The Grand Encampment
of Knights Templar
The future is ours!
We must seize the moment!
Templar Law
What not to do as
Grand Commander
Dispensations
Do NOT dispense with the
Constitutional number of nine Sir
Knights for a Conclave
Dispensations
Section 66. A quorum of a Commandery consists of nine members
entitled to vote therein, including an Officer authorized to open the
same. A quorum of a Commandery consists of nine members
entitled to vote therein. Together with an officer entitled to open the
Commandery (1919, p 5 & 296, No. 17, Smith, 1988 digest – 283 &
286)
A quorum is nine members entitled to vote. Visitors are not entitled
to vote and therefore cannot be counted for a quorum. (1940, p 65
& 343, No. 10 Norris)
The Grand Master has no authority to reduce the number required
for a quorum from nine to five at business Conclaves in order to
accommodate small Commanderies. (1946, p 66 & 242, No. 4, Orr,
1988 digest – 288)
Nine or more is the indispensible number - three or more Templars
hailing from three separate does NOT apply except in new
Commandery formation.
Dispensations
Do NOT dispense with the
statutes of Grand Encampment
or of your Grand Commandery
Do NOT dispense with bylaws of
a Commandery except in certain
circumstances
Dispensations
Sec 48(c) [REGC] He may issue dispensations to
form Commanderies under the terms specified in
the constitution or statutes. (2012
(f) To grant Dispensations to Constituent
Commanderies:
1. To hold Special Conclaves for the conferring
of the Orders at places within their Jurisdictions
other than those named in their Charters, and
2. To permit them to receive petitions and ballot
thereon at the same Conclave or at Special
Conclaves, after such notice as he may deem
proper.
Dispensations
3. (Intentionally blank)
4. For the purpose of changing the date, time
and location for a Stated Conclave, as otherwise
provided in the By-Laws of a Constituent
Commandery, to accommodate holidays and
special situations that he may deem appropriate
upon the written request of the Constituent
Commandery, based upon an affirmative vote at
a previous Stated Conclave, and provided only
that due and timely notice be provided the
membership of the change. (1991 pages 67-69)
Special Conferrals of
the Orders
Do NOT make a Templar at sight
Special Conferrals of the Orders
Section 23 [MEGM]
(i) To confer, on any qualified candidate, in
person or by delegated authority, the
Orders of our organization. He may
abbreviate the ceremonies in any manner
deemed appropriate by him except that
communicating the secret ritualistic work
is required.
amended 2003 pages 85-86) (2012)
Grand Representatives
Do NOT appoint a Grand Representative to
anywhere except to another Grand
Commandery under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Encampment
Grand Representatives
Section 48(g) [REGC] To appoint Past Grand
Commanders, Officers of the Grand
Commandery or Past Commanders of
Constituent Commanderies to represent the
Grand Commandery within sister jurisdictions,
such appointee to be known as “Grand
Representative” and to serve at the pleasure of
the Grand Commander or until a successor is
appointed. (1937, p 357)
Grand Representatives
A Grand Commandery cannot appoint a grand
representative near a foreign jurisdiction; that power
being vested in the Grand Encampment. The words
"sister jurisdictions" are interpreted to mean Templar
Jurisdictions existing under the Grand Encampment.
(1940, p 67 & 289, No. 26, Norris
Grand Commanderies holding allegiance to the Grand
Encampment may not exchange Representatives with the
Great Priories abroad. (1949, p 72 & 211, No. 1, Rice,
1988 digest – 173)
Discipline
Do NOT suspend or expel a Sir
Knight for any reason
Only a trial commission may do
that
Discipline
Sec 48 (d) Also to suspend from his office any
Officer of the Grand or of a Constituent
Commandery, but in no case shall such
suspension affect the standing in the Order of
such Officer or his membership in the
Commandery. The Grand Commander shall
report his action in full to the next Conclave of
the Grand Commandery for its final action.
(1967, p. 97)
Discipline
DISCIPLINARY RULES
Section 209. In the conduct of all trials
and all proceedings incident thereto, the
Disciplinary rules adopted by the Grand
Encampment shall be observed.
DISCIPLINARY RULES Consisting of Rules
Referred to in Section 209 of the Grand
Encampment Statutes TRIALS AND
PUNISHMENTS OFFENSES
Discipline
Exception to a trial commission
Section 202. When a Knight Templar has been
suspended or expelled from his Lodge or
Chapter or Council where required, for any
reason, he shall be suspended or expelled, as
the case may be, from his Commandery. (1988
Pages 208-209)
Discipline
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph of this section, if
a Knight Templar believes he has been involuntarily
suspended or expelled from Chapter, or Council where
required, either illegally or because of personal, arbitrary,
capricious or other improper motive by the Chapter or
Council he may appeal to the Grand Master and
suspension from Templary shall be held in abeyance for a
period of not more than 30 days to allow investigation. If
within that period the Grand Master and any two other
elected officers of the Grand Encampment agree, the
requirement of continuous Chapter, or Council if
otherwise required, membership may be waived for
that member. (2012)
Discipline
Unless it is a charge specific to Templary, whenever
possible, any charges should be referred to and trials
conducted by the Grand Lodge of your jurisdiction.
If, for example, it is a criminal offense or un-Masonic
conduct, one trial by the Grand Lodge will cover all
Masonic Bodies in the jurisdiction.
It is cleaner and much more efficient.
Printing Ritual
Grand Commanderies may not reprint the
ritual in any format
ie: to insert in Grand Commandery
Tactics
Printing Ritual
Rituals are under the sole supervision and control of the
Grand Encampment and may be published and issued by
it alone. It is unlawful for any Commandery or member
thereof to issue any others or print, publish or use any
other. The rituals cannot be altered or abridged except
by the Grand Encampment. Drill regulations are within
the jurisdiction of the Grand Commandery. (1940, p 64 &
281, No. 4, Norris, 1988 digest – 186, 324 & 327)
No part of the ritual can be published by the Grand
Commandery but tactics may refer to ritual page and line
number.
(1952 p 66 & 159, No. 7, Gaylord, 1988 digest – 330)
Authority
The Grand Commander may exercise all authority given
to him under Section 48 of the Constitution.
During the recess of the Grand Commandery, the Grand
Commander may exercise all authority given to it under
Section 41 of the Constitution
This is why a Grand Commandery never closes, it is
always open for business conducted by the Grand
Commander.
This is why the Grand Commander is the Chief
Executive Officer and responsible for all actions of his
Grand Commandery.
Jewels
Do NOT authorize a meritorious jewel to
be worn on the right side of the uniform.
The right side is limited to Grand
Encampment jewels only.
Honorary Titles
Do NOT award Honorary Titles
without the written permission of the
Grand Master
Honorary Titles
Sec. 237a
(a) Grand Commanderies may confer the
honorary titles of Honorary Past Grand
Commander, Grand Treasurer Emeritus,
Grand Recorder Emeritus, and Grand
Prelate Emeritus upon written approval of
the Grand Master;
Be a smart Grand Commander
Know what you can and cannot do
 Research the Constitution and Statutes of
Grand Encampment and your Grand
Commandery
 Ask knowledgeable Sir Knights
 Ask the Grand Encampment

– Department Commander, GE Office or Officer
– They will get you the proper answer
The Grand Encampment
of Knights Templar
The future is ours!
We must seize the moment!