Hamas rejects 4-hour cease-fire extension in Gaza
Yousef Al-Helou and Janelle Dumalaon, Special for USA TODAY 3:09 p.m. EDT July 26, 2014
GAZA CITY — Hamas rejected Israel's four-hour extension of a humanitarian cease-fire Saturday as the Palestinian death toll in the conflict rose to more than 1,000.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri sent a text message to reporters Saturday, saying: "No agreement to extending the calm for an additional four hours." A short time afterward, the Israeli military said three rockets were fired from Gaza.
The cease-fire rejection came after the Israeli Cabinet agreed to extend the 12-hour truce until midnight Saturday, and Yuval Steinitz, an Israeli Cabinet minister, said a further extension would be considered.
Earlier Saturday, the Israeli military had warned that it "shall respond if terrorists choose to exploit" the lull to attack Israeli troops "or fire at Israeli civilians." It also said that operations to locate and neutralize tunnels would continue.
Meanwhile, at least 100 bodies were recovered Saturday, Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra said, as Palestinians used the cease-fire to move medical supplies and tend to the dead and injured in the Gaza Strip.
As the initial lull in hostilities began at 8 a.m. Saturday, Gazans poured onto the streets to find food supplies, look for missing family members or return to homes they left for shelters. The nearly three weeks of fighting has left swaths of rubble, destroyed roads and damaged power infrastructure in residential neighborhoods across the strip.
More than 1,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed since the conflict began on July 8. Another 6,000 have been wounded. In Israel, 43 have died, including 40 soldiers, two civilians and a Thai worker.
Imad Nasrallah, 38, said he and others have made it a point not to forget the living.
"With my brothers and neighbors, we volunteer and go help others, in case their homes were targeted," Nasrallah said. "We transfer the wounded to hospitals or go carry the martyrs and bury them."
A Palestinian man cries at the site of his house, which was destroyed by shelling, in Beit Hanoun, Gaza, on July 26, 2014. (Photo: Oliver Weiken, European Pressphoto Agency) Fullscreen
Next Slide
Saturday's temporary truce was the second and the longest since the conflict began on July 8. A humanitarian cease-fire on July 17 was quickly overlooked as rocket fire resumed as soon as the set five hours expired.
In Paris on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with European foreign ministers to find ways to build off Saturday's lull.
On Friday, Israel rejected a U.S.-backed proposal for a weeklong truce because it would require its forces to interrupt its operation to destroy Hamas tunnels. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told troops Friday that Israel may significantly widen the Gaza ground operation.
A truce proposed by Egypt last week was rejected by Hamas because the group said it wasn't consulted. Hamas says any peace deal must include the lifting of a blockade against Gaza.
In the northern town of Beit Hanoun, residents — many of whom had fled days earlier — encountered widespread destruction Saturday.
"Nothing is left. Everything I have is gone," said Siham Kafarneh, 37, weeping as she talked about the destroyed home she had spent 10 years saving up for and moved into just two months ago.
The continued hostilities have meant nowhere is safe for Nasrallah and his family as shelters no longer offer the promise of security, he said.
"It's not safe to go out but there is no guarantee our homes are safe," said Nasrallah. "Many houses were hit by Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes while people were inside.
Saturday 26 July 2014
Wednesday 16 July 2014
New barracks to replace ‘outdated’ dorms at Nellis Air Force Base
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently awarded a $30.4 million contract for a three-story, 240-room dormitory at Nellis Air Force Base in the northeast valley.
The 85,250-square-foot, H-shaped complex will have 60 four-bedroom and four-bathroom units, each with a full kitchen, laundry room and dining area.
The Korte Co., based in St. Louis, and Macnak Construction, of Lakewood, Wash., will build the barracks.
They are slated to break ground early next year and finish in late 2016, said 1st Lt. Michael Christopher of the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron.
As part of the contract, they also will demolish two dormitories that were built in 1975, after the new facility opens.
Nellis officials did not say how many people live in those buildings or why they are being torn down, but a Korte spokesman indicated that it’s time for the aging facilities to go.
“The old dorms are just that — outdated,” said Todd Imming, chief marketing officer.
The last dorm built at Nellis opened in 2005 and houses 144 airmen, Christopher said.
The 85,250-square-foot, H-shaped complex will have 60 four-bedroom and four-bathroom units, each with a full kitchen, laundry room and dining area.
The Korte Co., based in St. Louis, and Macnak Construction, of Lakewood, Wash., will build the barracks.
They are slated to break ground early next year and finish in late 2016, said 1st Lt. Michael Christopher of the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron.
