The position of the Order of Knight Masons among the Masonic appendant bodies in England and Wales
The Order of Knight Masons is a chivalric Masonic order open to all Master Masons who are also members of a Mark Lodge and a Royal Arch Chapter. Members of the Order meet in Councils of Knight Masons, which are governed by the Grand Council of Knight Masons based in Dublin, Ireland. A member of the Order is known as a Knight Mason.
The Order was formally established in 1923 with the formation of the Grand Council, tasked with preserving and standardizing a set of Masonic degrees that had historically been practiced in various forms across different Masonic bodies.[1] These degrees, collectively known as the Red Cross or Babylonian Degrees, had been transmitted, often in abridged versions, through Royal Arch Chapters and Knights Templar Preceptories since at least the early 18th century.[1][2] The Irish expressions of these degrees, distinguished by their symbolic depth and ceremonial detail, were consolidated under a single governing authority to ensure their continuation.[1][2]
Degrees
The Order of Knight Masons confers three degrees, collectively known as the Red Cross Degrees or Babylonian Degrees. These rituals are rooted in events following the Babylonian captivity and center on the return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Second Temple.[2][3] The principal character in all three degrees is Zerubbabel, a prince of the House of Judah.
The degrees are as follows:
Knight of the Sword (formerly Red Cross of Daniel or Babylonian Pass): Focuses on Zerubbabel’s visit to the court of King Cyrus of Persia.[2]
Knight of the East (formerly Jordan Pass): Covers Zerubbabel’s later visit to the court of King Darius.[2]
Knight of the East and West (formerly Royal Order): Depicts Zerubbabel’s return to his fellow countrymen in Jerusalem.[2]
Membership
Membership in the Order of Knight Masons is open to Master Masons who are also subscribing members of a Mark Master Mason lodge and a Royal Arch Mason chapter. A candidate must typically have held membership in both the Mark and Royal Arch bodies for at least one year prior to petitioning for admission.[2]
Unlike certain invitational Masonic orders, the Order of Knight Masons does not require a formal invitation. Eligible Brethren are encouraged to inquire and apply of their own initiative.[2]
Councils of Knight Masons
Councils of Knight Masons are the fundamental administrative and ceremonial units of the Order. Each Council is presided over by an Excellent Chief, supported by two principal officers: the Senior Knight and the Junior Knight.[4] In some jurisdictions, the Excellent Chief is elected from among the Senior and Junior Knights.[4]
Councils operate under the jurisdiction of the Grand Council of Knight Masons and may be grouped into Provinces where warranted by geography and membership.
Provinces and Structure
The Grand Council of Knight Masons is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and oversees all constituent Councils globally.[2] Councils are typically grouped into Provinces, each managed by a Provincial Grand Council. These Provinces serve as administrative divisions that help coordinate local activities and ceremonial work, under the broader authority of the Grand Council.
Some notable Provinces include Greater Belfast, Leinster, Greece, and the two regional jurisdictions in England: "England & Wales (North)" and "England & Wales (South)".[5] In jurisdictions where no Province has yet been established, Councils report directly to the Grand Council.
History and Geographical Presence
Origins and Development
The origins of Knight Masonry trace back to a set of degrees informally conferred in Ireland through various Masonic bodies, including Royal Arch Chapters and Knights Templar Preceptories.[1][2] These degrees, while not uniformly practiced, were preserved in multiple forms across centuries. By the early 20th century, the distinctiveness of the Irish versions (characterized by their symbolic richness and ritual elaboration) prompted the formation of the Grand Council of Knight Masons in 1923.[1][2] This body was established to standardize the rituals and provide formal structure to their transmission, ensuring their continuity within a uniquely Irish Masonic tradition.
Geographical Expansion
The Order later expanded beyond Ireland into numerous countries:
Australia: The Order of Knight Masons has an established presence in Australia, where it operates as a Province under the Grand Council.[5] The Province comprises seven Councils across several states: Samuel R.A. Hogg Council No. 39 in Melbourne (Victoria), Nebuchadnezzar Council No. 85 in Launceston (Tasmania), Esdras Council No. 90 in Williamstown (Victoria), Duke of Leinster Council No. 93 in Adelaide (South Australia), Ecbatana Council No. 94 in Ringwood (Victoria), Leinster Marine Council No. 95 in Sydney (New South Wales), and Achmeta Council No. 55 in Brisbane (Queensland).[4]
England: In England there are two councils in London (meeting at Mark Masons' Hall), with others in Birmingham, Southend, Gillingham (Kent), Howden (Yorkshire), Gateshead, and Sutton (Surrey).[6] During 2016, two new councils were constituted in England at Leeds, and Plymouth,[7] with another later constituted at Leyland (Lancashire), taking the English total to eleven. The two local provinces are named "England & Wales (North)" and "England & Wales (South)", although there are no councils actually situated within Wales.[citation needed]
Greece: Knight Masonry was introduced to Greece in 2008 when fifteen brethren of the National Grand Lodge of Greece received the degrees in Dublin from Babylon Council No. 6.[8] This event led to the establishment of Council Alethia No. 96 in Athens in 2009. Additional Councils followed: Eleftheria No. 99 in Piraeus (2011), Amici Fedeli No. 106 in Zakynthos (2014), Temple of Jerusalem No. 109 in Athens (2016), and Hibernia No. 116 in Corfu (2023). The Province of Greece was officially formed in 2014 with the installation of its first Provincial Grand Officers.[8]
Israel: The Knight of the Sword, Knight of the East, and Knight of the East & West are conferred as the "Degrees of Captivity" by the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Israel upon masons who have already received the Royal Arch degree. The degrees are conferred in English and in Hebrew. The English language ritual follows the Scottish model, while the Hebrew ritual is largely a translation of the Scottish.[citation needed]
United States: In the US, Knight Masonry quickly flourished and eventually some American Councils formed a separate Grand Council of the U.S.A. This Grand Council governs Councils within many States within the US, however access to American Councils is strictly by invitation only, within the York Rite.[9] Councils in the State of Ohio did not join the new Grand Council of the USA, but have chosen to remain a province under the original (Irish) Grand Council.[5]
The Joseph Karmel Benevolent Fund was established in 1959 through a donation by the children of the late Very Excellent Sir Knight Joseph M. Karmel. He was a long-serving and devoted member of the Order, and the fund was created to perpetuate his name and legacy. The establishment of the fund was announced by the then Most Excellent Great Chief, Sir Knight Joseph H. Hamill.[10]
The Fund is the only charitable entity within Irish appendant Freemasonry that is directly administered by an appendant body. Its mission is to provide timely emergency assistance to Knight Masons, their widows, or children who may be facing financial hardship.[10]
Notes
While similar degrees exist in appendant Masonic systems such as the Allied Masonic Degrees, the York Rite, and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the Irish workings are considered uniquely detailed.[citation needed] These versions vary in ritual structure and interpretation, reflecting the independent evolution of the Irish Knight Mason degrees.
The majority of available sources on the Order of Knight Masons are produced by Masonic bodies or affiliated authors, which is not uncommon for organizations of this nature. This presents challenges for comprehensive coverage from a strictly non-affiliated perspective.
↑ Speidel, Fredrick G. (1989). The York Rite of Freemasonry: A History and Handbook. Chicago, Illinois: Grand Encampment of Knights Templars U.S.A. p.76.
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