Greetings and

Introductions

Welcome into the Asylum, Sir Knights

IN H

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Course Topics

✠Structure from Constituent Commanderies to the Grand

Encampment

✠Expectations of a Commandery, Officers, Knights; and the Ralph

Kirk Award

✠Uniforms, Regalia, and Procurement

✠Question and answer session

The order of the OrderOrganizational Structure of

Commandery

The Knightly food chain…

The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar U.S.A.

The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Minnesota

The Constituent (local) Commanderies of Minnesota

Who’s who

Marks of Office/RankConstituent Commanderies, by order

of rank

Eminent Commander Leader of a Commandery

Sets the Commandery to work as needed, and sets the annual calendar

Ensures that the Commandery is functioning within by-laws and constitutional guidelines

Elected

Comparable Lodge Office: Master

Generalissimo Second in command of a

Commandery, and in command in the Commander’s absence

Functions as a Commander’s emissary/prime minister

Greets and receives visiting Knights and Grand Officers

Elected

Comparable Lodge Office: Senior Warden

Captain General Primary commander of

maneuvers and drill-commander of a Commandery

The most difficult office to conduct in an inspection

Elected

Comparable Lodge Office: Junior Warden

Senior Warden Receives and guides pilgrim

warriors

Functions as deputy drill-master under the Captain General

Performs work in Orders similar to a Sr. Warden in Craft Lodge degrees

Elected

Comparable Lodge Office: Senior Deacon

Junior Warden Receives pilgrims

Performs work in Orders similar to a Jr. Warden in Craft Lodge degrees

Often functions as standard guard commander

Elected

Comparable Lodge Office: Junior Deacon

Prelate Charged with the spiritual

needs and guidance for the Knights of a Commandery

Performs religious services and observances

Comparable Lodge Office: Chaplain

Can be elected or appointed, depending on a constituent (local) Commandery’s by-laws

Treasurer Financial officer for a

Commandery

Receives monies from the recorder for deposit

Provides financial statements for a Commandery

Elected

Comparable Lodge Office: Treasurer

Recorder Records proceedings,

receives correspondence and petitions, and assists with agenda

Primary conduit of contact to the Grand Recorder

Elected

Comparable Lodge Office: Secretary

Standard Bearer “Senior NCO”/Aide-de-

camp for the Commander

Highest Appointed Office (with possible exception of the Prelate)

Carries the Beauceant/U.S. Colors when marching

Comparable Lodge Office: Grand Lodge’s Standard Bearer

Sword Bearer Assists the Standard Bearer

Defends the Beauceant and Grand Standard

Appointed

Comparable Lodge Office: Grand Lodge’s Sword Bearer

Warder Is the interior door guard

Performs inner-door guard duties similar to a Jr. Deacon in Lodge.

Announces the entrance of the Commander, Grand Officers, Grand Inspecting Officer, and Grand Commander

Appointed

Comparable Lodge Office: Marshall

Sentinel Guards the Asylum outside

of the door

Usually coveted by Past Commanders

Appointed

Comparable Lodge Office: Tyler

Guards Most often 3 knights are

appointed (numbers can vary)

Function as support for Commander and in the Orders

Appointed

No comparable Lodge Office

Shoulderboards The dais officers (Commander,

Generalissimo, Capt. General) of a Commandery all wear gold shoulder boards, upon which is a green field and the mark of their respective station

The Prelate, Recorder, and Treasurer are only non-dais officers that wear shoulder boards on their Class-A jackets; and they are designed in the same fashion as the dais officers

Past Commanders wear gold shoulder boards with a red field, and a sunburst passion cross

Current Grand Commandery Officers wear gold shoulder boards with a red field and a gold Templar cross

Past Grand Commanders wear gold shoulder boards with a purple field and a gold Templar cross

Grand Encampment Officers wear gold shoulder boards with a purple field and a gold 2-armed Lorraine cross

The current Grand Master, and PGMs, wear gold shoulder boards with a purple field and a gold 3-armed Patriarchal cross

Your Commandery’s Officers

Commander

Generalissimo

Captain General

Senior Warden

Junior Warden

Warder

Standard Bearer

Sword Bearer

Sentinel

Prelate

Recorder

Treasurer

Guards (1-3)

Past Commander

These ranks, plus a couple more, are also found on the State and National level as well.

Common Grand Commandery Officers’

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✠Grand officers’ jewels will be wreathed

✠Grand Commandery also has the office of Deputy Grand Commander (addressed as “Very Eminent Deputy Grand Commander”

✠Grand Encampment officers wear their jewels on purple cords around their neck. The mark of their office sits atop the two-armed patriarchal cross that denotes G.E. Officers

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Grand Commandery of Knights

Templar of Minnesota

Right Eminent Grand Commander

Daniel Sherry, M.D.

The Grand Commandery is the State’s Grand body for Templary and all Constituent Commanderies in Minnesota.

Additionally, the Grand Commandery has several committees of importance regarding a host of issues and topics.

Grand Encampment of Knights

Templar- North Central Department

Right Eminent Department Commander Lauren Raoul

Handeland

The North Central Department of the Grand Encampment consists of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, the Dakotas, and Nebraska.GCKT

uniforms are less ornate than State Grand and Constituent Commanderies.

Grand Encampment of Knights Templar

Most Eminent Grand Master David Dixon

Goodwin

Has ultimate oversight of all Grand and Constituent Commanderies within the U.S., Italy, Germany, Croatia, Portugal, and the Philippines.

Sir Knight

Commander/Past Commander

Grand Commandery Officer/Commander

Past Grand Commander

Grand Encampment Officer

Grand Master of the Grand Encampment

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