The Rosslyn Hoax?

In the last 20 years or so a huge amount has been written about Rosslyn Chapel, the St. Clair family and the Knights Templar and their alleged connection with Freemasonry in Scotland. Yet none of the authors are Freemasons or at least none are Scottish Freemasons. None have written from a Scottish perspective and so this book for the first time redresses that imbalance. Perhaps it is worth keeping one thought in mind: given the range of material written about these Scottish subjects what did Scottish Freemasons think about and write of their history?

The book is divided into two principal parts. The first part examines what the Freemasons of Scotland thought about their own history (of Freemasonry), their origins and their connections with, for example, the St. Clair family. That part can also be dividing into two distinct parts.

1) The 16th century (and a little earlier) to beginning of the 18th century. This consists of internal Lodge records and assorted documents such as the Schaw Statutes (1598 and 1599) and the St. Clair Charters (1601 and 1628), These 'charters' are the property of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Knowledge of these documents is essential for the understanding of Scottish Freemasonry, its origins and subsequent development. Questions addressed in this part of the book are numerous and one, as an example is: When and who was the first St. Clair to be appointed as Hereditary Grand Master of Masons? Here are some of the questions asked and discussed in the book regarding Masonic documents, writings and events:

2) Scottish Freemasons first began writing about their origins during the 18th century. Material such as Anderson's Constitutions (1723 and 1738) as well as a numbers of books which increased in number as the century progressed are examined in this section. Questions such as: When was Rosslyn Chapel first mentioned in a Masonic context? What was William St. Clair's (1700 - 1778) role in the formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1736?

	The St. Clair Charters are kept in Freemasons' Hall, Edinburgh. To whom where they addressed? For what purpose? What Masonic information do they contain? What else to they tell? These documents are frequently cited as proof of a connection between Scottish Freemasonry, the St. Clair family and Rosslyn Chapel. The Rosslyn Hoax? includes a transcription of the first 'charter' (c.1601 - see left) and discusses its importance in respect of the connection between Freemasonry and the St. Clair family.
	What did the Freemasons of Scotland think about their history, their origins and their purpose? Freemasons have long been writing about their past and Scottish Freemasons in particular have left a lasting record of their activities. The Rosslyn Hoax? compares what Scottish Freemasons wrote and thought about their origins with what has been written about them over the last twenty years or so. The earliest Masonic records commence in 1598. What are they? What do they tell us about Freemasonry then? Are there are references to the connections with the Knights Templar and Rosslyn Chapel as claimed today?
	Scottish Freemasons wrote extensively about what they believed their history and origins to be. During the 18th and 19th centuries much was published and made available to the public. However the authors were writing primary for other Freemasons unlike today where many non-Freemasons are writing about Freemasonry for other non-Freemasons! What therefore did the Freemasons write, what were their ideas and thoughts? Did they discuss, or even mention, Rosslyn Chapel, the Knights Templar and the St. Clair family? In what context?

The second part of the book considers the various, and diverse, pieces of evidence that proves the connection of the Knights Templar with Scottish Freemasonry, Rosslyn Chapel and the St. Clair family. This part of the book focuses therefore on matters such as the KT graves at Kilmartin and Kilmory; the Battle of Bannockburn; the Kirkwall Wall Scroll (which is analyzed panel by panel, image by image for the first time); Rosslyn Chapel and its symbolism; Masonic and Knight Templar symbolism to mention just a few subjects.

	Does this carving in Rosslyn Chapel show an angel holding the heart of Robert the Bruce (1274 - 1329)? Rosslyn Chapel is claimed to be physical proof of a connection between Freemasonry and the Knights Templar, the St. Clair family and a host of associated subjects. The second part of The Rosslyn Hoax? examines numerous items, large (like Rosslyn Chapel) and small (such as the anonymous graveslabs at Kilmartin) which are stated to be evidence which shows that a connection between Freemasonry and the Knights Templar etc. did, and does exist. Each item, place etc. is examined and discussed in context.
	The guidebook of Rosslyn Chapel state that this carving shows a figure in a 'pose of ritual significance to Freemasons'. The Rosslyn Hoax? discusses this, and many other, carvings in the chapel. Is the symbolism in Rosslyn Chapel Masonic, pagan, Jewish? The author, a recognised expert on early Masonic ritual and Masonic symbolism, considers the carvings in Rosslyn Chapel and discusses them in relation to Masonic ritual and symbolism.
	Masonic artefacts, such as the Kirkwall Scroll, have been cited by writers as further proof of the connection between Freemasonry, Rosslyn Chapel, the Knights Templar, the St. Clair family etc. The sheer number of items claimed to prove the connection is quite amazing. The Rosslyn Hoax? details most of them and describes what they are and debates their significance. For example what is the object to the left? A Masons' Mark in Rosslyn Chapel? If not what is it and what does it mean?

Below are the chapters with an abstract of the contents of each:

1     Introduction

An outline of the most popular theory of the origin of Freemasonry - that the Order is directly descended  from the medieval Knights Templar is given here. This chapter discusses the two principal methods of discussing the past - the Popular or Alternative approach and the academic. Techniques used by the Popular approach are discussed and details of the principal elements of the popular KT/Masonic suggestion are give. The author provides an hypothesis which the book seeks to examine.

