Oaths
1. The Temple and Service thereof
“Remember, brothers, that we are the descendants of the ‘Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ’ who first held their meetings in the precincts of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. We must contemplate the word and meaning of the Temple. Remember also that we are but rough stones and must continuously work to build our own Temple with the smooth stones within us.”
2. The Love of Meditation
“Recognize with gladness that we are neither lost, nor strangers to God, but one of His good creatures, and in our Temple we shall meet people from many nations and religions. There is no shame in seeking God; forget not when we ponder that God’s Temple is our own being. God will not look for us, but we first must seek Him. Each day, time must be put aside for meditation and prayers for our Order and its work.”
3. Discipline
“The principles of St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s life are still valid today. We must care for mind, body and soul. Work happily, but with humility and at all times honor your fellow man.” Care not for worldly goods.
4. Knightly Combat
“Our white garments decorated with the Blood Red Cross remind each of us that we must be capable of making sacrifices. Do not strive for worldly wealth—perhaps tomorrow we might have to give account of ourselves. We shall not know, until it is too late, for excuses are not acceptable to the Greatest Being, Almighty God.”
5. Brotherhood
“Each day we must help our brethren for whom we are responsible, for one day God will say, ‘Where is thy Brother?’ Accept no reward, always be a pillar of the Temple, for all the Order holds for us is the opportunity to flee the sins of the world, to live charitably, to be penitent, and above all, to be the servant of Almighty God.”
As true Templars, we must always be prepared for battle in either the temporal or spiritual realms. Our oaths require moral courage and our way of life demands dedication to our knightly ideals. The true knight is, of course, humble before the Lord and his fellow man. If a true Templar would boast about anything, he boasts in our Lord!
Decalogue
(or 10 Commandments of Knighthood- Leon Gautier, 1832 – 97)
1.The Knight was first of all a Christian soldier with unswerving faith in the Church;
2. He must resolutely defend that Church;
3. He must faithfully obey his feudal lord so long as that obedience did not conflict with allegiance to the Church;
4. He must love his country;
5. He must maintain unrelenting war against the enemies of Christendom;
6. He must never retreat from the enemy;
7. He must keep his pledged word;
8. He must be generous in giving;
9. He must show pity for the weak, and steadfastness in their defence;
10. He must at all times champion the good against the forces of evil.
1813 Templar Oath
“In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
“I pledge myself, from now and forever, to the holy Militia of the Order of the Temple. I declare to take freely and solemnly oath of obedience, poverty and chastity, as well as fraternity, hospitality and preliation.”
“With this oath I state my strong and irrevocable intent”
“To pledge my sword, my forces, my life and everything that I own to the cause, defence, honour and further knowledge of the Christian religion, of the Order of the Temple and of my companions in arms; to the rescue of the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Land of Palestine and the East and of the domains of our forefathers.”
“To submit to the Rule of our Holy Father Bernard, to the Transmission Chart, the Rules, Law and Decrees and all other statements issued in conformity to the Statutes of the Order; not to invest any knight or divulgate title, grade, ritual or other custom of the Order unless authorized by the Statutes; to obey unconditionally and always, within the Establishments of the Order and without, and in all walks of life, the Grand Master and the high Officers of the Order, collectively and singularly.”
“To love my brothers the Knight and my Sisters the Dames and help them, their children and their widows with my sword, my advice, means and wealth, my credit and everything in my power, and will favour them, with no exception, over those who are not members of the Order.”
“To defend the pious pilgrims, to aid and comfort those who are persecuted for the Cause of the Cross, the sick and the poor.”
“To fight the infidels and the non-believers with my example, virtue, charity and convincing arguments; and to fight with the sword the infidels and non-believers who attack the Cross with their own sword.”
“To abhor all immodesty, and not to indulge in illegitimate pleasures of the flesh and then only with my legitimate spouse.”
“Finally, barring rules dictated by Religion and the Order, to conform to the Laws and Customs of the countries in which I may reside, to fulfill my duties of citizen, and to be loyal knight in those countries which entertain relations with the Order.”
“This oath I pronounce loudly before the Knights present at this Convent. I sign it and confirm it by my blood. Again, I write it and sign its registration in the documents relating to this Convent and witnessed by the Knights.”
“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
“Pursuant to the Magistral Decrees of 18 Adar 117 and (?) 694, confirmed by the Convent General on 1 Nisan 695 (2 April 1813), I declare to accede to the Unity of the Temple.”
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