularized fictional narratives of a hidden Templar continuation, we'll distinguish fact from sensationalism, highlighting the profound, albeit symbolic, influence the Knights Templar legacy continues to have on Freemasonry’s teachings and traditions. Tune in to unravel these mysteries.

Read the full article at the Square Magazine -

https://www.thesquaremagazine.com/mag/202308knights-templar-in-freemasonry