Editing York Rite (section)

===Knights Templar (Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A.)===
[[File:Knights Templar Logo (Freemasonry).svg|thumb|right|150px|A [[Cross and Crown|crowned Passion Cross]] laid upon the [[Cross pattée]] inscribed with "{{lang|la|[[In Hoc Signo Vinces]]|italic=no}}" resting upon crossed swords is often used in to represent the Knights Templar]]
{{Main|Knights Templar (Freemasonry)}}
The [[Knights Templar (Freemasonry)|Knights Templar]] is the final order joined in the York Rite. Unlike other Masonic bodies which only require a belief in a [[God|Supreme Being]] regardless of religion, membership in the Knights Templar is open only to [[Christianity|Christian]] Masons who have completed their Royal Arch and in some jurisdictions their Cryptic Degrees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knightstemplar.org/faq1.html#member |title=Faq/Info |access-date=September 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831070625/http://www.knightstemplar.org/faq1.html |archive-date=August 31, 2009 }} [Knights Templar FAQ – How to Become a Knight Templar]</ref> This body is modeled on the historical [[Knights Templar]] to carry on the spirit of their organization. Throughout history it has been claimed that Freemasonry itself was founded by the Knights Templar or that the Knights Templar took refuge in Freemasonry after their persecution. The Grand Encampment of the United States acknowledges the existence of these theories but states that there is no proof to justify such claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knightstemplar.org/faq1.html#origin |title=Faq/Info |access-date=September 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831070625/http://www.knightstemplar.org/faq1.html |archive-date=August 31, 2009 }} [Knights Templar FAQ], accessed January 10, 2007.</ref>

A local Knights Templar division is called a [[Commandery (feudalism)|Commandery]] and operates under a state level Grand Commandery as well as The Grand Encampment of the United States. This is unique among Masonic bodies as most report to the state level alone. The Knights Templar confer three orders, and one passing order as opposed to the standard degree system found elsewhere in Freemasonry:

*''The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross''
*''The Passing Order of St. Paul (or the Mediterranean Pass)
*''The Order of the Knights of Malta'' (or simply ''Order of Malta'')
*''The Order of the Temple''