A Knight’s Guide to the Most Recent Re- search and Investigation Into The in the New World By M. Em. Kt. William F. (Bill) Mann, GCT Supreme Grand Master, Sovereign Great Priory – Knights Templar of Canada

read with a great deal of interest close resemblance to those of alchemy. the short article by Sir Knight (Dr.) I Donald J. G. Chiarella entitled, “A Hypothesis on the Templar Treasure of the Temple Mount,”1 which recently ap- peared in the June 2020 issue of Knight Templar magazine. Sir Knight Chiarella’s article raised a number of pertinent questions with respect to the existence and current location of the so-called “Templar trea- sure.” This all-encompassing treasure is what most Sir Knights recognize as the treasure purportedly discovered within a sacred vault or secret crypt below the Temple Mount by the original Knights Templar. It is also the origin of the mythi- cal treasures portrayed in the block- buster movies: The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. York Rite Freemasons relate the se- cret crypt to Royal Arch Masonry, includ- ing its ceremonial ritual of the crypt’s discovery along with the Ineffable Word.2 Interestingly, many modern-day Masonic researchers now suggest that both Royal Arch and Scottish Rite mason- The sacred vault, 18th century York ry evolved directly from the discovery of Rite Royal Arch teaching board, origin the sacred vault by the original Knights unknown (image within public realm) Templar. There is also a good case for as- suming that much of the symbolism of Dr. Chiarella certainly must be com- Royal Arch Masonry was included in the mended for the highly reasonable and Royal Arch ritual by the original Rosicru- logical development of his hypothesis. cian mystics, as some of the best-known Questions surrounding the medieval symbols of Royal Arch Masonry bear a Knights Templar and the true reason for knight templar 21 their existence are what makes modern- reason for oneself the very existence of day Christian Masonry so unique within God, the Supreme Being. Here was the the fraternity of Freemasonry. The curi- real reason why the Muslims would look osity and dedication of all Sir Knights as to cut off a medieval Knight’s head. It to our true historical origins is, in part, was to separate his soul from his body in what bonds our order. Like many others, order to prevent the Knight from going though, Sir Knight Chiarella too quickly to Heaven. surmises that the Templar treasure cur- At the time, this type of unorthodox rently lies in the possession of one (very thought would have been considered important and very rich?) Knight Tem- by the Church to be extremely heretical. plar or Swiss institution. It was the Church, and only the Church, Unfortunately, most of those who which dictated that it was the only true comment on the subject fail to heed conduit to God, and as a result, an indi- the medieval Knight Templar mantra vidual could not talk directly to God. This to “always look beyond.” Indeed, most task lay completely in the hands of the commenters rely entirely on a “science- pope and the priests. based” reasoning and logic, where they Strategically, the inner circle of the believe that proof through science alone Knights Templar also understood the can explain the fate of the Templar trea- concept of time and space, where- cur sure, but one must understand that it rent events would surely have repercus- was a deeply spiritual and mystical belief, sions in the far future. This concept is supported by the very existence of a sa- much like the strategy behind the game cred treasure, which allowed the Knights of chess, the origin of which some have Templar to so readily sacrifice their lives attributed to the Knights Templar. One for the cause. player’s move may lead to several differ- True, the medieval Templars were ent strategic moves and counter-moves extremely successful in battle, because by both opponents some three or four they believed in both religious and mili- additional moves throughout the game. tary discipline and order. This, in turn, There is even a special name applied prompted them to develop a remark- to the knight’s move around the chess able series of castles and commandries board, never falling on the same square across all of Europe in order to provide twice. It is known as the Knight’s Tour an unbroken communication and mili- and is said to take generations to com- tary network, but their beliefs absolute- plete successfully. ly went beyond the obvious. The moral Native North Americans have always here is that a Knight needs to always planned for seven generations, and