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| Answer to Contest #44 - January 13, 2006 1. What organization does this man belong to? 2. What does his apron supposedly have in common with the dollar bill? |
| Contributed by Dale Niesen, Quizmaster Extraordinaire. |
| ********** |
| Answers: 1. The Knights Templar, Freemasons 2. There is a controversy that the pyramid and the eye on the back of the dollar bill are Masonic symbols. |
| ********** |
| The Knights Templar |
The Knights Templar were a monastic
military order formed at the end of the First
Crusade with the mandate of protecting
Christian pilgrims on route to the Holy Land.
Never before had a group of secular knights
banded together and taken the monastic
vows. In this sense they were the first of the
Warrior Monks. The Templars fought along
side King Richard I (Richard The Lion
Hearted) and other Crusaders in the battles
for the Holy Lands.
From humble beginnings of poverty when the
order relied on alms from the traveling
pilgrims, the Order would go on to have the
backing of the Holy See and the collective
European monarchies.
military order formed at the end of the First
Crusade with the mandate of protecting
Christian pilgrims on route to the Holy Land.
Never before had a group of secular knights
banded together and taken the monastic
vows. In this sense they were the first of the
Warrior Monks. The Templars fought along
side King Richard I (Richard The Lion
Hearted) and other Crusaders in the battles
for the Holy Lands.
From humble beginnings of poverty when the
order relied on alms from the traveling
pilgrims, the Order would go on to have the
backing of the Holy See and the collective
European monarchies.
Photo taken at a Templar site in
Cornwall, England by Simon Brighton.
www.thecyberfarm.com/templars/templarbritain/templecornwall/sb/templar%20
glass.jpg
Cornwall, England by Simon Brighton.
www.thecyberfarm.com/templars/templarbritain/templecornwall/sb/templar%20
glass.jpg
Within two centuries they had become powerful enough to defy all but the Papal
throne. Feared as warriors, respected for their charity and sought out for their wealth,
there is no doubt that the Templar knights were the key players of the monastic fighting
Orders. Due to their vast wealth and surplus of materials the Templars essentially
invented banking, as we know it. The church forbade the lending of money for interest,
which they called usury. The Templars, being the clever sort they were, changed the
manner in which loans were paid and were able to skirt the issue and finance even
kings.
They were destroyed, perhaps because of this wealth or fear of their seemingly limitless
powers. In either case, the Order met with a rather untimely demise at the hands of the
Pope and the King of France in 1307 and by 1314, "The Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ
and the Temple of Solomon" ceased to exist, at least officially.
throne. Feared as warriors, respected for their charity and sought out for their wealth,
there is no doubt that the Templar knights were the key players of the monastic fighting
Orders. Due to their vast wealth and surplus of materials the Templars essentially
invented banking, as we know it. The church forbade the lending of money for interest,
which they called usury. The Templars, being the clever sort they were, changed the
manner in which loans were paid and were able to skirt the issue and finance even
kings.
They were destroyed, perhaps because of this wealth or fear of their seemingly limitless
powers. In either case, the Order met with a rather untimely demise at the hands of the
Pope and the King of France in 1307 and by 1314, "The Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ
and the Temple of Solomon" ceased to exist, at least officially.
Some historians and authors have tried to draw
a link from Freemasonry and its many branches
to the Templars. This alleged link remains a
point of debate. Degrees in the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite such as the Knight of St
Andrew, the Knight of Rose Croix, and the 32nd
Degree in Consistory make reference to a
Templar connection, but this is usually
dismissed as being ceremonial and not historical
fact.
