New South FAITH UNITY ZEAL The Grand Imperial Conclave Conclaves for New South Wales

Hunter No. 4 Northern at New Lambton and Marquis of Ailsa No. 5 Northern at Grafton Australian Capital Territory Renown (Daylight) No. 6 Northern at Manila Unity No. 7 Central at Willoughby Capital No. 12 Southern at Goulburn R L Loyd No. 14 Central at Ambarvale Faith No. 15 Southern at Bulli Randwick Strathfield No. 19 Central at Petersham Ophir No. 20 Western at Bathurst William Rees No. 21 Western at Parkes Southern Cross No. 29 Southern at Nowra The Masonic and Far South Coast No. 30 Southern at Moruya Rose of Sharon No. 31 Northern at Tweed Heads Military Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Grand Recorder R. Ill. Kt. Ray Wall, KCC Constantine and the

Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0408 284 029 Orders of the Holy www.constantine-masons-nsw-act.org.au Sepulchre and St. John

the Evangelist

Form FLY. Version: 1/2018

Introduction to the Order History of the Order

The 2nd Degree is that of Venerable Eusebius and is one Candidates for this Order see how In the early 1800’s, there were a number of Bodies, Masonic and otherwise, using the name Red Cross which have of the symbolic Priesthoods. A Knight who has attained can be embraced with by confused the early history of this Order. However, there is no this status is eligible for the office of Eminent Viceroy in a doubt that the present Order was re-organised and firmly learning how the legend of the Emperor Conclave provided he is a member of the Appendant established by Robert Wentworth Little in 1865. Constantine’s conversion to Christianity is set Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St. John the within Masonic Ritual linked with the history It was an Order which once started, spread rapidly and in the Evangelist and that he is regularly elected to that office. of the Roman Empire. first decade, over a hundred Conclaves were chartered. The ‘Masonic’ Order of the Red Cross of Constantine The 3rd Degree is confined to the Most Puissant There are two parts to this Christian Order: appears to have been first organised in the Sovereign, who represents Constantine, Sovereign-Prince by Charles Shirreff about 1780 AD, and was re-organised in of the East and West. A Sovereign shall have served for The Red Cross of Constantine 1804 by Waller Rodwell Wright. one year in the office of Viceroy in a regular Conclave. This Degree completes the Rite of the Red Cross of The first ceremony consists of the candidate’s During the next fifty years the Order was not very active Constantine. admission, obligation and installation as a until 1865 Grand Imperial Conclave was reassembled for the Knight Companion of the Red Cross of election and enthronement of William Henry Wright. The Appendant Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St. Constantine, in which the historical basis of the John the Evangelist were attached to the Order of the Red Order is detailed. Since 1865 there had been steady and continuous working Cross of Constantine at an early date and a separate and daughter Grand Imperial Conclaves have been formed certificate is issued to members of this Order. There is no from throughout the world and in recent years, in connection, historically or ritually, between the Masonic The Knight of the Holy , and . Degree of Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and the mediaeval Military Order of the same name, which is said to have The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine belongs to the Sepulchre and of St. John the been founded in the eleventh century. Evangelist ‘East and West’ class of Initiatory Rites and consists of three degrees of Knight, Priest-Mason and Prince-Mason and titles The qualification required for membership to the Red In the ceremonies of the Knights of the Holy which represent grades in the scale of Initiation. Cross of Constantine is that of Companion in a Royal Arch Chapter and to profess a belief in the Trinitarian Christian Sepulchre and of St. John the Evangelist, this The 1st Degree of the Order, that of Knight Companion, Faith. An invitation to join is not required. If you would knowledge is further explained and the leads from the Pagan Dispensation to the Christian, using the like further information about this Order, or details of how ultimate aims of Freemasonry are revealed. Legend of as a symbol of that to join the Red Cross of Constantine please email or phone These latter ceremonies, together with the two conversion. The candidate comes as a ‘Knight of Rome’ the Grand Recorder. Installation ceremonies which lead to the desiring to embrace Christianity, and he must, in accordance with the General Statutes of the Order, be a Royal Arch principal chairs, are probably the most We very much look forward to hearing from you. impressive ceremonies in Freemasonry. Mason.

Form FLY. Version: 1/2018