look beyond the next hill, beyond the what has become evident, to me at least, next pinnacle, beyond the horizon. In is that the medieval Knights Templar ap- other words, a Knight must always look plied the same spirituality and inevita- for a higher degree of understanding. bility to their secret endeavours. When The medieval Templars reasoned that the medieval Knights Templar arrived God lay in their souls and not in their on the shores of North America, they hearts. Thus, the soul emitted from the were greeted as blood brothers (as op- brain, in that the brain allowed one to posed to the earlier Vikings), because 22 october 2020 the indigenous elders recognized the an- ing that-which-was-lost. This would al- cient signs, seals, and tokens that were low the Templars to finally erase their offered in peace. These signs were the humiliation at the hands of the Muslim same as those given by earlier, just as se- Saracens and Mamelukes. Of course, the cretive, pre-Christian trans-Atlantic trad- most sacred of historical relics and other ers such as the Phoenicians, Carthagin- religious objects would be required to ians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Jews. sanctify the newly-constructed Temple The Knights Templar had certainly and its inner sanctum. learned the senselessness of trying All Freemasons will surely recognize to defeat and impose their will over the undeniable relationship between Ma- their formidable Muslim opponents. sonic ritual surrounding the rebuilding of They also knew that if they had any Solomon’s Temple and the deep spiritual chance of traveling across a vast Na- objectives of the original Knights Templar. tive North America, they would re- Many Freemasons, especially those who quire the guidance and guardianship are also Masonic Rosicrucians, will also of the First Nations peoples. recognize the significance of the refer- One result of this life-long lesson of ence to a New , as highlighted self-realization is that I believe this is by Sir Francis Bacon in his New Atlantis,3 now the right time and place to highlight which was originally published in Latin in the most recent research and investiga- 1627. Of course, Francis Bacon was one of tion into the idea that modern-day Ma- the first of many remarkable Rosicrucians sonic Templarism can be directly traced of the early 17th century and is reputed back to our medieval ancestors and that to have been the genius behind the writ- the medieval Knights Templar in fact “re- ings of Shakespeare. It was Bacon who assembled” the scattered Temple Mount coined the phrase “Scientia potential est,” treasure in a mysterious and magical “sa- knowledge is power. For Rosicrucians, cred vault” somewhere in North Ameri- this sacred knowledge lies with the image ca, where it remains to this day. Here, of the wise old man who sleeps in a cave both Templar and Rosicrucian beliefs in- concealed within a mountain. timate that the ultimate treasure awaits For Bacon, it was the additional hid- the proper time and space (As above, so den knowledge of the medieval Tem- below) to reveal itself. Only those who plars establishing a New Jerusalem in possess the sacred knowledge and un- the New World which became his spiri- derstanding to gain the hidden wisdom tual muse. Other well-known European will finally be able to access the vault. mystics such as John Dee, Robert Fludd, The overall premise to this mystery John Locke, Johanne Kepler, and Isaac is that the Knights Templar looked to Newton who formed the basis for the the “New World,” Native North America, Royal Society, had at least an inkling of hoping to establish a New Jerusalem, the wisdom that awaited those who a sacred sanctuary where Solomon’s could unravel the clues as to where in Temple could be re-constructed in all the New World the Templar treasure lay. of its splendor. This symbolizes the Some of the clues lay within the earliest Templar’s ultimate desire to establish forms of Craft Freemasonry, which many a new spiritual center on earth, replac- now believe evolved out of the earliest knight templar 23 history of Knights Templar and their se- evidence coincides with other research cret rituals. Some of the clues also lie being conducted by a group of dedi- within the actual journals of Prince Hen- cated individuals, who look to finally an- ry Sinclair, which have recently been dis- swer those questions raised by seekers covered and are slowly coming to light. of the Templar treasure. As we are all well aware, the Order of This group, appropriately named the Temple with its warrior-monks has a Templar Gold, consists of (beside myself) my good friends and colleagues, Scott and Janet Wolter and Steve St. Clair. The name Templar Gold speaks to that gold- en knowledge and understanding that is derived from a clear understanding of the Knights Templar and not to physi- cal treasure. The stated purpose of the group is to finally make known the true and unbroken “hidden history” of the Knights Templar, from their origin to the present day. In this manner, historical fact may help once again to balance the world’s perception of the most famous chivalric order, the Knights Templar, and their true place in history. If proven definitively once and for all, Freemasonry and Templarism could lay claim to a continuous nine hundred-year history of chivalry and craft brotherhood, as well as a priceless “treasure,” consist- ing of the highest level of knowledge and understanding. On this level, the great wisdom that would derive from The old man in the mountain, early this discovery could very well change 17th century Rosicrucian block print, the world in so many different ways. It dated 1604, origin unknown (image could even possibly, depending on its within public realm) contents, finally bring the three great monotheist religious traditions, Chris- tangible spiritual relationship with nine tianity, Judaism, and Islam together in hundred years of history. The problem mutual understanding and acceptance. is that a proven historical connection Scott Wolter, a professional ge- between the medieval Knights Templar ologist, is best known as the host of and modern-day Christian Masonry is the History Travel Channel’s hit show, still tentative at best, although, as I’ve al- America Unearthed, and is author of ready indicated, a great deal of compel- several books, including The Kensing- ling historical documentation and other ton Rune Stone: Compelling New Evi- evidence has recently come to light. This dence,4 The Hooked X: Key to the Secret 24 october 2020 History of North America,5 Akhenaton DNA study’s major discoveries so far to the Founding Fathers: The Myster- as “a criterion of multiple independent ies of the Hooked X,6 and most-recently, connections.” In 2019, Steve began a Cryptic Code of the Templars in Amer- major initiative in England to research ica: Origins of the Hooked X Symbol7 every scrap of document on medieval (www.hookedX.com). Scott is a conse- people carrying the surname. He has crated Sir Knight of the Grand Encamp- made great progress in the Counties ment Knights Templar U.S.A. Somerset and Essex records archives. Janet Wolter herself is a force to All this research will be published in be reckoned with. She is co-author of 2020 at www.StClairResearch.com. America, Nation of the Goddess: The As the author myself of several Venus Families and the Founding of the best-selling books on the matter, in- United States8 (www.hookedX.com) with cluding The Knights Templar in the Templar historian, Alan Butler, and is a New World: How Prince Henry Sinclair major proponent of the sacred feminine, brought the Grail to Acadia,9 The Tem- as demonstrated throughout America plar Meridians: The secret mapping of in the form of the goddess, Columbia. the New World,10 Templar Sanctuar- Many Masons and non-Masons alike do ies in North America: Sacred Treasure, not realize that the District of Columbia Sacred Bloodline,11 and most-recent- and its many elements are dedicated ly, the novel The Last Refuge of the to the Goddess. This aspect has been Knights Templar: The Ultimate Secret far too long ignored along the different of the Pike Letters12 (www.innertradi- pathways leading to the sacred vault, in tions.com) and as a direct descendant that the medieval Knights Templar defi- of many of the central Knights Templar nitely embraced the concept of dualism characters in this saga, I feel blessed to and the sacred feminine. Hence, the be so intimately involved in this quest. three-sided triangle signifying, on one I also feel most fortunate to be able to level, the Father, the Son, and the Holy disseminate the most-recent historical Ghost (the Mother?). research and information on the subject Although not a Mason, Steve St. Clair, to esteemed groups such as the Grand has completed and continues extensive Encampment of the Knights Templar of DNA research and genealogical docu- the U.S.A. mentation in relation to the Clan Sinclair. I am also in the unique position; with Steve St. Clair launched and has man- my mother being full-blooded Algonquin aged the Sinclair or St. Clair DNA study Indian and myself being initiated into the since 2004. The project is one of the Mide’win, the Grand Medicine