John J. Robinson makes a case for the
Templar-Masonic connection in his book "Born
in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry", in
which he alleges that some French Templars
fled to Scotland after the suppression of the
Order,
The Seal of the Knights — the two riders
have been interpreted as a sign of poverty
or the duality of monk/soldier.
have been interpreted as a sign of poverty
or the duality of monk/soldier.
| ********** |
| The Demise of the Knights Templar and the Execution of Jacques de Molay |
On October 13 (the unlucky Friday the 13th), 1307,
what may have been all the Knights Templar in France
were simultaneously arrested by agents of Philip the
Fair, later to be tortured into admitting heresy in the
Order. Jacques DeMolay, twenty-third and last Grand
Master, along with hundreds of others, were seized and
thrown into dungeons. For seven years, Jacques
DeMolay and the Knights suffered torture and inhuman
conditions. The inquisitors would go to any means to
extract the confessions that would damn the order in
the eyes of the people and the Catholic Church While
the Knights did not end, Philip managed to force Pope
Clement to condemn the Templars. Their wealth and
what may have been all the Knights Templar in France
were simultaneously arrested by agents of Philip the
Fair, later to be tortured into admitting heresy in the
Order. Jacques DeMolay, twenty-third and last Grand
Master, along with hundreds of others, were seized and
thrown into dungeons. For seven years, Jacques
DeMolay and the Knights suffered torture and inhuman
conditions. The inquisitors would go to any means to
extract the confessions that would damn the order in
the eyes of the people and the Catholic Church While
the Knights did not end, Philip managed to force Pope
Clement to condemn the Templars. Their wealth and
| Cross of the Knights Templar |
At the same time, it is the Catholic Church's position
that the persecution was unjust, that there was nothing
wrong with the Templars, and that the Pope at the time
was manipulated into suppressing them. The church's
response at the time corroborates this position. The
papal process started by Pope Clement V, to investigate
both the Order as a whole and its members individually
found virtually no knights guilty of heresy outside of
France. Fifty-four knights were executed in France by
French authorities as relapsed heretics after denying
their original testimonies before the papal commission;
these executions were motivated by Philip's desire to
prevent any more Templars from having similar
courageous ideas. It failed miserably, as many others
testified against the charges of heresy in the ensuing
| Jacques de Molay |
King Philip ordered them both to be
burned at the stake that day, Jacques
DeMolay was then taken to an island on
the Siene and burned along with Guy of
Auvergne the Preceptor of Normandy.
Reports say they were slowly roasted
over a hot, smokeless fire prolonging their
agony as their flesh slowly cooked and
blackened. Jacques DeMolay insisted that
his hands were not to be bound so that he
could pray in his final moments and
before he died he cursed both Philip and
Pope Clement, summoning both of them
to appear before God, the supreme judge,
before the year was out. His last words
were, "Let evil swiftly befall those who
have wrongly condemned us - God will
avenge us." Guy of Advernge is reported
to have added, "I shall follow the way of
my master as a martyr you have killed
him. You have done and know not. God
| ********** |
| Masonic Levels and Symbolism |
Cool slide show of Masonic aprons:
http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/hslideshow.html?
Info on Rosslyn Chapel, built in 1446 and
highly embellish with Templar and Masonic
symbols
http://www.oelodge.uklinux.net/history.htm
For more info on Masonic regalia, see
http://www.templarhistory.com/regalia.html
The history of the Knights Templar apron
can be found at
http://www.blaisdell.com/papers/
http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/hslideshow.html?
Info on Rosslyn Chapel, built in 1446 and
highly embellish with Templar and Masonic
symbols
http://www.oelodge.uklinux.net/history.htm
For more info on Masonic regalia, see
http://www.templarhistory.com/regalia.html
The history of the Knights Templar apron
can be found at
http://www.blaisdell.com/papers/
| ********** |
| Masonic Symbols on the Dollar Bill? |
There is much controversy over whether the symbols of the pyramid and its all seeing
eye are Masonic symbols.
eye are Masonic symbols.
| Great Seal of the United States |
| The All Seeing Eye Typical Masonic Representations |
From the Federal Citizen Information Center Website at:
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/misc/ourflag/greatseal.htm
"The Great Seal was first used on the reverse of the one-dollar Federal Reserve note in
1935. The Department of State is the official keeper of the Seal. They believe that the
most accurate explanation of a pyramid on the Great Seal is that it symbolizes strength
and durability. The unfinished pyramid means that the United States will always grow,
improve and build. In addition, the "All-Seeing Eye" located above the pyramid suggests
the importance of divine guidance in favor of the American cause.
