French Bronze Cross "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES" Masonic/Templar Rites

A garage sale find this morning lead to some serious research on the lettering on this old Bronze Cross "In Hoc Signo Vinces". The literal translation is, IN THIS SIGN WIN but the early meaning was "In This Sign (cross) You Will Conquer". Jesus apparently appeared in the year 312, in a vision to Emperor Constantine, who was preparing to fight the Roman Emperor, and Jesus suggested that he use the symbol of the Cross in his battles. Constantine put the Cross on his standards and shields and was able to completely defeat and conquer the Roman Empire East and West thus spreading Christianity.
This particular cross and saying became the fighting symbols of the Knights Templar who continued the fight for Christianity throughout the Middle East. The Masonic movement that started at the time and followed the Templars' demise also used this Cross for certain of their degrees/rites.
Unlike the initial degrees conferred in a regular Masonic Lodge, which 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.
I had no idea that the Masonic Order had a special "Christian-Templar" degree, in fact, I always thought that they were probably a Protestant order that did not have the Corpus (Body) on their crosses.
This particular Cross is marked BRONZE FRANCE on the back and measures 3 3/8" by 2 3/8". Has anyone ever seen a similar cross and how old would this cross be?