Society of more inventive and aggressive of all sur- the Ojibwa-Anishinaabe; of being able to name studies. Steve is using medieval speak comprehensively to the native oral land transfer records combined with liv- legends and traditions of the Algonquins. ing DNA connections to prove which of These are the legends and myths that the living members today connect with tell of the intermarriages between the those of the surname Sinclair or St. Clair Knights Templar and the Native North who invaded England with William the Americans. Strategic intermarriage, as Conqueror in 1066. Steve refers to the practiced by Old World royalty for thou- knight templar 25 sands of years, is a major central ele- generation great-grandfathers); and the ment that has become prevalent in the late 14th century mission (1398 – 1402) unravelling of how the medieval Knights to America by the then-hereditary grand Templar could have established sanctuar- master of the Scottish Knights Templar, ies or a refuge in North America. Indeed, Prince Henry Sinclair (b. 1358), (one of my family is living proof of the concept of my 20th generation great-grandfathers). strategic intermarriage. It was Prince Henry and his refugee Of course, a short magazine article is Scottish Knights Templar who went on the last place where all of the available to establish a series of Templar sanctu- research and information on this wide- aries across North America. With the ranging topic can be made available, so guidance and fraternity of his Native I encourage any Sir Knight who has an North American “blood brothers” of interest in the question of the Knights the larger Algonquin Nation, it was the Templar in the New World to peruse direct descendants of a holy bloodline the many internet websites which have established between the Templars and been noted in this article and to read Native North Americans who were re- the books also noted. I must warn you sponsible for establishing the last ref- though that the question of whether the uge of the Knights Templar, along with Knights Templar did, in fact, intermarry establishing a final repository for the with the Native North Americans and Templar treasure. establish settlements and sanctuaries in For an in-depth understanding of North America in pre-Columbian times, the Cremona Documents and their im- bringing with them the Templar treasure, portance in relation to the overall ques- can be all-consuming. tion behind the Knights Templar in the That being said, Scott and Janet Wolt- New World, one needs to read Cryptic er are currently conducting an in-depth Code of the Templars in America: Ori- investigation into a 12th century docu- gins of the Hooked X Symbol. For an ment that Scott has named the C-Doc- in-depth understanding of the role that ument, or Cremona Document, because Prince Henry Sinclair and those Scot- it first came to light in the mid-1900’s in tish Templars who followed him across Cremona, Italy. This authenticated docu- Native North America play in this story, ment, (actually two documents record- one needs to follow the path that I’ve ed by the learned monks of the Castrum discovered and written about in my Sepulcher in Serborga, Italy) provides the three books, which I have identified required historical connection between and coined as a Templar trilogy.13 the nine original Poor Fellow-Soldiers One cannot forget the underlying rea- (Knights) of Christ and of the Temple son d’aitre of the early Knights Templar of Solomon (hence the name, Knights and the many royal families interspersed Templar); their early 12th century dis- across Europe, the Middle East (mainly covery (1108–1118) below the ancient Turkey, Edessa, and Armenia), and Scan- site of the Temple of Solomon; the later dinavia, from which their ranks were 12th century mission (1177 – 1180) to continuously filled. Outwardly, the- ear America by an English Knight Templar, Sir liest Frankish-Norman-English Templar Knight Ralph De Sudeley (one of my 25th families were practicing Roman Catholics. 