Templar Edification

Holidays are often accused of being pagan, when in fact they are simply seasonal. Every culture that knows winter knows a winter feast; and a spring celebration; and a harvest festival come fall. Such are our shared natural responses to our shared natural world. They are pagan only in the sense that G.K. Chesterton used the word: as a synonym for human. Last month I spoke of the Loaf-Mass, or Lammas, a traditional Christian observance thanking God for the firstfruits of the grain harvest. This of course coincides most cleanly with the climate of northern Europe and the British Isles; other Christians would harvest at other times. And just as we solemnized the firstfruits, so now we salute the gathering of last sheaves at harvest’s end. In the Hebrew Bible, the Festival of Ingathering—also known as Sukkot, the Festival of Booths—corresponds to the end of Israel’s agricultural year. For 2023 this falls on 29 September  (Mon, Oct 6, 2025 – Mon, Oct 13, 2025) , a day that Christians ma...

 

I find that life is better with holidays. Wouldn’t you agree? St Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome that holy days are a matter of adiaphora; that is, of something neither commanded nor forbidden. We can take them or leave them. Yet I find that special seasons and celebrations add a certain spice to life, as well as a yearly pattern of festival and fasting, of darkness and light, which brings a magic and a mysticism into our hearth and our home. Blame my mother. She was the one when I was growing up who cooked and baked and decorated for all the holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, the sacred and the secular alike. It made my childhood wondrous; my adulthood too, now that I have children of my own. And it certainly does improve one’s mood to ever have something to which one looks forward. As I’ve aged, my love for the holidays has only deepened. I still prepare for the big festivities a little too early and a little too long, but now I also champion...

 As we stand here on this sacred day of Independence, let us remember the timeless wisdom that guides our path. For in the pursuit of liberty, we must tread with caution, as Plato once reminded us that the excess of freedom can lead to the chains of slavery. Our forefathers fought valiantly to secure the blessings of liberty for us, and as we bask in the glory of this day, let us heed the call to never falter in our vigilance. Throughout history, the struggle for freedom has been an arduous journey, one that demands unwavering dedication and sacrifice. As Knights Templar, we embody the virtues of courage and conviction, and we stand as beacons of hope in a world yearning for the light of truth. Let us be reminded that the price of apathy is the submission to evil forces, and in the face of tyranny, we must rise with indomitable spirit. Just as our founding fathers proclaimed their resolve to stand united against oppression, we too must unite as brothers and sisters, bound by the un...

Introduction: The 158th Grand Conclave, held on June 24th, 2023, was filled with camaraderie, insightful reports, and recognition of exemplary individuals within the esteemed Order of Knights Templar. Let's delve into some of the notable moments and awards presented during this memorable convocation. Recognition and Remembrance: The conclave commenced with an introduction of the distinguished Grand officers and esteemed visiting dignitaries. Sir Knight William Hubbard  retired as Right Eminent Grand Organist, he was thanked and commended for his many years of service. As a mark of respect, a moment of silence was observed to honor the memory of Right Eminent Past Grand Commander Sir Knight Kenneth Hill and Right Eminent Past Grand Commander Sir Knight Stanley Morrill, whose contributions to the Order will forever be cherished. Commanderies in Attendance: A roll call of the officers was conducted, affirming the presence of the dedicated brethren who faithfully serve their respective...

As far as unsung holidays go, few seem to me more deserving of a modern revival than the Nativity of St John the Baptist, known to Shakespeare as Midsummer’s Day. John’s is one of only three birthdays commemorated on the Christian liturgical calendar—quite a coup, considering that the other two are Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. John the Baptist is a wonderfully wily, irascible figure, offering a truly unforgettable introduction to the New Testament. He’s famous for preaching brimstone in the badlands, baptizing various and sundry questionable characters, wearing coarse camelhair clothing, and sustaining himself on locusts and wild honey. What’s most important about John, however, is that he serves as Forerunner to the Christ, the prophesied voice crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord!” In other words, everything that Jesus does, John does first. John has a miraculous birth; he proclaims the coming Kingdom of God; he gathers a cadre of disciples; h...