The Beauceant

Simplistic in its design, but unique with its many meanings, the Beauceant was and is the standard of the Knights Templar. The Beauceant consisted of a black sec­tion above a white one. Note that some say it was hung from a perpendicular pole near the top of the vertical one so that both of the colors could be seen without any wind while the picture to the right shows it as if there was some wind animating it.

The etymology of "Beauceant" is not known, an unknown pilgrim around the 12th or 13th century, while visiting Jerusalem, stated:

when they go to war, a standard of two colors called 'balzaus' is borne before them. 

John J. Robinson, the author of Born in Blood, believed that 'beau' meant 'beautiful', and in medieval times it is said to have translated as 'glorious' or 'magnificent'. So in a battle cry 'beauceant' could mean 'be noble' or 'be glorious'.

The Beauceant is composed of two colors and divided between two sections of equal width; the upper half of this standard is black, the lower half white. These colors hold some strong symbolic representation, and I am immediately reminded of the 1st Degree Lecture where it talks about the Mosaic Pavement on the ground floor of King Solomon's Temple where we are told:

The mosaic pavement is a representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's Temple and is emblematic of human life, checkered with good and evil.

The colors of the Beauceant also remind us to be good and true to our friends and terrify the enemies of Christ. The black section can also depict the sins of the secular world that the Templar knights had chosen to leave while the second section was white depicting the purity that the order offered them, a sort of transformation of darkness to light. 

To symbolize duality through the colors of black and white is quite ancient as most cultures see white and black as symbolic of good and evil.  It has also been used as a comparison between the physical and spiritual world, male and female, and the sky and the earth.

The Beauceant was a rallying point during battles so they could easily regroup when separated.  Knights were also not allowed to retreat or stop fighting while the Beauceant was flying.

As the Beauceant was such an important symbol that the Marshall would select a group of Templars to protect it, to be led by the Confanonier, or Standard Bearer. The Standard Bearer is still an officer in the modern Masonic Templars and whose duty it is to protect the Standards of our Order.  Historically the duties of the Standard Bearer included being the paymaster and ensuring the equipment (to include the horses) was kept in working order. It should be noted that although he was referred to as the Standard Bearer he never carried the banner, but led the procession which carried and protected it.

The standard and its bearer are even relevant in today's military.  In the Fall of 2003, I was a Private First Class (PFC), I was assigned as appointed as the Standard, or rather Guidon, Bearer of my Company. As such, I was supposed to be one of the most knowledgeable in Drill & Ceremony and protect the banner.  The First Sergeant (1SG) was considered to be the Keeper of the Guidon and can be compared to the Marshall of the medieval Templars.  I had the honor of being the Bearer while we deployed and took part in the change of command ceremony where I handed off the Guidon to the 1SG who passed it to the outgoing Commander who handed it to the Brigade Commanding officer who passed it to the incoming Commander, back to the 1SG, and finally back to me, accepting it under the Command. This personal experience has given me a great appreciation for the office of Standard Bearer as well as the Standard itself.

The jewel of the Standard Bearer (to the right) in the Masonic Knights Templar is a Plumb surmounted by the banner of the Order.

The plumb is one of the earliest and simplest instruments used in construction, the plumb and its line was an essential tool of the stone mason...to insure perpendicularity and right angles to that surface. And so it is that this tool was taken from the operative mason to the speculative mason as a symbol of the best of conduct, unequivocal uprightness, and constant integrity required to build a spiritual temple reflective of the best of one’s efforts.

A sym­bolic meaning of the Standard Bearer’s jewel then, might be that as Masonic Templars engaged in the struggle be­tween good and evil (represented by the banner), our conduct and integrity must be such as to stand the test of the Great Architect’s plumb.

