Templars

or Knights of the Temple, (tèm'plarz.) (Eccl. Hist.) A military order of religious persons, established at Jerusalem, A.D. 1118, for the protection of pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land. During nearly two hundred years this order maintained an important character in Europe. In every nation it had a particular governor, called Master of the Temple, or of the militia of the Temple. Their exorbitant power and wealth, and the haughty manner in which they endeavored to keep aloof from the control of European sovereigns, and act as a military republic independent of their authority, were probably the principal reasons which induced Pope Clement V. and Philip " the Fair " of France to concert their overthrow. The charges of heresy and idolatry, which were preferred against them, were at least unsupported by evidence. In 1307, Jacques de Molay, the Grand Master, having been enticed into France, was arrested by Philip; the estates of the order were seized; many of the T. were burnt alive, after the mockery of a trial; and, in 1312, the order was abolished by a bull of Clement V. Our Fig. 628, representing an unarmed T., is copied from the effigy of Jean de Dreux, knight of the order, who died in 1280. -The Independent Order of Good Templars is the title of a secret and benevolent society, first organized in Ithaca, New York, July 21, 1852. Its members pledge themselves to abstain totally from the use of any intoxicating liquons. [s. 884]