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 one of the Christian Chivalric Orders of Freemasonry.
The order is open to Master Masons who are also Companions of the Holy Royal Arch, professing a belief in the Trinitarian Christian faith.
Thames Division comprises Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, with conclaves meeting in Aylesbury, Banbury, Marlow, Olney, Oxford, Wokingham and Woodstock.
Right Illustrious Knight, Alan J. Baversock, the Intendant-General for the Thames Divison, explains the basis of the Order.
He will also be known, of course, to all Oxfordshire Masons as the Assistant Provincial Grand Master in the Craft!
Who was Constantine?
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. 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 Constantinople after him, and today known as Istanbul.
It is said that his conversion to Christianity began one evening after a long day’s march with his army. He believed he saw a sign from heaven; a pillar of light in the form of a special cross. A standard bearing a cross was ordered to be carried before him in the wars. Several Christians in his army came forward and avowed their faith, following which Constantine directed that they should wear a red cross on their armour. 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.
The Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine
It seems likely that the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine was being worked in England by 1780. After a number of changes to the organisation, the earliest documented date of the Order in its present form is 1865.
The first ceremony, in a Conclave of the Order, consists of the candidate’s admission, obligation, and then installation as a Knight-Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine. After undergoing the Rite of Lustration, he is received under the aegis of the ‘Thirteenth Apostle’ and 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. He is invited by the Sovereign to repeat an obligation of knighthood, following which he receives the accolade of a Perfect Knight-Mason. The mysteries of the Order having been communicated, he is invested with the insignia of the Order, armed, installed and duly proclaimed by the Herald. 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 Jewel of the Order, which comprises a red cross flory bearing the gold letters IHSV which is worn on the left breast suspended from a purple ribbon. The regalia is loaned to the candidate by his conclave until such time as he receives the Appendant Orders. These additional Orders, the so-called ‘Appendant Orders’, comprise the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and the Holy Order of St. John the Evangelist.
The Order of the Holy Sepulchre and the Holy Order of St. John the Evangelist
In two separate ceremonies, the Knight-Companion builds on what he has already been taught and, in the ritual working of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and of St. John the Evangelist, this knowledge is further expanded and the ultimate aims of Christian Freemasonry are revealed. 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.
Both the Appendant Orders are administered from 86 St. James’s Street, London, by the Patriarchal Council, a body which is synonymous with that of the Grand Imperial Conclave, where the Grand Sovereign assumes the dignity of Patriarch and Grand Commander, while the Grand Eusebius is acknowledged as the Grand Sub-Patriarch and Deputy Grand Commander.
The Order of the Holy Sepulchre is the first of the Appendant Orders. This beautiful ceremonial is enacted as two individual points within a Sanctuary of the Order, under the presidency of a ‘Right Reverend Prelate’ mitred and robed in a white surplice and bearing a pastoral staff. He is supported by a team of some twenty officers, including a full complement of Sepulchre guards. The narrative pertains to the vital period linking the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, with significant references being made to the scriptural readings of St. Mark. Having given proof of his eligibility, the aspirant, clothed with the purple sash of Constantine, is apprised of the noble qualities inspired by the three Theological Virtues, and is obligated in a manner which mirrors the rite observed by the original chivalric knights in the church on Mount Calvary. An historical oration is then delivered, prior to the candidate enduring the rigours of symbolical warfare. After a successful outcome, he is rewarded with formal recognition as a Brother Knight; he is then instructed in the Corporal Works of Mercy, and the secrets of the Holy Sepulchre are communicated.
The Holy Order of St. John the Evangelist is the second of the Appendant Orders. A Commandery of St. John is formed after the closing of a Sanctuary of the Holy Sepulchre. It is convened by the ‘Most Enlightened Commander’ wearing the personal insignia of his rank and supported by a similar complement of officers. The candidate is admitted and recounts that, on visiting the ruins of the Temple, he has made a discovery which unbeknown to him is focused upon profound Johanine writings. These prove to be highly consequential and, as a reward, he is instructed in the legendary origin of masonic rites as a fitting preparation for the full honours of knighthood. The accolade is then conferred, signifying his reception as a Christian Knight of the Appendant Orders, after which he is duly invested with the appropriate Insignia. He is then entrusted with the secrets of a Knight of St. John, is installed and saluted by the assembled knights, and then invited to unite with them and to ratify his vows to Christian brotherhood. The Commandery is then closed with due veneration.
