This WEBSITE is published monthly as an official publication of the
Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America.
Sid Cornelius Dorris III, Grand Generalissimo and Publisher,
2007 Brenthaven Drive, Mount Juliet, TN 37122

John L. Palmer, PC, KCT, - Managing Editor
P.O. Box 566, Nashville TN 37135-0566
(615) 283-8477 (telephone), (615) 283-8476(facsimile)
E-mail: ktmagazine@comcast.net
"Tell US What YOU THINK"
Magazine materials and correspondence to the editor should be sent in electronic form to the managing editor whose contact information is shown above.
Materials and correspondance concerning the Grand Commandery state supplements should be sent to the respective supplement editor.
Address corrections from members are to be sent to the local Recorders LISTED HERE [.pdf]

JANUARY

The front cover is a photo of Iguazu falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina. This waterfall currently has the greatest average annual flow of any waterfall in the world. The photo copyrighted by Jamie Lee, and is used by permission.
Subscriptions to the Knight Templar magazine are available from the Grand Encampment office at a rate of $15.00 per year. Individual issues in quantities of less than 10 can be obtained for$1.50 each from the office of the managing editor if available. Inquire via e-mail to the managing editor for quantities in excess of 10.
We publish letters and articles from a variety of sources and points of view. The opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of the Grand Encampment, the Knight Templar magazine, or the Editorial Review Board.

Contents AVAILABLE BELOW:
Grand Master’s New Year’s Message:Resolutions for 2009
Grand Master William H. Koon, II.......................4
Grand Encampment News - Annual Easter Observance
Grand Recorder Lawrence E. Tucker............................5
Prelate’s Chapel—A Strong Tower
Grand Prelate Robert Cave....................................6
A Chat With The Managing Editor...............................10

Contents AVAILABLE at the TOTAL MAGAZINE FILES:

issuu.com/gektusa/docs/0901

The Chapel in the Tower by Sir Knight Mark A. Tabbert................7
Were there really only nine? by Sir Knight Stephen Dafoe.............11
Personal Integrity Part II of a Three–Part Series
by Sir Knight Clayton J. Borne, III...................................27
A Continuing Analysis of the Mystery of the Trials of the Ancient Templars
Sir Knight John L. Palmer.............................................29
The Gospel of Judas Iscariot Part I of a two–Part Series
Sir Knight John L. Cooper, III........................................32
Features
York Rite Information System......................................9
Recipients of the Membership Jewel........................13
The Knights Templar Eye Foundation
General Chairman Duane Lee Vaught.......................15
In Memoriam.............................................................16
Knight Voices.............................................................17
Grand Commandery Supplement..............................18
Letters to the Editor...................................................21
2009 Masonic Conferences.......................................22
2009 Annual Conclaves.............................................24
Beauceant News........................................................34

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Grand Master’s New Year's Message

As we approach a new year, the epitaph on John Wayne’s tombstone is appropriate. “Tomorrow is the most important thing in
life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.” In that spirit, the officers of the Grand Encampment list our New Year’s Resolutions.
 1. We resolve to have the YRIS (York Right Information System) fully implemented with training for our Grand Recorders.

 2. We resolve to have the Grand Chapter & Grand Council portions of YRIS operational and available.

 3. We resolve to make further improvements to the editorial content of the Knight Templar magazine.

 4. We resolve to have a 3 year and a 6 year long range plan in place to be reported on in this publication next January.

 5. We resolve to expand department conferences to include all officers, administrative officers of a Grand Commandery, and
interested Sir Knights.

 6. We resolve to identify and involve untapped talent in our membership.

Your team of Grand Encampment Officers is committed to move Templary forward. Next December, we’ll again report our progress on these resolutions.


