Honors and Awards

Knights Templar Cross of Honor

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History

Prologue

• The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Minnesota will be celebrating its 150th anniversary. However, the history of Templary in Minnesota predates the formation of the Grand Commandery by at least a decade, when a group of Sir Knights petitioned the Grand Encampment for dispensation to establish Damascus Commandery in Saint Paul, Minnesota. During these formative years, three other Commanderies were granted dispensation, Zion Commandery in Minneapolis, Couer De Lion Commandery in Winona, and Mankato Commandery in Mankato. These four Commanderies met in Saint Paul on Monday, October 23, 1865, to form the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Minnesota. Authority for this occasion, was granted by Heruy L Palmer, then Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America.
  
  If one reaches further back in time, the Grand Encampment was formed only a half century before in 1816. Still further into the dim reaches of time, today's Knights Templar may trace their heritage to the valiant and chivalric orders of knighthood so intimately tied to the Crusades.
  
  The journey back into time does not stop there, however. The hearts of all Knights Templar are deeply rooted in Freemasonry, one of the oldest and most honorable institutions in the world. It is significant to note that all Knights Templar are Freemasons, but conversely, that all “Freemasons” are not Knights Templar. At first, this may seem a bit paradoxical; the following comments are offered in explanation.
  
  The foundation of Freemasonry is the Blue Lodge. The Blue Lodge, in Minnesota, is a “York Rite Lodge” organized in a manner that consists of three York Rite degrees through which a candidate must pass to be accepted into membership. These degrees begin with Entered Apprentice, progress through Fellow Craft, and culminate with Master Mason. This progression can be compared with the stages through which craftsmen in the various trades advance from apprentice through journeyman to master. Masonry communicates its teachings and philosophies through allegorical portrayals and interpretations of these stages, equating them to the process in which one strives to achieve high moral goals in life. All candidates must complete the three aforementioned degrees before they may become members of the Masonic fraternity.
  
  Additional stages of Masonic education may occur after the completion of the Blue Lodge degrees. The candidate may choose between two avenues or Rites in his advancement and education: the York Rite or Scottish Rite. Each of these Rites, consist of a number of degrees, similar to the format of the Blue Lodge. The Master Mason may continue his education in York Rite Masonry by continuing on through the next three York Rite Bodies, which each comprise a number of degrees or "Orders". The first four degrees after the Blue Lodge comprise the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, three degrees comprise the Council of Cryptic Masons, and three "orders" comprise the Commandery of Knights Templar.
  
  The Scottish Rite consists of 32 degrees, (a 33rd degree is conferred as a special honor to recognize exemplary dedication and service).
  
  The Commandery has the unique distinction within the framework of Masonry of being founded upon the principles of the Christian religion and the practice of Christian virtues. With the exception of the work in the first of the orders, the Order of Red Cross, the Order of Malta and the Order of the Temple are directly structured upon the lessons contained within the New Testament. Thereby, the Knights of Malta and the Knights Templar trace their origins to the Crusades and the circumstances regarding the period of history surrounding the pilgrimages to the Holy Sepulcher.
  
  In marking the event of this 150th year of the Grand Commandery in Minnesota, the topic of its history deserves special note. This is a time to look back with reverence for an illustrious heritage. It is also a time to look forward with great expectations for the future. The chapters contained in this history are intended to chronicle significant events and to tell of hopes and aspirations, of successes and failures, of joys and disappointments, and of encouragement and chastisements. Above all, however, they are intended to celebrate the pride which one feels as a Minnesota Knight Templar.
  

Origins of the Ancient Order of Knights Templar

Historical tradition states that the Knights Templar originated during the period of the Crusades as a holy brotherhood in arms to protect those making pilgrimages to the Holy City. They were also said to guard the Holy Sepulchre as well as other revered places in the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem. These places and those who would make a pilgrimage to them were threatened by neighboring hostile peoples. These peoples had been suppressed by earlier Crusades, but had begun an aggressive retort. The period of history during which this endeavor began in earnest was the Eleventh Century.

One of the most distinguished figures of early Templary was Hugh De Payens, who had fought valiantly at the Siege of Jerusalem in 1099. In 1113, a few years after the First Crusade, he was chosen by the Knights to receive the title of 'The Master of the Temple" -- afterwards the "Grand Master." De Payens is therefore, generally regarded as the Founder of the Order.

A few years later, the order assumed the name of Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon, the name "Knights Templar" was derived from the Temple on Mount Moriah, where they maintained their place of habitation.

The Knights Templar soon acquired fame and reputation, receiving the favors, gifts, and benefits of their sponsoring nobility and homeland. In their undertakings, they were renowned for renouncing pomp and vanities of worldly life, assuming a status likened to sanctity.

At the time of the Second Crusade, the Templars assumed the blood-red cross (the symbol of martyrdom) as the distinguishing Badge of the Order. Worn on the left side of their clothing, at a place over the heart, they became known as Knights of the Red Cross. At this time, the Red Cross Banner was first used on the fields of battle.

During the Third Crusade, the banner carried was changed to a banner of black and white, which was known as the Beauceant, designating that these Knights were fair and favorable to the friends of Christ, but were dark and terrible to His enemies.