The inscription ANNUIT COEPTIS translates as "He (God) has favored our
undertakings," and refers to the many instances of Divine Providence during our
Government's formation. In addition, the inscription NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM
translates as "A new order of the ages," and signifies a new American era."
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/misc/ourflag/greatseal.htm
"The Great Seal was first used on the reverse of the one-dollar Federal Reserve note in
1935. The Department of State is the official keeper of the Seal. They believe that the
most accurate explanation of a pyramid on the Great Seal is that it symbolizes strength
and durability. The unfinished pyramid means that the United States will always grow,
improve and build. In addition, the "All-Seeing Eye" located above the pyramid suggests
the importance of divine guidance in favor of the American cause.
The inscription ANNUIT COEPTIS translates as "He (God) has favored our
undertakings," and refers to the many instances of Divine Providence during our
Government's formation. In addition, the inscription NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM
translates as "A new order of the ages," and signifies a new American era."
| In Favor Of |
| Article from The Insider WHY DOES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINT ANCIENT MASONIC SYMBOLS ON EVERY ONE-DOLLAR BILL? http://www.wealth4freedom.com/dollarbill.html |
The American dollar bill is probably the world's best known banknote, but how many
people appreciate why the Great Seal of the United States of America is printed on it, or
understand what these ancient symbols mean?
"On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing a committee
to devise a seal for the United States of America. This mission, designed to reflect the
Founding Fathers' beliefs...".
The symbols of the Great Seal, which are featured on the dollar bill, are clearly intended
to embody the beliefs of those who founded the United States of America. The current
design of the Great Seal was approved by Congress on 20 June 1782, and the seal was
introduced to the dollar bill in 1935. The continued official use of Masonic symbols
today indicates that these beliefs remain at the heart of the U.S. establishment.
What were the beliefs of the founders of America? Numerous sources [apparently]
outside Freemasonry report that the vast majority of the American founders and
signatories of the U.S. Constitution were Freemasons. Anti-Mason material routinely
claims that almost all of America's founding fathers were members of a Masonic Order.
Official sources within Freemasonry counter-claim that some but not all of America's
founders were Freemasons, and point out that the Masonic status of many of the
alleged Masonic founding fathers cannot be proven conclusively. The aforementioned
school of thought is corroborated by well-documented reports from some authoritative
Masonic sources; thus, Manly Palmer Hall, a thirty-third degree Mason, wrote: "Of the
fifty-five members of the Constitutional Convention, all but five were Masons."
Read more at http://www.wealth4freedom.com/dollarbill.html.
people appreciate why the Great Seal of the United States of America is printed on it, or
understand what these ancient symbols mean?
"On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing a committee
to devise a seal for the United States of America. This mission, designed to reflect the
Founding Fathers' beliefs...".
The symbols of the Great Seal, which are featured on the dollar bill, are clearly intended
to embody the beliefs of those who founded the United States of America. The current
design of the Great Seal was approved by Congress on 20 June 1782, and the seal was
introduced to the dollar bill in 1935. The continued official use of Masonic symbols
today indicates that these beliefs remain at the heart of the U.S. establishment.
What were the beliefs of the founders of America? Numerous sources [apparently]
outside Freemasonry report that the vast majority of the American founders and
signatories of the U.S. Constitution were Freemasons. Anti-Mason material routinely
claims that almost all of America's founding fathers were members of a Masonic Order.
Official sources within Freemasonry counter-claim that some but not all of America's
founders were Freemasons, and point out that the Masonic status of many of the
alleged Masonic founding fathers cannot be proven conclusively. The aforementioned
school of thought is corroborated by well-documented reports from some authoritative
Masonic sources; thus, Manly Palmer Hall, a thirty-third degree Mason, wrote: "Of the
fifty-five members of the Constitutional Convention, all but five were Masons."
