Knights Templar

The Great Priory of the United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders
of the Temple and of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta
of England and Wales and its Provinces Overseas

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KT Clement 300According to legend, the Knights Templar was founded in 1118 AD to protect pilgrims heading for Jerusalem and the Christian Holy places, where the small band of warrior monks established a headquarters. In the year 1118 AD King Baldwin II granted the Templars quarters on the Temple Mount and this forms the link to the Royal Arch.

Many men, of noble birth, joined the ranks of the Templar Order. Those who were unable to join often gifted the Templars with land and other valuables.
Modern Masonic association with these medieval defenders of the Christian Holy places is linked by the ceremony of Installation in which the Candidate takes the part of a Pilgrim who, by symbolically embarking on a Crusade, is elevated to Knighthood.

The earliest reference to modern Masonic Knight Templar activity in England can be found in the minutes of the Chapter of Friendship (Royal Arch) in Portsmouth, dated 1778, where it was worked as an Appendant Degree. In 1791 a Grand Conclave was formed comprising seven ‘Encampments’ with Thomas Dunckerley as Grand Master. By 1873 ‘Grand Conclave’ was now known as ‘Great Priory’, and ‘Encampments’ were now known as ‘Preceptories’.

The ceremony is very realistic and the regalia spectacular, based upon that worn by the Medieval Knights.

Prospective Candidates must be a Master Mason, a Royal Arch Mason and Christian.

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2024 04 16 Grand Council RSM 061

On Tuesday, 16 April, the Grand Temple at the Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London, saw in excess of 400 Companions of the Royal and Select Masters join the annual meeting of Grand Council 2024. Taking centre stage was the new Ark of the Covenant which was dedicated at the special Sesquicentenary meeting last October.

The meeting was presided over by Grand Master, M.Ill.Comp. Kessick John Jones, IX, in his usual warm and welcoming manner.

After the initial business of Grand Council had been completed the Deputy Grand Master, R.Ill.Comp. His Hon. Ian Alexander, KC, IX, gave a heartfelt proposition of the re-election of the Grand Master which was seconded by R.Ill.Comp. Lt Cdr John Chambers, P.G.P.C.W., acting as G.P.CW. This was received with due acclamation.

The Grand Master gave a brief response to his re-election before turning his attention to the Deputy Grand Master, who was occupying the chair for the last time.

The Grand Master paid a warm and sincere tribute to his Deputy, thanking him for his years of dedicated service and wise counsel.

Then came the installation of R.Ill.Comp. Paul Anthony Norman, IX, as Dep.G.M., and the installation of R.Ill.Comp. Norman Dunkeld Millburn, IX, as G.P.C.W.

This being achieved, the Grand Master was delighted to confer Appointment to, or Promotion in, Grand Rank, on 147 Brethren and invest those present.

The Grand Master then gave his address (follow link below) and was then extremely pleased to welcome representatives from around the World, including: France, South and East Caribbean, South East Asia, Florida, India, Sri Lanka, Finland and Belgium. As well as the heads of other Masonic Orders who were attending to give their usual support to the meeting.

Thank you to all those who made such an effort to be present and make it a special occasion for their Companions and friends receiving Grand Rank. Our congratulations to all the recipients. We hope you had a very enjoyable day.

You can read the text of the Grand Masters address here.

You can access all the photos from here. 

Click here to get a taste of what it was like at the R.S.M. Grand Council 2024

Rulers

M.E. & S.Kt. Paul R. Clement, G.C.T.
Grand Master

V.H. & R.E.Kt. Andrew C. Rainbow, G.C.T.
Great Seneschal

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