A little about Us...
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We rise when we are needed most...
We are a Neutral, Independent Club/ Order promoting the virtues of humanity by being the best that we can in thought, word and deed.
We have no restriction on race, colour, sex or creed.
We respect all Colours that are earned because we know what it takes to win and keep them and expect the same in return.
The Order falls into two main wings, the Martial and the Laity. The Martial is made up of, in order of ascendence, Novices, Men at Arms, Squires and Knights of varying ranks and degrees. The Laity is made up of Lay Brothers and Sisters and the Congregation.
A prerequisite of the order is a belief in something greater than yourself by whatever name you wish to use or however you choose to venerate. To some there is no name for it just simply 'life' which is just as valid. Tho these things are never to be discussed within the chapter unless by choice within an allotted time. We are not a 'God Squad' or 'Bible Bashers', 'Masons' or even a 'Cult' tho brothers are well read and informed... We do not push any religion or belief system but respect individual choice.
As a bike is not required for membership we hold a unique position within the Back Patch world... For whatever it means to anybody we consider ourselves 5 %er's. We live on The Streets and the Roads... We claim no territory just the right to travel in peace... We do good where we can and strive to be better but do not mistake courteousy for weakness...
Free riding is the privilege of what are essentially the mounted Knights of the Order. A high birth is no longer a requirement of belonging to the noble class tho you must be in your Heart, Mind and Soul.
We like to get together to get involved in environmental issues. from litter picking to tree planting etc. and organised charity runs etc and gather for food and drink. Sharing good company and being involved in each others interests and to have a good time. To be better than we were and to be better still...
The Order itself will not be held accountable for the actions of it's members outside of the Chapter. Should a member or members bring the Order into disrepute it will be dealt with seriously. We govern our own...
A Templar would never betray his Brothers. He would never leave his Brother's side; nor would he take for granted the trust his Brothers have placed in him. A Templar's needs and secrets are met and kept by his Brothers/Sisters as tho they were their own. The Colours a Templar wears on his back represents his Love for his Brothers and Sisters. For WE are FAMILY! A Templar will always watch his Brother's back and will always be there for his Brothers, no matter what! "We are our Brother's keeper".
We are the 'Spiritual' heirs to the Templar Order under no man now but God...
The Templar Battle Cry
'Vive Dieu Saint Amour'
(Long Live God's Holy Love)
We do not claim any lineage but as a pheonix, as then, as new. The official date of resurrection was with the final granting of the 'Sherwood' Chapter on Winter Solstice 2005 almost 700 years in waiting in preparation of that anniversary... This our latest Crusade is something completely different...
To share in a Legendary Brotherhood...
For the Greater Good...
Our aims are to protect the faith, faithful and liberty, to raise awareness and undertake appropriate charity and conservation work (see our links page). To enhance the lives of our Members and neighbours through information, tuition and Brother/Sisterhood... In essence we are a dynamic force for good that like to get together, ride bikes (some have cars and some have neither)... We are the poor knights after all but we do like to have a good time in whatever we're doing. To talk when words will do and to stand and fight the good fight in defense of the weak and helpless.
It's true we like to gather and party to eat and drink or shoot a little pool or chat over coffee to share the laughter and the tears in our down time and comes from the seriousness of our commitment to the Order and the Honour in Brotherhood we share. So a large part of this appears serious because a large part is.
Remember that evil triumphs if good men sit idle...
The Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was the last to be put to death in Paris in 1314 - the same year as the battle of Bannockburn. These are his last moving words before being burned at the stake: "It is only right that at so solemn a moment and when my life has so little time to run, I should reveal the deception which has been practised, and speak up for the truth. Hear me! Before heaven and earth and all of you for my witnesses, I confess. I confess that I am indeed guilty of the greatest infamy, but the infamy is that I have lied. I have lied in admitting the disgusting charges laid against my Order. I declare, and I must declare, that the Order is innocent. Its purity and saintliness have never been defiled. In truth, I had testified otherwise, but I did so from fear of terrible tortures. Other Knights who retracted their confessions have been led to the stake, I know. Yet the thought of dying is not so awful that I would now uphold my confession to foul crimes which were never committed. Life is offered me, but at the price of perfidy. At such a price, life is not worth having. If life is to be bought only by piling lie upon lie, I do not grieve that I must lose it."
Think on this nobility in the face of an unimaginable torture. Such is the quality, understanding and courage of a Knight of the Order.
The Papacy have since confessed that the charges were 'concocted' due to pressure from the French throne. Although the damage has been done it's nice to know that truth is creeping back into religion.