Read more at http://www.wealth4freedom.com/dollarbill.html.
| An Alternate Explanation |
| An excerpt from a "Skeptic Magazine" article by Tim Callahan http://www.wealth4freedom.com/dollarbill.html |
"The symbol in question is the pyramid with an eye on the back of the dollar bill. Below
it is the Latin inscription Novus Ordo Seculorum, which translates as "New World
Order." Or does it? What we have here is a compound error made up of bad Latin, bad
spelling, and poor history. Those readers who, like myself, took some Latin in high
school, might remember that the suffix "orum" is the genitive plural for nouns in the
second declension. Seculorum would have to be plural and mean "of the worlds,"
which seems a rather clumsy phrasing. It certainly would be if in fact the word in
question was "seculorum." Actually...the millenarian crowd has added the letter "u"
between the "c" and the "l" of the word printed on the dollar, which is seclorum or "of
the ages." Thus, far from saying "New World Order," Novus Ordo Seclorum reads
"New Order of the Ages." Since this symbol and motto are on the back of our
country's Great Seal and were put there when the nation was being founded, they
represent the revolutionary sentiment that by dispensing with kings, whose rule was
autocratic and based on force, and replacing that system with a republic based on
reason, balance of powers, and self rule, the founders of our nation were creating a
new order for the ages."
it is the Latin inscription Novus Ordo Seculorum, which translates as "New World
Order." Or does it? What we have here is a compound error made up of bad Latin, bad
spelling, and poor history. Those readers who, like myself, took some Latin in high
school, might remember that the suffix "orum" is the genitive plural for nouns in the
second declension. Seculorum would have to be plural and mean "of the worlds,"
which seems a rather clumsy phrasing. It certainly would be if in fact the word in
question was "seculorum." Actually...the millenarian crowd has added the letter "u"
between the "c" and the "l" of the word printed on the dollar, which is seclorum or "of
the ages." Thus, far from saying "New World Order," Novus Ordo Seclorum reads
"New Order of the Ages." Since this symbol and motto are on the back of our
country's Great Seal and were put there when the nation was being founded, they
represent the revolutionary sentiment that by dispensing with kings, whose rule was
autocratic and based on force, and replacing that system with a republic based on
reason, balance of powers, and self rule, the founders of our nation were creating a
new order for the ages."
| ********** |
| Congratulations to Our Winners! Jose Amos Gordon Bob McKenna Suzan Farris Grace Hertz Stan Read Jon Fox Mike Pfister Eva Royal Judy Cook Marilyn Hamill-Stewart Brad Potts Jim Crow Mary Fraser Bobbie Sims Honorable mention for the most creative answer goes to: Mark Brzys for his answer "Rudolph Jenko, Stone Mason, and Brotherhood of the Wood Elves" If I have omitted your name from our list of winners, please let me konw. It was unintentional. |
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papal investigation.In the end, the only three accused of heresy directly by the papal
commission were Jacques de Molay and his two immediate subordinates.
During years of torture, Jacques DeMolay continued to be loyal to his friends and
Knights. He refused to disclose the location of the funds of the Order and he refused to
betray his comrades. On March 18, 1314, DeMolay was tried by a special court. As
evidence, the court depended on a forged confession, allegedly signed by Jacques
DeMolay. He disavowed the forged confession. Under the laws of the time, the
disavowal of a confession was punishable by death. Another Knight, Guy of Auvergne,
likewise disavowed his confession and stood with Jacques DeMolay.
commission were Jacques de Molay and his two immediate subordinates.