As part of the contract, they also will demolish two dormitories that were built in 1975, after the new facility opens.
Nellis officials did not say how many people live in those buildings or why they are being torn down, but a Korte spokesman indicated that it’s time for the aging facilities to go.
“The old dorms are just that — outdated,” said Todd Imming, chief marketing officer.
The last dorm built at Nellis opened in 2005 and houses 144 airmen, Christopher said.
Thursday 10 July 2014
World Cup: How Germany and Argentina compare
Germany and Argentina faced each other in two straight World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990, winning one each.
Share on Facebook
Reddit this!
Argentina booked themselves a place in their first World Cup semi-final in 24 years on Wednesday, beating the Netherlands in a 4-2 semi-final penalty shoot-out.Duration:01:52
By: MATTIAS KAREN Associated Press, Published on Thu Jul 10 2014
RIO DE JANEIRO—The best player in the world goes up against the ultimate team machine, on the world’s biggest stage.
When Lionel Messi’s Argentina takes on Germany in Sunday’s World Cup final, it looks at first glance like a meeting between brilliant individual scoring talent and the tight discipline of a collective unit.
But this game will be about much more than that. Argentina has shown that it can play just as tactically as the Germans, eking out narrow victories and doing whatever is needed to win. Germany, meanwhile, has put on two of the most explosive displays of the tournament — beating Portugal 4-0 in its opening game and then demolishing host Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals. Add in the rich history between these two teams — who faced each other in two straight World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990, winning one each — and it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top at the Maracana Stadium. Here is a look at how the two finalists compare: Goalkeepers Manuel Neuer Manuel Neuer Sergio Romero Sergio Romero GOALKEEPERS: Manuel Neuer’s reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world has only grown in Brazil, where he has been one of Germany’s best players throughout the tournament, especially in the knockout rounds. Aside from being a first-class shot stopper, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper showed his versatility by repeatedly rushing out to help the defense in the second-round win over Algeria. He then made key saves to deny Karim Benzema an equalizer for France in the quarterfinals, and a number of impressive stops against Brazil. Sergio Romero has answered most sceptics who questioned whether he was good enough to play for a top team in a World Cup.
Romero was only a backup for his club Monaco this past season, but came through big in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands with two saves to send his team into the final. He has kept three straight clean sheets in the knockout rounds, but will face his greatest challenge yet against the clinical Germans. Advantage: Germany Defence Mats Hummels Mats Hummels Zabaleta and Demichelis Zabaleta and Demichelis DEFENSE: Germany’s defense has improved vastly since coach Joachim Loew took captain Philip Lahm out of midfield and put him back in his favored position as right back after an erratic display against Algeria in the second round. Mats Hummels has been a steady anchor in central defense, and Germany had little trouble neutralizing the explosive attacks of both France and Brazil. Whether they can deal with Messi is another matter. Argentina’s defense was seen as its main weakness going into the World Cup, but the team has now gone 330 minutes without conceding a goal in the knockout rounds — including two extra time periods. The back four, which includes Manchester City duo Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis, made Dutch strikers Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie look plain ordinary. Advantage: Germany Midfield Bastian Schweinsteiger Bastian Schweinsteiger Angel Di Maria Angel Di Maria MIDFIELD: This is Germany’s biggest strength, a unit without weakness that plays together as a well-oiled machine. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira shore things up defensively while Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil direct most of the attacks going forward. Germany’s ruthless display against Brazil was orchestrated by the clinical efficiency of its midfield, and a similar display on Sunday might just be too much for Argentina to handle as well. The Argentines, meanwhile, are hoping that Angel Di Maria will recover from a thigh injury to play in the final. Di Maria’s pace and ability to take on defenders on the wing was sorely missed against the Netherlands, when his team struggled to find ways forward.
Defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano was one of the best players on the pitch against the Netherlands and is the key to keeping Germany in check. Advantage: Germany Attack Miroslav Klose Miroslav Klose Lionel Messi Lionel Messi ATTACK: Germany has the highest-scoring player in World Cup history in Miroslav Klose. But Argentina has Messi, and two other top forwards to boot. While Messi hasn’t scored in the three knockout games, his four goals in the group stage reminded everyone of why he’s a four-time world player of the year. Even with Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain in the team, Messi has always been the key to Argentina’s success — and never more so than in the biggest game of his career. For Argentina to have a chance, Messi will have to create goals — either for himself or for his teammates. Germany aren’t bad up front either: Klose netted his 16th career World Cup goal against Brazil, and his teammate Thomas Mueller already has 10 in just two tournaments. Advantage: Argentina Between Germany and Argentina, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top at the Maracana Stadium. Between Germany and Argentina, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top at the Maracana Stadium.
