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The Great Priory of Scotland of the United Religious and Military Orders of the Temple and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, and Malta.

The modern masonic order of Knights Templar is based on the historical events associated with two great military and religious Orders that existed at the time of the Crusades. The full title of the Order represents the joining together of the two Orders, which at the time of their existence, while not actual enemies, were militant rivals. Those Orders are commonly referred to as Knights Templar (the Order of the Temple) and Knights Hospitaller (the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, and Malta). No evidence exists of any connection between the great medieval Orders and the modern masonic Orders.

The earliest references to masonic Templar activity are to be found in Ireland and the Official History of the Order in Scotland, ‘Pour La Foy – A Short History of the Great Priory of Scotland’ (Fraffen 1949) indicates that early in the nineteenth century the Early Grand Encampment of Ireland issued a number of charters for Templar Encampments in Scotland. The Encampments worked in close connection to Craft Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters. In addition, there were a number of other encampments at that time, associated with Craft Lodges, which are believed to have drawn their ceremonies from Templar encampments in Europe.

In 1809 a body known as the ‘Grand Assembly of Knights Templar in Edinburgh’ proceeded to seek a charter from the Duke of Kent, Grand Master of the Order in England. In 1811 the Duke granted a charter setting up the ‘Royal Grand Conclave of Scotland’ to take over the Order in Scotland. However, many encampments which had been issued by Irish charters refused to join the new body and in 1826 formed themselves into a body titled the ‘Early Grand Encampment of Scotland”. Despite several attempts at achieving a union of the two bodies, it was not until 1909 that a unit was achieved under the Great Priory of Scotland.

The Great Priory of Scotland is based in Edinburgh and has 21 District Grand Priories under its control, seven of which are in Scotland with the remainder located in the Caribbean, Africa, South America, and Australia. Each District Grand Priory has one or more Preceptories under its control. The first District Grand Priory in New South Wales was constituted in 1882 and re-constituted in 1922. The District Grand Priory of NSW meets bi-annually in the months of March and September whilst Preceptories meet quarterly.

The Order of the Temple:
Confers the Grades (Degrees) of Pilgrim, Esquire and Knight, firstly reflecting on the traveller’s journey to the Holy Land, and seeking shelter, secondly his offering of service and finally serving others as a Knight of the Order. The Knights are collectively called Fratres.

The Order of Malta:
Confers Grades (Degrees) of Knight of St. Paul or Mediterranean Pass, and Knight of St. John of Jerusalem reflecting firstly the journey of Paul, the apostle and his arrival at Malta and secondly the journey of the Knights Hospitaller from Palestine to Malta. These Grades are conferred annually in a Priory attached to a Preceptory or at a District Grand Priory Muster.

The Regalia of the Order is most impressive, being based on that of the medieval Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller.

The Order is a Christian Order and Aspirants (Candidates) must profess the Christian Faith, have a belief in the Holy Trinity, and be both a Master Mason and a Royal Arch Companion in good standing in a Craft Lodge and a Royal Arch Chapter under any Grand Body recognized as regular and in amity with the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland respectively.