26 october 2020 Inwardly many of these families secre- tion great-grandfathers). It was Hugues tively maintained older Judeo-Christian de Pay(e)ns (one of my 26th generation beliefs, having directly descended from great-grandfathers), another of the orig- the many Jewish (Ivri) High Priests of the inal nine knights, who became the first 1st century and beyond. grand master of the Knights Templar fol- This means, among many things, lowing their formal recognition during that they possessed direct knowledge the Council of Troyes in 1129. of exactly where the sacred treasure The House of Boulogne ruled Jeru- of the Temple had been hidden during salem between 1099 and 1118, with the sacking of Jerusalem by the Romans Godfrey assuming the title of “protec- in A.D. 70. In turn, this means that the tor of the Holy Sepulchre” for only one stated purpose of the earliest Poor Fel- year between 1099 and 1100, due to low-Soldiers (Knights) of Christ and of his death on July 18, 1100, at the age the Temple of Solomon of protecting the of forty. Then his brother, Baldwin I, as- pilgrims of Jerusalem was nothing more sumed the title of king of Jerusalem until than a clever ruse. Conversely, their his death in 1118, with Warmund de Pic- one and true purpose was to recover quigny (1069–1128) assuming the posi- and subsequently protect at all costs tion of regent of Jerusalem (1116–1118) the Temple treasure. Possession of the after Baldwin I fell seriously ill in 1116. treasure, in whatever form, allowed the The title of “king of Jerusalem” was Knights of the Temple to successfully pe- the highest honor of the Holy Kingdom, tition Pope Innocent II in 1129 to be for- and many of the kings and Latin patri- mally recognized as a distinct religious archs of Jerusalem (Crusaders them- and military order, only answerable to selves) paved the way for the Knights the pope himself. Templar and their clandestine activities. Godfrey de (Boulogne) Bouillon The title of king was in part hereditary (1061–1100), the defender of Jerusalem, in nature and in part determined by and his brother, Baldwin I (1058–1118), election or at least recognition by the who took the title that Godfrey denied, Haute Cour (High or Supreme Court). “king of Jerusalem,” were both from one As such, the story of the nine original of the exalted Crusader families (de members of the Knights Templar would Boulogne/Bouillon) who took Jerusa- not be complete without reference to lem for the first time. As was the custom, Warmund de Picquigny. Known also as Baldwin de Boulogne dropped all other Guermond (one of my 25th generation titles, including count of Edessa when great-grandfathers), Warmund was a fel- he was crowned king of Jerusalem. The low Crusader, who also became the Latin title, count of Edessa, was conveyed to patriarch of Jerusalem (1118-1128). his good friend, Baldwin of Rethel, a fel- The story of the formation of the low Crusader. Knights Templar suggests that Warmund Neither Godfrey nor Baldwin I had de Picquigny was the one who was first any children, so the de Bourgogne approached by the group of Christian bloodline descends from their brother, Knights requesting permission to elect a Eustace III (1059–1125), compte (count) master to lead them to defend the king- de Boulogne (one of my 27th genera- dom. Upon receiving his consent, Hugues knight templar 27 de Payens was chosen as the first grand king and pope also secretly desired the master of the Knights Templar. Warmund even more-valuable, more-secretive -sa was the one who granted the stables cred treasure. of King Solomon to the original nine Following Baldwin I’s death in 1118, knights for their exclusive use. It was also the House of Rethel assumed the throne Warmund who apparently charged the of Jerusalem, with Baldwin II of Rethel Knights Templar with the duty of keeping (one of my 28th generation great-grandfa- the roads safe from thieves and others thers) the-then count of Edessa, becom- who were routinely robbing and killing ing king of Jerusalem between 1118 and pilgrims in route to Jerusalem. 1131. Baldwin I had actually bequeathed Warmund was also a half-brother Jerusalem to his younger brother, the to Geoffrey V Plantagenet D’Anjou (an- aforementioned Eustace III of Boulogne, other 25th generation great-grandfa- stipulating that the throne was to be -of ther). In turn, Geoffrey V Plantagenet fered to Baldwin of Rethel if Eustace III D’Anjou (1113–1151) was father to King failed to come to the Holy Land. Bald- Henry Plantagenet II (another 24th gen- win of Rethel had initially accompanied eration great-grandfather) of England Godfrey de Bouillon and Baldwin I to (1133–1189), the first-ever Plantagenet the Holy Land prior to the First Crusade. king. The aforementioned De Sudeley He had also fought alongside Baldwin I family shared the same ancestral roots against the Seljik Turks during the battle with both the House of Boulogne and of Harran (1104) and was also present in the House of Anjou, thus providing the Jerusalem when Baldwin I died. distinct familial connection between Somewhat suspiciously, the highest- the first Knights Templar and those who ranking prelate at that time, Arnulf of sailed to America