During years of torture, Jacques DeMolay continued to be loyal to his friends and
Knights. He refused to disclose the location of the funds of the Order and he refused to
betray his comrades. On March 18, 1314, DeMolay was tried by a special court. As
evidence, the court depended on a forged confession, allegedly signed by Jacques
DeMolay. He disavowed the forged confession. Under the laws of the time, the
disavowal of a confession was punishable by death. Another Knight, Guy of Auvergne,
likewise disavowed his confession and stood with Jacques DeMolay.
property were confiscated and given to Philip's supporters
Many kings and nobles supported the Knights at that time, and only dissolved the order
in their fiefs when so commanded by Pope Clement V. Robert the Bruce, the King of
Scots, had already been excommunicated for other reasons, and was therefore not
disposed to pay heed to Papal commands. In Portugal the order's name was changed to
the Order of Christ, and was believed to have contributed to the first naval discoveries
of the Portuguese. Prince Henry the Navigator led the Portuguese order for 20 years
until the time of his death. In Spain, where the king of Aragon was also against giving
the heritage of the Templars to Hospitallers (as commanded by Clement V), the Order
of Montesa took Templar assets.
Many kings and nobles supported the Knights at that time, and only dissolved the order
in their fiefs when so commanded by Pope Clement V. Robert the Bruce, the King of
Scots, had already been excommunicated for other reasons, and was therefore not
disposed to pay heed to Papal commands. In Portugal the order's name was changed to
the Order of Christ, and was believed to have contributed to the first naval discoveries
of the Portuguese. Prince Henry the Navigator led the Portuguese order for 20 years
until the time of his death. In Spain, where the king of Aragon was also against giving
the heritage of the Templars to Hospitallers (as commanded by Clement V), the Order
of Montesa took Templar assets.
fearing persecution from both Church and state. He claims they sought refuge with a
lodge of Scottish stone masons within which they began to teach the virtues of chivalry
and obedience, using the builders tools as a metaphor; and eventually they began taking
in "speculative masons" (men of other professions) in order to ensure the continuation
of the Order. According to Robinson, the Order existed in secret in this form until the
formation of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1717. An example of
Templar-Masonic transition symbolism can supposedly be found in Rosslyn Chapel,
near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Ultimately, throughout history and to this day, various organizations have tried to claim
links to the original Templar order. To date, none of these claims are historically
verifiable nor widely accepted in academia.
Read more about the fascinating history of the Knights Templar at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar and
http://www2.prestel.co.uk/church/templars/templars.htm
lodge of Scottish stone masons within which they began to teach the virtues of chivalry
and obedience, using the builders tools as a metaphor; and eventually they began taking
in "speculative masons" (men of other professions) in order to ensure the continuation
of the Order. According to Robinson, the Order existed in secret in this form until the
formation of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1717. An example of
Templar-Masonic transition symbolism can supposedly be found in Rosslyn Chapel,
near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Ultimately, throughout history and to this day, various organizations have tried to claim
links to the original Templar order. To date, none of these claims are historically
verifiable nor widely accepted in academia.
Read more about the fascinating history of the Knights Templar at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar and
http://www2.prestel.co.uk/church/templars/templars.htm
| Enter Contest |
willing, on this day, I shall die in the Order like him."
The chilling irony of the conclusion of this story is that Jacques DeMolay's final words
did, in fact, come true. Pope Clement V died only a month later on April 20th (he is
suspected of having cancer of the bowel) and Philip IV was killed while on a hunting
trip on November 29th 1314. True to the claim both men did indeed die within the year
of Jacques DeMolay's own death.
http://freemasonrywatch.org/yorkrite.html
http://www.jacquesdemolay.org/
The chilling irony of the conclusion of this story is that Jacques DeMolay's final words
did, in fact, come true. Pope Clement V died only a month later on April 20th (he is
suspected of having cancer of the bowel) and Philip IV was killed while on a hunting
trip on November 29th 1314. True to the claim both men did indeed die within the year
of Jacques DeMolay's own death.
http://freemasonrywatch.org/yorkrite.html
http://www.jacquesdemolay.org/