Among the earliest of the Grand Masters (or Grand Priors or Grand Preceptors of England) was Richard De Hastings, who headed the Order at the time of the ascension of Henry II to the throne. He was known to be a friend and confidant of Thomas a' Becket and figured historically in efforts to end conflicts between Becket and the King. Of the greatest benefactors of the Order in England, Henry III is said to have granted to the Templars, lands, privileges, and immunities along with confirming all donations to the Order from his predecessors.

After the loss of the Christian territory in Palestine and the hopes of recovering and protecting the Holy City, the services of the Templars ceased to be required, and the members of the Order became suspect by those who coveted their wealth and possessions. Thus, the Templars became unpopular with the European sovereigns and nobility, whose estates and resources had been diminished by grants to the Order by their predecessors.

Short History in the United States of America

The delegates from New York and Massachusetts and Rhode Island adjourned after three days of impasse to reconvene in New York. The resulting Convention established "a general union of all the Encampments within the United States under one supreme head and general form of government," the current hierarchy in Templar jurisdiction today.

The Grand Commanderies of New York and Massachusetts and Rhode Island accepted and approved the actions of the Convention, amended their own existing constitutions to harmonize with that of the Grand Encampment, and thus became its first Constituent Bodies.

To place the formation of the Grand Encampment into perspective, in 1816, James Monroe was elected President, assuming office in 1817. There were 19 States in the Union, and the War of 1812 with England had ended and peace established. A period of growth and prosperity began, known as the "Era of Good Feeling." Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, and Texas became a State in 1845. The Mexican War was fought one year later in 1846.

Prior to 1852, the Grand Encampment comprised only eight Grand Commanderies. No Grand Commanderies were added during the decade of the 1830's, probably due to the effects of the movement for persecution (known as Anti-Masonry), which followed the Morgan affair of 1826. Just prior to the onset of the Civil War, during the decade of the 1850's, ten new Grand Commanderies were admitted. It is interesting to note that eight were admitted in the 1860's with four admitted in the year 1860 alone.

The shocks of Anti-Masonry and the Civil War were only temporary. The Templar Orders regained strength and by the first decade of the Twentieth Century, virtually all of the Grand Cornrnanderies within the Grand Encampment today were established.

Contributing to the growth and expansion of Templary during those years was the custom of the Grand Encampment Triennial being held in widely separated parts of the country. This has been occasion for reunions, parades, and a broad variety of activities, coupled with the valuable interchange of fraternal ideas and experiences.

Questions often arise as to the role of the Grand Encampment in the matters of uniform and ritual for Grand and Constituent Commanderies. Little reference was made to these matters in the early Constitution and Statutes; these matters were left to the individual bodies for regulation. Activities of Knights Templar in early newspapers often include accounts of participation in processions or parades, along with that of the Grand Lodges, as escorts in funeral processions for illustrious citizens, or as participants in special occasions where pomp and pageantry dictated. As such, the question of the proper form and use of the ins1gma of office was reserved by the Grand Encampment, the matter of uniform style and form being left to individual Grand Commandery jurisdictions. However, the Grand Encampment acts as a Grand Cornrnandery for all Cornrnanderies directly allegiant to it and accordingly prescribes their uniform.

In the matter of ritual, the Grand Encampment retains sole authority to set the format for the ritual. Before it was organized, there were differences in the rituals used in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These rituals, for the most part, were founded on old English rituals. The first attempt to codify and standardize the ritual came through the collaborative efforts of Sir Thomas Smith Webb (Deputy General Grand Master) and Sir Henry Fowle (General Grand Generalissimo) shortly after the formation of the Grand Encampment. This ritual, however, only existed in manuscript form and was transmitted orally and perpetuated mainly be memory. As a consequence, the work in the rapidly multiplying Commandery jurisdictions assumed many different forms, according to the ideas of presiding officers who would modify certain usages.

To address the matter of codification of the Templar ritual, the Grand Encampment formed a committee to attempt to formulate "a uniform system to be used by all Templars throughout the Jurisdiction of the Grand Encampment" in 1871. From these efforts came the Ritual of 1886. However, the response to this ritual launched a strong protest from a large number of Grand Commanderies, resulting in the formation of a new committee consisting of one representative from each Grand Cornrnandery. The result was the Ritual of 1892, which prompted the Grand Encampment to issue a directive requiring all the Grand Recorders of the Grand Cornrnanderies to "collect, list, and burn all other Rituals and report the fact to the Grand Recorder of the Grand Encampment." (Fortunately this order was not strictly carried out, and examples of the early rituals survive in various archives as invaluable early historical documentation of American Templary.)

