membership

THE AUTONOMOUS GRAND PRIORY OF SCOTLAND

SCOTTISH KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

MEMBERSHIP

The Order incorporates
The Autonomous Grand Priory of Scotland

NATURE
a) The organisation is an Order of Knights Templar

b) The Order is an ecumenical Christian organisation

c) The Order is democratic

d) The Order is apolitical but does comply with the Scottish Government, Scotland is run by Roman Law whereas England has Saxon Law.

e) The Order abides by the Laws as decided by the Scottish Government and will assist and help the Police if ever required to do so.

f) Please notice our Order is strictly a Non Masonic Order. Active Free Masons should gain the required degrees as stipulated by that Organisation to become a Masonic Knight Templar. It should be noted that the original Knights Templar were never Free Masons.

AIM
The aim of the Order is to serve God, Jesus and Scotland and to foster international brotherhood

ACTIVITIES
In pursuit of the aim to serve God, Jesus and Scotland, members of this Templar order engage in activities which:

a) Help preserve, and be the Guardians of Scotland's traditions, culture, heritage and Christianity, to try and assist the history of Scotland in the schools.

b) To promote Chivalry, and promulgate the understanding of Scotland's History.

c) Support charitable interests of our choice.

d) To help fight the abuse of children, women and animals.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Order is only open to professing Christians.

In keeping with the ecumenical nature of the Order a broad definition of the term “professing Christian” is applied and membership may be open to all men and women who support Chivalric Christian Ideals. People of high ideals who hold other beliefs may be admitted as Friends of the Order.

The Order welcomes members from all ethnic backgrounds without restriction on opportunity.

Preceptors have the authority to admit Squires.

A majority vote of the Grand Council is required to empower the Grand Prior to admit a member of Chivalry to the grade of Chevalier or above according to the admission procedures as described in the Bye-laws.

The Grand Council may by majority vote at a meeting of the Grand Council expel any member from the Chivalry or re-instate any member to membership of the Chivalry as described in the Bye-laws. Members who left without paying their Oblations ( Fees ) must rectify this before re-admission, at all times the Grand Council has the final say by vote.

There is an honorary grade of membership with admission at the discretion of the Grand Prior.

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Does the Order need new members?
Yes of course the Members of Chivalry are the lifeblood Of the Order, they also show the need for keeping the Christian religion alive in our country when we see what is happening today.

What can the Order do for me ?
This is the wrong question. Templars ask instead what can I do for the Order? Membership is quite literally an opportunity to serve.

Is membership available on application?
No there are both informal and formal vetting procedures we also carry out very strict security checks.

I notice there are other Knights Templar Orders in Scotland, which one should I choose?.
Yes one is under OSMTH International Inc and the Grand Priory of France, it states it is in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations and also registered as a Company, we point out that the Knights Templars were never in the United Nations ( Founded in 1942 ) and neither were they a registered Company, the United Nations never existed in 1129 so it is not a requirement to join it today. It then goes on to state that their Grand Master is the first American to have served as both the Grand Commander and the Grand Master of the Order in it’s 900 year history, need we point out that there were no American Knight Templars around at the time of their formation, so how can he be the first one in the Orders 900 years history to hold these positions it is a modern Order like ours.

There is also another OSMTH Order under the Grand Master in Portugal, they are a Grand Priory in their own right in Scotland with a Grand Prior but take their orders from Portugal, the Grand Prior is chosen by the Grand Master so it is not a democratic Order.

We are like the Knights Templars from 1309 onwards in Scotland, we are as it states Autonomous wherby we have our own Statutes and Bye-Laws and use the ancient ceremony of opening the Knights Templar Altar, we are a democratic Order where the Grand Prior and Officers are elected every three years by all paid up Knight Members. We have no association with OSMTH International Inc or OSMTH-OSMTJ. It is up to you as an individual which Order you choose we cannot sway you into what decision to make, please do your homework first before you decide and may God guide you into the right one.

What is your lineage?
We come from an older Order called Militi Templi Scotia ( M.T.S. ) which ceased to operate in 2005 when a great majority of members left due to infighting by some very senior members, we were properly Chartered ( Signed by Baron St. Clair Bonde ) in 2006 as a Commandery at Rosslyn Chapel, then in 2009 we were properly Chartered as a Grand Priory at Balgonie Castle. Because we were from M.T.S. this lineage goes back to 1972 to HSE. Chev. Frances Andrew Sherry. KGCTpl, however, as M.T.S. at one time was a member of SMOTJ we can go further back to 1705. M.T.S. decided to leave SMOTJ in 2003.

How are new members introduced ?
Most New members are invited to become a member, there is an honorary life membership, which is awarded to individuals who have served their country well, and whom the Order considers justifies such an honour. Among those who have been honoured by M.T.S. in such a way was the Late Michael Bentine O.B.E. who received an Honorary Knighthood in 1994.

Henry Lincoln ( author and writer of many books ) received an honorary life Membership to M.T.S. in the autumn of 2003 at Newbattle Abbey for the vast contribution to Templar and mediaeval history that he has made over the last 30 years.

New Members are usually recommended by a personal friend or contact within the Order, but anyone seriously interested in learning more about the Order is welcome to seek contact with a local Preceptory that, would typically respond with an opportunity to attend a Templar meeting by way of initial introduction. Please contact the Chancellor and go to the contact page for the address.