References

1. Templar Studies : The Beauceant. (2009, February 20). Retrieved from Order of the Grail: http://orderofthegrail.blogspot.com/2009/02/templar-studies-beauceant.html  

2. Beauséant. (n.d.). Retrieved from English Freemasonry on the Island of Malta: http://englishfreemasonryonmalta.org/html/templar-beauseant.html  

3. Connor, G. C. (n.d.). Shibboleth: A Templar Monitor. Retrieved from Sacred Texts: http://www.sacred-texts.com/mas/shib/shib15.htm  

4. Dafoe, S. (2006, August). Templar Punishment. The Working Tools magazine, p. 44.  

5. Dafoe, S. (2006, December). The Templar Beauséant. The Working Tools magazine, pp. 36-37.  

6. Dafoe, S. (n.d.). The Beauseant – Mackey’s Article. Retrieved from TemplarHistory: http://blog.templarhistory.com/2010/03/the-beauseant-mackeys-article/  

7. Dafoe, S. (n.d.). The Templar Beauseant. Retrieved from TemplarHistory: http://blog.templarhistory.com/2010/03/the-templar-beauseant/  

8. Denslow, R. V. (n.d.). A Templar Encyclopedia. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/templar_encyclopedia.htm  

9. George L. Marshall, J. (2011, April). Some Symbolic Interpretations of the Commandery Jewels of Office. Knights Templar magazine, pp. 22-23.  

10. Knights Templars-Ranks and Organization. (n.d.). Retrieved from History, Fantasy, and Swords: http://getasword.com/blog/608-knights-templars-ranks-and-organization/  

11. Lemmons, D. G. (2006, February 04). The Lesson of the Beauseant. Retrieved from http://www.knightstemplar.org/articles/0107/beauseant.pdf  

12.Guidon (United States). (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guidon_%28United_States%29  

13.Knights Templar. (n.d.). Retrieved from MasterMason.com: http://www.mastermason.com/hiramdiscovered/Knightstemplar.html

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

I've started a Facebook page as a discussion group to complement this website. Enjoy and please join in the discussions.

I am also posting on my Twitter page: @KSigMason.

Levant Preceptory and the Masonic Templary Reformation

In one of my previous posts, I talked about the modern Templar uniform in comparison to the garb worn by the Templars during the Crusades.  Lately, there has been some discussion on the modern Templar uniforms and how the price has pushed many away from going in or being active with the Masonic Templars.

Brother Nick from the Millennial Freemason brought up using period garb like Levant Preceptory.

In his August 2011 article in the Knights Templar magazine, Brother Chris Hodapp, of Freemasons for Dummies, talks about the fading interest in the "paramilitary customs of marching in drill teams and rehearsing twelve-man openings." as well as shelling out the cash for the naval style dress uniform of the Victorian Age. He, along with many others, point out the lacking of Templar research that should be conducted in the Commandery, but like a lot of Masonic organizations, the education programs are almost none existent.

When one says "Templar", one usually thinks of chain-mail, broadswords, and steel helmets not black dress uniforms.  There seems to be a lack of connection to the medieval Templars. Seeing the problems facing Masonic Templary, Raper Commandery No.1, out of Indiana, started Levant Preceptory who refer to themselves as a Period Order of the Temple Reenactment Unit.
 
According to Bro. Chris:

The goal was to create a medieval period degree team for conferring the Order of the Temple, as well as a promotional public face for Indiana Templary. The mission is not to represent modern Masonic Knights Templar as a variation on the Society for Creative Anachronism, but to spread the word that Christian chivalry and knighthood still exist in a modern world as an active part of the fraternity of Freemasonry.

They kept the Preceptory as an informal club connected to Raper Commandery so they didn't have to get a new charter and be required to purchase regulation uniforms or hold business meetings.

As an informal club, Levant has no separate officers, bylaws, dues, regulations, or requirements. Knights are simply expected to provide their own medieval uniforms and equipment, and to know their assigned cast parts in the standard ritual of the Order of the Temple.
- Christopher Hodapp

While the Preceptory works under Raper Commandery and their charter, the group encourages participation from all Sir Knights of Indiana. They didn't want to detract members from their own Commanderies and to keep it unique they wanted to perform the Order of the Temple only twice a year.