An excellent description of Templary is found in the Centennial Address on the Formation of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, delivered in Los Angeles on June 18, 1916, by R.E..Sir Hutson B. Colman, Past Grand Commander of Michigan. These words also provide an excellent, and still-relevant, view of the future of Templary:
"In the future, as in the past, our noble Order will stand unshakenly for universal education and individual, civil and religious "Liberty and Law." Under the banner of our blessed Emmanuel, the Prince of Peace, it will contribute its full influence and be a potent factor, with all the other mighty spiritual forces of the world, to usher in that "Golden Age" which shall be the substantial reality of Tennyson's enraptured dream: When swords shall be beaten into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

"Our organization is military in character, but not militant; our swords are symbolic only, and not designed for deadly conflict; but, like our ancestors, every Knight is and ever will be a patriot, and should occasion rise, should love of God and country imperatively require, promptly the vast host of Knights Templar throughout this broad land, will answer the call of duty and lay aside the symbolic for the real weapon. Should constitutional government and civil and religious liberty be assailed and a conflict for their maintenance be unavoidable, every Templar's sword will be drawn in the cause of God and the Fatherland. Morally and spiritually always, but physically when we must, we will combat equally the menace and despotic tyranny of atheistic, home-destroying socialism and collectivism, or the peril and tyrannical despotism of a heartless, soul­ enthralling, theocratic hierarchy, such as that of Judaism in the time of Christ. This Order will ever stand for state and public schools, church and Christian education, -- for the school house and the meeting house, -- separate and each in its own proper sphere. The Grand Standard of our Order shall ever be protected by, and, in tum protect, the Stars and Stripes. The solemn diapason of no mighty organ, resounding thorough the lofty vaulting dome and arching aisles of earth's noblest cathedral, ever raised diviner worship to "Our Fathers' God, Author of Liberty" than the mingling melodies and inspiring strains of "America" and "Onward Christian Soldiers," cadencing through the ages the stately tread of our majestic, ever-increasing Templar hosts, protected "by Thy might, Great God, our King.

"The Standard of the Cross, haloed by the light that streams from Calvary, shall ever blend its Heavenly rays with the glorious luster of the Stars and Stripes, borne high by the loyal hands of Templar patriots. Men may come and men may go; generations follow generations; triennials run into centuries and centuries into millenniums. While God is God and the Evangel of Christianity is His latest message of love and life to the world; while man is man, -- mortal of body, immortal of soul; while he joys and sorrows; loves and mourns; hopes and despairs; adores and worships God, whose spiritual image he is; while there are widowed and orphaned lives to shelter and aching hearts to comfort; while earth is man's birthplace and Heaven is his home, Templar-hood has an ever-recurring, never-completed mission and shall live through all time.

"Knights of the Grand Encampment, at home or abroad, through many lands and climes, reverently grateful to Almighty God for all His blessings of the century past, devoutly invoking His continued benediction through the centuries to come, fully realizing our responsibilities and duties, let us gladly and bravely live the present and face the future, worthy sons of worthy fathers, transmitting the choice heritage received by us, enriched and ennobled by our stewardship."

(This brief history has been excerpted from: IDSTORICAL ADDRESS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF THE. GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; JUNE 18, 1916; BY RE.SIR HUTSON B. COLMAN, PAST GRAND COMMANDER OF MICHIGAN)

Historical Sketch of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota

"A convention composed of the representatives of the four Commanderies in the State at the time, was held in Masonic Hall in the city of St. Paul, on Monday, October 23, 1865, for the purpose of forming a Grand Commandery. It was held by authority of a warrant dated October 19, 1865, from Henry L. Palmer, then Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States. Alfred E. Ames, of Minneapolis, was called to the chair and E.D. Porter, of Mankato, was chosen Secretary. A constitution was adopted, the convention adjourned, and Grand Master Palmer, being present, the Grand Commandery of Minnesota was opened, and Grand Officers elected and installed. Sir Knight George W. Prescott, of Saint Paul, was the first Grand Commander.

This concise account of the, formation of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Minnesota was prepared by S.K. Thomas Montgomery, Grand Recorder and Past Grand Commander of Minnesota, for his report on the proceedings of the Grand Commandery for 1902. At that time S.K. Montgomery was in his twelfth year as Grand Recorder; his predecessor, S.K. AT.C. Pierson, who had been appointed the first Grand Commander of the Grand Encampment of Minnesota (later to become Damascus Commandery No.1, K.T.), had served in that office through fourteen terms. In that report special note was made that of the 33 Grand Commanders who had served Minnesota, 26 were still alive at the time and continued active. Many of the Commanderies (totaling 29 in number) already, by that time, had impressive records of participation in drill exhibitions locally and at Triennials of the Grand Encampment in Chicago, Cleveland, and St Louis, escorts for more than twenty comer stone layings by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, and parades (including one in 1884 said to be the largest to that time, when 700 Sir Knights led by eleven bands of music paraded in Minneapolis).

In order to trace the beginnings of Templary in Minnesota, and in particular, the organization and history of the Grand Commandery, one must look first at the development of Masonry in Minnesota. A number of accounts concerning these early years are to be found in the records of Secretaries of some of the first Blue Lodges, and in those of the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, AF & AM, of Minnesota. A number of important similarities will be found, first in the manner in which Dispensations were issued to those early bodies, and in the manner in which these bodies met to form what was to become the Grand Lodge, the Grand Chapter, and the Grand Commandery.

The first evidence of Masonic presence in Minnesota can be found in the inscription on the cornerstone at the Commanding Officer's Quarters at Fort Snelling. Although the present stone is a reproduction of the original, which was damaged and fragments of which were incorporated into the walls of that structure during a later remodeling, the text of the inscription was recorded in the 1860's while the stone was still intact and in place. Names carved into the stone are those of a William Goddard "master builder" and a James Delaney "stone-cutter"; below these names is carved the Masonic emblem of the square, compasses, and letter "G". The date is 1823.