Sir Knight William H. Koon II, GCT
Grand Master
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From the Grand Recorder’s Office…
79th EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
April 12, 2009
HOTEL: Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22311
Make your hotel reservations directly with the hotel at:
direct: (703) 845-1010 or call (800) HILTONS
$100.00 Room Rate (mention Knights Templar).
MEAL TICKETS
Meal package, $45 per person
includes Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast buffet.
Order you meal tickets from the Grand Encampment Office.
Mail your check, payable to Grand Encampment, to
5909 West Loop South, Suite 495, Bellaire, TX 77401-2402.
Individual tickets may be ordered separately.
Saturday dinner, $35; Sunday breakfast buffet, $20
Hotel and meal ticket cutoff date is March 5, 2009.
No tickets will be sold at the door.
Direct questions to: John Elkinton in the Grand Encampment Office at (713) 349-8700
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by Rev and SK Robert Cave
Right Eminent Grand Prelate
of the Grand Encampment
The Order of the Temple abounds with words, phrases, thoughts, and imagery found in Christianity in both the Old and New Testaments. Take for instance the sentence found in the Prelate’s comments following the candidate’s vow in the Order which reads, “And may the Almighty, who is a strong tower to all who put their trust in Him, be now and evermore thy defense and consolation.”
The candidate has just been told that he must decide if he will engage in warfare against the enemies of those who are helpless and the Christian faith (and then later that he must embark upon four years of warfare as a test of his courage). It is, to say the least, a daunting challenge. However, he is also assured that he does not face the challenge alone. He is told that if he keeps the faith God will be a strong tower for him.
The image of the “Tower” is a familiar one in the Old Testament. In Psalm 61:1 and 3 it states “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. For you have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.” In Psalm144: 1-2 we find, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle – my loving-kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer. In Proverbs 18:10 it states “The name of the Lord is a strong tower.”
Towers were common and found in various sizes and places in biblical times. They could be seen in cities and on farm lands and were constructed of impenetrable material. Their main purpose was defense against an enemy. Here is the imagery that the new Sir Knight is to take with him in his possible warfare for the defense of the innocents and the faith. It is an image of God as a strong tower who will ultimately defend him and encourage him as he attempts to remain faithful to his vows in this valiant and magnanimous Order. In living out our lives as Christians and Knights of this Order, we too have this defense and consolation if we trust in God. And truly the need was no greater then than now.
Again, we invite any Sir Knight to submit his thoughts on Christianity and Templary for possible inclusion in this column. Please email it to Jobrjcave@aol.com or mail it to Rev. Robert J. Cave, 137 Glen Drive, Ridge, New York 11961.
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A Chat With The Managing Editor  
ktmagazine@comcast.net     -     John Palmer, PC, KCT
This is the first issue of the Knight Templar magazine to be published in full color. We have attempted to include photographs which will bring more life to the articles and enhance your enjoyment of the magazine. Bear with us in the coming months as we learn how to use color to enhance your reading experience.
The addition of color has been made possible by our sponsors who have underwritten the cost by advertising in the magazine. We have received numerous requests over the past few months from Sir Knights to provide information about where they could obtain uniforms and Knight Templar jewelry. We hope that the addition of limited advertising will supply answers to those inquiries and that you will make it worthwhile to our advertisers to continue underwriting this expense. We have also reduced the amount of non-commercial advertising beginning with this issue. Some of the items we previously carried in the “Knight Voices” section have been moved to the Grand Encampment web site www.knightstemplar.org/knightvoices. You can find them there.
On another note, we are continuing our two series about the Vatican documents, and Templar buildings in this issue. I am also interested in running a series of articles about Templar jewelry and watch fobs. I am seeking Sir Knights who are knowledgeable in this area to do the research and write the articles. We are very interested in any articles you may wish to submit about the history, philosophy, and symbolism of Templary, Christianity, and Freemasonry.
Make sure you take the time to read the very interesting article this month on the Gospel of Judas. My longtime friend, Sir Knight Cooper, is a very knowledgeable Freemason and past Grand Secretary of Masons in California, and we are fortunate to have him as a contributing author.
Finally and perhaps most importantly, Ms. Joan Morton, longtime assistant editor for this magazine retired at the end of last year. She almost singlehandedly produced this magazine for many years. Her assistance in getting me trained for this job has been invaluable, and you will, no doubt, see some degradation until I can work my way up to a level of expertise anywhere near hers. Thank you, Joan, for all you have done for us. I am sure that the state supplement editors and all our readers wish for you a most enjoyable retirement!
John L. Palmer
Managing Editor
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<BGSOUND SRC="http://www.knightstemplar/music/bcmarch.mp3">
"Boston Commandery March/Onward Christian Soldiers"