A priest’s message on entering Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13, Knights Templar

“And now, my dear brothers of the ancient and historic order of the Knights of the Templar, it is my privilege, and I gladly say to you, it is my privilege to address you in the close ties of a common responsibility and interest. Your historic order is committed in every detail and principle of its teachings and ritual to the upholding and vindication of this great hope and truth of human life. You are here because a dispensation has been committed to you to stand firm for the two pillars of the faith–'Jesus and the Resurrection.' All your past history, from the glorious enterprises of which the crusaders are a splendid illustration, ties you to a definite positive maintenance of the faith of the gospel. The gospel of Jesus is the raison d'etre of Templarism. As the other evening it was my privilege to take the obligations of your order, I felt as a Christian priest, how transcendently beautiful, how sublimely solemn, every teaching, every word, every sentiment of Templarism was. It was a revelation to me and all that the church is to me is brought to my heart with new beauty and fervor. A fine Knight Templar is a true Christian–must be–for Templarism means the Church. It has ever been the handmaid, the auxiliary of the church, it is not the church, it is true, but its ally, its defender, its exponent. Every Knight Templar, by the logic of his order and position, recognizes, vindicates, enters the church of God. Our danger is that we should not see this relationship, that the logic of your obligations should fail to carry you far enough and that we should remain outside the church door. Our place is within, and that because we are Knights Templar.”

“My brothers, Sir Knights, I pray for the choicest gifts and blessings of our common loving Father, upon your Commandery, upon every member of the same ‘in his vocation and ministry,’ and I pray each of us may go forward and take our place and do our full duty in the great army of our loving Captain, until in His loving wisdom He shall call us to the higher service of the other home.”

- Rev. William Hothersall Gardam, Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church Ypsilanti on the Easter following his knighting as a member of Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13, Knights Templar, April 19, 1897

Southeastern Battalion Ascension Observance

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Come visit Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13, KT as it hosts the annual Southeastern Battalion Ascension Observance, featuring the official Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, ascension observance ceremony. This event is open to the public and brothers and sir knights are encouraged to attend with their friends and families.

Sir Knights are requested to attend in uniform and all others, Sunday best.

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.”

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.