in 1178. The surname Chocques (d. 1118), the Latin patriarch Plantagenet certainly suggests the grow- of Jerusalem (1112–1118), and Joscelin ing branches of a familial vine, which is I of Courtenay (d. 1141) who held the one way to describe the concept of stra- largest fiefdom in the kingdom, con- tegic intermarriage. vinced their peers that Baldwin of Rethel Warmund de Picquigny’s descen- should be elected without delay to avoid dants also include Henri I, king of Na- an interregnum (an interruption in royal varre (1244–1274), and his daughter title). Joscelin I would be rewarded by Jeanne, princess of Navarre (1271–1305), Baldwin II for his support with the Coun- who married Philip IV “the Fair” of ty of Edessa, receiving the coveted title, France (1268–1314). Given the theme count of Edessa. of strategic intermarriage throughout When Eustace III learned of his this story and considering the “all in brother’s death, he left Boulogne for Je- the family” scenario, it was surprisingly rusalem, travelling as far as Apulia, Italy, Philip IV (one of my 20th generation when he was informed of Baldwin II’s great-grandfathers) who conspired un- ascension to the throne. The delegates successfully with Pope Clement V to de- accompanying him tried to convince him stroy the Templar order in 1307 in order to continue his journey, saying that Bald- to seize the Templar treasury. Although win II’s election was illegal, but it is said it begs the question as to whether the that Eustace preferred to return home. 28 october 2020 This is not however the end of the ter of King Amalric and Agnes of Court- story by any means. It appears that the ney, assumed the position of queen of titles of king and queen of Jerusalem Jerusalem in 1186, along with her sec- tempted over the next 200 years even ond husband, Guy of Lusignan (1150– the most solemn and pious members of 1194), son of Hugh VIII (another of my the multi-generational Christians native 24th generation great-grandfathers) of to the Holy Land. Lusignan (1106–1165) and Bourgogne Following Baldwin II’s death in 1131, de Rancon (1120–1169). Sibylla died in it was his oldest daughter Melisende 1190, but Guy continued to rule until (1105–1161), who would be crowned his death in 1194. Queen of Jerusalem, since there was Many of those reading this article will no male heir to the throne. Just before recognize the backstory to the epic 2005 Baldwin II died, he was determined historical drama, Kingdom of Heaven, to strengthen Melisende’s position by starring Orlando Bloom and Eva Green. marrying her to a powerful Lord, Fulk V The movie is roughly based on the tur- count of Anjou (another one of my 25th moil during the period leading up to the generation great-grandfathers). Fulk (or Third Crusade (1189–1192) in the Holy Fouques) V (1092–1143) was a wealthy Land and the folly of the Knight Templar, Crusader and experienced military com- King Guy Lusignan. It was through Guy’s mander and a widower. Part of the mar- arrogance and stupidity that Jerusalem riage contract was the stipulation that fell in 1187 to the great . Orlando Fulk would receive the title of king of Bloom plays Balian, a blacksmith who Jerusalem, after renouncing all of his becomes knighted due to his bravery, previous titles. becoming the defender of Jerusalem Baldwin II acquiesced to the con- and eventually leading those Christians dition and thus the House of Anjou who survived the Muslim siege out of would go on to rule Jerusalem following the conquered city. During the movie, Melisende’s death in 1153 until 1205. In while not fighting, Sir Balian of Ibelin 1153, Baldwin III of Anjou (1130–1163), strategizes not only with the leper king, son of Melisende and Fulk, would take Baldwin IV, and the Templar grand mas- over the reign until his death in 1163, to ter, , but becomes the be followed by Amalric I (1136–1174), lover to Queen Sibylla, King Baldwin IV’s another son of Fulk and Melisende, and sister, mother of Baldwin V and wife of then by Baldwin IV, the Leprous (1161– Guy Lusignan. 