2     18th century and earlier

This chapter begins with a deceptively simple question - where and when did the popular idea that modern Freemasonry derives directly from the medieval Order of Knights Templar originate? Perhaps more importantly who first suggested the connection - or has it always been known and accepted as fact within Scottish Freemasonry? To discuss this question the author examines what Scottish Freemasons wrote about their history - did they make the connection between the Templars and themselves? Is so in what way? If not, why not? The author believes that this is the first time Scottish Masonic sources have been examined in detail in an effort to understand what the Freemasons of Scotland themselves thought their history and origins to be. The author accesses a number of Masonic publications rarely consulted on this issue and in the process sheds considerable light on the historiography of Freemasonry in Scotland. Rare documents such as the so called St. Clair 'Charters' are mentioned (and discussed in detail later in the book), and are reproduced in transcript in appendixes. What did Scottish Freemasons of the 18th century used them for?

3     19th century and later

As the Enlightenment of the 18th century gave way to the Romanticism of the Victorian Era the perception of the origins of Freemasonry changed. A new generation, admittedly influenced for the Freemasons of the 18th century, thought their own thoughts and fortunately for us also wrote many of those thoughts down. Like the 18th century, the 19th century had its own Masonic 'giants' and these, as with those of the previous century, are named and their work discussed. How did their perception of the history of Freemasonry differ (if it did) from the Freemasons of the previous century? What did they think, what did they write and ultimately, what did they believe, their origins to be? Again, from the first time the author discussed this from a Scottish perspective.

4     The St. Clair family

In 2002 the Grand Lodge of Scotland republished a rare work entitled: Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn and which was edited by the author of The Rosslyn Hoax? The book was produced in response to the huge demand for information about the St Clair family, Rosslyn Chapel etc. That book, essentially a reproduction of all the St family papers in Rosslyn Castle in c.1690, was extremely rare (less than 140 were ever printed) is an essential piece of evidence regarding the St Clair family, Rosslyn Chapel etc. Most importantly we owe a debt of gratitude to the compiler, Father Richard Augustine Hay, of the original work (now in the National Library of Scotland) because the original documents are now lost (I personally hope that they are lying unlisted in a library somewhere). Father Hay reproduces the St Clair Charters and the purpose of this chapter of the book is to discuss the St Clair Charters and other documents with respect to Freemasonry and the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

5     The Kirkwall Scroll

One popular author wrote, and I paraphrase, 'there is is no point in looking for evidence in documents etc. for a connection between the Knights Templar and Freemasonry because such evidence does not exist'. Here was see a dramatic difference in between the Popular approach and the academic. This kind of statement shows that, in the opinion of the writer quoted above, that such a connection does exist - it is simply a matter of finding the evidence to prove it! This is the opposite to the academic historian who must commence investigations with an open mind. This example shows that the outcome have been predetermined and that in very process of seeking evidence to prove that outcome means that the evidence being sought will, inevitably, be biased. The Kirkwall Scroll is a classic example of this way of seeking and using 'evidence' to support a particular point of view. The claims as to what it does represent, what the symbols mean and how it was used as evidence form part of this chapter. The Rosslyn Hoax? examines the Kirkwall Scroll in great detail, panel by panel, symbol by symbol, (and the author here records his gratitude to the publisher in allowing him such freedom of space in this) and the results of this analysis will come as a surprise to many. It is this examination and analysis which is the largest part of this chapter.

6     A description of Rosslyn Chapel

This chapter has been included for information purposes. Many who read this book might never actually visit Rosslyn Chapel and so this chapter is a detailed description of the chapel, especially the numerous carvings which are described in detail. A plan of the chapel is included showing where the most important carvings are.

7     An analysis of Rosslyn Chapel

Chapter 6 having described Rosslyn Chapel in considerable detail the scene is now set to discuss Rosslyn in the context of the various popular ideas about it. Its place in the Knights Templar - Freemasonry connection is discussed in detail. Simple questions such as: What is it? When was it built? who by and what for? are reasonably straightforward but lead to questions of a much deeper nature. Many writers have claimed to know what the carvings 'really' mean. Are they correct? In an effort to clarify the debate about the carvings and their purpose the author begins by asking the apparently simple question: What is symbolism? what is Masonic symbolism? Those carvings which are not symbols are also discussed: are there carvings of maize in the chapel? What is the story of the murdered apprentice, the Apprentice Pillar and Freemasonry? Which carvings are Masonic? Is Robert the Bruce commemorated in Rosslyn Chapel? What is in the vaults? Most of the popular thoughts and ideas about Rosslyn Chapel are discussed in this chapter and the author reveals some facts that will make uncomfortable reading for some.

8     Other physical evidence

Although the Kirkwall Scroll and Rosslyn Chapel are the two principal pieces of physical evidence offered in support of the contention that modern Freemasonry has a direct lineal decent from the medieval Order of Knights Templar there are other 'items' used as evidence. These range from the graveslabs at Kilmartin Kirk, grave stones in Currie and Corstorphine Kirks, the Battle of Bannockburn, the 'Templar' chapel of Kilmory and legal contracts showing the buying and selling of Templar land long after the Order had been suppressed. This chapter discusses each of these and asks if their use as evidence supports the various claims made for them.

9     Conclusion - have we been hoaxed?

The author reassesses the material and arguments made by popular writers and, well, draws his conclusions!

Appendixes (11 in total)

During his tenure in office the author has noticed that may popular writers discuss various documents such as: the so called St. Clair 'Charters', the Schaw Statutes, and the earliest Masonic records (the Aitcheson's Haven Lodge minute books) and the earliest Masonic rituals, but not one of those writers have come to Freemasons' Hall to see the originals. Obviously a writer in another country cannot be expected to travel to see every single piece of paper. The author of The Rosslyn Hoax? has taken the opportunity to include transcripts of these old and rare documents so that popular writers (and others) will no longer have the burden of discussing something they have been unable to read.

Bibliography

Index

The book is well illustrated with black and white and colour plates.

The book also includes a number of in text line drawings.