Knights Templar (Freemasonry)
The Knights Templar, full name The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta, is a fraternal order affiliated with Freemasonry. Unlike the initial degrees conferred in a regular Masonic Lodge, which (in all Regular Masonic jurisdictions) only require a belief in a Supreme Being regardless of religious affiliation, the Knights Templar is one of several additional Masonic Orders in which membership is open only to Freemasons who profess a belief in Christianity. One of the obligations entrants to the order are required to declare is to protect and defend the Christian faith. The word "United" in its full title indicates that more than one historical tradition and more than one actual order are jointly controlled within this system. The individual orders 'united' within this system are principally the Knights of the Temple (Knights Templar), the Knights of Malta, the Knights of St Paul, and only within the York Rite, the Knights of the Red Cross.
Celetná
The Knights Templar used to hold meetings at the Temple, at 27. After the ending of the Knights Templar in 1312, secret meetings were held by the Knights in the basement. The building then became a hospital, and then a home in 1784. Franz Kafka had connections to the street, having been a lawyer at Pachta Palace. The palace, at 36, is the former headquarters of the Prague Military Commandment starting in 1784 until 1849. Kafka lived from 1888 until 1889 with his family at the Sixt House at 2. He lived from 1896 until 1907 At the Three Kings, at 3. At the Golden Angel, at 29, is a former inn. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart stayed there. At the Red Eagle, at 21, is a former cafe. K.H. Mácha used to frequent it. In Jorge Luis Borges's story "The Secret Miracle" the main character, Jaromir Hladik resides on this street in March, 1939. A Piarists school used to be located at the Menhart House at 17. Giovanni Battista Alliprandi designed the building at 12, the Hrzan of Harasov Palace.