Templar admission to the order

Admission to the Order of Templar
By Darren Bailey LRPS
(Self Portrait)

Before one could be considered for admission into the order, he had to meet a number of preconditions. Among them, a man had to be in good health, not married or indebted, without any obligations and not bound by any other order, and willing to accept becoming a slave and servant of the order.

The initiation ceremony was held in a domed chamber resembling the Church of The Holy Sepulchre and was to be conducted in absolute secrecy.
Just as in Freemasonry centuries later, esoteric rituals had to be performed during this ceremony.

In his article titled “Tampliyeler ve Hurmasonlar” (Templars and Freemasons) mason Teoman Biyikoglu refers to the order’s rule of 1128 about the initiation ceremony:

The Master addresses the congregated brothers of the order: “Dear brothers, some of you have proposed that Mr. X may be admitted to the order. If any of you know of any reason to oppose his initiation, say so now.”

If no word of opposition is spoken, the candidate will be led to the adjoining chamber of the temple. In this chamber, the candidate is visited by three of the most senior brothers, told of the difficulties and hardship awaiting him if he is admitted to the order, and then asked whether he still wishes to be admitted. If his answer is affirmative, he is asked whether he is married or engaged to be married, has links to other orders, is indebted to anyone, is of good health, and whether or not he is a slave.

If his answers to these questions comply with the requirements of the order, the senior brothers will return to the temple and say,

“We told the candidate of all the hardships awaiting him and our conditions of admission, but he is insistent on becoming a slave of the order.”

Before being readmitted into the temple, the candidate is again asked whether he still insists on being admitted. If he still answers yes, the Grand Master addresses the candidate:

“Brother, you are asking much of us. You have seen only the façade of the order, and you hope to acquire pure blood horses, honourable neighbours, good food and nice garments. But are you aware of how hard our conditions really are?”

Proceeding to list the difficulties awaiting the candidate, he continues:

“You must not seek admittance for wealth, nor for status.”

if the candidate agrees, he is again led out of the temple. The Grand Master then asks the brothers whether they have anything to say about the candidate. If there is nothing said against him, he is brought back, made to kneel down, and given the Bible. He is asked if he is married. If he answers no, the oldest or most senior in the congregation is asked,

“Have any questions that need to be asked been forgotten?”

If the answer is no, the candidate is asked to swear an oath that he will remain loyal to the order and his brothers until the day he dies, and that he will not reveal to the outside world a word that is spoken in the temple. After he has sworn the oath, the Grand Master kisses the new brother on the lips [according to another source he is kissed on the belly and neck]. He then is given a Templar mantle and a woven belt, which is never to be taken off.

Art created using a Nikon D90 and a Nikkor 18 – 105 vr

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