Twenty-six years later, the first published notice of a Masonic meeting appeared in the May 26, 1849 edition of the "Minnesota Pioneer", a Saint Paul newspaper published by Bro. James Goodhue. Other notices are to be found in the historical archives of early newspapers in both Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Meetings were held wherever space was available, whether it be in hotels, schoolhouses, or private residences.

At the aforementioned meeting in Saint Paul, it .was determined that a petition would be sent to the Grand Master of Ohio asking for a Dispensation to create a Lodge and perform the work of the Degrees. The process consisted of first requesting and being granted a Dispensation, to be followed later by a Charter, and finally by the Constitution of a Lodge. In this fashion, the Dispensation was granted for the formation of Saint Paul Lodge No. 223 of "Ohio". The Charter was issued on January 24, 1853.

In similar manner, petitions were sent to form Lodges in Stillwater and Saint Anthony (later merged with Minneapolis). The Stillwater body petitioned the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin and received Dispensation as Saint John's Lodge No. 39 of Wisconsin; their Charter was issued on June 9, 1852 The petition from Saint Anthony was sent to the Grand Lodge of Illinois, which granted Dispensation as Cataract Lodge No. 121 of Illinois; Charter was issued on October 5, 1852.

With the Constitution of the Saint Paul Lodge in 1853, there were in Minnesota the minimum number of Lodges required to form a legal Grand Lodge. A convention of the three Chartered Lodges was held in Saint Paul on February 23, 1853; this convention marked the formation of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. The three subordinate Lodges were then renumbered according to the dates at which they were individually chartered, as Saint John's Lodge No. 1, Cataract Lodge No. 2, and Saint Paul Lodge No. 3.

In similar fashion, the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Minnesota was formed. Dispensations and Charters were issued by the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for the formation of Minnesota Chapter No. 1 in Saint Paul (1853), Vermillion Chapter No. 2 in Hastings (1857), and Saint Anthony Falls Chapter No. 3 at Saint Anthony (1858). 0n December 17, 1859, delegates from these three Chapters met in the Masonic Temple in Saint Paul, and having the authority and approbation of Albert G. Mackey, General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter, formed the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Minnesota.

The, formation of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Minnesota occurred on October 23, 1865, as a result of the actions of four active Commanderies which had received Dispensation, Charter, and Constitution by the General Grand Encampment of the United States of America. These four Commanderies were Damascus Commandery No 1 of Saint Paul (Chartered 1856), Zion Commandery No. 2 of Minneapolis (Chartered 1865), Couer De Lion Commandery No. 3 of Winona (Chartered 1865), and Mankato Commandery No. 4 of Mankato (Chartered 1865). (Individual histories of these Commanderies are included elsewhere in this account.)

Investigation into the records of the formation of the Grand Comrnandery found no information concerning the call for the Convention, nor any records in minute books or notices nor authorization for any representatives of any of the Comrnanderies to attend such a Convention. Records begin with the commencement of proceedings of the Convention, which was held at the Masonic Hall in Saint Paul on Monday, October 23, 1865 (at 7 o'clock AM.). Representatives from each of the four Commanderies were appointed for the purpose of reading and executing the warrant enabling the establishment of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota.

The following warrant was read, having been issued by the Grand Master of the General Grand Encampment:
OFFICE OF THE GRAND MASTER OF KNIGHTS TEMPIAR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO ALL TRUE AND COURTEOUS KNIGHTS OF OUR ORDER:
KNOW YE, THAT WHEREAS, THERE ARE NOW ESTABLISHED AND EXISTING FOUR COMMANDERIES IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, HOLDING THEIR AUTHORITY FROM THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WORKING UNDER ITS JURISDICTION, TO WIT: DAMASCUS COMMANDERY N0.1; ZION COMMANDERY N0.2; COVER DE LION COMMANDERY N0.3; AND MANKATO COMMANDERY N0.4.
AND, WHEREAS, ON BEHALF OF THOSE COMMANDERIES, IT HAS BEEN DULY CERTIFIED UNTO ME THAT THEY ARE DESIROUS TO FORM, HOLD, AND MAINTAIN A GRAND COMMANDERY IN AND FOR THE SAID STATE OF MINNESOTA, SUBORDINATE TO THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; THEREFORE I, HENRY L. PALMER, GRAND MASTER AS AFORESAID, BEING SATISFIED THAT SUCH REQUEST IS REASONABLE AND PROPER, BY VIRTUE OF THE HIGH POWER IN ME VESTED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF OUR ORDER, DO HEREBY AUTHORIZE .AND EMPOWER THE AFORESAID COMMANDERIES NOS. 1, 2, 3, AND 4, IN DUE ORDER TO MEET AT SUCH TIME AND PLACE AS THEY MAY AGREE UPON, AND FORM A STATE GRAND COMMANDERY IN AND FOR THE SAID STATE OF MINNESOTA, SUBORDINATE TO OUR GRAND. ENCAMPMENT, SUCH STATE GRAND COMMANDERY, WHEN SO FORMED, MAKING DUE RETURN AND REPORT TO ME OF ALL THEIR OFFICIAL DOINGS AND PROCEEDINGS IN THE PREMISES, AND MAKING A LIKE RETURN TO OUR V.E.GRAND RECORDER. AND FOR ALL OF THEIR DOINGS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND USAGES OF OUR ORDER IN FORMING SUCH STATE GRAND COMMANDERY, THIS SHALL BE THEIR WARRANT. GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND PRIVATE SEAL AT THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, THIS 19TH DAY OF OCTOBER, A.D. 1865, A.O. 747. H.L. PALMER (SEAL) GRAND MASTER KNIGHTS TEMPIAR, U.SA.

