Turning the Templar Key

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Turning the Templar Key - Martyrs, Freemasons and the Secret of the True Cross of Christ by Robert Lomas 

Twice the following quote is given: “The King’s directions to his officers were to seize the persons and the goods of the Templars; to interrogate, torture and obtain confessions from them, to promise pardon to those who confessed, and to menace those opposed to them.” We know all sins are forgivable, as were the heresies the Templars confessed to. They were free to go after absolution. But they had lied under torture that they were guilty, and the retraction of their confession led to their death by fire, being called a recalcitrant heretic. 

The book opens to Martin Foulks’ glowing appraisal of Freemasonry and its charitable and self development aims, though fortunately, we don’t need to join a secret society with hidden handshakes, threats and a death ritual with knives and coffins to achieve a Christian life! 

The book begins with a fantasy of the morning of 13th October 1307 when the last Templar Grand Master was arrested by the soldiers of King Philip the Fair in the dormitory of the Paris Temple - the place where the royal valuables were kept for safety. Templar knights were monks. Priests are initiated, they say mass,  though some monks were also priests, but not the Grand Masters, as one priest for a few dozen monks would have been adequate. Even with minimal criticisms, did I enjoy the content of the text? Yes, very definitely. It is beautifully written, and the author is a great story teller. 

I liked the material. Interesting details of KT rites and excellent description of the earliest records of the Order of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ & The Temple of Solomon.

Robert Lomas is a modern day Masonic Knight Templar, a computer systems expert and  a Doctor of Physics. Review by Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk