Excerpted from Commandery Talk for Other Bodies, by Richard R. Jernigan, Knight Templar, Sep. 2018
When a man becomes a Mason a bond is created between himself and all other masons. That bond is difficult to describe, but is readily understood by members of the Craft. Masons have common experiences and obligations and focus upon the designs of the individual’s “Great Architect of the Universe.”
He agrees to look out for the well-being of all other Masons so far as he is able. He promises, in his relationship with other Masons, to deal uprightly and honestly. He commits himself, that no matter his station in life, all are created equal and he will treat all Masons fairly and upon the same playing field.
His word is is bond and he guards the secrets of his fellow Masons striving always to be honest and straightforward. His goal is to create a more perfected version of his former self, to shape himself, by study, discipline, and association with other good men, into a perfect building block for society and the Great Architect, realizing all the while that he will never quite achieve that perfection in this world.
Many choose to take the next step in growing in the understanding, in the light, of our Masonic traditions and origins by choosing to pursue the York Rite of Freeasonry. In the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and the Council of Royal and Select Master Masons the story of Solomon’s Temple continues. It covers Biblical history from the dedication and completion of Solomon’s Temple through its destruction and the dispersal of Israel and Judah into Babylon. It also presents the re-building of the second Temple.
Here, Masons gain a better understanding of where we came from, of why we perform certain ceremonies, and of how the Hiramic legend came to be. They learn the details of the lost word of a Master Mason, its preservation, and its subsequent rediscovery. They learn that the philosophy of Masonry holds a veneration for wisdom and knowledge obtained through years of selfless service and study. This Rite further binds Masons to one another and strengthens the fraternal bonds that they forged in Craft Masonry.
Christian Masons may pursue the third step in York Rite Masonry, Chivalric Masonry. Based upon three historic chivalric orders of the medieval period, here the Christian Mason proclaims his belief in the teachings, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ who came to provide a way of salvation for all humans. A way to finally achieve the perfection that a Master Mason is striving for.
The chivalric orders are not for everyone, not even for every Christian Mason. It requires a deeper commitment from its members. It requires the devotion of a knight. A Knight Templar pledges to defend Christianity, and all Christians, from any attempting to destroy it or them. This defense comes in the way the Templar lives his life, the solemn dedication to study the Word of God, the service he provides to his community, and if called upon, his willingness to defend Christianity at the sacrifice of his own life that others may be proteced from evil.
In the Order of the Temple, the initiate is shown how he must spend many years in the study of mankind and the Bible. He sets out on a pilgrimage to learn how to apply the lessons in the Great Light to everyday life. He is accompanied on this journey by a Knight who guides him along the way, symbolically teaching the initiate to seek out the council and wisdom of experienced sir knights
Next, he sets forth on a journey through the valley of the shadow of death, learning along the way that there are enemies of Christianity and friends of Christianity and that he must learn to tell the difference. To the friends of Christianity, he must be fair and favorable and protect those needing his protection. To the enemies that seek to destroy Christianity he must be on guard to defend himself and others and to ensure that Christianity lives on and continues to be a light in this world of darkness. Again, he is accompanied by an experienced knight to help guide him along his dangerous and difficult path.
Finally, the initiate finds himself within the sanctuary. He is shown how Christ came into the world, gathered his disciples, and taught them to be leaders and how to spread the word and teach others; how he was betrayed by one and suffered the humiliation and agony of the crucifixion. He is also shown how Christ overcame death, rose from the grave, and ascended into Heaven to prepare the way for all who follow him and his teachings. The initiate is given one final opportunity to, with honor, withdraw his request to become a knight templar having now learned the difficult path he has chosen for the remainder of his life.
If he continues, the bond he created with his first steps in Masonry is expanded to include a spiritual bond among Masons that cannot be broken.
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