The Knights of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem were an Order of Professional Crusaders.

The Word "Knights" come from an old English Word "CNIHT" meaning a Servant.

CHIVALRY-A Pact among privileged Soldiers, require Knights to be brave, honorable, loyal and generous. Christian & Romantic. Devoted to the woman they love. In 1113, Nine (9) French Knights united to organize the Order of Knights Templar. They took vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. They took Quarters in a Mosque that had once been the Temple of Solomon. The became the "Poor Fellow Soldiers" of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, which was soon shortened to Knights Templar.

They received the approval of the Church in 1128.

The Red Cross is a Symbol of Martyrdom.

The Knights Templar Banner is Black & White, which symbolizes their desire for Peace Amongst Friends, but Destruction to Foes. Knights Templar is the highest rank of York Rites, A Military Christian traced to the Poor Fellow Soldiers founded in 1118 A.D. Suppressed in 1807-1313 A.D. An English adaptation of the Rose Croix & Kadosh Degree, which sprang up about 1738 A.D. Each Commandery confers the three Chivalric Orders (not degrees): the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, the Order of Malta, and the Order of the Temple. Pre-requisite to obtaining membership in a Commandery of Knights Templar is membership in a Lodge of Freemasons, a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. The Masonic Order of the Temple is the capstone of the York Rite, and is one of the most inspiring and beautiful ceremonies in all of Freemasonry. The aspirant makes a symbolic pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulcher, whereupon he is inducted into a militaristic symbolic Army of Christ devoted to the protection of the weak and oppressed, relief of the distressed, and defense of the Christian Religion. Knights Templar is a uniformed Order, the symbol of which is the Passion Cross, the same as was worn by the Knights Templar of old. The Order of Malta and the Order of the Temple are based upon the New Testament and Christian principles, and applicants are required to profess a belief in the Christian Religion and to assert that they will defend the same against non-believers. 

THE ILLUSTRIOUS

ORDER OF THE RED CROSS

This Order, one of several varieties of the legend of the Babylonish Pass, is based in the time of Darius, King of Persia, and is the last of the York Rite ceremonies relating to King Solomon's Temple, in this case, during the rebuilding of the Second Temple. The lesson taught is the Almighty Force and Importance of TRUTH. The candidate represents Zerubabbel, leader of the Jews who rebuilt the temple, and the ceremony dramatizes his petition to Darius for the latter to honor his early promise to rebuild Jerusalem and its Temple.

THE ORDER OF MALTA

This Order is based upon the actual Order of Knights of St. John, known as the Hospitallers, founded during the Crusades, who were famed for their construction of hospitals for the poor. The candidate is invested with the Mediterranean Pass, which is based upon the story of Paul and the Island of Malta as related in The Acts of the Apostles. Successors to the original Order of Malta still exist today in some parts of Europe, but the Masonic Order of Malta is descended only symbolically.