I came across this article written by G. Cliff Porter, a Master Mason in El Paso County, Colorado, recently.  While it specifically relates to Freemasonry, I thought that it related sufficiently well to  Templars that I would share excerpts.

Brother Porter opens his paper with an observation about our changing culture.  It is eloquent enough that I present it in its entirety:

"Remember a time when a man could dance the tango, quote Shakespeare, hold a door for a lady, but hold his own in a fight?  I don't.  I am a Gen X'er, the generation of fatherless sons who have learned mixed ideas about manhood being either that of a man who wears pink polo shirts and cries at lots of movies or some hyper-machismo blockhead who goes through life kicking and punching."

It seems that such a rebellious and wayward nature has become common place in our culture.  I don't think that there was a time where it ever was NOT.  I think that there were times, however, where there were sufficiently strong examples of "warrior poets" that culture could look towards to offset the waywardness of the common individual.  From Brother Porter's perspective Masonry is one such institution:

"So in comes the lost art of Masonry.  Chisel and maul in hand, the speculative Craft seeks to hone men from the rough stone of youth, uncertainty, and intolerance.  Masonry raises warrior poets--a man that can hug his Brother, pray with a widow, and wield a sword.  The man who received little in the way of training in discourse, is taught to stand up in lodge provide a detailed plan, and make a motion for an idea that he believes could benefit the lodge and his brothers.  He practices rhetoric in explaining the progression of his theory, he practices logic in refining his theory when presented wtih obstacles that prove correct and help to improve the idea.  He moves through the chairs and one day wields the gavel of authority and, in doing so, he learns the necessity of humility and discretion."

Masonry, we are told, provides a relatively "safe" environment where the "rough stone of youth, uncertainty, and intolerance" may be polished to provide the experiences necessary to help one develop on "the Way".  For those who imagine that  such a  fraternity, or society, or  "men's club" is for the weak, Brother Porter  holds otherwise:

"The obligations are not those of a weak spine.  They teach the necessity for a gentle spirit in caring for widows and orphans; at the same time recognizing the necessity for action; allowing that we should not strike in anger, providing the whispered message, [however],  that the ability to strike is one of the working tools of a Mason. We are taught that strength in spirit, and courage in faith, hope, and charity,  [when wielded by a man of his word], are more powerful than the sword of metal [wielded] by a despotic man or government."

In Masonry, Brother Porter points out:

"We learn to appreciate 'art' and recognize the downfalls and pleasures of power as we are faced with the dangers of mob rule, organized orthodoxy, and misguided desires in our Master Mason degree.  At the same time, the road is perilous and we are confronted with the need for real courage in the face of physical danger.  We are taught of the need for physical consequences for weakness of spirit in the penalties inflicted upon these unjust and uncaring Fellows of the Craft.  We learn that an apology is correct, but that it does not negate the requirement of justice."

I found Brother Porter's conclusion to be MOST eloquent, and that it certainly applies to most Knight Templar organizations:

"We are taught the art of the Warrior Poet, my friends.  Educate yourselves so that we can educate others; arm a society with a sword of truth and public education against the tyranny of despotism whether material or spiritual."

I found wiki answers definition of a warrior poet  to be most interesting"

"The Warrior-Poet is the several thousand-year-old tradition of dedication to developing the body and the mind as one. The bushido warrior code of ancient Japan, the Shambhala teachings of Tibet, the chivalrous knights of medieval Europe, and the ancient Greek warriors are all examples of this proud tradition."

"The Warrior-Poet retains a mysteriously ancient aura, a member of the leadership class who guides with wisdom and courage. They are defined by their dedication to their crafts of warfare, and intellectual study and reflection."

"The Warrior-Poet learns to develop the mind and the body as one, using each to guide the other. The Warrior-Poet is also a spiritual warrior. The warrior-poet understands their true relationship to the heaven and the earth. They understand that they embody the heavenly representation to the earth, and the earthly representation to the heavens. In other words, it is up to the warrior-poet to balance the cruel realities of the earth, while living by the standards of the heavens."

THAT, Knights, Companions, Friends, and Guests, IS "The Way".  The path tread by many of the Freemasons, the Martial Artists, the Templars, the warrior monks, and others, is the way of the warrior-poet. 

This is the Way that we strive to share:  one is not bound to live a life where immaturity,  uncertainty, and intolerance are the rule.  One MAY choose to balance the cruel realities of our physical nature with living the standards of the heavens.  We choose to call this the Way of the Templar. 

We are warrior-poets my friends.  Educate yourself so that we can educate others that the realities of the physical may be balanced with the realities of the spiritual.  This is the Way.