The Knights Templar and Knights of Malta

The full title of the Order is The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta, in England and Wales and Provinces Overseas.

The Order has two degrees, Knights Templar and Knights of Malta, joined by a ‘passing’ degree, Knight of St. Paul or Mediterranean Pass.

The governing body is the Great Priory and members meet in Preceptories (Knights Templar) and Priories (Knights of Malta). Candidates for installation must profess the Christian Faith and be members of the Craft and Royal Arch. The Malta Degree is only conferred on those who have taken the Templar Degree.

The Knights Templar probably originated in France where there was a revival of interest in Chivalric Orders in the 1740s. Evidence of it being worked in England dates back to 1777. The Knights Templar ritual in completely different from other Orders. It places the candidate in the position of a pilgrim travelling symbolically through hardship and dangers until he is received as a Knight. It teaches humilty and urges the candidate to live his life as a Christian Knight.

The Knights wear a costume similar to that of he mediaeval Templars – a white tunic bearing a red cross, a hooded mantle, a red velvet cap, a black sash and a sword. Rank is denoted by the type of cross and the addition of embroidered emblems on the mantle. The ritual of the Knights of Malta deals with their journey from Palestine to Malta. It emphasizes the Christian virtues. The Knights wear a red tunic with a white Maltese cross on the breast and a black hooded mantle with a white Maltese cross below the left shoulder, a black velvet cap and a sword. The wearing of Templar regalia in the Malta degree is allowed.

Under Great Priory the Order is organised into Provinces headed by a Provincial Prior (Right Eminent Knight) assisted by a Sub-Prior and Vice Chancellor and into Preceptories (Eminent Preceptor). The local Province of Northampton, Huntingdon and Bedford has twelve Preceptories each meeting on average three times in each year. There is an annual Provincial Meeting in April and a Provincial Malta Meeting in September. There is a Provincial Church Service for members, their families and friends every other year. This is quite a spectacle with Knights in full regalia parading with some fifteen colourful banners.

Candidates find that there is participation (non-speaking) from the start in various coordinated movements and sword drill.