But this game will be about much more than that. Argentina has shown that it can play just as tactically as the Germans, eking out narrow victories and doing whatever is needed to win. Germany, meanwhile, has put on two of the most explosive displays of the tournament — beating Portugal 4-0 in its opening game and then demolishing host Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals. Add in the rich history between these two teams — who faced each other in two straight World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990, winning one each — and it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top at the Maracana Stadium. Here is a look at how the two finalists compare: Goalkeepers Manuel Neuer Manuel Neuer Sergio Romero Sergio Romero GOALKEEPERS: Manuel Neuer’s reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world has only grown in Brazil, where he has been one of Germany’s best players throughout the tournament, especially in the knockout rounds. Aside from being a first-class shot stopper, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper showed his versatility by repeatedly rushing out to help the defense in the second-round win over Algeria. He then made key saves to deny Karim Benzema an equalizer for France in the quarterfinals, and a number of impressive stops against Brazil. Sergio Romero has answered most sceptics who questioned whether he was good enough to play for a top team in a World Cup.
Romero was only a backup for his club Monaco this past season, but came through big in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands with two saves to send his team into the final. He has kept three straight clean sheets in the knockout rounds, but will face his greatest challenge yet against the clinical Germans. Advantage: Germany Defence Mats Hummels Mats Hummels Zabaleta and Demichelis Zabaleta and Demichelis DEFENSE: Germany’s defense has improved vastly since coach Joachim Loew took captain Philip Lahm out of midfield and put him back in his favored position as right back after an erratic display against Algeria in the second round. Mats Hummels has been a steady anchor in central defense, and Germany had little trouble neutralizing the explosive attacks of both France and Brazil. Whether they can deal with Messi is another matter. Argentina’s defense was seen as its main weakness going into the World Cup, but the team has now gone 330 minutes without conceding a goal in the knockout rounds — including two extra time periods. The back four, which includes Manchester City duo Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis, made Dutch strikers Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie look plain ordinary. Advantage: Germany Midfield Bastian Schweinsteiger Bastian Schweinsteiger Angel Di Maria Angel Di Maria MIDFIELD: This is Germany’s biggest strength, a unit without weakness that plays together as a well-oiled machine. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira shore things up defensively while Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil direct most of the attacks going forward. Germany’s ruthless display against Brazil was orchestrated by the clinical efficiency of its midfield, and a similar display on Sunday might just be too much for Argentina to handle as well. The Argentines, meanwhile, are hoping that Angel Di Maria will recover from a thigh injury to play in the final. Di Maria’s pace and ability to take on defenders on the wing was sorely missed against the Netherlands, when his team struggled to find ways forward.
Defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano was one of the best players on the pitch against the Netherlands and is the key to keeping Germany in check. Advantage: Germany Attack Miroslav Klose Miroslav Klose Lionel Messi Lionel Messi ATTACK: Germany has the highest-scoring player in World Cup history in Miroslav Klose. But Argentina has Messi, and two other top forwards to boot. While Messi hasn’t scored in the three knockout games, his four goals in the group stage reminded everyone of why he’s a four-time world player of the year. Even with Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain in the team, Messi has always been the key to Argentina’s success — and never more so than in the biggest game of his career. For Argentina to have a chance, Messi will have to create goals — either for himself or for his teammates. Germany aren’t bad up front either: Klose netted his 16th career World Cup goal against Brazil, and his teammate Thomas Mueller already has 10 in just two tournaments. Advantage: Argentina Between Germany and Argentina, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top at the Maracana Stadium. Between Germany and Argentina, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top at the Maracana Stadium.
Wednesday 9 July 2014
King Richard the Lionheart’s experiences with the Knights Templar
Richard the Lionheart
and the
Knights Templar
In the mean time a third crusade had been preached in Europe. William, archbishop of Tyre, had proceeded to the courts of France and England, and had represented in glowing colours the miserable condition of Palestine, and the horrors and abominations which had been committed by the infidels in the holy city of Jerusalem. The English and French monarchs laid aside their private animosities, and agreed to fight under the same banner against the infidels, and towards the close of the month of May, in the second year of the siege of Acre, the royal fleets of Philip Augustus and Richard Coeur de Lion floated in triumph in the bay of Acre. At the period of the arrival of king Richard the Templars had again lost their Grand Master, and Brother Robert de Sablé or Sabloil, a valiant knight of the order, who had commanded a division of the English fleet on the voyage out, was placed at the head of the fraternity.[i] The proudest of the nobility, and the most valiant of the chivalry of Europe, on their arrival in Palestine, manifested an eager desire to fight under the banner of the Temple. Many secular knights were permitted by the Grand Master to take their station by the side of the military friars, and even to wear the red cross on their breasts whilst fighting in the ranks.