Delegates present who were entitled to vote in the Convention to form the Grand Commandery of Minnesota were as follows:
S.K George W. Prescott, S.K Freeman James, and S.K AT.C.Pierson;

DAMASCUS COMMANDERY NO. 1, SAINT PAUL S.K AB.Ames; 

ZION COMMANDERY N0.2, MINNEAPOUS/S.K R. Urquhart and S.K J.M. Cole; 

COUER DE LION COMMANDERY N0.3, WINONA S.K E.D.B. Porter and 

S.K A Hanna; MANKATO COMMANDERY NO. 4,MANKATO

Other matters of business which were acted upon by the Convention, included drafting of a Constitution. As time had not been allowed for a detailed draft to be prepared, the Convention adopted the Constitution of the Grand Encampment. This Constitution contained articles providing for the government of State Grand Commanderies, which, it was felt, were sufficient for the present time to govern the new Grand Commandery provided minor alterations and additions were made to address specific requirements and circumstances.

The date for the Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery was set at the 24th day of June, unless that date fell on a Sunday, in which case the Conclave would convene on the following Monday. Places of meeting were to be designated at the previous annual conclave. To cover expenses, a fee of $3.00 was set to be collected at the conferral of Templar Orders on each new Sir Knight by subordinate Commanderies.

After completion of business of t)le Convention, the first Grand Officers were installed by M.E.Sir Knight H.L. Palmer, Grand Master of Knights Templar of the United States, who was present. A roster of those first Grand Officers follows:

R.E. George W. Prescott, St. Paul: Grand Commander
V.E. AB.Ames, Minneapolis: Deputy Grand Commander
E. L.M.Cole, Winona: Grand Generalissimo
E. AHanna, Mankato: Grand Captain General
E.Rev. S.Y.McMasters, St. Paul: Grand Prelate
E. John Cushing, Winona: Grand Senior Warden
E. J.M.Eustis, Minneapolis: Grand Junior Warden
E. E.D.P.Porter, Mankato: Grand Treasurer
E. CW.Carpenter, St. Paul: Grand Recorder
E. W.G.Dye, Winona: Grand Standard Bearer
E. J.C.Terry, St. Paul: Grand Sword Bearer
E. H.L.Balch, Minneapolis: Grand Warder
E. ARichardson, St. Paul: Grand Captain of the Guard

The above short historical sketch highlights the formation and organization of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota. The four Commanderies who had met in Convention to accomplish this had been working under Dispensations and Charters which had been issued by the Grand Encampment. With the formation of the Grand Commandery, these Commanderies now became subordinate, and new Charters were required to be issued to them. Accordingly, the records of the Grand Commandery list the date of Charter for Damascus, Zion, Couer De Lion, and Mankato Commanderies as October 28, 1865, although these four Commanderies actually pre-date the Grand Commandery in existence.

(Information for this overview was edited from the records of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota as appearing in the Report of the 100 Annual Conclave.)

Formation of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota

A Convention for the purpose of forming a Grand Commandery of Knights Templar for the State of Minnesota, was held at Masonic Hall, in the City of St. Paul, on Monday, the 23rd day of October, A. D. 1865, A. O. 747, at 7 o’clock A. M. when the following proceedings were had:
     The Convention was called to order by Sir Geo. W. Prescott, E. C. of Damascus Commandery, No. 1, located at St. Paul, and on a motion, Sir A. E. Ames was called to the chair, and Sir E. D. B. Porter was chosen Secretary. The following warrant was then read by the Secretary:
Office of the Grand Master of Knights Templar of the United States of America. 

To all True and Courteous Knights of Our Order:
Know ye, that whereas, there are now established and existing four commanderies in the State of Minnesota, holding their authority from the Grand Encampment of the United States, and working under its jurisdiction, to wit: Damascus Commandery, No. 1; Zion Commandery, No. 2; Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 3, and Mankato Commandery, No. 4. And whereas, on the behalf of those several commanderies, it has been duly certified unto me that they are desirous to form, hold, and maintain a Grand Commandery in and for the State of Minnesota, subordinate to the Grand Encampment of the United States of America: Therefore, I, Henry L. Palmer, Grand Master as aforesaid, being satisfied such request is reasonable and proper, by virtue of the high powers in me vested, and in accordance with the Constitution and Rules of Our Order, do hereby authorize and empower the aforesaid commanderies, No. 1, 2, 3 and 4, in due order, to meet at such time and place as they may agree upon, and form a State Grand Commandery in and for the said State of Minnesota, subordinate to our Grand Encampment, such State Grand Commandery, when so formed, making due return and report to me all their official doings and proceedings in the premises, and making a like return to our V. E. Grand Recorder. And for all of their doings, In accordance with the Rules and Usages of our Order in forming such State Grand Commandery, this shall be their Warrant. Given under my hand and private seal at the City of Milwaukee, this 19th day of October, A. D. 1865, A. O. 747.  
                                                                                                                       + H. L. PALMER, (Seal.)
                                                                                                                    
Grand Master Knights Templar, U. S. A.

