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The Eight Pointed Cross from the Scottish Knights Templar

There are myths legends and anecdotes for the existence of Knights Templar in Scotland going back to the Battle of Bannockburn, with suggestions that Templars fleeing the suppression in France in 1307 found refuge in Scotland, whose King, Robert the Bruce, had been excommunicated by the Pope. Degrees in Freemasonry like the Royal Order of Scotland allude to the story of Rosslyn and the Scottish Knights Templar. Even today the direct decendant of Robert the Bruce, Andrew Bruce presides as its current Grand Master.

While Knights Templar Internationally use the Cross pattée, the Scottish Knights Templar use the Eight Pointed Cross more commonly associated with Malta, and the Knights Hospitaller or Order of St. John, the white changed to the blood red of The Order. This, it is said, is because they were given refuge by the Order of St John. It is said that Bonnie Dundee, John Graham of Claverhouse, was found to be wearing the Grand Cross of the Order when he was killed at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. Prince Charles Edward Stewart gave a soiree for the Chivalry of the Order in Edinburgh in 1745 during the Jacobite Rising.

The Modern Non Masonic Order began in 1810 when Alexander Deuchar became the Master, a title he held for 25 years. Today The Order is Christian, Ecumenical and open to both Women and Men, and seeks to promote Christian chivalric ideals and advances the knowledge of Scottish History and Culture both at home and in the world. The Order has strong associations with Rosslyn Chapel.

External Links

• The Modern non Masonic Order in Scotland

See also

• Royal Order of Scotland

• Knights Templar Catholic Encyclopedia entry
• Templar History Magazine Popular history of the Templars