
These are analagous to the Senior Warden and Master in the Craft (respectively) or second and first principals in the Royal Arch (again, respectively). The Knight of St John the Evangelist relates a christian perspective on the origin of Speculative Freemasonry, and takes its theme and content from a discovery in the ruins of King Solomon’s Temple during the fourth century AD.įurthermore, while progressing in office to the second and then first chairs of a Conclave, the Knight receives the degrees of Priest Mason (as the Conclave’s Viceroy) and Prince Mason (as the Most Puissant Sovereign). The the Knight of the Holy Sepulchre was traditionally developed on the finding of the true cross by St Helena, the mother of Constantine, and the consequent mounting of a guard over the Holy place. Two Appendant Degrees have long been included in the workings of the Order of Constantine – the Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and the Knight of St John the Evangelist. The candidate, who must be a Royal Arch Mason, and profess his belief in the Holy Trinity, is first admitted as a Knight of Rome then, in a ceremony based on Constantine’s vision, is installed as a Knight Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine. The historical setting of the Order follows Constantine the Great as he becomes Emperor of Rome, and features his well-known vision of a cross in the heavens which led to his victory at the the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, which lead to his acceptance of the Christian Faith. The ceremonies elevate a companion from Esquire to Christian Knight, and thus enable him to continue his journey of discovery and enlightenment. It encourages the enquiring companion to seek a fuller understanding of his masonic journey through an experiences of the events of Emperor Constantine. This Masonic Order is both chivalric and christian in nature, and is recognised by its brother masonic bodies world-wide. Welcome to the website for the Grand Imperial Conclave of NSW and the ACT, administering both the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. These, together with the two Installation ceremonies leading to the principal Chairs in the Red Cross of Constantine, are undoubtedly among the most impressive ceremonies in the whole of Freemasonry.A bronze statue of the Roman emperor Constantine outside York Minster, England

John the Evangelist this knowledge is further expanded and the ultimate aims of Freemasonry are revealed. In separate ceremonies the Knight-Companion builds on what he has already been taught and in the ceremony of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and St. The first ceremony consists of the Candidate’s admission, obligation, and then the Installation as a Knight-Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine, in which the historical basis of the Order is also detailed. After a number of changes to the organisation, the earliest documented date of the Order in its present form is 1865. It seems likely that the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine was being worked in England by 1780. Having been successful in battle it is said that Constantine with the help of his chief bishop, Eusebius, opened a Conclave of the Knights of the Order whose members became the bodyguard of their Sovereign. Several Christians in his army came forward and avowed their faith, following which Constantine directed that they should wear on their armour a red cross. A standard bearing a cross was ordered to be carried before him in the wars. He believed he saw a sign from heaven a pillar of light in the form of a special cross. It is said that his conversion to Christianity began one evening after a long day’s march with his army.

After several successful battles across the Alps and Italy he eventually established himself as the lawful Emperor of both the East and West and transferred the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, later to be named after him.

Constantine, a Roman, was destined for the college of Emperors but following the death of his father, he was hailed by the Legions in York as Augustus and became the Governor of Britain and Gaul.
