User blog comment:Master Sima Yi/Assassinews 02-03-'12 — Leaked AC3 info!/@comment-139.55.52.61-20120303001357/@comment-1153722-20120303140355

Freemasons had practices and rituals similar to the real life Templars, but seeing as the Templars in AC canon are not alike their real life equivalent, Freemasons cannot be classified as Templars. The Illuminati can, however.