During the Nazi occupation of Belgium, all secret and discreet associations were forbidden. The Magisterial Council was forced to send a list of members and their archives to the Germans.
However, Br Emiel Isaac secretly transferred the archive to Portugal, via Br. Charel Holemans, on the condition that it they to be returned to the seat of Belgium after the occupation.
Br Emiel Issac dies (presumed murdered by the Nazi's). The Grand Prior of Portugal, Don Antonio de Sousa Fontes, refuses to return the archive and calls himself the Regent of the Order.
Antonio de Sousa Fontes issues new statutes stating that the position of Regent can be hereditary. This is in complete violation of the Rule and the Statutes of 1128 and of 1705.
Another attempt to get the Vatican to rennounce the dissolution fails.
Antonio de Sousa Fontes dies and legacies his son Fernado de Sousa Fontes the position of Regent.
All Grand Priests protest against this and demand that the archive be returned to France.
A General Chapter is convened at the request of the Grand Priests with 2 clear points on the agenda:
1. The return of the archive by Fernado de Sousa Fontes.
2. An election of the Grand Master.
Fernado de Sousa Fontes is present and claims he has papers stating that Br. Emiel Issac transferred Regency over to his father. This turned out to be fake. An election is held and Br Antoni (Daniel) Zdrojewski is proclaimed the 49th Grand Master of the Order of the Temple. Fernado refused to recognise the new Grand Master and tore away from the Order and founded the OSMTH (Latin for OSMTJ).
After this schism, Fernado was expelled from the Order along with any supporters.
Due to ill-health, Grand Master Br Antoni (Daniel) Zdrojewski resigned and ordered that Seneschal Georges Lamirand become his replacement. This was subsequently confirmed by a General Chapter.
Grand Master Georges Lamirand proposed Br. Michel Vanderstock, then Chancellor, as Seneschal of the Order.
In order to escape a new legislative amendment in France, the Grand Master's (archive) is transferred to Chimay by order of General Chapter.
Seneschal Br Michel Van Der Stock is elected in Faïcchio (Benevento, Italy) as the 51st Grand Master of Order of the Temple.
The Order celebrates 900 years of existance over it's 2 periods in history.
Following the death of Grand Master Br. Michel Van Der Stock, at the age of 88, the Grand Prior of Italy, Br. Augusto Straffi, is elected as the 52nd Grand Master of the Order of the Temple.