Knight Templar Masonry in New Zealand
The order of the Knights of the Temple was a military order founded in 1119 by Hugh de Payens, a knight from Champagne.
Knight Templar Masonry first came to New Zealand when on 4 October 1869 the Chapter General of Scotland, (one of the two bodies which amalgamated in 1909 to form the Great Priory of Scotland), issued a Charter in response to the petition dated 8 June of that year.
The object of this Order is to perpetuate, or preserve a memorial of, the chivalry of the knights of the Crusades, and also to promote the aims of benevolence and charity in New Zealand. The Order is presently grouped into 4 Districts with 31 Preceptories and Priories.
Grand Master’s Message 2025
M.Em. Kt. Dr. Chris Roberts, GCT, Grand Master and M.Em.Kt David Craddock, GCT, Immediate Past G.M.
I hope you all had a peaceful, enjoyable and restful Christmas and New Year and I wish you and yours health and happiness for 2025.
A reminder that our Annual Muster will be held Friday 7 March 2025 at Te Rapa, Hamilton. As usual we will be immediately preceding the Royal Arch Convocation on Saturday. If you intend to be there and have not yet booked, please do so as soon as you can.
A good news item is that Christchurch Preceptory is meeting on Saturday 22 February. A number of post-earthquake challenges and lack of suitable meeting places had caused some considerable difficulties. I am extremely pleased to see that progress is being made and wish the members of Christchurch Preceptory every success.
I’ve attended a meeting of The Southland Preceptory No. 6 in Bluff on 30 January and it was a great pleasure to meet the members. I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting and I was well looked after. I thank my Grand Seneschal, Grant Watson, and the Southern District Grand Prior, Arthur Mahan, for facilitating the arrangements and ensuring I was well “supervised”! A short report, with some photos, will be available soon.
Please enjoy the weather, now that it has improved and I look forward to see many of you in the coming year.
With kind and fraternal regards,
Latest College of Arms Newsletter
College of Arms Newsletter, August 2024 Newsletter (No.76) has just been published in the Member’s section.