Greetings and Introductions Welcome into the Asylum, Sir Knights IN HOC SIGNO VINCES

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 Order Organizational 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/Rank Constituent 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’ Jewels Grand Commandery ✠ 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

Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Minnesota: Districts

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 Basic Rank and Jurisdiction Identifiers