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Commandery - Chivalric
Masonry - Knights Templar

The Commandery / Preceptory Orders

Article by Sir Knight Stephen Dafoe:
Past Grand Historian Of The Sovereign Great Priory of Canada Knights Templar

Masonic Templarism, unlike the preceding degrees of Masonry that a York Rite Mason has come through, is not multi-denominational. While Freemasonry prides itself to being open to all that believe in a Supreme Being, the Chivalric Degrees are a Christian order of Knighthood and the candidate for admission in them must profess a belief in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. To this end a common motto of the order is "Every Christian Mason should be a Knight Templar."

The Templars were a medieval monastic institution devoted to the protection of pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land after the end of the First Crusade. Established at Jerusalem in the year 1118, the order was the bulwark of Christendom for nearly two centuries until their demise in the year 1307. At this time they were arrested in France under charges of heresy.

Many historians have shown that the accusations were false and used by the king of France to allow him to take over their many assets.

While many authors have tried to paint a connection between the demise of the Templars and the birth of Freemasonry, Masonic Templarism makes no such claim of continuation. It does however pay homage to the knightly and Christian virtues possessed by the original to which we imitate.

The Chivalric system does not confer degrees but rather the ceremonies, in keeping with the military tradition, are called orders - orders of knighthood. These ceremonies are full of Christian symbolism and are among the most beautiful ceremonies in all of Freemasonry.

Requirements For Membership

Member of a recognized Craft Lodge (Master Mason)
Member of a recognized Chapter (Royal Arch Mason) *
Personally known by his sponsor and seconder
Well reputed for morals and gentlemanly conduct
Believer in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity ( a Christian)

* Some States (i.e California) May require one to be a member of a Council of Royal and Select Masters. (Cryptic Masonry)

The Chivalric Orders

The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross

The first order conferred in the chivalric system is the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross and the story contained within predates the era of the crusades. The candidate represents Zerubbabel who is well familiar to the Royal Arch Mason ( a requirement for admission) at the time of King Darius. Zerubbabel visits the king in order to convince him of his commitment to the Jewish people and in the process is asked to take part in a debate over which has greatest sway in the kingdom - wine, women or the king. The end result of the debate being the candidate offering a fourth option and an excellent argument is made on the power of Truth.

The Order of Malta

This is the first of the Christian Orders contained in the Chivalric system and relates the story of St. Paul's arrival on the island of Melita which we know today as Malta. In the next portion of the order the history of the Knights of St. John (Knights of Malta) is explained and the periods of the orders history is paralleled with the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. While Freemasonry often comes under attack by fundamentalists who view it as unchristian, the candidate for admission into this Christian order can offer clear argument to the contrary.

The Order of the Temple

The Order of the Temple of Knights Templar Order is the most beautiful in the series. The order is broken into three portions:

Novice
Installation
Consecration

These portions are sometimes conferred together but more often done on two or three separate occasions. During the ceremonies the candidate represents a knight of the era that succeeded the Crusades and vowed to visit the Holy Sepulcher. As a trial of his worthiness he must make a pilgrimage for seven years in the direction of the Holy Sepulcher. After having served six years of preparation he is commanded to devote the remaining year of preparation to penance. The ritual teaches beautiful lessons on the death and ascension of our Savior and the candidate is at last received into full fellowship, in the most solemn manner.

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