Their garb consists of a broadsword, steel helmet, chainmail hauberks, gauntlets & coifs, white tunics (with a red cross over the heart), and other essential equipment.  The current Armorer of Levant Preceptory, Sir Knight Robert Coleman, has a great knowledge of medieval period garb as well as outfitting men on a budget. The white tunics are made from a "heavy canvas duck material hand-sewn by Robert's wife" and custom-fitted to each Knight.  To keep the white tunics clean the inside of them are lined with black material. The chain-mail can be made either out of steel or aluminum, depending on the need of the Knight. All of this can be purchased for as little as $300 which is about the same price as a feathered Chapeau.

They have created equipment for conducting the ceremony outside to include specially made chairs, altar, and a tent to meet in.  These Sir Knights of Levant Preceptory have attracted a lot of attention not only in their state but across the nation, even performing in the surrounding states. Levant Preceptory has even appeared in a Templar documentary.

According to the previously mentioned Templar article:

In addition to conferring the Order of the Temple, Sir Knight James Dillman created a public ceremony suitable for non-Masons in which the Knights dramatize the night before the arrest of the order in France in 1307. At its first public presentation for a statewide gathering of DeMolay members and parents on the 700th anniversary of the arrests on October 13, 2007, the enthusiastic audience spent two hours afterwards asking questions, trying on the equipment, and bursting with excitement over seeing Templar Knights assembled as they had always imagined them.

This would be amazing to see and I hope to eventually to attend their presentation.

White it can be said that this isn't a solution to bringing Masonic Templary about, many young members are desiring something very similar to this kind of reformation.

Levant Preceptory has a Facebook page if you would like to keep up on their current events as well as contact them.

To Chivalry...

May Common Sense never quell our love for high hearted adventure, nor dull expediency prevent our doing brave, splendid, foolish deeds. May we ever serve romance as we ride errant to and fro about a sunlit world. If we be not always wise, God send that we at least be admirable.

References

1. Hodapp, C. (2008, April 13). Levant Preceptory Confers Templar Order. Retrieved from Freemasons For Dummies: http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2008/04/levant-preceptory-confers-templar-order.html

 

2. Hodapp, C. (2011, August). Medieval Knighthood Lives In Indiana’s Levant Preceptory. Knights Templar magazine, pp. 10-13.  

 

3. Levant Preceptory. (n.d.). Retrieved from Indianapolis York Rite: http://freemasonsfordummies.com/brlodge/york2.html

Grand College of Rites

Well, I submitted my petition to the Grand College of Rites. The Grand College of Rites of the United States of America is a "regular" Masonic body, dedicated to preserving the history and rituals of defunct and inactive Masonic orders. As I am dedicated to researching the history of Freemasonry, I don't know why I have not already joined this group.

The Grand College of Rites of the United States of America meets annually at the time and place of the Annual Meeting of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America. See Masonic Week.

Their history can be seen here: History of the GCR. The Official Transactions of the Grand College of Rites of the United States of America is the "Collectanea".

I had first heard of the Grand College of Rites when I was researching the appendant bodies/organizations of Freemasonry as well as research organizations.

I can't wait to be accepted to this group with so many excellent Brothers and receive the volumes of books.  So much information, so much history.

A Decade

Today, 10-years ago in a red-carpeted room in the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) building in Boise I raised my hand to protect this country from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

It has been an interesting ride with some great highs and a few lows.  I have deployed to Iraq twice, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) III in '04/'05 as an Intelligence Analyst and 6-years later in support of Operation New Dawn (OND) as a Shadow 200 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Standardization Instructor-Operator. I have gained an immense amount of experience and gained some life-long relationships.