1185), son of King Amalric (another of Hopefully, you get the overall pic- my 24th generation great-grandfathers) ture. 12th century Jerusalem and the and Agnes of Courtenay, and then along Holy Land was certainly a time of highly- with his nephew, Baldwin V (1166–1185) charged political and court intrigue and son of Sibylla (1157–1190) and her first strategic intermarriage, with the title of husband, William of Montferrat, both king and queen of Jerusalem constantly jointly ruled until their deaths (rather being contested. However, the lead-up coincidently?) in 1185. and political manipulations to the disas- Neither Baldwin IV nor Baldwin V trous Third Crusade provided the per- had produced heirs, so Sibylla, daugh- fect diversion for a voyage to America knight templar 29 between 1177 and 1180 by the English physically build a Temple of Solomon in Templar, Sir Ralph De Sudeley, and five a New Jerusalem worthy of housing the other trusted Knights with the purpose Templar treasure, three major elements of consolidating a portion of the- scat were required – stone (limestone), tim- tered Temple treasure. ber (great cedars), and (huge amounts As previously noted, approximately of) gold. The Bible, in fact, tells us that 200 years later, Henry Sinclair, prince of over sixty tons of gold were used in gild- Norway and the Orkneys, along with his ing the original Solomon’s Temple. group of refugee Scottish Knights Tem- The question is then, “Where in North plar, would make their clandestine voy- America are there vast quantities of age to Native North America with the limestone, giant cedars, and gold, which additional purpose of establishing secret could readily be mined and refined?” sanctuaries across the vast expanse of Where then are the lost gold mines of the “New World” continent. It would be King Solomon? A cursory internet search at the last North American refuge that will quickly provide the answer – the the descendents of this Templar mission great state of Montana – the Treasure deposited the Templar treasure, leaving State. Montana has provided to date its guardianship to the native Blackfoot over eighty percent of America’s gold, Mide’win, who by this time were their but identifying the precise location of brothers through several generations of the sacred vault is like finding a needle intermarriage. in a haystack. When coupled with the DNA work by It can generally be said that the two Steve St. Clair, along with the extensive main principles upon which Freema- genealogical work compiled by Steve and sonry is based are sacred geometry and myself and the in-depth research of Scott moral allegory, as it applies to the re- and Janet Wolter that this rather sublime building of Solomon’s Temple, but from story is starting to be completed. Yet we where and when did these two principles all realize that we all need to heed the derive? In terms of Christian Masonry, mantra to “always look beyond.” We con- from where and when did the concept stantly need to always look beyond what of the Ineffable Name and the Holy Trin- we have discovered or surmised to date. ity derive? Many Masons understand We also need to always look beyond that they derived from the philosophi- where we believe the final resting place cal teachings of the Antients, those who of the vault lies. Finally, we also need to preceded Christ. They derived from the always look beyond the pure speculative teachings of Greek mathematicians and and apply both the speculative and op- philosophers such as Pythagoras and Eu- erative sides of the equation. clid, from Plato and Aristotle. They also As indicated previously, the inner derived from the concept of the sacred circle of the Knights Templar consisted feminine, encompassing an earlier ven- of highly spiritual, almost mystical, war- eration of the goddess, Mother Earth. rior-monks whose main purpose was This is part of the ancient knowledge to protect at all costs the Templar trea- that lies in the secret crypt which most sure. They realized however the practi- probably includes priceless relics from cal aspect of that task, that in order to the Jewish Temple, ancient scrolls from 30 october 2020 the Library of Alexandria, and possibly the letters that Pike, at the very least, even records from a time before the spoke directly of both the goddess and Great Flood, as recorded on the pillars the hidden vault to MacLeod Moore, the of the First Temple. There may even be first Supreme grand master of the Sover- genealogical records, sacred relics, and eign Great Priory. artifacts relating to the purported Holy Rather surprisingly, given his exten- Family of author Dan Brown and The Da sive background as a Confederate briga- Vinci Code fame. Did the Jewish rabbi dier general and probable membership Jesus take the high priestess, Mary Mag- in the Knights of the Golden Circle, Pike dalene, as his wife and produce a holy had earned the undying allegiance of the family? The key is to remember that this Algonquin people (Cherokee and Choc- may not be the ultimate secret. The key taw), who initiated him into their secret is always to look beyond what you think society. However, it appears that Pike is the ultimate