CONSTITUTION, STATUTES, DISCIPLINARY RULES, STANDING RESOLUTIONS, CEREMONIES, FORMS AND APPROVED DECISIONS OF THE Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America 2019 EDITION Including Approved Decisions of the Grand Masters and all decisions 1910 through 2018 Revised March 28, 2019 CONSTITUTION OF THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PREAMBLE We, the Knights Templar of the United States, in order to secure unity and better government and to increase the prosperity and influence of Templary, which is declared to comprise the Orders of Christian Knighthood known as Red Cross, Knight of Malta and Knight Templar, do ordain and establish this Constitution. THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT NAME Section 1. This Body shall be designated and known as the “Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America.” Whatever may have been the recognized or accepted practice in years gone by, there is now no warrant for the use of the words, “and Appendant Orders” in the title of a Commandery or in conjunction with any Templar body. (1925, p. 92 &411 No. 34, Newby) MEMBERSHIP Section 2. Its members are and shall be: (a) All Past Grand Commanders of Grand Commanderies; (b) The Grand Commander, the Deputy Grand Commander, the Grand Generalissimo, and the Grand Captain General ofeach of the Grand Commanderies; (c) The Commander, Generalissimo and Captain General of each of the Subordinate Commanderies; (d) The Grand Prelate of the Grand Encampment; (e) All Knights Templar from other sovereign Grand Jurisdictions who, at any Triennial Conclave, have been elected honorary members. Such election, however, shall not confer the right to vote. (f) If not otherwise a member of the Grand Encampment, any Knight Templar having membership in a Commandery under the authority of the Grand Encampment who has served as Grand Prelate of the Grand Encampment for a for a period of time necessary to obtain permanent rank. Such persons will have status as honorary members of Grand Encampment. (2015) A Past Grand Commander who demits from membership in his Grand Commandery and affiliates in a Commandery under another Grand Commandery forfeits and loses his standing as a Past Grand Commander and his membership in the Grand Encampment and that standing can only be regained by serving in office in his new affiliation. (1910, p 108 & 248, No. 16, Rugg) A Grand Commandery, as such, is not a member of the Grand Encampment, and it cannot propose amendments. (1919, p 65 &311, No. 33 Smith) No vote accrues to the office of the Grand Captain General, he having died. (1937, p. 340, No. 25, Agnew) One does not need to be elected as Grand Commander to become a permanent member of the Grand Encampment or be elected as Commander to become a permanent member of a Grand Commandery. One who succeeds to the office of Grand Commander under Sections 49 and 50 of the Constitution and who serves the remainder of the term of office would become a Past Grand Commander and a permanent member of the Grand Encampment. The same process applies to a Grand Commander. (1949, p 75 &213, No. 4, Rice) A Deputy Grand Commander who is elected Grand Commander, and thereafter resigns, or removes permanently from his jurisdiction before completing his term of office, would not acquire the rank of Past Grand Commander nor become a member of the Grand Encampment. (1949, p 77 &214, No. 5, Rice) Section 2 of the Constitution of the Grand Encampment describes who are members thereof, and does not include Past Commanders of any Subordinate Commandery. They are not, therefore, member of the Grand Encampment and cannot vote therein. (1961, p. 52, No. 28b, Wieber) The Constitution of the Grand Encampment describes who are members thereof, and does not include Past Deputy Grand Commanders. They are not therefore, members of the Grand Encampment and cannot vote therein. (1967, p. 154, No. 13, Brucker) A Grand Commander who was removed from office for misconduct was granted Past Grand Rank by the Grand Master in an "attempt to treat Sir Knight XXX fairly". (2009, p. 72& 77,No. 4, Koon) JURISDICTION AND POWER Section 3. It has supreme legislative, judicial and executive power and jurisdiction over the Orders of Red Cross, Knight of Malta and Knight Templar within the United States of America and geographical regions over which the United States exercises jurisdiction. It has sole and exclusive power and authority to formulate and promulgate the Rituals covering the Rites, ceremonies and secret work pertaining to the several Orders, to be used within its Jurisdiction. It has the exclusive right to control and regulate the “Insignia of Rank”, “Shoulder Straps” and “Jewels of Office.” Among its powers, prerogatives and