The Templars performed prodigies of valour; "The name of their reputation, and the fame of their sanctity," says James of Vitry, bishop of Acre, "like a chamber of perfume sending forth a sweet odour, was diffused throughout the entire world, and all the congregation of the saints will recount their battles and glorious triumph over the enemies of Christ, knights indeed from all parts of the earth, dukes, and princes, after their example, casting off the shackles of the world, and renouncing the pomps and vanities of this life and all the lusts of the flesh for Christ’s sake, hastened to join them, and to participate in their holy profession and religion."[ii]
On the morning of the twelfth of July, six weeks after the arrival of the British fleet, the kings of England and France, the christian chieftains, and the Turkish emirs with their green banners, assembled in the tent of the Grand Master of the Temple, to treat of the surrender of Acre, and on the following day the gates were thrown open to the exulting warriors of the cross. The Templars took possession of three localities within the city by the side of the sea, where they established their famous Temple, which became from thenceforth the chief house of the order. Richard Coeur de Lion, we are told, took up his abode with the Templars, whilst Philip resided in the citadel.[iii]
When the fiery monarch of England tore down the banner of the duke of Austria from its staff and threw it into the ditch, it was the Templars who, interposing between the indignant Germans and the haughty Britons, preserved the peace of the christian army.[iv]
During his voyage from Messina to Acre, King Richard had revenged himself on Isaac Comnenus, the ruler of the island of Cyprus, for the insult offered to the beautiful Berengaria, princess of Navarre, his betrothed bride. The sovereign of England had disembarked his troops, stormed the town of Limisso, and conquered the whole island; and shortly after his arrival at Acre, he sold it to the Templars for three hundred thousand livres d’or.[v]
During the famous march of Richard Coeur de Lion from Acre to Ascalon, the Templars generally led the van of the christian army, and the Hospitallers brought up the rear.[vi] Saladin, at the head of an immense force, exerted all his energies to oppose their progress, and the march to Jaffa formed a perpetual battle of eleven days. On some occasions Coeur de Lion himself, at the head of a chosen body of knights, led the van, and the Templars were formed into a rear guard.[vii] They sustained immense loss, particularly in horses, which last calamity, we are told, rendered them nearly desperate.[viii]
The Moslem as well as the christian writers speak with admiration of the feats of heroism performed. "On the sixth day," says Bohadin, "the sultan rose at dawn as usual, and heard from his brother that the enemy were in motion. They had slept that night in suitable places about Caesarea, and were now dressing and taking their food. A second messenger announced that they had begun their march; our brazen drum was sounded, all were alert, the sultan came out, and I accompanied him: he surrounded them with chosen troops, and gave the signal for attack." … "Their foot soldiers were covered with thick-strung pieces of cloth, fastened together with rings so as to resemble coats of mail. I saw with my own eyes several who had not one or two but ten darts sticking in their backs! and yet marched on with a calm and cheerful step, without any trepidation!"[ix]
Every exertion was made to sustain the courage and enthusiasm of the christian warriors. When the army halted for the night, and the soldiers were about to take their rest, a loud voice was heard from the midst of the camp exclaiming, "Assist the Holy Sepulchre," which words were repeated by the leaders of the host, and were echoed and re-echoed along their extended lines.[x] The Templars and the Hospitallers, who were well acquainted with the country, employed themselves by night in marauding and foraging expeditions. They frequently started off at midnight, swept the country with their turcopoles or light cavalry, and returned to the camp at morning’s dawn with rich prizes of oxen, sheep, and provisions.[xi]
In the great plain near Ramleh, when the Templars led the van of the christian army, Saladin made a last grand effort to arrest their progress, which was followed by one of the greatest battles of the age. Geoffrey de Vinisauf, the companion of King Richard on this expedition, gives a lively and enthusiastic description of the appearance of the Moslem array in the great plain around Jaffa and Ramleh. On all sides, far as the eye could reach, from the sea-shore to the mountains, nought was to be seen but a forest of spears, above which waved banners and standards innumerable. The wild Bedouins,[xii] the children of the desert, mounted on their fleet Arab mares, coursed with the rapidity of lightning over the vast plain, and darkened the air with clouds of missiles. Furious and unrelenting, of a horrible aspect, with skins blacker than soot, they strove by rapid movement and continuous assaults to penetrate the well-ordered array of the christian warriors. They advanced to the attack with horrible screams and bellowings, which, with the deafening noise of the trumpets, horns, cymbals, and brazen kettle-drums, produced a clamour that resounded through the plain, and would have drowned even the thunder of heaven.