treasure and search your both accepted yet despised the knowl- soul for the truth. edge that he came to possess, much like Looking beyond, looking further back the old man of the mountain. His was in time, Hermes was a Greek god gifted most certainly a heavy burden, which lay with the forbidden knowledge of the deeply in his soul until his death in 1891. Universe. A quote from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus translates into the phrase, “As above, so below,” which in turn suggests that one should look beyond the established Christian tenets to at least the beginning of Judeo- Christian thought. One must surely look beyond the Christian tenets accepted by those who, at the urging of Holy Ro- man Emperor Constantine, during the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, es- tablished the basis for the Christianity practiced today. The rather enigmatic th19 century American Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Sovereign Grand Commander Al- bert Pike and his Canadian counterpart, W. J. B. MacLeod Moore, apparently shared at least an inkling as to where the last refuge of the Knights Templar Albert Pike dressed in Knight Tem- lay. Based on authenticated correspon- plar Uniform, black and white photo, c. dence that I uncovered some six years mid-19th century, origin unknown (im- ago within the Sovereign Great Priory’s age within public domain) Grand Chancellery while the Sovereign (Take note of both the Royal Arch Great Priory’s grand historian and archi- and Scottish Rite collar and jewels on vist, I have been able to discern through Pike’s chest.) knight templar 31 In conclusion, once the time and space continuum is set, then what is left, assuming the proper application of William F. (Bill) Mann, GCT, is cur- sacred geometry and moral allegory, is rently the supreme grand master of for the all-encompassing “sacred vault” the Sovereign Great Priory – Knights to finally be located, along with the Templar of Canada and is a prolific “key” to unlocking the vault, but before author on the topic of the Knights one may even have the opportunity to Templar and Rosicrucians. He lives make the choice as to whether to open in Milton, Ontario, Canada. His web- the vault, again one must look beyond. site is www.templarsnewworld.com, Is the discovery of the sacred vault or se- and he can be contacted at william. cret crypt the end of the journey, or is [email protected]. Templar Gold’s it the start of another, higher journey? website can be found at www.Tem- Should we awaken the old man of the plar.Gold.com. Bill’s books are avail- mountain? Only the proper time and able through Amazon, Kindle, your place will give us the answer. local bookstore or directly from his publisher at www.innertraditions.com.

Sources 1. Chiarella, Dr. Donald J. G. “A Hypothesis On The Templar Treasure Of The Temple Mount,” Knight Templar magazine, June 2020 edition, pgs. 15 - 17. 2. Jones, Bernard E. Freemasons’ Book of the Royal Arch, George G. Harrap & Com- pany Ltd., Kent, England, 1957. 3. Bacon, Francis. The New Atlantis, originally published in Latin in 1627. Internet: Global Grey ebooks, PDF Edition, 2108. 4. Wolter, Scott F. The Kensington Rune Stone: Compelling New Evidence, Lake Superior Agate Inc., Chanhassen, Minnesota, 2006. 5. Wolter, Scott F. The Hooked X: Key to the Secret History of North America, North Star Press of St. Cloud Inc., St. Cloud, Minnesota, 2009. 6. Wolter, Scott F. Akhenaton to the Founding Fathers: The Mysteries of the Hooked X, North Star Press of St. Cloud Inc., St. Cloud, Minnesota, 2013. 7. Wolter, Scott F. Cryptic Code of the Templars in America: Origins of the Hooked X Symbol, North Star Press of St. Cloud Inc., St. Cloud, Minnesota. 2019. 8. Wolter, Janet. and Alan Butler, America, Nation of the Goddess: The Venus Families and the Founding of the United States, Destiny Books, Rochester Vermont, 2015. 9. Mann, William F. The Knights Templar in the New World: How Prince Henry Sin- clair brought the Grail to Acadia, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, 2004. 10. Mann, William F. The Templar Meridians: The secret mapping of the New World, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, 2006. 11. Mann, William F. Templar Sanctuaries in North America: Sacred Treasure, Sa- cred Bloodline, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, 2016. 12. Mann, William F. The Last Refuge of the Knights Templar: The Ultimate Secret of the Pike Letters, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, 2020. 13. Mann, William F., A Templar Trilogy, www.templarsnewworld.com 32 october 2020