Masonic Knights Templar Trivia 2026

Compiled by SK Ray Hayward, REPGC 2012-2013


1. All commanderies used to be known as encampments.


2. The name of the famous High Priest of Egypt, Imhotep, means “He who comes in

Peace.”


3. Knights Templar used to wear aprons. They were triangular and had a metal skull and

crossbones on it. When that was phased out, the whole uniform became the apron.


4. The first person knighted as Masonic Knights Templar in the Colonies was Capt. William

Davis, August 1769, followed by Paul Revere, December 1769, and Joseph Warren, May

1770.


5. Knights Templar originally carried daggers in addition to their swords. These were hung

at the end of the baldric.


6. Minnesota produced one Grandmaster of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar,

Charles N. Orr. 1943-1946. ATC Pierson served as Grand Junior Warden of the Grand

Encampment.


7. Knights Templar vote yes with their sword arm, their right, and no with their bridle arm,

their left.


8. Our swords reflect alchemical refinement and transmutation. We go from silver to gold,

black to white.


9. Speaking of alchemy, the 7 parts of the Order of the Temple mirror the 7 stages of

alchemy.

Order of the Temple- Chamber of Reflection, Pilgrimage, Warfare, 1-4 Libations,

Penance, 5th Libation, Knighting.

The Seven Stages of Alchemy- Calcination, Dissolution, Separation, Conjunction,

Fermentation, Distillation, Coagulation.


10. The original uniform consisting of a frock coat and chapeau took the idea from a rear

admiral’s uniform of that period.


11. Our trestle board in commandery is our sword. Look at your sword, many references to

one or all orders are usually found there.


12. Maher Shalal Hash Baz is a phrase from the bible, that also is used as a name. It

translates as, “Make haste to the prey, fall upon the spoils.” There is a famous Oscar

winning actor right now named Mahershala Ali (born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore)


13. The Order of the Temple maintains the practice of the Chamber of Reflection.


14. The Order of Malta used to be the last Order. York Rite follows the chronology of the

bible and history. We find that Order of Malta uses bible verse from the Acts of the

Apostles, which comes after the Gospel of John, used in the Order of the Temple. Also,

historically the Knights of Malta existed after the demise of the Knights Templar.


15. Early Knights Templar used to wear a ring, known as a “ring of profession,” with a

Templar Cross on it and the letters P.D.E.P. engraved on it. The letters stood for Pro Deo

Et Patria, For God and Country. (This is now the motto of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.)


16. The colors of the Commandery, black and white, not only imitate the colors of the

Beauseant, but reflect the putting on of the mourning colors over the white mantle after

the murder of Jaques DeMolay.

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