Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem

The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (Latin: Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani, OSMTH, French: Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jérusalem, OSMTJ) are a group of associations commonly originating from the Ordre du Temple (Order of the Temple) and was formed in 1804 by Philippe Ledru (1754-1832) and Bernard-Raymond Fabré-Palaprat (1773 – 1838). OSMTH and SMOTJ are designated by the Augustan Society as a religious confraternity of knights.[1]

This article is about two related modern chivalric Orders. For the original medieval Catholic military order, see Knights Templar. For other uses, see Knights Templar (disambiguation).

OSMTH and OSMTJ are often referred to simply as the Knights Templars. They make a moral and ethical claim to follow in the same spiritual path as the original Order of the Knights Templar.[2] OSMTH and OSMTJ, which are open to Christians of any denomination, operate as a charity and an order of chivalry.[3]

History
Dom Antonio de Sousa Fontes, Grand Prior of Portugal of the OSMTH (1878-1960)

The l'Ordre du Temple was made public in France in 1705 by Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, and claimed to be the continuation of the medieval Knights Templar, using the Larmenius Charter as evidence of its pedigree. The order was officially reconstituted in 1804 by Bernard-Raymond Fabré-Palaprat. The modern groups claim that it was recognized as an order of chivalry by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1805, who organized a public parade and ceremony for the Order.[4] The Ordre du Temple was then under the administration of the Martinist KVMRIS lodge in Brussels beginning in 1894 until it was registered as OSMTJ in 1932.[5]

In 1970, a schism occurred within the Order when General Antoine Zdrojewski was unexpectedly elected as the new Grand Master at the Convent of Paris in September, 1970.[6] Zdrojewski's following retained the French translation: "Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jérusalem", until his death in 1989.[7] Zdrojewski was succeeded by Georges Lamirand as the new head of the OSMTJ until his death in 1994.[8] George Lamirand was succeeded by Nicolas Haimovici Hastier as OSMTJ International, who was succeeded by BG Ronald S. Mangum.[8]

The faction which remained with de Sousa Fontes after the 1970 election used the Latin acronym OSMTH.[9] In 1997, OSMTH voted to expel Grand Master Fernando de Sousa Fontes from the order. This resulted in another schism with those loyal to Fontes forming a new organization presently known as OSMTH-Regency while the remainder of the organization continued on as OSMTH.

While OSMTH/OSMTJ rituals and traditions are based upon those of the historical Knights Templar,[10] there is no hard claim of direct historical lineage claimed by the current orders and the 12th century Templars.[11] However, the OSMTJ embraces the possibility of direct descent from the medieval Templars.[12]

Divisions
Dom Fernando Pinto Pereira de Sousa Fontes (1929 – 2018)

Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jérusalem (OSMTJ)

Since its 1932 registration in Brussels the Order has been known as OSMTJ. In 1970, an election was held in Paris for the office of Grandmaster, and the Regent Fernando de Sousa Fontes refused to obey the laws of succession when General Antoine Zdrojewski was elected.[13] Some of the Grand Priories, including the French, Belgian, Swiss, and Polish, followed the newly elected General Zdrojewski, and some stayed loyal to Fontes.[14]

Alfred Zappelli (Grand Prior of Switzerland), General Georges de Bruyn (Grand Prior of Belgium), and Badouraly-Somji Alibay (Commander of the Polish Commandery) were also backers of General Zdrojewski. After the election, de Sousa Fontes changed the official language of his branch to Latin, and began using the acronym OSMTH. Zdrojewski and those who followed him retained the traditional usage of OSMTJ. “OSMTJ” is the French acronym  for  “Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jérusalem.”[14]

In late 1973, Grand Master Zdrojewski carried out a re-organization of the OSMTJ and a reform of the Statutes. He approved the Grand Priories re-asserting the independence of the International Federation of Autonomous Grand Priories of the OSMTJ (Each member Grand Priory was recognized as autonomous). The Swiss Grand Priory accepted these reformed statutes in 1973, while the Belgian Grand Priory and United States Grand Priory accepted them in 1975.[15]

Zdrojewski was succeeded by Georges Lamirand as the new head of the OSMTJ until his death in 1994. George Lamirand was succeeded by Dr. Nicolas Haimovici Hastier as Regent. In January 2020, the deputy Regent of the order, General Ronald S. Mangum was elected as Grand Master of the OSMTJ.[16][17] In 2023, the order was internationally registered in Belgium under the historical name of "Ordre du Temple de Jerusalem."[18]

Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ)
A simplified version of various splits in the Order.

