A
FIRST FOR FOR LINCONSHIRE'S RED CROSS - AT FRYSTON CONCLAVE
The April Meeting of the Appendent Orders
of Fryston Conclave No:366 in Louth was the scene for
a 'first' in the history of the Red Cross of Constantine
in the Lincolnshire Division.
At the regular meeting of the Conclave
the Intendent General, Rt.Ill.Kt. John Raymond William
Clements, invested Ill.Kt. Robert Kirk as the new Divisional
Viceroy. What was unique was that after this event,
the Past Intendent General, Rt.Ill.Kt. Robert S. Parsons
K.C.C. presented a Mitre to the new Divisional Viceroy.
Front row (l to r): Rt.Ill.Kt.
Robert S. Parsons, Ill.Kt. Robert M. Kirk, Rt.Ill.Kt
John Raymond William Clements.
Back Row (l to r): Kt. Keith Appleton, Kt. Michael Boulton,
Kt. Bruce Goodman.
It had long been a wish of Rt.Ill.Kt.
Parsons that the Division have a Mitre for the Viceroy
and he thanked the Intendent General for the opportunity
of donating it to the Division. He also congratulated
Ill. Kt Robert Kirk saying he was a most worthy first
receipient of the Mitre. In return the Intendent General
thankd Rt.Ill.Kt. Parsons for making the gift of such
an excellent Mitre.
Following this happy and unique event,
the normal meeting progressed and Kts. Keith Appleton,
Michael Boulton and Bruce Goodman (all seen above) were
installed as Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and of St.
John the Evangelist.
The members of the Conclave, along with
the Divisional Team and many visitors then enjoyed a
very happy Festive Board.
RED
CROSS OF CONSTANTINE GREETS THE DEPUTY GRAND SOVEREIGN
The Annual Conclave of the Lincolnshire
Division of the Masonic & Military Order of Knights
of the Red Cross of Constantine and of the Holy Sepulchre
and St. John the Evangelist meeting at Grantham on November
20th was honoured by the presence of Right Illustrious
Knight Alexander Michael Jones GCC, the Right Illustrious
and Eminent Deputy Grand Sovereign.
Rt.Ill.Kt. John Raymond William Clements
(left) the Intendent General for Lincolnshire welcomes
Rt.Ill.Kt. Alexander Michael Jones to Grantham.
A crowded Masonic Hall at Grantham saw
many distinguished guests from Divisions across the
country, along with Knights from all the Lincolnshire
Conclaves, enjoy their annual meeting which was followed
by a splendid Festive Board.
Left to right: Ill.Kt Michael J. Stocker,
Divisional Recorder; Rt.Ill.Kt. John Raymond William
Clements. Intendent General for Lincolnshire; Rt.Ill.Kt.
Alexander Michael JonesDeputy Grand Sovereign; Ill.Kt.
Roy Edwin Eaton, Deputy Intendent General for Lincolnshire
and Ill.Kt. Alan Birkett, Divisional Marshal prepare
for the Festive Board.
ABOUT
THE ORDER
The Order is a Degree of Christian Knighthood
and Candidates must be both Master Masons and Companions
of the Royal Arch.
The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine
belongs to the 'East and West' class of Initiatory Rites
and consists of three degrees: Knight; Priest; and Sovereign
Prince - titles which represent grades in the scale of
Initiation. These are supplemented by two additional Knightly
grades of the Appendant Orders, and collectively they
form the complete rite as follows:
Knight of the Red Cross of Constantine
Appendant Orders
Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
Knight of Saint John
the Evangelist
Eminent Viceroy
(Venerable Eusebius)
Puissant Sovereign
(Constantine)
The First Degree of the Rite, leads from the Pagan Dispensation
to the Christian, using the Legend of Constantine the Great
as a symbol of the transition. The candidate enters as a Royal
Arch Mason on a mystical journey in quest of divine knowledge,
his labours being finally rewarded when he undertakes to follow
in the inspired footsteps of the Great Emperor Constantine.
The second and third degrees of Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and
Knight of Saint John the Evangelist constitute the Appendant
Orders, and are conferred in a Sanctuary and Commandery
respectively. It is a compulsory provision of the statutes
that all members be in possession of these Degrees when
seeking advancement within a Conclave.
The fourth degree is that of Venerable Eusebius
and is one of the symbolic Priesthoods. A Knight who has
attained this status is eligible for the office of Viceroy
in a Conclave, providing that he fulfils the relevant qualifications
and has been regularly elected to that office. The functions
of Eusebius and Viceroy are distinct; and, when a Viceroy
ceases to act in that capacity, his status as Eusebius is
unaffected.
The fifth and final degree is confined to
that of Most Puissant Sovereign who represents Constantine,
Sovereign-Prince of the East and West. The Statutes provide
that a Sovereign shall have served a full year in the office
of Viceroy in a regular Conclave. This beautiful Christian
Degree is the culmination of this outstanding Masonic Rite.
Note:
The Appendant Orders were attached to the Red Cross
of Constantine at a very early date; it embodies its
own Ritual (No.2), and issues a separate Certificate
of Membership.