On motion of Sir Knight Prescott, a Committee on Credentials was appointed. The President named Sirs Geo. W. Prescott, R. Urquhart and A. Hanna as such Committee, who soon after reported the following Delegates present and entitled to vote in the Convention:
DAMASCUC COMMANDERY, NO. 1, ST. PAUL.
Sir George W. Prescott ………………………………………………………………………………………… Eminent Commander
Sir Freeman James ………………………………………………………………………………………………. Generalissimo
Sir A. T. C. Pierson ………………………………………………………………………………………… Past Eminent Commander

ZION COMMANDERY, NO. 2, MINNEAPOLIS.
Sir Alfred E. Ames ………………………………………………………………………………………………… Eminent Commander
 
COEUR DE LION COMMANDERY, NO. 3.
Sir R. Urquhart ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Eminent Commander
Sir James M. Cole …………………………………………………………………………………………………. Generalissimo
Sir C. Benson …………………………………………………………………………………………………. Proxy for Captain General

MANKATO COMMANDERY, NO. 4.
Sir E. D. B. Porter …………………………………………………………………………………… Proxy for Eminent Commander
Sir Andrew Hanna …………………………………………………………… Generalissimo and Proxy for Captain General

     Which report was received and adopted.
     On motion of Sir Knight Pierson, a Committee to draft a Constitution, to be submitted to the Convention, was ordered.
     The President named Sirs A. T. C. Pierson, J. M. Cole and E. D. B. Porter as such Committee, who subsequently submitted the following report:

To the Convention of Knights Templar, now assembled:
The Committee to whom was assigned the duty of preparing suitable statutes and regulations for the government of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota respectfully report:
That sufficient time has not been had to prepare a report in detail. They find that the Constitution of the Grand Encampment of the United States, under whose authority we act – to the requirements of which it is our duty as Knights Templar, as it is our pleasure, to render cheerful obedience – contains articles providing for the government of State Grand Commanderies and also for subordinate commanderies. These, with the necessary alteration in phraseology and the addition of some necessary provisions, we offer for the present, and respectfully recommend the appointment of a special Committee, whose duty it shall be to make a full and detailed report at the annual Conclave.
     Article 2, Sections - 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
     Article 3, Sections – 1, 2, 3 and 4.
     Article 4, Section – 1, except the2nd, 3nd, 6th and 7th paragraph.
     Article 4, Section – 2, except the last paragraph.
     Additional paragraphs to section 4, Article 2.

The annual meetings shall be held on the 24th day of June, unless such date shall be a Sunday, in which case the meeting shall be held on the following Monday.
The meetings shall be held at such place as may have been designated at the previous annual meeting.
Addition to the 4th paragraph, section 1, article 4:
There shall be paid into the Treasury of the Grand Commandery the sun of $3.00 for each Order of Knights Templar conferred be the subordinate commanderies.
A. T. C. Pierson, J. M. Cole, E. D. B. Porter Committee
Which report was received and adopted.

The Convention then adjourned, and the Grand Master of Knights Templar of the United States being present, the Grand Commandery of Minnesota was opened in ample form with the following officers:
Most Eminent H. L. Palmer ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. Grand Master
Very Eminent Alfred E. Ames, as …………………………………………………………………… Deputy Grand Commander
Eminent A. T. C. Pierson, as ……………………………………………………………………………………. Grand Generalissimo
Eminent Robert Urquhart, as ………………………………………………………………………………. Grand Captain General
Eminent Crosby, as …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Grand Marshall
Eminent Pease, as ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………... Grand Prelate
Eminent James M. Cole, as ……………………………………………………………………………………. Grand Senior Warden
Eminent Andrew Hanna, as .…………………………………………………………………………………... Grand Junior Warden
Eminent E. D. B. Porter, as ………………………………………………………………………………………….….. Grand Recorder
Eminent C. Benson, as …………………………………………………………………………………………. Grand Standard Bearer
Eminent Henry L. Carver, as …………………………………………………………………………………..... Grand Sword Bearer
Very Eminent George W. Prescott, as ………………………………………………………………………….…… Grand Warden

    The Grand Commandery then proceeded to the election on officers, which resulted as follows:
Right Eminent - George W. Prescott, St. Paul …………………………………………………………….. Grand Commander
Very Eminent - Alfred E. Ames, Minneapolis ……………………………………………..….. Deputy Grand Commander
Eminent - James M. Cole, Winona …………………………………………………………………..……… Grand Generalissimo
Eminent – Andrew Hanna, Mankato ……………………………………………….…………………… Grand Captain General
Eminent – Reverend S. Y. McMasters, St. Paul …………………………………………………..………………. Grand Prelate
Eminent – John Cushing, Winona ……………………………………………………….…………………. Grand Senior Warden
Eminent – J. M. Eustis, Minneapolis ……………………………………………………….……………... Grand Junior Warden
Eminent – E. D. B. Porter, Mankato …………………………………………………………..…………………... Grand Treasurer
Eminent – C. W. Carpenter, St. Paul ……………………………..……………………………..…………………. Grand Recorder
Eminent – W. G, Dye, Winona ………………………………………………………..…………………… Grand Standard Bearer
Eminent – J. C. Terry, St. Paul ………………………………………………..……………….……………….. Grand Sword Bearer
Eminent – H. L. Balch, Minneapolis ……………………………………………………………..…….……………… Grand Warder
Eminent – A. Richardson, St. Paul ………………………………………………………………... Grand Captain of the Guard

