clarification

[Preston Pittman]

thanks for your comments, Gene.  "Montosa" was a typo, but I didn't know
what happened to them later.  so thanks for the info about The Order of St.
George of Alfama.  Do they continue under that name? YOu mention the Montesa
Order continuing today.  I wasn't aware of that.  I know the Benedictine
Order and the Templar Order were closely "related" - in fact, weren't the
founders of both closely related - like uncle and nephew, or something like
that?  I gave the example of their vows being like those of the Franciscans
because I thought most people would understand that better - poverty,
chastity and obedience, etc. for which the Franciscans are famous.

The lapse in time between the founding of the Masons and the formal
"extinction" of the Templars - I know there was an explanation in "The
Temple and the Lodge" - I just don't remember it off hand.  I'll have to
look it up later.

thanks &
Peace,
Preston

>From: Gene Silva <ejsilvaaSWBELL.NET>
>Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu>
>To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
>Subject: Re: Templars
>Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 13:05:40 -0500
>
>Preston:
>
>Thanks for the very good outline of Templar history. There are just a few
>points of clarification for those interested in this aspect of the camino's
>history.
>
>
>
>The Templars, were a knightly order that took vows
>much like the Franscicans.
>
>     True, but to be more precise, the Templars followed the rule of St.
>Benedict.
>
>
>At the time the Templars were "found guilty of heresy",
>James II not only refused to confiscate their property and arrest them, but
>he gave refuge to any foreign Templars to could escape to Aragon.  He
>renamed them the Order of Nuestra Senora de Montosa.
>
>     The order's name is Montesa, not Montosa. In 1399, Benedict XIII
>united
>the monastic and military order of St. George     of Alfama with that of
>Montesa. This combined entity replaced much of Templar presence on the
>camino.
>
>
>  He convinced his cousin, King Denis of Portugal, to do the same.
>
>     Some historians would argue it was the other way around, but this may
>be
>true. Clement V suppressed the Templars in         1312. They were not
>condemned, but the organization was disbanded. In Portugal, this allowed
>King Denis I to create         the Military Order of Christ which was
>recognized by Pope John XXII in 1319. The record is sketchy, but at  least
>some     of this order's activities included protecting pilgrims along the
>Portuguese route to Santiago.
>
>
>In Scotland they were also protected and because of the vulnerability and
>closeness to England, went under cover.  It is believed by many that they
>formed the beginings of the Masonic Lodge, and the authors of "Holy Blood,
>Holy Grail" wrote a book about this, called "The Temple and the Lodge.
>
>
>     My understanding of Freemasonry is limited, but it was formally
>established in the early years of the eighteenth century,         about 400
>years after the Templars (a Papal order of Knighthood) were suppressed. I
>am
>not aware of any academic         treatise or recognized historical
>analysis
>concluding that one is the outgrowth of the other.
>
>     Finally, the Templars and Hospitallers were separate orders. They were
>never joined at any point in their history, but what     remained of
>Templar
>property after their suppression was given by the Papacy to the Order of St
>John. Montesa, Order       of Christ (both the national Portuguese group as
>well as the Vatican honor), and St. John are still in existence. All of
>them,     and several others, have ties to the camino.
>
>         Best wishes.

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