duties, not, however, to be construed as any limitation thereof, are the following: (a) It may adopt such Statutes, Rules, and Regulations, not contrary to or inconsistent with this Constitution, as it may consider necessary for the good of the Order. (b) - It may create Commanderies and Grand Commanderies under the terms specified in the constitution or statutes. It may also consolidate Subordinate Commanderies under its jurisdiction. (2012) (c) intentionally blank (2012) (d) It shall review the reports of its officers and the proceedings of Grand and Subordinate Commanderies and settle all controversies between Grand Commanderies. (e) It shall examine the accounts of all such Officers, Committees and Trustees as may have charge of or handle any of its funds or property. (f) It may create or establish charitable projects under the designation of "Knights Templar," and this power shall be ample and exclusive. No other Templar Body owing allegiance to the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar shall form or establish any charitable organization, association or corporation using in the name or title thereof, the designation "Knights Templar" or any combination of such words, without the written approval of the Grand Master or of the Grand Encampment. Any Templar Body owing allegiance to the Grand Encampment which may hereafter form or organize any such charitable organization or corporation, although not using the name or title herein prohibited, shall nevertheless provide in its Articles of Organization that the principal officers of the Templar Body forming any such charitable organization shall be members of the Board of Control of such organization so formed, and shall constitute a majority of the members of such Board of Control. (1955, p. 241)(1958, p. 305-309) The decisions of the Grand Encampment are final, and no appeal lies there from. In the case of Honorary titles the Constitution and not the ritual governs. (1913, p 54-55, No. 17, Melish) The Laws of a Grand Commandery must not be in conflict with the Laws of Grand Encampment. (1913, p 63-65, No. 24, Melish) As to the question of wording in the Lord's Prayer only the Grand Encampment has the power to alter the ritual and the wording used in the ritual is therefore the proper wording. (1916, p 38, No. 8, Mac Arthur) A Grand Commandery may prescribe a ceremony for its own opening so long as it does not conflict with the laws of the Grand Encampment. (1916, p45, No. 17, Mac Arthur) A Grand Commander may not pass an amendment to its constitution that is in conflict with the laws of the Grand Encampment. (1919, p 71 & 323, No. 43, Smith) When the Constitution and Laws of the Grand Encampment are changed so as to affect the language of the Ritual, such action automatically changes the Ritual to conform thereto. (1922, p 21 &267, No. 1, Orr) While the question of tactics is within the jurisdiction of the Grand Commanderies, the ritual shall be followed. (1922, p 27 &280, No. 15, Orr) The Grand Encampment may alter or abolish Commandery titles. One who has such a title retains the same as long as the law prescribes. (1925, p. 52 &387, No. 2, Newby) It is confirmed that resolutions repealing prior law apply only to laws passed previous to 1910. (1928, P. 58 & 310, No. 7, Vallery) When the ritual prescribes a procedure, that procedure must be complied followed. When it does not, each Grand Jurisdiction may adopt its own procedure. (1937, p 27& 325, No. 10, Agnew) When the Grand Encampment amends or revises its laws, the Statutes and Regulations of a Grand Commandery in conflict therewith should by promptly made to conform, regardless of any local requirement that amendments shall lie over for a year before action may be taken. (1937, p. 31 &330, No. 14 Agnew) Explanatory information in the ritual ceremonies are part of the ritual and therefore are controlling and shall be followed. (1937, p 35 & 335, No. 20, Agnew) The full form opening is part of the Ritual. The Ritual is all secret work. It is not to be exemplified in the presence of anyone who is not a Knight Templar in good standing.No Grand Commandery is authorized to permit any of the ritualistic work to be exemplified except in the secrecy of the asylum. (1937, p 42 &346, No. 3, Norris) Rituals are under the sole supervision and control of the Grand Encampment and may be published and issued by it alone. It is unlawful for any Commandery or member thereof to issue any others or print, publish or use any other. The rituals cannot be altered or abridged except by the Grand Encampment. Drill regulations are within the jurisdiction of the Grand Commandery. (1940, p 64 &281, No. 4, Norris) The words used in the Lord's Prayer are "Forgive us our debts" not "Forgive us our trespasses".