Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest

The origins of this order are known with any certainty. Some say it came into existence in the late 17th century. However, we find traces of its existence to the 18th and 19th centuries in England, Scotland, Ireland, Corfu, France and probably the United States and Canada. The history of its origin is obscure because that order was known by other names including:

• Order of Melchizedec
• Priest of Pilar
• White Mason
• Ordre of Holy Wisdom
• « Nec Plus Ultra » Templar

The Knights of the Temple Priests of the Holy Royal Arch Order has gradually turned off during the 19th Century. At the end of this century, a Mason known as Henry Hotham, who had been initiated into the Order and restored it in Newcastle. He formed the “Royal Kent ” Tabernacle.

For a short time this order was associated with the Allied Masonic Degrees. It was then independent.

A Grand College was formed in York, England and then in United States. Its role is to provide leadership of the Order.

Since 1960, the Knights of the Temple Priests of the Holy Royal Arch has strongly grown. There are now Tabernacles in most country where Freemasonry exists.

It has 33 degrees which are :

1. Knight of the Christian Mark
2. Knight of Saint Paul
3. Knight of Patmos
4. Knight of Death
5. Knight of the Black Cross
6. Knight of Bethany
7. Knight of the White Cross
8. Knight of Saint John
9. Knight Priest of the Holy Sepulchre
10. Holy Order of Wisdom
11. Holy and Illustrious Order of the Cross
12. Priest of Eleusis
13. Knight of Harodim
14. Knight of the North
15. Knight of the South
16. Knight of the Sanctuary
17. Grand Cross of Saint Paul
18. Knight of Saint John the Baptist
19. Knight of Rosae Cross
20. Knight of the Triple Cross
21. Knight of the Holy Grave
22. Knight of the Holy Virgin Mary
23. Knight of the White Cross of Torphichen
24. Grand Trinitarian Knight of Saint John
25. Grand Cross of Saint John
26. Knight Priest of Jerusalem
27. Knight of Palestine
28. Knight of the Holy Cross
29. Knight Priest of the Tabernacle
30. Knight of Redemption
31. Knight of Truth
32. Knight of Rome
33. Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest

The regalias of the Order consist of a long white coat, a tunic as worn by the Knights Templar, and a Mitre. For admission, candidates must fulfill the following obligations:

• Having been duly installed in the Chair of Solomon (Worshipful Master)
• Being member of a Blue Lodge
• Having been raised to the Holy Royal Arch degree
• Having been armed as Knight Templar (York Rite) or Benevolent Knight of the Holy City (CBCS, Rectified Scottish Rite).