All the officers present were installed in due form, and those absent were directed to be installed by the Eminent Commanders of their respective Commanderies.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, that the First Annual Conclave of this Grand Commandery be held in the City of St. Paul.

Sir Knight A. T. C. Pierson offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, that a Committee of five, of which the Right Eminent Commander shall be the Chairman, be appointed to make a full and detailed report of Constitution and Regulations for the government of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota, said report to be submitted at the next Annual Conclave.

     The Grand Commander Appointed:
     Sir Knight A. T. C. Pierson, of Damascus Commandery, No. 1,
     Sir Knight Alfred E. Ames, of Zion Commandery, No. 2,
     Sir Knight James M. Cole, of Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 3, and
     Sir Knight B. F. Smith, of Mankato Commandery, No. 4,
as remaining members of such Committee.

     On motion-
Ordered, That the Grand Commander, Deputy Grand Commander and Grand Recorder be authorized to devise and procure a seal for the Grand Commandery.
     Also-
Ordered, that when expense shall have been incurred in procuring the necessary books, blanks, stationary, seal, etc., the Grand Recorder be authorized to notify the subordinate Commanderies, and that thereupon each of said subordinates remit to him the amount to which the Grand Commandery shall be entitled for work then done. George W. Prescott, G. C.
Attest:
         E. D. B. Porter
          Acting Grand Recorder

Damascus Commandery No. 1

•    On June 30, 1856, a petition was forwarded from Saint Paul, Minnesota, to S. K. William Hubbard, Grand Master of the General Grand Encampment of the United States, to form an “Encampment” of Knights Templar. A reply was received on July 8, 1856, which granted Dispensation. In accordance, four Sir Knights from Minnesota, one Sir Knight from New York, and one Sir Knight from Mississippi met in the hall of Minnesota Royal Arch Chapter on July 17, 1856. Sir Knight A. T. C. Pierson read the Dispensation authorizing the formation of an Encampment in Minnesota; S.K. Pierson was appointed as first Grand Commander of the new Encampment. The Grand Commander, by resolution, was authorized to procure all of the furniture necessary for the Encampment, to be paid for from the set fees of $25.00 to be required for the Orders.
  
  On August 11, 1856, application was made to the Grand Encampment for a Charter. An examination of the proceedings of the Grand Encampment for the date of September 13, 1856, reveals the origination of the present designation of Templar bodies as “Commanderies”. A motion offered by S. K. Albert Mackay ordered that the word “Encampment” or “Encampments” wherever they applied to State or Subordinate bodies in the Constitution, be stricken out, and the word “Commandery” or “Commanderies” be inserted.
  
  On October 21, 1856, Grand Commander Pierson called a special Conclave to announce that a Charter had been received from the General Grand Encampment (dated September 10, 1856) to form Damascus Commandery No. 1, and that he had been installed as Grand Commander of the new Commandery by the General Grand Generalissimo of Kentucky. 
  
  A fire destroyed the Charter of Damascus Commandery on April 21, 1868, and a petition for renewal was made April 7, 1869. A Dispensation from the Grand Commander was issued to permit the Commandery to hold Conclaves without Charter until the next Conclave of the Grand Commandery . The replacement was issued on June 24, 1869. This Document remains in the archives of the Damascus Commandery.
  
  A list of Grand Commanders that have come from Damascus Commandery No. 1 are as follows:
  George W. Prescott – 1865, 1866
  George L. Otis – 1870, 1871
  Henry L. Carver – 1873
  Delos A. Monfort – 1876
  William D. Cornish – 1885
  Walter H. Sanborn – 1889
  Edward P. Sanborn – 1905
  George F. Dix – 1911
  Charles S. Schurman – 1919
  Charles N. Orr – 1928
  Clarence E. Krahmer – 1946
  William H. Robinson – 1956
  Clyde E. White – 1988
  Harland L. Thomesen – 1993
  Charles W. Nelson – 2000
  Allan F. Kauppi – 2006
  Raymond W. Hayward, Jr. - 2011
• Daniel R. Sherry - 2014

Zion Commandery No. 2

•     On April 12, 1858, a request for Dispensation to form Jerusalem Commandery No. 2 was sent by nine Sir Knights (including S. K. Alfred Elisha Ames) to Damascus Commandery. This request was made to Damascus Commandery, as the present Grand Commandery of Minnesota was not itself Chartered until 1885. The formation of Jerusalem Commandery was interrupted by the Civil War, however, S. K. Alfred Ames and eleven Sir Knights from Minneapolis again petitioned, this time in the name of Zion Commandery No. 2. The petition was filed on May 12, 1863. Dispensation was granted and a Charter issued by the Grand Encampment on September 25, 1865; 59 Sir Knights comprised Zion Commandery at the time of Charter. 
  
