The orders of knighthood are the pinnacle of the York Rite, and serve to explain the Christian interpretations and applications of Freemasonry. These orders are very chivalric in nature, and represent some of the most solemn and beautiful work in all of Freemasonry. The Chivalric orders are:

• The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
• The Order of Malta
• The Order of the Temple (or Knights Templar)

Order of the Red Cross

As the first step in a Commandery of Knights Templar, the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross continues the story of the Royal Arch and deals with a period in Jewish 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, peculiar to the United States, teaches the lessons of the triumph of Truth.

Be Sure to sign in our guest book on our contact page

Order of Knight of Malta

The second Order in the Commandery is the Knight of Malta with its pass degree of Knight of St. Paul or the Mediterranean Pass.  This Order is the first Christian Order encountered by the candidate.  The ritual is based historically upon one of the old Orders of the Crusades.

Order of the Temple

This is the third and most impressive Order of the Commandery and is wholly Christian.   The Templar tradition derives from the Society of the same name which played so important a part in the Crusades of the Middle Ages.  Beautiful lessons of the death and ascension of our Savior are inculcated and the candidate is received into full fellowship, in the most solemn manner.