I am almost done with my National Guard contract and currently don't plan on re-enlisting, but plan on pursuing a career with the Federal government.  I am currently attending college using the Post 9/11 GI Bill to fund my way through to eventually earn both my Bachelor's and Masters degree.

My First Week Back At School

Well, if the first week (and introduction into the course syllabi) this Semester will be great.  Classes are fun and interactive, and my Political Science Professors are passionate about teaching, yet not letting their individual beliefs bleed over into their teaching. I can see that I am going to love the Intro of International Relations course this semester; too bad it is only 50-minutes.

I hope to keep supplying this blog with plenty of posts.

The Templar Uniforms

From my early interest in the Templars of the Crusades, I always found their garments, and the distinction between the two, interesting as it was both simple, but highly symbolic. Fast forward to Fall 2008 and I have entered the Asylum for the first time to see the Sir Knights seated in their uniforms; one of a black jacket (similarly used by the Naval Petty Officer), a feathered Chapeau, and armed with a sword. I, as with many people, have found the difference in uniform styles to be weird (for lack of a better word). For such a prestigious order to commemorate themselves by taking the name of those valiant knights of the Crusades, but veering away from them in such a manner.

Before we delve into the history and evolution of the modern Templar uniform, one should have a basic understanding of each uniform individually. 


The Garments of the Knights Templar 

The best-known wardrobe of the Knights Templar is a white mantle (for Knights) and a brown mantle (for Sergeants) emblazoned with the red cross pattée, but I am getting ahead of myself.

As with any good and organized body there are set guidelines, regulations, or Constitution that establishes operating procedure as well as member uniformity. In the time of the Crusades, this was no different. Ecclesiastical and knightly orders worked under "Rules" which governed their lives.

When the Knights Templar were first founded in Jerusalem they received a copy of the Rules of St. Augustine, but at the Council of Troyes the Templar Rule was written, the most notable participant was Bernard of Clairvaux. The result of this Council was what is commonly referred to as the "Primitive Rule". This "Primitive Rule" established the garments of the members, but originally did not bestow the honor to wear the red cross. It wasn't until 1147 when Pope Eugene III granted the right to wear the red cross. While many pictures show the Cross emblazoned in many places around the uniform it was stationed over the heart of the left side of the mantle.

Their white mantle was said to be a symbol of purity and a reflection of the knight's vow of chastity. It has also been suggested (never definitively proven) that they were required to wear sheepskin undergarments and that were never to be removed as another symbol of their vows.

While many knights of the day wore their hair long, the Templars' hair was kept short and were forbidden to cut their beards. Being a member of the Armed Forces myself I can understand the practical need for short hair having worn an abundance of different styles of helmets or covers. It would be no different to apply this logic to the knights of the crusades where hair could obscure their vision in their helmets while riding into battle.


The Modern (Masonic) Templar uniforms 

As the Crusader's garments were defined by their Rule so too are our uniforms defined in the Constitution of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar, USA. Now the description of the uniform changes with rank (ie subordinate Commandery officer, dais office, Grand Commandery officer, Grand Encampment officer, etc) so I will give a general description with some specifics of the Dress Uniform (not the Summer or Cap & Mantle). Also note, that a Grand Commandery may slightly alter the uniform within its own jurisdiction, but a subordinate Commandery may not (on its own).

The Templar Dress Coat, as the Grand Encampment refers to it, is a black double-breasted frock coat with crosses upon the sleeve (each different for members, officers, Grand officers, and Grand Encampment officers). For members and non-dais officers of a subordinate Commandery, there is nothing on the shoulders, but for dais officers, on up there are set shoulder boards depicting the rank. Jewels from meritorious service or rank are worn upon the left breast. The trousers shall be black broadcloth and of standard military cut (your average black dress pants).

