constitution of the knights templar

7/29/2019 Constitution of The Knights Templar

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Constitution & Rules

1. NAME:

The Organization shall be known as: The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar hereinafterknown as: The Order

2. FOUNDATION:

The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar is a chivalric order of like-minded individuals who

demonstrate nine core principles: Chivalry, Courage, Honor, Integrity, Loyalty, Humility,

Courtesy, and Charity & Wisdom. Members take their inspiration from the highest ideals of themedieval Order of Knights Templar, originally founded by Hugues de Payens and eight fellow

noblemen in Jerusalem circa 1118. These core principles have strong correlations to the Latin

Rule of Templars, adopted by Hugues de Payens and others under the guidance of St Bernard of

Clairvaux and Council of Troyes on 13th January 1129. It is expected that members committhemselves to these core principles at all times.

3. OBJECTS:

The objects of the Order are to promote:

Fraternity, Friendship, Spirituality, Meditation, Charity, & Chivalry. Providing humanitarian relief to the poor, sick and needy.

To aid the development of spiritual understanding and meditation technique.

Promoting historical research associated with the 12th to 14th century Knights Templar.

To encourage the noble ideals of Chivalry and to promote Nobility through deeds of Charity &Honor.


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4. PERSONAL COMMITMENT

The core principles of the order are Chivalry, honor, integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom &charity. For Templar members, the Order is a way of life according to these principles, freely

chosen but nonetheless binding on their oath and honor.

There is an obligation that members participate in the Orders activities, particularly in events

and meetings organized by the Order.

Members contribute financially, as best their personal means allow, to furthering the work of

the Order.

MEMBERSHIP:

Qualification: Any person over the age of eighteen (fifteen for cadet class) who undertakes tobehave in the best interest of honor, chivalry and charitable deed shall be eligible for

membership. Race, color, nationality, gender, educational and professional qualifications, or the

lack thereof, shall never be a test of Membership.

5. Classes of Membership:

The Order has one ancillary rank:

Affiliate a person who has applied for membership of the Order but has not yet been

admitted.

The Order has four classes of member:

Cadet a person of fifteen to seventeen years of age who has been admitted into the Order and

is entitled to use the abbreviated letter GCKT (Cadet) following the family name.

Preceptor a person of eighteen years of age or more who has been admitted into the Order andis entitled to use the abbreviated letters GCKT following the family name.

Sergeants class membership for individuals of eighteen years of age or more who have eithera) joined as a direct entrant at Sergeant level and have been appropriately vetted by the Order by

way of character reference and/or interview or; b) served the Order for a minimum period of one

year as a Preceptor and has been recommended by their District Commander for advancementthrough recognized acts of chivalry and charity. Sergeants are entitled to use the abbreviated

letters SG GCKT following the family name.


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Titled Members, i.e. Knights/Dames a person who is granted the honor of Knight Templar

with full right and privilege of using the honorific title of Sir Knight or Dame within the order

alongside adequate opportunity to enjoy the privileges of ennoblement, title and abbreviatedletters of KT GCKT following the family name. Progression to Knight Templar is open, via

application process, to Sergeants who have served the Order for a minimum period of two years

and a minimum period of one year as Sergeant and has; a. displayed recognized acts of chivalryand charity throughout their membership and; b. has been sponsored by a senior rank of theOrder.

The Order has six ranks of seniority for Titled Member classes:

Member

Council Member

District Commander Knight Marshal Seneschal

Grand Master

Position is either gained by election process or promotion earned by undertaking an office, a

project or another duty that the Order considers to be a notable contribution to the work of the

Order.

The Order has two types of associate membership:

Honorary member who holds an honorary rank

Associate who holds no rank. GCKT (Assoc.) is permitted.

Membership of the Order, and the ranks and titles within it, do not confer any rank, title or social

privilege outside of the Order.

6. Election:

Candidates for election to membership shall make written or electronic application to the Grand

Master of the Order on the form provided. The power of election shall rest with the Grand

Master, who may refuse to elect to membership any applicant without assigning a reason for so


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doing. The candidate, upon acceptance, will enter under an assumed oath to the Grand

Commandery of Knights Templar and its Grand Master, as per Rule 24.

7. Restriction:

A person who has been expelled from, or refused membership of, the Grand Commandery of

Knights Templar, shall not be eligible for membership. The following are the Constitutionalproscriptions in respect of the acceptability of any candidate for Membership, or in the case of an

existing Member, reasons for expulsion.