The engagement commenced with the left wing of the Hospitallers, and the victory of the Christians was mainly owing to the personal prowess of King Richard. Amid the disorder of his troops, Saladin remained on the plain without lowering his standard or suspending the sound of his brazen kettle-drums, he rallied his forces, retired upon Ramleh, and prepared to defend the road leading to Jerusalem. The Templars and Hospitallers, when the battle was over, went in search of Jacques d’Asvesnes, one of the most valiant of King Richard’s knights, whose dead body, placed on their spears, they brought into the camp amid the tears and lamentations of their brethren.[xiii]
The Templars, on one of their foraging expeditions, were surrounded by a superior force of four thousand Moslem cavalry; the Earl of Leicester, with a chosen body of English, was sent by Coeur de Lion to their assistance, but the whole party was overpowered and in danger of being cut to pieces, when Richard himself hurried to the scene of action with his famous battle-axe, and rescued the Templars from their perilous situation.[xiv] By the valour and exertions of the lion-hearted king, the city of Gaza, the ancient fortress of the order, which had been taken by Saladin soon after the battle of Tiberias, was recovered to the christian arms, the fortifications were repaired, and the place was restored to the Knights Templars, who again garrisoned it with their soldiers.
As the army advanced, Saladin fell back towards Jerusalem, and the vanguard of the Templars was pushed on to the small town of Ramleh.
At midnight of the festival of the Holy Innocents, a party of them sallied out of the camp in company with some Hospitallers on a foraging expedition; they scoured the mountains in the direction of Jerusalem, and at morning’s dawn returned to Ramleh with more than two hundred oxen.[xv]
When the christian army went into winter quarters, the Templars established themselves at Gaza, and King Richard and his army were stationed in the neighboring town of Ascalon, the walls and houses of which were rebuilt by the English monarch during the winter. Whilst the christian forces were reposing in winter quarters, an arrangement was made between the Templars, King Richard, and Guy de Lusignan, "the king without a kingdom," for the cession to the latter of the island of Cyprus, previously sold by Richard to the order of the Temple, by virtue of which arrangement, Guy de Lusignan took possession of the island and ruled the country by the magnificent title of emperor.[xvi]
When the winter rains had subsided, the christian forces were again put in motion, but both the Templars and Hospitallers strongly advised Coeur de Lion not to march upon Jerusalem, and the latter appears to have had no strong inclination to undertake the siege of the holy city, having manifestly no chance of success. The English monarch declared that he would be guided by the advice of the Templars and Hospitallers, who were acquainted with the country, and were desirous of recovering their ancient inheritances. The army, however, advanced within a day’s journey of the holy city, and then a council was called together, consisting of five Knights Templars, five Hospitallers, five eastern Christians, and five western Crusaders, and the expedition was abandoned.[xvii]
The Templars took part in the attack upon the great Egyptian convoy, wherein four thousand and seventy camels, five hundred horses, provisions, tents, arms, and clothing, and a great quantity of gold and silver, were captured, and then fell back upon Acre; they were followed by Saladin, who immediately commenced offensive operations, and laid siege to Jaffa. The Templars marched by land to the relief of the place, and Coeur de Lion hurried by sea. Many valiant exploits were performed, the town was relieved, and the campaign was concluded by the ratification of a treaty whereby the Christians were to enjoy the privilege of visiting Jerusalem as pilgrims. Tyre, Acre, and Jaffa, with all the sea-coast between them, were yielded to the Latins, but it was stipulated that the fortifications of Ascalon should be demolished.[xviii]
After the conclusion of this treaty, King Richard being anxious to take the shortest and speediest route to his dominions by traversing the continent of Europe, and to travel in disguise to avoid the malice of his enemies, made an arrangement with his friend Robert de Sablé, the Grand Master of the Temple, whereby the latter undertook to place a galley of the order at the disposal of the king, and it was determined that whilst the royal fleet pursued its course with Queen Berengaria through the Straits of Gibraltar to Britain, Coeur de Lion himself, disguised in the habit of a Knight Templar, should secretly embark and make for one of the ports of the Adriatic. The plan was carried into effect on the night of the 25th of October, and King Richard set sail, accompanied by some attendants, and four trusty Templars.[xix]
Friday 4 July 2014
Lord Neil B. Gibson a True Knights Templar
Lord Neil Gibson and his family history were with the
founding father's of the Knights Templar. Gibson is a Scottish and English
surname. The name is derived from a patronymic form of the common mediaeval
personal name Gib, which is a short form of Gilbert. Variant forms of the
surname include Gibsoun, Gipson, Gibbson, Gibbons, Gilson, Gibb, and Gibby
amongst others.