  Sir Knight Alfred E. Ames was the prime motivator in the founding of Cataract Lodge No. 2, AF & AM in the early town of Saint Anthony and was elected its first Master. He was instrumental in helping form the Grand Lodge of Masons of Minnesota and was elected the first Grand Master. Sir Knight Ames was also instrumental in founding Saint Anthony Falls Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons. He was elected Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota on June 24, 1867.
  
  Zion Commandery No. 2 donated an impressive memorial window and installed it in the center of the Franklin Avenue façade of the former “Fowler Methodist Church” (now the Minneapolis Scottish Rite Temple). It was designed by Eminent Sir Knight Joseph B. Hingeley
  
  A number of Sir Knights Zion Commandery have risen to the Office of Grand Commander; they are:
  Alfred E. Ames – 1867
  Alfred M. Shuey – 1884
  John A Schlener – 1888
  Joshua W. Nash – 1893
  Samuel S. Kilvington – 1903
  Charles E. Ovenshire – 1908
  George W. Critten – 1923
  James R. DeGarmo – 1930
  Charles J. Jordan – 1942
  John T. Rohwedder – 1952
  William H. Spry – 1964
  Ralph W. Bell – 1975
  Leonard G. Mathison – 1984
  Ralph E. Kirk – 1990
  Kenneth P. Hill – 1994
  Kenneth W. Carroll – 2002
  Richard W. Anderson 2005

• Richard Kachman 2013

Coeur De Lion Commandery No. 3

    A petition for dispensation to form a Commandery of Knights Templar at Winona, Minnesota, was recommended by Damascus Commandery No. 1 on May 4, 1864. As there was yet no Grand Commandery for the State of Minnesota, the petition was forwarded to the Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States of America. The Requested dispensation was issued on May 13, 1864 and read at the Masonic Temple in Winona by Sir Knight A. T. C. Pierson, then Eminent Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment. The Commandery was to be known by the name of Cour de Lion Commandery No. 3, K. T. Ten Sir Knights made up the Commandery, with S. K. Warren Powers appointed as the first Eminent Commander.

Cour de Lion (the original spelling on the petition was “Cour”, not “Coeur” as it is now presently designated) Commandery remained for over a year under the direct control of the Grand Encampment of the United States. In August of 1865, it prepared a resolution to be presented at the September 5, 1865, meeting of the Grand Encampment at Columbus, Ohio, requesting that it be Chartered, and the name changed from “Cour de Lion” to “Coeur De Lion”. Accordingly, the Charter was issued by S. K. Benjamin B. French, Grand Master, on September 6, 1865. On September 13, 1865, Twenty-two Sir Knights assembled to receive their Charter and hold their first Conclave; the membership of the Commandery at that time comprised 54 Sir Knights. S. K. Robert Urquhart was elected as the first Eminent Commandery of the newly Chartered Coeur De Lion Commandery No. 3.

Since its beginnings, Winona has been host to five Annual Grand Conclaves (1868, 1878, 1885, 1939, and 1954).

Grand Commanders hailing from Coeur De. Lion Commandery are as follows:
James M. Cole – 1868
B. H. Langley – 1875
William Lochren – 1874, 1875
Robert L. McCormick – 1881
W. Hayes Laird – 1907
Adolph M. Loeken - 1953

Mankato Commandery No. 4

   A petition to form and open a Commandery at Mankato, Minnesota, prepared by nine Sir Knights, was forwarded to Zion Commandery No. 2 in Minneapolis for recommendation to the Grand Encampment of the United States. The petition was sent to S. K. Benjamin B. French, Grand Master of the Grand Encampment on March 20, 1865. (The Grand Commandery of Minnesota was not chartered until October of that year; therefore dispensations and charters were granted by the Grand Encampment). Dispensation was issued on April 5, 1865. The first officers appointed were:
B. F. Smith – Eminent Commander
Andrew Hanna – Generalissimo
Ira Hawley – Captain General

Of the first members of Mankato Commandery No. 4, the majority of Sir Knights listed their home states as Main, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Their primary occupations included farmers, merchants, surveyors, and attorneys.

The first meeting under Dispensation was held on April 6, 1865; six petitions for the Orders were received. Between the date of Dispensation and the granting of the Charter on September 7, 1865, a total of twelve candidates joined the Commandery, having received all of the required Orders of Templary. Fees for the Orders were set at $50.00 with the annual dues of $2.00.

Mankato Commandery No. 4 was constituted at a special meeting held at the Masonic Hall in Mankato on October, 1865, Sir Knight A. T. C. Pierson, Past Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment, presiding.

Since its beginnings, Mankato Commandery No. 4 has hosted four Grand Conclaves (1869, 1925, 1937, and 1983) along with six Grand Commanders:
E.D.B. Porter – 1869
Thomas Montgomery – 1887
J. J. Flachsenhar – 1924
Joseph B. Smith – 1936
William E. Pool – 1938
“Russell K. Amling – 1982”,
(Dual membership with Bayard Commandery No. 11)