The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ), founded in 1962, is the American autonomous Grand Priory of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH).[19] branch of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani.[20][21] The SMOTJ broke with the OSMTH-Regency in 1995 when it refused to recognize the sovereignty of OSMTH-Regency Grand Master Dom Fernando de Sousa Fontes.

This name Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ) has been trademarked and is used exclusively in America by the SMOTJ and thus does not refer to the group of organizations tracing lineage to OSMTH but rather to the current OSMTH only.

Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH)

In 2001, OSMTH was accredited by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organisation, in special consultative status, one of over 2,000 organizations to hold this status.[22] The Order is an associate member of the International Peace Bureau and an affiliate of the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy,[23] which was founded by one of OSMTH's members.[24] In 2014, OSMTH was elected as a board member of CoNGO (Conference of NGOs in consultative status with the United Nations..

OSMTH is registered in Geneva, Swiss Reg No: CH-660.1.972777-4 and is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations has over 5,000 active members globally.[25][26] OSMTH operates in a number of countries providing humanitarian aid [27] such as the River Jordan Project that is supported by HM King Abdullah of Jordan.[28]

Christian men who join the organization are dubbed as Chevalier and females are termed Dame.[29] The modern Order claims over 5000 members, including leaders in the military, business, government and ecclesiastical communities.[30]

The Order's Royal Patron, is HH Princess Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. The Religious Protector of OSMTH is Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.[31]

References
  1. "Noble Corporations, Augustan Society". augustansociety.org. Archived from the original on 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  2. Thomas, Brian. "Templar Legacy". osmth.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  3. "Charity Projects". osmth.org. Archived from the original on 2022-08-06. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  4. Anniversaire du Martyre, Ordre du Temple, 1832, pg. 7
  5. Clausen, Dan (January 2021). "VERIFYING THE CONTINUATION OF L'ORDRE DU TEMPLE AND OSMTJ". Archived from the original on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-07-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Clausen, Dan (January 2021). "Succession 1970 Election Fontes v Zdrojewski OSMTJ-OSMTH". Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2021-07-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Clausen, Dan (January 2021). "Succession 1970 Election Fontes v Zdrojewski OSMTJ-OSMTH". Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2021-07-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. "Succession of Grand Masters - OSMTJ Global". osmtj.global. 2022-04-13. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  9. Clausen, Dan (January 2021). "Succession 1970 Election Fontes v Zdrojewski OSMTJ-OSMTH". Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2021-07-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. "Manual of Ceremony - OSMTJ Global". osmtj.global. 2022-04-14. Archived from the original on 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  11. "OSMTH Purpose and Activities" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  12. Clausen, Dan (January 2021). "Succession 1307-1804 Reexamining the Larmenius Charter". Templar Succession: Establishing Continuity 1307-Present. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  13. Clausen, Dan (January 2021). "Succession 1970 Election Fontes v Zdrojewski OSMTJ-OSMTH". Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2021-07-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. "Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jérusalem". osmtj.global. Archived from the original on 2022-06-17.
  15. Clausen, Daniel J. (2021-01-01). "Succession 1994-2005: Hastier v. Vanderstock". Templar Succession: Establishing Continuity 1307-Present.
  16. "Nr 42/2022". Magazyn Prestiż - Poznaj ludzi zmieniających bieg wydarzeń. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  17. "Nr 41/2021". Magazyn Prestiż - Poznaj ludzi zmieniających bieg wydarzeń. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  18. OTJ Registration 2023 https://osmtj.global/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Publicatie-Belgisch-Staatsblad-17052023.pdf
  19. "SMOTJ About Us page". Smotj.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  20. "SMOTJ About Us page, International section". Smotj.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  21. "OSMTH List of Priories". Osmth.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  22. "outreach.un.org.ngorelations". Un.org. Archived from the original on 2008-01-26. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  23. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. "OSMTH brochure, p. 3, 5, 6" (PDF). osmth.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  25. "Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani". Osmth.org. Archived from the original on 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  26. Christopher Hodapp, Alice Von Kannon, The Templar Code for Dummies, pages 206-207 (Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2007). ISBN 978-0-470-12765-0
  27. Watson, Kathy. "Humanitarian Projects". www.osmth.org. Archived from the original on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  28. Watson, Kathy. "Jordan River Project". www.osmth.org. Archived from the original on 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  29. "OSMTH Knight's manual" (PDF). Osmth.org. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  30. Thomas, Brian. "Modern Order". Osmth.org. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
  31. Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, and Rev.d Pertti Ruotsalo. "Oremus: OSMTH Prayer Book 2020". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Further reading

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