The feathered chapeau always brings a smile to people's faces. It is trimmed with black velvet binding, and with two black and one white ostrich plume so arranged that the black plumes shall show at the edges distinctly and the end of the white plume shall not extend beyond the chapeau more than three inches, the length, and width to be in proportion to the size of the Sir Knights. The exact dimensions may vary with rank/position, but for the most part, the Chapeau extends to the front and rear a few inches from the head. The side is beveled, all lined with gold wire lace. On the left side is set a rosette which varies with rank.

The swords are ornamented from hilt through the blade and vary with rank (gold plate versus silver). Some jurisdictions wear a belt and some use a shoulder strap that hides under the coat coming through a pocket on the hip.

So how did we come to this?


The Evolution of the Modern Uniforms

Brother Brent Morris in his book "The Complete Idiots Guide to Freemasonry" describes the original uniform of the American Knights Templar as rather simple being composed of a black triangular apron with skull & bones, a shoulder-to-hip sash, and a sword, all of which would be worn over street clothes. American Masonic Templary from its earliest recorded conferral up into the 19th century hadn't spread very quickly owing to the scandal referred to as the Morgan Affair and the American Civil War.

After the Civil War though, would come an age where many fraternal organizations (not just the Masonic one) would flourish as well as the regalia companies who supplied them. After the war we see the Templar uniform updated into something more acceptable for the Victorian Age (ca. 1837 - 1901) where we see it go from a simplistic design to a black frock coat (similar to the Civil War-era uniforms), a feathered (naval style) chapeau, a sword & scabbard, and for some time a black triangular apron (no longer used by the Grand Encampment*).

While impressive when in procession, it is expensive, and Brett makes a certain comment in his book that I must share as I find it pertinent as well as comical:

"If expense is widely held (if inappropriate) measure of prestige, then Knights Templar topped the popular scale with their uniforms (unsuitable for anything but Templar meetings) and their exclusive membership in and fees for Lodge, Chapter, and Commandery."

* - Some jurisdictions still use the apron

References

1. (n.d.). Chapter XIX - Uniforms - Subordinate Commanderies. In Constitution, Statutes, Disciplinary Rules, Standing Resolutions, Ceremonies, Forms and Approved Decisions of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America (p. 173). 

2. Dafoe, S. (2010, April 01). Masonic Templar Regalia. Retrieved from TemplarHistory.com: http://blog.templarhistory.com/2010/04/masonic-templar-regalia/

3. Dafoe, S. (n.d.). Garments Of The Knights Templar. The Working Tools magazine, pp. 39-40. 

4. (2006). Chapter 8: The York Rite. In B. Morris, The Complete Idiots Guide to Freemasonry. London: Penguin Group. 

5. The Primitive Rule of the Templars. 

6. (n.d.). Retrieved from Project Beauceant: http://templiers.org/index-eng.php (n.d.). U2. Uniforms. In Constitution, Laws, and Regulations Of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Idaho (pp. 50-51).

The Year of 13

Getting away from this being the supposed year that the world ends, this is a very unusual year.  The superstitious hold Friday the 13th has to be a day of either severe bad luck or good luck, but this year they have to wrangle with 3 of them, separated exactly 13 weeks apart (which has not happened since 1984 - the year of my birth).

Three Friday the 13ths happen every few years. The last was in 2009, and the next is 2015. What's special about 2012 — and what won't occur again until 2040 — is that this is happening during a leap year, says Tom Fernsler, a University of Delaware math professor who sometimes goes by the name Dr. 13.

Read More

There are many historical events that have landed on Friday the 13th, the most well-known being the mass arrest of the French Knights Templar on October 13th, 1307, by King Phillip IV.

Some of the historical events are:

Butch Cassidy, a notorious American train and bank robber was born on Friday, April 13th, 1866.

Al Capone was sentenced to prison on a Friday the 13th.

Fidel Castro was born on Friday, August 13th, 1926.

Hubert Humphrey, the 38th Vice President of the USA, died on Friday, January 13th, 1978. 

