For some time after its institution, the Order of the Templars con sisted exclusively of laymen ; but in the year 1162, the famous bull entitled Omne Datum Optimum,' issued by Pope Alexander III., among other Important privileges which it bestowed upon the order, permitted it to receive as members any spiritual persons who were not bound by previous rows. These spiritual members were called Chap lains. They did not fight, nor take the military prow; but, in lieu of that duty, they not only celebrated mss and other religious offices in the houses of the order, but usually also acted as secretaries to the chapter. Alexander, bull also allowed the order to have its own burial-grounds; released it from all spiritual obedience, except only to the holy see; freed it from the payment of tithe', and even authorised it to receive them if the bishop gave his consent; and prohibited any one who had once become a Templar from ever leaving the order unless to enter into a stricter one.
At a date a little later the society still farther extended its scheme and its influence, by admitting as members many persons who were not knights or of noble birth, but who were desirous of participating In the advantages of belonging to so powerful a body, on condition of acting as the squires and servants of the knights. These were styled Serving Brethren ; and in this class were sometimes found individuals both of great wealth and eminent station, though not of high birth or knightly rank. The serving-brethren, however, could not be pre ceptors, or hold any of the higher offices in the order. Latterly, they were divided into two classes—those of arms and those of trades; the former attending the knights to the field as esquires ; the latter exer cising various in the houses or on the lands belonging to the order. The order also associated to itself many persons under the name of Affiliated Members, who took no vows, assumed no peculiar dress, nor became subject to any duties or services ; but, continuing to pursue their ordinary secular occupations, merely purchased enrolment in the ranks of the powerful and highly-privileged soldiery of the Temple for the sake of the protection and other advantages, both tem poral and spiritual, which even such a mere nominal membership ensured. The affiliated comprehended women as well as men. Finally, there were the Doaati and the Oblati, consisting of children dedicated to the order by their parents or other relations ; and also of persons of all ranks, both laity and clergy, who, without entering the order, pledged themselves to stand by it and to maintain its rights.
The history of the Knights Templars would embrace the history of the wars of the Christians against the Infidels in the East for all the time they lasted after the establishment of the order. For more than a hundred and seventy years the soldiers of the Temple formed the most renowned portion of the Christian troops, and almost every encounter with the enemy bore testimony to their unequalled prowess and daring. But it may nevertheless be questioned whether the establishment of this and the other religious military orders proved advantageous to the attempt so perseveringly made to wrest the Holy Land from the dominion of the Infidels. The Templars and Hospi taller, probably damaged and weakened the cause for which they fought, as much by their rivalry, jealousies, and frequently open con tention, as they aided it by their valour. Then, the immense wealth
and worldly power which the Templar/ in particular speedily acquired, altogether changed the original character and spirit of their institution long before it was half a century old. Within thirty or forty years from the origin of the order, two at least of the four vows which the members still continued to take had become a mockery and a profana tion •, instead of poverty and chastity, they were already distinguished by their pomp and pride, and the general luxury and licentiousness of their lives. But the vast material forces of the association, the extent to which it had projected its ramifications in all directions, and its other elements of strength, might have long withstood the principle of corruption thus at work within it, if it had not drawn upon itself an assault from without by which it could not fail to be overpowered.
The destroyer of the Templars was the resolute and vindictive Philip IV. of France. Philip, who came to the throne in 1285, at the ago of seventeen, was the enemy of the church by education, by temper, and by circumstances. lie had already proceeded to extremi ties in a quarrel with Pope Bonifaee VIII., which was terminated only with the life of that pontiff His successor, Benedict XL, is supposed to have been poisoned at the instigation of Philip. Benedict was suc ceeded by Clement V., who i.e believed to have purchased his elevation from Philip on condition, among other compliances, of co-operating with him in the destruction of the Tomplars. This was in 1305. In 1300, Jarinea de :Holey, the Master of the Temple, was drawn to Europe by a summons from the pope, who professed a desire to consult with him on the expediency of a union of the two orders of the Templars and the Ileepitallers. The following year, while Molay was at Paris, the Pint distinct accusations against the Tetnplars were made by two individuals lying In prison under sentence of death ; Squln de Meilen, who had formerly been a member of the order and prior of 3lonts faucon, but had been ejected for heresy and other offences, and Florentine called Non Dci, also, according to one account, a degraded Templar, by general admieelon a person of the worst character. They made their revelations to Philip himself, and were immediately libe rated from prison. Their charges, iinplItIng to the order the systematic practice and encouragement of all sorts of secret immoralities, as well as the strangest confusion of heresy, idolatry, and infidelity, are far too absurd for examination. Very soon after this, on the 12th of Septem ber, 1307, royal letters were ',sued, sealed, to all the governors of towns and other officers of the crown in authority throughout the kingdom, and transmitted along with orders to them to arm themselves and the persona under their command on that day month, and then to open the letters in the night, and to act as they should find themselves therein directed. The result was, that the next day (Oct. 13) nearly all the Templars in France, 1)e 3lolay included, were in custody. Their houses andwe also everywhere seized ; the vast stronghold of the at Paris, the chief seat of the order in that kingdom, was entered and taken possession of by Philip himself.