Provincial Priory of the Transvaal
R E Kt Prof. E G Charlesworth
Provincial Prior
V E Kt D B Whitfield, PGt Registrar
Provincial Sub-Prior
Provincial Vice-Chancellor:
V E Kt M L J G Burton, PGt Registrar
P O Box 1612
Cresta 2118
Home Phone: 011 678 1744
Cell Phone: 083 281 5500
Email: mburton@iafrica.com
History and Origin of The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta
In considering this impressive title and the joining together of two Orders who were at one time, while not actual enemies, militant rivals, one must really appreciate that no claim is made to any historical connection with the medieval Military Orders. Whilst the earliest references to Masonic Knight Templar activity in the British Isles are to be found in Ireland, the earliest known records in England were minuted at Portsmouth in 1777. In most instances these rituals appear to have been worked under the authority of existing warrants of certain Royal Arch Chapters as appendant degrees and were not organised masonically in any strict sense of the word. It was not until 1791 that a Grand Conclave was formed comprising seven independent Encampments, when Thomas Dunckerley was installed as Grand Master.
Expansion during the formative years was extremely slow, particularly under the Grand Mastership of HRH the Duke of Sussex (1812-1843) who displayed no desire to convene Grand Conclave and consequently there was little activity until after his death. The reason for this inactivity was probably due to the delicate state of affairs in freemasonry immediately following the Union. From 1845 onwards, however, conditions within the Order were restored to normal; the ritual was standardised and a steady growth of the United Orders ensued and today membership is by invitation and highly valued. The degrees as practised in over 420 Preceptories on the roll of the Great Priory of England are:
- Knight Templar
- Knight of St Paul or Mediterranean Pass
- Knight of Malta
Reference: 'Beyond the Craft' by Keith B Jackson. Published by: Ian Allan Publishing
| Preceptory | Meeting Place |
|---|---|
| Coeur De Lion Preceptory No. 536 | Boksburg North |
| Concordia Preceptory No. 471 | Swaziland, Manzini - Masonic Hall, Maselesikhundleni/Esser Street |
| Diamond in the Desert Preceptory No. 133 | Kimberley |
| Far West Preceptory No. 419 | Carletonville |
| Johannesburg Preceptory No. 160 | Johannesburg, Park Lane |
| Keystone Preceptory No. 273 | Germiston |
| Kosmos Preceptory No. 288 | Johannesburg, Park Lane |
| Lumier Preceptory No. 658 | Rustenburg |
| Northern Transvaal Preceptory No. 334 | Polokwane |
| Omega Preceptory No. 528 | Johannesburg, Park Lane |
| Park Lane Preceptory No. 460 | Johannesburg, Park Lane |
| Transvaal Preceptory No. 289 | Pretoria, The Willows |
| Seychelles Preceptory No. 676 | Masonic Hall, Bel Ombre,Seychelles |