They Confessed to What?!

A Continuing Analysis of the Mystery of the
Trials of the Ancient Templars
by Sir Knight John L. Palmer, KCT
Managing Editor

At the trial, the Knights were asked mostly the same questions; how old were they when they were received into the Order; how long they had been members of the Order; what had happened during and immediately after their initiation especially concerning denying Christ, spitting on the Cross or Crucifix, or kissing the one inducting them into the Order; homosexual activities among the Knights, specifically sodomy; worshiping a head; and how they had initiated others.

Raymbaud de Caron testified that he had been initiated forty-three years prior at the age of seventeen which made him about sixty years old at the time. Geoffroy of Charny stated that he had been a Templar for forty years since he was sixteen or seventeen making him about fifty-seven years of age. Geoffroy de Gonneville indicated that he had been received into the Order twenty-eight years previously, but did not indicate at what age. Hugo de Perraud indicated that he was initiated at the age of eighteen, forty-six years ago by his father, Hubet de Perraud, who was a Visitator of the Templar Commanderies in France and Poitou. As you may recall, a Visitator was something akin to an Inspector General in today's military. At sixty-four years old, he may well have been the oldest Knight in the group. DeMolay testified that he had been a member of the Order for forty-two years, but apparently was not asked how old he was at the time of his reception.

Concerning the question about worshiping a head or an idol shaped like a head, Raymbaud de Caron, Geoffroy of Charny, Geoffroy de Gonneville, and DeMolay indicated that they knew nothing about it. Hugo de Perraud testified that the head was in the possession of Brother Peter Alemandin and that he had seen it in Montpellier.

Concerning the charge of sodomy, none of the Knights had firsthand knowledge of the practice although Raymbaud de Caron and Hugo de Perraud indicated that three members of the Order had been incarcerated perpetually in Castle Pilgrim for the offence. Hugo also indicated that during initiations, he had imposed on the initiates to abstain from partnership with women, but, if they were unable to restrain their lust, to join themselves with brothers of the Order. He knew of none who had done so. Raymbaud de Caron indicated that he had been told during his initiation that if he could not restrain his lust, it was better done in secret than publicly.

If I may digress for a moment, Sir Knights, I see a similar problem developing in our fraternity today. It seems to me that some of our brethren are communicating to the younger brethren that some of our principles regarding morality are out-dated and not in touch with the times; that perhaps we should be using something other than the Bible upon which to base our moral standards. It seems to me that a "beautiful system of morality" without the integrity to insist that its members adhere to its espoused moral standards and principles, is doomed to become "as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal" and is on the path of demise. Only through the strict adherence to our principles in deed as well as in word, can we expect to sustain our existence. Otherwise, we lose our reason to exist. Sorry for the digression, Sir Knights. I feel better, but I would not want to hurt anyone's feelings or make anyone feel "uncomfortable." Let me get off my soap box and back on the subject at hand.

Concerning questions about kissing, apparently, Geoffroy de Gonneville was not asked the question, DeMolay knew nothing of the practice, both Raymbaud de Caron and Hugo de Perraud said they were kissed on the mouth as a part of their initiation, and Geoffroy of Charny indicated that he kissed his receptor on his mouth and on his chest through his clothing as a gesture of respect. Hugo de Perraud indicated that when he initiated others, he required them to kiss him at the bottom of the back, on the navel, and on the mouth. Hugo appears to me to have been out on the edge.

The most puzzling answers were in reference to either denying Christ or spitting on the cross or a crucifix.

All of them had a similar experience during their initiation. Raymbaud de Caron was taken aside after his initiation by a "brother-servant," shown a small cross or crucifix and told "You must denounce this one" to which Raymbaud replied "And so, I denounce." Geoffroy of Charny was taken aside by the Brother who initiated him, shown a crucifix with an effigy of Christ and told that he should not believe in the Crucified, but should, in fact, denounce him. Geoffroy de Gonneville was shown a cross depicted in some book and told that he should denounce the one whose image was depicted on that cross. On refusing to do so he was finally convinced by his receptor to agree to tell any of the Knights who asked him that he had made the denunciation. Hugo de Perraud testified that he was shown a cross with an effigy of Christ and that the demand was made of him that he "denounce the One whose image was depicted there." He refused at first, but later complied with the demand. DeMolay testified to a similar experience. Geoffroy of Charny also indicated that he had received many others into the order without demanding a denunciation of the cross.

Only DeMolay and Geoffroy de Gonneville indicated that they had been ordered to spit on the cross and neither admitted doing so. It is interesting to note that all pointed out that this business of denouncing the cross was done by them "with the mouth only and not in the spirit."

Next month we will try to make some sense of all this confessing.


Update: July 11, 2014

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