Sir Knight Art Davidge, HPC was just named THE Recorder of the Year at the 2015 Grand Commandery Round Table Dinner. We love Art and so does our Grand Commandery. Thanks Art, for your service to our Commandery and York Rite bodies. Congratulations on this great honor!
Knights Templar move from Ann Arbor to Belleville’s Masonic Temple | The Belleville Independent
Take a look at the Belleville-Area Independent’s coverage of our move from Ann Arbor to Belleville:
Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13 of Knights Templar is moving to Belleville after spending 150 years in Ann Arbor.
The commandery kicked off its presence in Belleville with its participation in the recent Belleville Strawberry Festival parade where members marched in their white, summer uniforms.
The group was chartered in Ann Arbor on June 14, 1865 and has spent the past 150 years in Ann Arbor serving as a place for Christian men of all denominations to learn from one another, serve their communities and practice Christian virtues.
The Knights Templar is an ecumenical fraternal organization with an oft-debated connection to the order of knighthood of the same name founded by the Roman Catholic Church in the 10th century.
Brandon Mullins of Belleville, Excellent Prelate, said, “If you’re looking for a direct line of Grand Masters reaching back from Hugues de Payens in 1118 to today you aren’t going to find one. But with that said, the traditions and values of the Knights Templar did not simply disappear when Philip IV of France and Pope Clement V conspired to eliminate the Knights Templar in the 14th century.”
While the fate of the Knights Templar after their suppression is unclear, it can be said that the first encampment of Knights Templar in the New World was founded in Boston in 1802 and the first in Michigan in 1851.
The grand characteristics of the Knights Templar are unsullied honor, unwearied zeal in a brother’s cause, and universal benevolence. Sir Knights, as the members are called, are challenged to live out these values in their daily lives
Ann Arbor Commandery has served as home to mayors, professors, Rhodes Scholars, university regents, auto workers, pastors, priests, and men from many other walks of life.
In its time the commandery has taken part in many service projects throughout its history ranging from the women’s auxiliary sewing rudimentary body armor for men leaving Ann Arbor to fight in World War I to raising money for ocular research at the University of Michigan today.
This dedication to their local community makes the move from Ann Arbor difficult, but one that has been greatly anticipated.
“The move from Ann Arbor to Belleville is a bittersweet one,” Mullins said. “We haven’t had a home to call our own since the Ann Arbor Masonic Temple closed six years ago.
“While we’ve appreciated our ability to meet at Ann Arbor’s Calvary United Methodist Church in the interim we’ve been looking for a larger space for years. Myrtle Lodge No. 89, F&AM, has been gracious enough to allow us the use of the Belleville Masonic Temple.
“This is especially exciting as I grew up Belleville and our current Eminent Commander James P. Piper lives in Belleville,” Mullins said. “Our records show that since the 1800s when men from Belleville wished to join the Knights Templar they most often joined Ann Arbor Commandery.”
Mullins said it is hoped that while Ann Arbor Commandery will always hold a special connection with the city of Ann Arbor, it can be of service to the Belleville community in the years to come.
For more information on the history of Ann Arbor Commandery see Harrison H. Caswell’s Historical Sketch of Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13 KT and Virginia Trevithick’s Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13 KT 1965-1990. Or, contact Brandon Mullins at (734) 699-2225 or email brandon.mullins@outlook.com.
An end of the evening toast to Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13 on the last few moments of it’s sesquicentennial:
“To Ann Arbor Commandery, may it last until that glorious day when “the
mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the
mountains”; when “swords shall be beaten into plough shares and spears
into pruning hooks”; when “nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more”; when the reign of the
Blessed Emmanuel, the Prince of Peace, the Great Captain of our
Salvation, shall become universal and eternal.”
Today marks Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13, Knights Templar’s 150th anniversary.
Celebrate by taking a look at the history of our first hundred years here:http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015071416591
Congratulations to the 2015-2016 officers of Washtenaw Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons, and our new Excellent High Priest, Jake Foster.
The Arborough Games
Do you remember the Arborough Games? They were a biennial Olympics-like competition held between Ann Arbor, Michigan and Peterborough, Ontario,
cities which would later become sister cities. But why was there a
connection between these two cities to begin with? Well it may have
something to do with both cities having a group of Knights Templar named
No. 13.
Our Past Commander and current Battalion Commander, Brandon Mullins finally got a chance to visit our Canadian counterpart Moore Preceptory No. 13, Knights Templar in Peterborough, Ontario.
Thanks go out to Sunlight Chapter 189 Royal Arch Masons, for their fantastic work in conferring the Past Master and Most Excellent Master degrees on our brothers this morning, and congratulations to Chuck Nagy and Albert DeFluri on being received and acknowledged as Most Excellent Masters.
Order of the Red Cross Shirt
We all have our Commandery uniforms showing our love for the Order of the Temple, and the Maltese Cross an integral part of our uniform shows our pride in the Order of Malta but what of the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, what of the glory and power of truth?
Show your pride in the Order of the Red cross with a Red Cross shirt or hoodie inscribed with our motto, “Magna est Veritas, et prævalebit” which means “Great is Truth, and it will prevail.”
All profits will be donated to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation
A York Rite Elevator Pitch
We all know the stories and legends of the Blue Lodge, the wages of the fellow, the manner in which to approach the east, the lessons of geometry, the apron, and most especially that of Hiram Abiff - the most famous Mason of all time - his death, and glorification and ultimately the reason we…
Congratulations go out to our two newest Mark Master Masons, Chuck Nagy, and Albert DeFluri, and a special thanks to Sunlight Chapter 189 Royal Arch Masons, for the fantastic ritual work they did, and allowing us the opportunity to confer a degree in the daylight hours.
Happy New Year to all as we enter the 150th year of Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13, Knights Templar.
Merry Christmas from the Grand Commander
Sir Knights and families the Christmas season is but a few short days away. In the birth of Jesus it was the beginning and fulfillment of prophecy. The gifts for baby Jesus are symbols to us that giving of what is pleasant and respectful are to be imitated. Let us therefore use this season to rededicate our purposes and practice giving gifts of charity and of kindness to those who are needful. To the receiver of gifts they bring feelings of joy and thoughtfulness. To the giver that we care and appreciate you whether you are family, friend or complete strangers. Lady Jean and I wish to each of you the
many blessings and joys of this season and through the year.
Sincerely,
Paul W. Roggow, REGC
Welcome Companions from York Chapter No. 150, RAM
Companions, as of today, December the 22nd, York Chapter No. 150, RAM stationed in Milan has been consolidated into Washtenaw Chapter No. 6, RAM stationed in Ann Arbor.
For many of you this has been a long time coming but none the less we’d like to warmly welcome these companions into our chapter and thank them for making Washtenaw Chapter their home. We look forward to seeing new faces in our tabernacle and see 2015 as a year of growth and excitement for our chapter, now combined and stronger together.
Congratulations go out to the 2015 Ann Arbor Council No. 86 officers installed this evening. We look forward to a great year in Cryptic Masonry.
An eventful inspection for Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13, KT. We celebrated Sir Knight Tom Jameson’s 45 years serving Ann Arbor Commandery, presented our Eminent Grand Generalissimo, Donald Trumbull with an honorary membership, and lady Merry Jo with a donation to the Knights Templar Holy Land Pilgrimage. Great Job Sir Knights!
The Sir Knights of Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13 were proud to assist in Ypsilanti Commandery No. 54’s annual inspection!
Seems a Sir Knight was among the fallen in The Walking Dead premiere.
Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13 History 1965-1990
For some time we’ve had an in-depth history of the first hundred years of Ann Arbor Commandery, compiled by the late Sir Knight Harrison Caswell, PC posted on the website, but today we’re adding a latter compilation which picks up where SK, Caswell left off covering the years of 1965-1990. While admittedly a less detailed account, it none the less includes important historical gems from our proud organization.
Congratulations to Brandon Mullins, PC for being installed as Southeastern Michigan Battalion Commander after his election to the prestigious post earlier this year. Thanks for your dedicated service to Templary. Companion Brandon, Ann Arbor Council’s Thrice Illustrious Master was also honored with the Grand Master’s Service Award and Grand Master’s Meritorious award at the Grand Council session, which due to circumstances he was unable to control with his babysitter he was sadly not in attendance to receive these special honors. Thanks for your great efforts in York Rite Masonry Brandon!