The personal name Gilbert was introduced into Britain by followers of William the Conqueror after the Norman Invasion of 1066. The Norman name was originally found as Gislebert or Gillebert, and is composed of the Germanic elements Gisil, meaning "hostage" or "noble youth", and berht, meaning "bright" or "famous". Gilbert became a very popular given name in England during the Middle Ages. Lord Neil B Gibson's ancestor were rumored to be part of the group who were believed to be related to Hugh de Payens. Some even believe Lord Gibson was a descendent of Hugh de Payens. There are some records of a Templar meeting in Belize South America where Lord Neil B Gibson was regressed, by a member of the High commission. In the experience it was witnessed that Lord Neil Gibson gave the signs of being a descendent of Hugh de Payens. There as been many other people regressed in the same manner, which show there connection to other famous Knights Templar leaders. The history of the Knights Templar is as follows.
The Knights Templar were formed in 1118 by Hugh de Payens in order to protect the road to Jerusalem from the Muslims and Jews. They were a combination of monk and soldier, similar to the Knights Hospitaller formed earlier to treat the sick from the crusades. Both orders spread quickly throughout Europe and it is probably in the reign of David I that both were endowed lands in Scotland. The Knights Templar were granted lands near Drumchapel:- Temple (hence the name, at Anniesland), Jordanhill (named after the middle-eastern land by the Templars) and the surrounding woodland that became known as Knightswood; parts of Knightswood are named North and South Templar. Both Sides of the burn states: 'Most of Knightswood estate was a detached portion of Jordanhill estate though much had an ancient and honourable history of its own. The name commemorates the Knights Templar who had been granted these lands and the wood for their services in the crusades.'
As the fighting in the middle-east worsened, Cyprus became the headquarters of the order. The master of the Scottish templars answered to the English master; who answered to the French master; who answered to the Cypriot grand master. National patriotism came second to the templar vocation, and the templars became a wealthy international agency skilled in banking and shipbuilding. Scottish knights were often found in other European countries and English knights often ran the Scottish templar bases.
The history of the Knights Templar is intertwined with the Wars of Independence between Scotland and England, of stories of Wallace and Bruce. Sir William Wallace is said to have killed Brian le Jay, the English master, and John de Soutre, the Scottish master, after the battle of Falkirk. Yet, the Templar knights are reputed to be present at Bannockburn fighting alongside Bruce. Their switching of allegiance is a story worthy of recount.
King Philip IV of France, 'the fair', became in need of money. He disliked the Knights Templar for a number of reasons:- When he was younger they had refused him entry to become a knight; he owed them money; and the Templars sided with Pope Boniface VIII when Philip was in dispute with the Pope. Boniface later died in 1303, and after the short papal reign of Benedict XI, in 1305 a French cardinal based in Avignon became Pope as Clement V. He was to prove a puppet of the French king.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, Robert the Bruce killed Comyn in a church at Dumfries. For this sin, he was excommunicated by Clement V just 6 weeks after his coronation as King of Scots in 1306. The Scots cause looked weak, ruled by the English, with an excommunicated King with only a guerrilla army of support. But under Bruce's leadership the Scots started gaining the upper hand.
In October 1307, Friday 13th - hence the superstition surrounding the date and the phrase 'Unlucky for some' - Philip IV had every French templar knight that he could arrested. He brought against them charges of denying Christ, sodomy, and worshipping an idol called Baphomet. Through torture he obtained confessions but many knights chose to die rather than lie and impune their order. These confessions he presented to Clement V who issued a bull ordering the templar knights be arrested in every country and their property seized.
Edward II now clung to power in Scotland. He arrested the Scottish templars and they were tried at Holyrood on 17th November 1309. Due to the resistance of the Scottish army, the court returned a not proven verdict but the order was 'abolished' in 1312. In reality, the Templar Knights were merged with the Hospitallers, and the master of the combined order sat in the Scottish Parliament as the Grand Prior of the Hospital and the Temple.
Fleeing knights from France and elsewhere sought sanctuary. Scotland, its king excommunicated by the Pope and in need of trained soldiers, became the obvious refuge. Tradition states that Bruce himself was a Templar Knight. Thus the Templar's switch of allegiance to the Scots side against the English, and their reputed presence at Bannockburn. The defeated Edward II seized the Templar property in England in the following year, strong circumstancial evidence of their helping the Scots.
Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh in their book The Temple and the Lodge identified some templar graves in Argyll, near the Lennox. They write 'most are the work of a group of sculptors working around Loch Awe in the late 14th to 15th centuries.' Left is an effigy of a knight at Old Kilpatrick Parish Church graveyard in the Lennox. Baigent and Leigh further state 'According to the practice of the time, the dead man's sword would be laid on the stone. Its outline would be incised and chiselled. The carving would thus reflect precisely the dimensions, shape and style of the original weapon.'.
The order began to take on a more Scottish character than before and more Scottish knights are found in its membership. The knights acted as clergy in many parishes until the reformation. Families such as the Sinclairs, Hamiltons and Montgomerys all have strong Templar associations. It comes as no surprise then to find Hamiltons in possession of many lands around the area of Drumchapel, Law, Cochno and the rest of the Lennox, considering the close proximity of the Knights at Temple, Jordanhill and Knightswood. Montgomerys are found as priests of St. Mary's Chapel, Drumry - probably as a family concern from Gilbert, the first priest noted, but certainly from Thomas Montgomery to the last priest Bartholomew Montgomery.
The name of the church hints at Templar origins. The dedication to the Virgin Mary is a common one among templar churches; Helen Nicholson's The Knight's Templar: A new history notes that the Virgin Mary was seen as the patron and lady of the order. Graham Hancock in his The Sign and Seal reveals why. He notes that the Virgin Mary is symbollised both with the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant, both of which the Templars are linked:-The knights were originally based in the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem which once held the Ark of the Covenant; and traditionally the Knights Templar were the guardians of the grail. The grail is also linked with King Arthur and brings us back to Nennius' eighth battle..
The eighth battle was in Guinnon fort, and in it Arthur carried the image of the holy Mary, the everlasting virgin, on his shield, and the pagans were put to flight on that day, and through the power of Jesus Christ and the power of the virgin Mary there was great slaughter
Thus it may be that through both the Templar origins and the local history of Arthur that the church was so named. It may even have started as a templar church.
Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, sailing to North America in 1398 - well before Christopher Columbus - adds further glamour to the Templars. A ancient stone found in Nova Scotia with the 14th century etching of the Sinclair crest and map of the coast seem to back this claim (see Scotsman Online for details). Legend has it that Freemasonry was to evolve from Scottish Templars. Whatever, this only adds to the mystery of the Knights Templar.
ktob.com lordneilgibson.com lordneilbenjamingibson.com lordneilbgibson.comlordneilgibson.com
The personal name Gilbert was introduced into Britain by followers of William the Conqueror after the Norman Invasion of 1066. The Norman name was originally found as Gislebert or Gillebert, and is composed of the Germanic elements Gisil, meaning "hostage" or "noble youth", and berht, meaning "bright" or "famous". Gilbert became a very popular given name in England during the Middle Ages. Lord Neil B Gibson's ancestor were rumored to be part of the group who were believed to be related to Hugh de Payens. Some even believe Lord Gibson was a descendent of Hugh de Payens. There are some records of a Templar meeting in Belize South America where Lord Neil B Gibson was regressed, by a member of the High commission. In the experience it was witnessed that Lord Neil Gibson gave the signs of being a descendent of Hugh de Payens. There as been many other people regressed in the same manner, which show there connection to other famous Knights Templar leaders. The history of the Knights Templar is as follows.
The Knights Templar were formed in 1118 by Hugh de Payens in order to protect the road to Jerusalem from the Muslims and Jews. They were a combination of monk and soldier, similar to the Knights Hospitaller formed earlier to treat the sick from the crusades. Both orders spread quickly throughout Europe and it is probably in the reign of David I that both were endowed lands in Scotland. The Knights Templar were granted lands near Drumchapel:- Temple (hence the name, at Anniesland), Jordanhill (named after the middle-eastern land by the Templars) and the surrounding woodland that became known as Knightswood; parts of Knightswood are named North and South Templar. Both Sides of the burn states: 'Most of Knightswood estate was a detached portion of Jordanhill estate though much had an ancient and honourable history of its own. The name commemorates the Knights Templar who had been granted these lands and the wood for their services in the crusades.'
As the fighting in the middle-east worsened, Cyprus became the headquarters of the order. The master of the Scottish templars answered to the English master; who answered to the French master; who answered to the Cypriot grand master. National patriotism came second to the templar vocation, and the templars became a wealthy international agency skilled in banking and shipbuilding. Scottish knights were often found in other European countries and English knights often ran the Scottish templar bases.
