What is Knight Masonry?
Knight Masonry ~ its place in Irish Freemasonry.
The information below is reproduced from the website of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
Knight Masonry contains those Degrees which are worked within a Council of Knight Masons under the jurisdiction of The Grand Council of Knight Masons. The Grand Council of Knight Masons was formally constituted in 1923 to look after the Degrees which were previously worked by Royal Arch Chapters, Preceptories of High Knight Templars and even a Prince Rose Croix Chapter. The history of the Judean people, as contained in the Roll of the Law, including the Books of Ezra, Jeremiah and Esdras, records three outstanding episodes intimately connected with Ancient Irish Universal Masonry: -
- The building of King Solomon’s Temple ~ Craft Masonry
- The repairs of the Temple by King Josiah ~ Irish Royal Arch Masonry
- The building of the Second Temple by Zerubabbel after the return of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin from their seventy years of captivity in Babylon, circa. 536 B.C.E. ~ Knight Masonry. .
There are three Degrees in Knight Masonry formerly known as the Red Cross Degrees: Knight of the Sword - formerly Red Cross of Daniel or Babylonian Pass, in which we learn of Zerubabbel’s visit to the court of King Cyrus of Persia. Knight of the East - formerly Jordan Pass, which covers Zerubabbel’s later visit to the court of King Darius. Knight of the East and West - formerly Royal Order, when Zerubabbel returns to his fellow countrymen in Jerusalem. Master Masons having become Mark Master Masons and Royal Arch Masons, may after one year become Knight Masons. They may request to join a Council, they do not have to wait to be asked. By becoming a Knight Mason one discovers a closer degree of intimacy and friendship; as there are a relatively small number of Knight Mason Councils, members are encouraged to visit other Councils where they will always be made welcome. There are Knight Mason Councils throughout Ireland and in Ohio, U.S.A.; South Africa; Hong Kong; Jamaica; Tasmania; India; Gibraltar; Australia; New Zealand; Bermuda, Greece and England.
The Council Chamber, Freemasons' Hall, Dublin.
Grand Council at its Stated Meeting of 15th February, 2003 approved the Restoration of the Grand Council Chamber. The Chamber was originally dedicated in 1956. It is a unique room the only one of its kind in the world and it is the home of Knight Masonry. The work has been carried out during the Summer of 2003 and it is envisaged that Knight Mason Councils outside the Metropolitan Area may wish to travel to Dublin, on occasion, to make use of the Grand Council Chamber and perhaps confer Degrees during their visit.
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Therefore, Grand Council invited Councils to make a contribution towards the cost of this undertaking. Donations of €100 or more qualified the Sir Knight to have his name engraved on a brass Restoration Plate to be mounted on the wall of the ante room of the Grand Council Chamber. The restoration of the Grand Council Chamber took place during the tenure of M.E. Sir Knight Mervyn W. Morrison as the M.E. Great Chief (2001-2007) of The Grand Council of Knight Masons.