HISTORICAL LINKS BETWEEN THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE AND THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH.
Most Royal Arch Masons don’t realise the close links that exist between the Holy Royal Arch and the Knights Templar degree.
The earliest reference to modern Masonic Knight Templar activity in England can be found in the minutes of the Chapter of Friendship (Royal Arch) in Portsmouth, dated 1778.
The Grand Lodge of York, from about the same time, practiced ceremonies that included a journey from the Craft on to the 4th degree (Royal Arch) and then the 5th degree (Knights Templar).
This connection was clear to them and highly cherished. Since one could only be admitted to the Knight Templar degree by first passing through the Royal Arch it was natural that there should be such a link which is referred to in the words addressed to the candidate, in some Preceptories, before they are installed as a Knight.
There is a further but more subtle link. Until relatively recently part of the Royal Arch ceremony included the revelation of the three-part true name of God. It was this secret which then ensured that the candidate for the next step of a Knight Templar was that he was in possession of the Trinitarian name of God which was required of everyone seeking knighthood.