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What is the Order Structure of the Commandery?
Ancient Craft Masonry as
portrayed in the Symbolic Lodge and as continued and amplified
in the York Rite Chapter and Council, embraces a faith in God,
is based upon the Old Testament of the Bible, and largely
pertains to events in connection with the building of King
Solomon's Temple, which was completed more than a thousand
years before the birth of Christ. Templary acknowledges Jesus
Christ as the risen and ascended Saviour, revealed in the New
Testament of the Holy Bible, hence Templary often is referred
to as Christian Masonry.
The present order of
Knights Templar is a lineal descendant or outgrowth of the
ancient order of Knights Templar organized in the year 1118
A.D. during the Holy Wars, called Crusades, waged by the Latin
Christians for possession of the Holy Land. The principle
objective of the Order was the protection of pilgrims on their
way to and from worship at the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem.
It was a semi-military and religious order, as, in a sense, is
the present order of Knights Templar, the Commandery.
The themes and manner of
presentation in the Commandery are entirely different from
those in the preceding bodies. The three steps of
advancement, termed orders instead of degrees, are the
Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, the Order of Malta, and
the Order of the Temple.
These Orders conferred
under the magnificient lighted cross in the finest Commandery
asylum in the world are truly inspiring experiences.
I.
The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
The first Order in the
Commandery is the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross. This
Order continues the story of the Royal Arch and deals with a
period in history at the time of the return of the Jews from
captivity and the efforts to rebuild the temple of their god
in Jerusalem. The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross teaches
the lessons of the triumph of Truth.
II.
The Order of Malta
The second Order in the
Commandery is the Order of Malta with its pass degree of
Knight of St. Paul or the Mediterranean Pass. This is the
first Christian Order encountered by the candidate, and is
based upon the experiences arising out of one of the
missionary journeys of St. Paul, the greatest apostle of the
Christian religion. The ritual is based historically upon one
of the old Orders of the crusades.
III.
The Order of the Temple
The third and final
Order of the Commandery is the Order of the Temple and is
wholly Christian. In this Order the candidate becomes a
Knight Templar and dons the Templar uniform. This is probably
the most impressive and beautiful Order in Masonry, and
develops the great moral lessons of Knighthood.
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