Templar Edification

By: Eric Thiem In April’s education on the history of Cryptic Council, a small portion of the article mentioned degrees that were initiated in a Council of Cryptic Masons that were no longer performed. One of those, the Knights of the Round Table was discussed in detail and presented in the August 2025 Beauseant and Buckler. I decided to delve into another of the “Dead Degrees,” the Order of the Garter and determine if I could uncover the history of this degree. A garter is a functional piece, or band of clothing of an elastic nature designed to hold up another piece of clothing, usually a stocking or a shirt sleeve (1) . They were typically tied to the stocking just below the knee. With advances in modern clothing, they have lost their use as a functional piece of clothing. The history of a garter being a functional piece of clothing dates back to at least the Middle Ages, if not earlier. For most of history, they have been associated with a bridal tradition; symbolizing luck at the c...

Compiled by SK Ray Hayward, REPGC 2012-2013 1. All commanderies used to be known as encampments. 2. The name of the famous High Priest of Egypt, Imhotep, means “He who comes in Peace.” 3. Knights Templar used to wear aprons. They were triangular and had a metal skull and crossbones on it. When that was phased out, the whole uniform became the apron. 4. The first person knighted as Masonic Knights Templar in the Colonies was Capt. William Davis, August 1769, followed by Paul Revere, December 1769, and Joseph Warren, May 1770. 5. Knights Templar originally carried daggers in addition to their swords. These were hung at the end of the baldric. 6. Minnesota produced one Grandmaster of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, Charles N. Orr. 1943-1946. ATC Pierson served as Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Encampment. 7. Knights Templar vote yes with their sword arm, their right, and no with their bridle arm, their left. 8. Our swords reflect alchemical refinement and transmutation. We go f...