7.1. The Member has not paid the Order the sums of money representing the constitutional

obligation of the annual Allegiance Fee due by him to the Order, and has therefore acted contraryto the "Honor Code" of the Order.

7.2. The Member acts contrary to The Constitution or any part thereof, The Memorandum of

Association, The Rules of Membership, and or The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar, or

any section thereof.

7.3. The Member has, by their actions, promoted or is likely to promote hatred, intolerance orprejudice against others or is affiliated with any organization which has promoted or is likely to

promote hatred, intolerance or prejudice against others.

7.4. The Member has by his actions caused or is likely to cause the Order, or any Memberthereof to be considered or called into disrepute.

7.5. The Member has been convicted of a flagrant offence, by a competent and recognized Court

of Law, saving those who have fully paid their debt to society.

7.6. If the Member has been declared of an unsound mind by a competent authority recognized

as such by The General Congress.

7.7. If a Member is convicted by a competent Court of Law in any lawful jurisdiction recognized

as such by The Government of the United Kingdom and or by The General Congress for acts of

immorality or indecency.

7.8. If any Member is involved in any act of pornography, pedophilia or bestiality whether

passive or otherwise, or is connected in any way with the production, distribution or subscriptionto acts, matters, publications or groups connected with pornography, pedophilia, bestiality or

other acts of whatever nature considered to be contrary to the accepted meaning of chivalry,

honor and integrity.


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7.9. If a Member is convicted by a competent Court of Law in any lawful jurisdiction recognized

as such by The Government of the United Kingdom, and or, The General Congress for an act of,

or complicity in any act of terrorism.

7.10. If a Member should become a member of, or in any way involved with, or otherwise

affiliated to any organization involved with terrorism, and or the unlawful manufacture, use of,import or export of weapons of war.

7.11. Full membership automatically precludes an individual from being a member of any otherTemplar Order and application and subsequent acceptance into the Grand Commandery of

Knights Templar assumes a candidates sole allegiance to this Order and no other. Should an

applicant already be a member of another Order, it is expected that the candidate resign theirposition before accepting membership of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar. Any

member found to belong to any other Order will be found to be in conflict with the assumed oath

they have made to the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar and its Grand Master.

8. Acceptance:

The Grand Master may at his sole discretion, decline to accept renewal of membership, from anyperson, without disclosing the reason.

9. SUBSCRIPTION:

Costing and estimates is always the essential key in the planning of the projects and operationswithin The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar. The closest consideration has been applied

in establishing a pragmatic basis of "Allegiance Fees" which are the only direct revenuesreceived by this Order, and used for the overall support and development of The Order. This

financial obligation is enshrined in the Constitution, and is mandatory throughout Membership

and without exception. Indeed, the Allegiance Fee, which is a thumbprint of tangible support and

genuine sincerity by the Member in question, is the only constitutionally authorized financialrequirement of Membership.

10. CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP:

10.1. Any member may resign giving one months clear notice in writing to the Grand Master.

10.2. Any member violating any of the rules or regulations of the Order or being adjudged guiltyof unsatisfactory conduct may, by resolution of the General Council, be suspended or expelled.

Any member so suspended or expelled may appeal to a Special General Meeting if such an

appeal is sponsored by not less than 60 per cent of members who are entitled to vote.


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10.3. A member shall be deemed to have resigned from the Order if, after due notice in writing,

he/she has not paid the constitutional allegiance fee which became due as a result of their

membership. He/she may, however, rejoin at any time during that year, subject to the provisionsoutlined above.

11. DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING OFFICE:

Only titled members are eligible to hold office.

12. GENERAL COUNCIL:

12.1. The General Council shall conduct the affairs of the Order as a whole and shall consist of a

Grand Master, Seneschal, Knight Marshal and up to 6 other officers as deemed necessary.

Additionally, the General Council may co-opt no more than 3 members of the Order to itsnumber.

12.2. Upon the resignation of either any General Council Member, nominations for the positionof Grand Master, Seneschal, Marshal and other officers shall be put forward in the form of a

motion under the terms of Rule 11.

13. DUTIES OF COUNCIL:

13.1. Grand Master: The Grand Master will preside at all General Meetings of the Order and at

all meetings of the General Council. He or she shall represent the Order at International meetingsof the Order and has the sole authority to invest Knights and Dames and to admit/induct allmembers into the Order. He or she shall be responsible for guiding the activities of the Order in

accordance with its rules and general policy as expressed by the majority of its members and in

accordance with the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar Rules.

