Overview

The Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St John the Evangelist are some of the oldest and most beautiful expressions of deeply symbolic Christian Chivalric Freemasonry in the broader Masonic family.

The Order is, in fact, three separate Orders, which are combined into two different sets of ceremonial experience:

• Knight of the Red Cross of Constantine (preceded by Knight of Rome)

• Knight of the Holy Sepulchre

• Knight of St John the Evangelist

Knight of Rome and Knight of the Red Cross of Constantine

The Red Cross Order commemorates the mytho-historical conversion of Constantine (and the Roman Empire) to Christianity, in 312 AD, and further recalls his good works for humanity. This Order consists of three stages of progression for candidates:

1. Knight Mason

2. Priest Mason, and

3. Prince Mason.

The first being the point of admission, and the latter two being requisite for the leadership offices of Viceroy and Sovereign within constituent Conclaves.

Admission to the Red Cross Order is preceded by a ceremony of reception of the candidate to the Degree of Knight of Rome, which introduces us to the Roman Collegia, and propose a sympathetic link between Masonry and Roman civil life and hence to the Red Cross Order, and recalls the ancient rite of lustration and the duties of knighthood. 

Upon admission into the Red Cross Order, the candidate is enjoined to traverse the world in search of true enlightenment. On completion of his figurative journey his attention is drawn to the imposing Standard of Constantine, around which much of the symbolism of the degree is centred. The historical legend of the foundation of the Order is then narrated, in which the emperor’s achievements are reviewed and wherein the new Knight is reminded of his commitment to uphold the tenets of Christian chivalry thus bringing the degree to a fitting climax.

The regalia of this degree consists of a sash of Imperial purple and a breast jewel, which comprises a red cross Flory bearing the gold letters IHSV, which is worn on the left breast suspended from a purple ribbon. Knights who progress to the two chairs of their Conclave will be entitled to wear differenced breast jewels denoting their ranks as Priest or Prince, and a Past Sovereign's sash is emboldened with a crown.

Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and Knight of St John the Evangelist

The appendant order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre is a singular ceremony of admission, conducted in a 'Sanctuary' and has some of the most beautifully crafted and deeply contemplative ritual in all of Freemasonry. The Masonic Order of the Holy Sepulchre has a long and complex ritual of deep symbolic meaning, based upon the legend of knights guarding the supposed burial place of Jesus Christ and espouses the three principal Christian virtues. It is essentially an extension (possibly originally intended as an 'Inner Order') for the Rose Croix degree.

This ceremony is followed immediately by the candidate's admission into the Brotherhood of St John the Evangelist, which illustrates an intimate connection to the Holy Royal Arch and adds to the foundation story for the Knights Templar. The lecture of this degree explains the legendary origins and expounds upon the mysteries of Craft masonry as now practised. This degree also includes a long-standing but now seldom seen Christian masonic tradition of an agape (a 'fraternal feast').

The regalia of these Appendant Degrees consists of a white sash and a Jewel, each combining symbols of both Orders. The jewel is worn in conjunction with the Red Cross jewel, on the left breast suspended from a white ribbon.

The Order require that all candidates have been exalted as Royal Arch Masons (in good standing) and profess a belief in the Trinitarian Christian faith, as the ceremonial context indicates.

The modern form of the Order arose in London circa 1865, but these degrees have severally been part of the European masonic landscape since the 1760's, making them some of the oldest masonic storylines in existence. They derive, in part, from then-contemporary interest in the ideals of chivalry, in restoring 'gentler' lives in a tumultuous world, and in continuing what many saw as the roots to their masonry - their Christian faith - which had been largely excised in the secularisation process of preceding decades.

Thus, in two separate but interconnected ceremonial systems is some of the richest masonic story-telling unfolded and to which all qualified and interested Freemasons should aspire to belong!

The following YouTube video produced by the 'From the Quarries' channel briefly tells the story of our Order (6:48min - with sound):