The history of the Knights Templar is intertwined with the Wars of Independence between Scotland and England, of stories of Wallace and Bruce. Sir William Wallace is said to have killed Brian le Jay, the English master, and John de Soutre, the Scottish master, after the battle of Falkirk. Yet, the Templar knights are reputed to be present at Bannockburn fighting alongside Bruce. Their switching of allegiance is a story worthy of recount.
King Philip IV of France, 'the fair', became in need of money. He disliked the Knights Templar for a number of reasons:- When he was younger they had refused him entry to become a knight; he owed them money; and the Templars sided with Pope Boniface VIII when Philip was in dispute with the Pope. Boniface later died in 1303, and after the short papal reign of Benedict XI, in 1305 a French cardinal based in Avignon became Pope as Clement V. He was to prove a puppet of the French king.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, Robert the Bruce killed Comyn in a church at Dumfries. For this sin, he was excommunicated by Clement V just 6 weeks after his coronation as King of Scots in 1306. The Scots cause looked weak, ruled by the English, with an excommunicated King with only a guerrilla army of support. But under Bruce's leadership the Scots started gaining the upper hand.
In October 1307, Friday 13th - hence the superstition surrounding the date and the phrase 'Unlucky for some' - Philip IV had every French templar knight that he could arrested. He brought against them charges of denying Christ, sodomy, and worshipping an idol called Baphomet. Through torture he obtained confessions but many knights chose to die rather than lie and impune their order. These confessions he presented to Clement V who issued a bull ordering the templar knights be arrested in every country and their property seized.
Edward II now clung to power in Scotland. He arrested the Scottish templars and they were tried at Holyrood on 17th November 1309. Due to the resistance of the Scottish army, the court returned a not proven verdict but the order was 'abolished' in 1312. In reality, the Templar Knights were merged with the Hospitallers, and the master of the combined order sat in the Scottish Parliament as the Grand Prior of the Hospital and the Temple.
Fleeing knights from France and elsewhere sought sanctuary. Scotland, its king excommunicated by the Pope and in need of trained soldiers, became the obvious refuge. Tradition states that Bruce himself was a Templar Knight. Thus the Templar's switch of allegiance to the Scots side against the English, and their reputed presence at Bannockburn. The defeated Edward II seized the Templar property in England in the following year, strong circumstancial evidence of their helping the Scots.
Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh in their book The Temple and the Lodge identified some templar graves in Argyll, near the Lennox. They write 'most are the work of a group of sculptors working around Loch Awe in the late 14th to 15th centuries.' Left is an effigy of a knight at Old Kilpatrick Parish Church graveyard in the Lennox. Baigent and Leigh further state 'According to the practice of the time, the dead man's sword would be laid on the stone. Its outline would be incised and chiselled. The carving would thus reflect precisely the dimensions, shape and style of the original weapon.'.
The order began to take on a more Scottish character than before and more Scottish knights are found in its membership. The knights acted as clergy in many parishes until the reformation. Families such as the Sinclairs, Hamiltons and Montgomerys all have strong Templar associations. It comes as no surprise then to find Hamiltons in possession of many lands around the area of Drumchapel, Law, Cochno and the rest of the Lennox, considering the close proximity of the Knights at Temple, Jordanhill and Knightswood. Montgomerys are found as priests of St. Mary's Chapel, Drumry - probably as a family concern from Gilbert, the first priest noted, but certainly from Thomas Montgomery to the last priest Bartholomew Montgomery.
The name of the church hints at Templar origins. The dedication to the Virgin Mary is a common one among templar churches; Helen Nicholson's The Knight's Templar: A new history notes that the Virgin Mary was seen as the patron and lady of the order. Graham Hancock in his The Sign and Seal reveals why. He notes that the Virgin Mary is symbollised both with the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant, both of which the Templars are linked:-The knights were originally based in the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem which once held the Ark of the Covenant; and traditionally the Knights Templar were the guardians of the grail. The grail is also linked with King Arthur and brings us back to Nennius' eighth battle..
The eighth battle was in Guinnon fort, and in it Arthur carried the image of the holy Mary, the everlasting virgin, on his shield, and the pagans were put to flight on that day, and through the power of Jesus Christ and the power of the virgin Mary there was great slaughter
Thus it may be that through both the Templar origins and the local history of Arthur that the church was so named. It may even have started as a templar church.
Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, sailing to North America in 1398 - well before Christopher Columbus - adds further glamour to the Templars. A ancient stone found in Nova Scotia with the 14th century etching of the Sinclair crest and map of the coast seem to back this claim (see Scotsman Online for details). Legend has it that Freemasonry was to evolve from Scottish Templars. Whatever, this only adds to the mystery of the Knights Templar.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)