The Templars, the Francs Metiers, and Freemasonry 95Toulouse. It should also be noted that the lords of these provinces, just
like those of Flanders and Hainaut, were particularly numerous in the
earliest Crusades.^15
In conclusion of our discussion of Templar influence on the exis-
tence of associations, guilds, and the Freemasons, we can cite the case
of Metz, where the Templars had installed a commandery in 1133. As
Templar establishments in Cattenom, Gelucourt, Pierrevilliers, and
Richemont show, this initial commandery spread to surrounding areas.
In the framework of the territorial organization of the Order, the com-
mandery of Metz included in its jurisdiction the establishments of the
Trois Eveches, Lorraine, and the BarDuchy. By 1147, when Saint
Bernard himself came there to preach the second Crusade, the Temple
had deep roots in the Metz diocese. Interestingly, toward the end of the
thirteenth century a brotherhood of masons met in the oratory of the
Metz commandery. From 1285 we have the name Jennas Clowanges, li
maires de la prairie des massons dou Temple [Jennas Clowanges, mayor
of the brotherhood of the masons of the Temple]. In addition, a tomb-
stone discovered in 1861 in front of the chapel and now on display in
the Metz Museum recalls the memory of Freires Chapelens [Brother
Chapelens. He was master of the Temple of Lorene]. Ki fut Maistres des
Mazons dou Temple de Lorene, who lived for some twenty-three years
and died on la vigile de la Chandelour lan [Candlemas Eve]
M.CC.IIII.XX.VII [1287].^16
The Survival of the Templar CommunitiesThe communities of free and exempted craftsmen (francs metiers) under
the aegis of the Benedictines or the Templars did not vanish with the
appearance of oath-bound associations or with the emancipatory move-
ment of the communes from manorial bonds or, most important, with
the dissolution of the Templar Order.
As we have seen, the status of many abbeys, with the exception of
their manorial rights, was maintained for many centuries and royal
authority did not have the power to impose its edicts in those areas
under their jurisdiction. Interestingly, the crafts and trade exemptions
recognized by the abbeys were often retained by the cities following their