 The "Friday the 13th virus" infected hundreds of IBM computers across Great Britain on Friday, Jan. 13, 1989. This is one of the most famous early examples of a computer virus making headlines.

Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 13th, 1996.

Read More

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13 while fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia. From the time of the Templar arrest to today there are many superstitions surrounding this day.

13 Supersitions about Friday the 13th

1. There is at least one Friday the 13th every year, but no single year has more than three.
2. Months with a Friday the 13th always begin on a Sunday.
3. The longest period that can occur without a Friday the 13th is fourteen months.
4. Legend has it if 13 people sit down to dinner together, one will die within the year. In France, diners can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.
5. Friday is said to be the day when Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit, Abel was killed by Cain and Jesus Christ was crucified.
6. Many cities do not have a 13th Street or 13th Avenue.
7. Many buildings don't have a 13th floor.
8. Most airports skip having a 13th gate and airplanes a 13th row.
9. Many hospitals do not have a room number 13.
10. If you have 13 letters in your name, you have the devil's luck - Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Theodore Bundy all have 13 letters in their names.
11. There are 13 twists of the rope in a traditional hangman's noose and 13 steps leading up to the gallows.
12. In Formula 1 racing, there is no car with the number 13. The number has been removed after two drivers were killed in crashes, both driving cars numbered 13.
13. An urban myth states the British Royal Navy tried to dispel the superstition that sailing on Friday was bad luck. They built a ship named HMS Friday. On its maiden voyage, the vessel left dock on a Friday the 13th, and was never heard from again.

Source

The number 13 and Friday are recurring presences in mythological, spiritual, and religious traditions. In Christianity, 13 people attended the Last Supper before Judas' betrayal and Jesus' death on a Friday. A Norse myth warns of dire consequences for dining in groups of 13 (something as we saw above, the French even feared in some instances).

For many pagans, 13 is a lucky number, because it corresponds with the number of full moons each year, says Ivo Dominguez Jr., owner of Bell, Book & Candle, a pagan and occult book and gift shop in Dover, Del.

The Numerology of 13

The number 13 symbolizes the death to the matter or to oneself and the birth to the spirit: the passage on a higher level of existence.  One can see a bond between Jacob and his twelves sons as well as Christ to his 12 Apostles.  According to the Druids, the sacred cord has 13 segments. The Sumerians used a zodiac including 13 constellations and 26 main stars.  The number 13 also falls into the Fibonacci sequence.

There are many more things tied to 13 such as the 13 original colonies of America as well as the number conspiratorial tied to us Freemasons.

The Master of Templary Orders

From "The Poetry Of Freemasonry" by Rob Morris

One is your Master, Christ, the Lord,
And we are Brethren, true and strong,
Sincere in heart, exact in word,
Abhorring vice and wrong.

Sir Knights, flash out the Cross-hilt Sword!
One is your Master, Christ, the Lord,

One word inspires the valiant Knight, —
It is the cruel Golgotha;
One star leads on with steady light,
The bright, the Orient star.

Sir Knights, flash out the Cross-hilt Sword
One is your Master, Christ, the Lord,

Where lines of Knightly legends flow,
From Bethlehem to Olivet,
There do our warrior-longings go,
There is our Master yet.

Sir Knights, flash out the Cross-hilt Sword!
One is your Master, Christ, the Lord,

And when is won this earthly strife,
Laid by the Spear, assumed the Crown,
We trust to share that peaceful life
Which our Great Captain won.

Sir Knights, flash out the Cross-hilt Sword!
One is your Master, Christ, the Lord.

Heading Back to College

Well, its a New Year and now that I'm home from Iraq, it is time to head back to college.  I am a registered student at Boise State University.  I am going for a Bachelors in Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations and I haven't decided my minor, but it will either be in leadership or history.

I have the books and I'm down to a week before it starts.  I am excited.

My posts may slow down, but I will keep the posts coming when I can get them in.