'A Nobleman is measured by his deeds not his birthright'
The Aims and Rule of the HKt.B No one will try to change your opinions or views; no one will ask you to do anything. If you wish you can just be a member, which is by definition supporting the ideals of the Knights Templar; or you can choose to be involved in any way you feel is right for you. You choose your own membership path. If you regard yourself as honourable we welcome you to join us in friendship.
To promote:-
Fraternity, Friendship, Spirituality, Meditation,Charity and Chivalry. (To fund the set up of Spiritual Centres teaching Meditation & Spiritual Matters)
To maintain the history of the Knights Templar and preserve Ancestral Heritage
To encourage the noble ideals of Chivalry and to promote 'Nobility through deeds of Charity & Honour'.
To support the poor, the sick, the unjustly accused, to stand against oppression and to protect freedom & liberty
Some of The Original Rules of the Knights Templars (11th Century)
To protect travellers & Keepers of the Faith
To bury the dead
To offer shelter from the Sun and offer water to the thirsty
To protect the possessions of travellers
To protect the faith 'miles christi' (Knight of Christ)
To embrace a higher calling
To meditate everyday at set times
To provide food & clothing for members
To give yourself to the service of God
To be recognised as an Order
To live without money
To govern oneself
Knights are to wear white mantles, Sergeants and Squires to wear black or brown mantles
Recruit members to fight for King and faith
Supporters of the faith are Champagne, Anjou, Normandy, England and Scotland
Right to own land and take donations to the Order
To provide means to fight for the faith
Protection of the land of Jerusalem
Freedom from local ecclesiastical authorities
Titled members to be given the best robes and to wear leather gloves
Masons are the only other people permitted to wear gloves to protect their hands
Titled members are permitted to sit next to a Master at meal times,
To be served first and given the best food
If a titled member sinned he would not have to work as penance, just say a prayer for forgiveness
Titled members can hear confessions and give absolution
Five faults that a titled member could not give absolution for: 1. Killing a Christian man or women 2. Violently attacking another member 3. Attacking a member of another Order or priest 4. Renouncing the faith 5. Entering the Order through fraud
To act independently of ecclesiastical and secular rulers
The Grand Master and members are given sole responsibility for the actions and conduct of the Order
Ten Good Knights are appointed to defend the City of Jerusalem
A member is not allowed to charge without permission except to rescue another Christian in distress (he will lose his habit if he did so)
If the Christians were defeated in battle a member of the Order was not allowed to return to the garrison while there was still a Christian banner raised aloft, to do so is to be expelled
Ten Knights are to guard the Orderīs banner
A member will be expelled if whilst carrying the banner he charges without permission or if he lowers the banner
Members are not allowed to lodge with other Orders accept with the Knights Hospitallers
Members are not allowed to eat or drink wine outside of their house, except with the Hospitallers
In battle a member who can not rally round the Orderīs banner for any reason must go to a Hospitallerīs banner.
Retreat is only possible with the Hospitallers
Money will only be given to a member for him to purchase a particular item or perform a specific task for the Order, any sum remaining had to be returned immediately
A member found to have money on him when he died is not to be buried in consecrated ground, or other members to pray for his soul, his body is to be thrown to the dogs
The Master is not allowed to give away land without the permission of the members
Disobeying rules of the Order will lead to expulsion
Over 680 rules made up the Knights Templar rules.
Last Rule: 'Now we have told you the things which you should do and what you should guard against, and those which lead to expulsion from the house, and the other punishments; we have not told you everything we should tell you, but you will ask'.
May God let you say and do well.
All Templars live by one code of Life 'DO THE RIGHT THING'
Đ Copyright May 2002-2009 Hereditary Knights Templars of Britannia All Rights Reserved