13.2. Seneschal: The Seneschal will deputize for the Grand Master during the absence or

incapacity of the Grand Master on any occasion or during any time that the office of GrandMaster is vacant. Seneschal specific duties include register of membership, general finances of

the Order including collection of membership subscriptions and the keeping of proper accounts.

13.3. Knight Marshal: The Marshal oversees all members at District Commander level andbelow and acts as assistant to the Grand Master and Seneschal. They are specifically in charge of

ensuring order, discipline, and etiquette within the Order and have the responsibility to

recommend either promotion of a member to the Grand Master or disciplinary action forbreaches of oath, core principle or rule by any member under Rule 7, paragraphs (1) to (11).

13.4. Council Member: Responsibilities for other duties within the Order may be distributed by

the Grand Master to one of the other officeholders or elected Council Members. Such duties mayinclude one or more from the following non-exhaustive list: Co-ordination with local officials,


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representing the Order within localities, correspondence, website administration, literature,

journals and the taking of official minutes.

14. GENERAL COUNCIL:

14.1. The General Council is responsible for the general conduct of the Orders business and

activities.

14.2. The General Council shall meet at regular intervals during the year, as required by the

business to be transacted.

14.3. Special meetings of the General Council shall be called by the Seneschal on instructions

from the Grand Master or not less than three council members.

14.4. A quorum shall consist of not less than four members in the case of the General Council.

14.5. In the case of casual vacancy among the General Council, the said Council shall co-opt

another eligible person to act until the next AGM.

15. GENERAL MEETINGS:

15.1. An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the Autumn of each year. There shall be laid

before the meeting a statement of accounts made up to the day of the month of immediately

preceding.

15.2. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called on the instructions of a simple majorityof the General Council, or on a requisition signed by not less than 60% of the members of theOrder entitled to vote.

15.3. Not less than 21 days clear notice shall be given , specifying to all members the time and

business of the General Meeting.

15.4. Motions for discussion at Annual General Meetings, not of origin from within the General

Council, shall be lodged with the Seneschal at least 30 days preceding the AGM, and be signed

by members entitled to vote.

15.5. At any General Meeting, a resolution put to the vote of the Meeting shall be decided by ashow of hands, of those entitled to vote, except when more than one nomination has beenreceived for a position on the General Council, in which case voting will be by secret ballot.

15.6. At all General Meetings the Grand Master will preside or, in his/her absence, Seneschal.


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15.7. At all General Meetings not less than 60% of the members of the Order shall constitute a

quorum.

16. Absences of Quorum:

If after half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the

Meeting, if called at the request of the members, shall be dissolved in any other case, the meeting

shall be adjourned. If anyone is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for anAdjourned Meeting, the members present shall be a quorum.

17. Accidental Omission:

Accidental Omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice of, a meeting by

any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of a meeting.

18. LIABILITY:

18.1. The General Council shall manage the affairs of the Order. Financial or legal liabilityincurred in the rightful exercise of their office shall not, however, be the personal liability of the

Council, but shall be the responsibility of the Order as a whole.

18.2. All members or other persons who attend the Orders events do so at theirown risk, andneither the Order nor its officers can accept any liability for any loss or injury of any kind

sustained at headquarters or whilst on an Order event or other activity.

19. VOTING:

Only full member are entitled to vote at all meetings.

20. ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION:

20.1. This constitution shall not be altered, amended, or rescinded except by a General Meeting

of the Order.

20.2. A resolution to give effect to a change must be passed by at least 75% of the members

present at the General Meeting, and voting on this behalf.


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21. AUDITOR:

Every Annual General Meeting shall appoint an external Auditor who shall at least once in every

five years examine the Accounts of the Order, and ascertain the correctness of the income and

expenditure accounts and of the balance sheet.

22. DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS:

In no circumstances can any profit be distributed to members, but any profits earned shall be

contributed to a General Fund for furthering the objects of the Order.

23. TERMINATION:

23.1. The Order shall not terminate except by a resolution of a Special General Meetingconvened for the purpose and, in such an event, any surplus assets shall be handed over to the

Temple Church.

23.2. Any matter not provided for in this constitution, or any question over the interpretation of it

shall be dealt with by the General Council whose decision shall be final.

24. DECLARATION:

Each member upon joining shall sign the following declaration and repeat the oath during

investiture:

'I, (Name) of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar affirm that, I will be faithful and bear

true respect and honor to the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar and its Grand

Master. And I do hereby affirm my obedience to the constitution, core principles and Aims and

Rules of the Order and will bear no allegiance to any other Order or Grand Master whilst amember of their Order.

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constitution of the knights templar

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