Knights Templar History and Medieval Resources: Dan Brown

I feel that it is my obligation to become familiar with Dan Brown's new novel, The Lost Symbol. It is unlikely that Brown will bypass any sort of mention of the Knights Templar in his book. Like most people I am content with just waiting for the bookstores to open their doors. However, it seems like the very beginning of the book has become available on Parade.com:
The Lost Symbol | Parade
Of course, this could be a hoax, but the site looks somewhat legitimate. So, cavete, but who knows...

The Washington monument in the eponymous capital of the United States is crowned with a metal cap. Among other inscriptions, the cap displays the words LAUS DEO, which in Latin means "Praise be to God", or more literally "Praise to God". The inscription most likely reveals some sort of Masonic connection.

More interestingly, Wikipedia informs us of the following:

Halfway up the steps of the monument is an inscription in Welsh: Fy iaith, fy ngwlad, fy nghenedl Cymru — Cymru am byth (My language, my land, my nation of Wales — Wales for ever). The reason for this inscription or its author is unknown.

Washington Monument (Wikipedia article)

At the very least we know that this is not some sort of Elfish language :) But seriously, "the reason for this inscription or its author is unknown"? You may wait for Dan Brown's new novel, "The Solomon Key", to find out what this inscription is all about. I am sure the truth will be most entertaining, as Dan Brown explores the dark secrets of Masonic symbolism in the nation's capital. But if you don't feel like waiting, here is what I uncovered:

"In 1834 a dinner was held by the Welsh residents of New York, presided over by E. W. Davis, and aided by T. Ingram Tones and the late Daniel L. Jones. The success of the dinner suggested the idea oi organizing a Welsh national society, and a draft of the constitution nnd by-laws for such a society was made. Out of this initiative grew the present St. David Society, which has helped hundreds of distressed Welshmen who have stranded on their arrival In the United States. Daniel L. Jones was president in 1863. Among its presidents have been Gen. Thomas L. James. Hon. Noah Davis, Ellis H. Roberts, the present United States Treasurer, and a score of other prominent Americans. It was through Mr. Jones that the government permitted a stone to be placed in the Washington monument to represent the little principality. This stone was imported from a quarry near Swansea. It bears the following inscription: Fy iaith. Fy Ngwlad, Ky Nghenedl. Wales. Cymru am Byth! Mr. Daniel L. Jones was a faithful, consistent and patriotic Welshman."

The Cambrian, a monthly magazine, Vol. XVIII, 1898.

Of course, it is still very suspicious that Welshmen be ever allowed to express their patriotic (and hence non-American) sentiments on this great obelisk. So, we shall see what Mr. Brown will be able to dig up.

Lambuth University has acquired a reproduction of the rare text Proceedings Against the Templars for display in the Luther L. Gobbel Library. An unveiling ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. today, according to a Lambuth press release.
...
On Monday, Lambuth will host an overview lecture about the Knights Templar at noon; "The Da Vinci Code" will be shown in the library at noon on April 1; Lambuth University Religion professors Gene Davenport and Cindy Wesley will debunk The Da Vinci Code and discuss myths of non-mainstream faiths in the library at noon on April 2.

Seriously? They will actually show "The Da Vinci Code" as a part of the festivities commemorating the purchase of a $9000 book published by the Vatican?

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 80309/1002

I was convinced that the theme of the Knights Templar would die out for a few years after being exploited to the max just recently. Apparently, Dan Brown thinks otherwise:

The whole industry is impatient. Book sales are generally sluggish, and one explosive, high-profile title can jump-start sales across the board as customers pour into the stores and walk out with a bagful of titles. When Bertelsmann AG reports 2007 results in March, it will be the first time since 2002 that it didn't get a boost from "The Da Vinci Code."

Meanwhile, the nation's biggest retailers can barely restrain themselves. "We're constantly asking," says Bob Wietrak, vice president of merchandising at Barnes & Noble Inc.

So where is the new novel? It's a mystery worthy of the deepest secrets of the Knights Templar. Mr. Brown, holed up in New Hampshire, isn't saying. His agent, Heide Lange, isn't, either.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120122061077215305.html

Well, I bet anything that Brown has been looking at this old book:

"Geschichte des Tempelherrenordens, nach dem vorhandenen und mehreren bisher unbenutzten Quellen" by Wilbelm Ferdinand Wilcke.

It is a rather early publication (1826-27) that seems to be full of all sorts of speculations, some of which possible went unnoticed in the ensuing amateurish Templar lore-passing.