As the knightly degrees of the Holy Sepulchre and St. John the Evangelist are defined as separate orders, it may be questioned as to why they are appendant to that of Constantine. It should be appreciated that all are a pre-requisite step to the grades of Viceroy (Priest-Mason), and the ultimate office of Sovereign (Prince-Mason) within a conclave of the Red Cross of Constatine. However, while being administered by Grand Imperial Conclave, they are not connected ritualistically, yet are based upon a chronological sequence of events. The three ceremonies of knighthood, conjoined with that of Priest_mason and Prince-Mason form a complete series, and embody some of the most profound and beautiful ceremonial to be found within Freemasonry. As such, they form a noteworthy masonic rite that has achieved international recognition, and one that is eagerly embraced by all those who are drawn to the realms of Christian Masonic chivalry.
Viceroy and Sovereign
The office of Viceroy is constructed around the personality of Eusebius, a bishop who was contemporary with Constantine. This reveals an incongruity, as unfortunately there were two contemporary ecclesiastics of that name and therefore a measure of confusion exists as to whom the masonic character represents. They were Eusebius of Caesarea, Bishop of Palestine, the church historian, and Eusebius of Nicomedia, Bishop of Constantinople, Chamberlain to the Emperor, who baptised the sovereign on his deathbed.
In a Conclave, this rank constitutes a degree in itself, and demands that all concerned must have previously been admitted to the Appendant Orders. As Viceroy-elect, the aspirant is obligated in the presence of the Knights of the Conclave and subsequently admitted into a College of Priests-Mason; here he is consecrated, anointed, and instructed how to proceed in the pursuit of perfection, after which the mysteries of the Priesthood are communicated. He is further invested with a white surplice bearing the red-cross symbol of the Order (worn over the sash of the Appendant degrees) together with a white collarette from which is suspended the ‘Jewel of the Order’ surmounted by a mitre in gold and charged with the letters X (Chi) and P (Rho), being the first two letters of Christos, the Greek word for Christ. Attention is also drawn to his Standard, the Labarum, a purple banner bearing the letters X and P in red. After installation as Viceroy of the Conclave, he is presented with a pastoral staff as his symbol of authority.
Elevation to the rank of Most Puissant Sovereign signifies promotion to the final degree of the system: the summit of the Rite. This honour is conferred upon knights who have received the accolade in the three degrees of the system, and who have served the office of Viceroy. After the Sovereign-elect has been obligated before the assembled Knights, a Senate of Sovereigns is convened wherein specific Johannine scripture is evoked to inculcate the reverence demanded by this sublime ceremony. Gaining admission, the supplicant is invited to reflect upon the steps he has undertaken in order to attain his present exalted position and is exhorted to advance in solemn meditation and contemplate upon his pending responsibilities. On completion of this journey the mysteries of the degree are communicated and the significance of the Standard of Constantine is explained in full; he is then clothed in a scarlet robe of ‘regality’ which is worn over the sash of the Appendant Orders. He is next invested with the collarette and jewel of his rank after which he is solemnly enthroned, presented with his baton of office, and proclaimed as a Perfect Prince-Mason. The insignia of a Sovereign comprises the ‘Jewel of the Order’ charged with the XP (Chi-Ro) symbol surmounted by an imperial crown of gold.
Thames Division Intendants-General Present and Past. Alan Baverstock 2016-present, the Rev’d Timothy L’Estrange 2011-2016, Rodney Staines 1997-2011.
Christian Freemasonry and the Red Cross of Constantine
It is acknowledged that, from the outset, the Craft was Christian in character. After the decision to ‘universalise’ Freemasonry in the early 1720s, a noticeable void was created, with the consequence that the emergence and development of the Christian degrees apparently took place.
There is little doubt that a debt of gratitude is owed to the unknown erudite brethren who contributed to the ritualistic expertise which has resulted in the rich legacy of profound and beautiful ceremonies that were created in order to stimulate the search for ‘the Lost Word’.
It was against this background of progress and change that the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and its Appendant Degrees eventually progressed to the unique position it holds within the structure of Freemasonry, rendering membership extremely desirable for every Christian Royal Arch Mason.
The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine is a masonic rite of complexity, enlightenment, and spiritual development, with some of the most beautiful and thought-provoking ritual within Freemasonry: providing lessons of faith, unity, and zeal.
If you would like to know more about the Order, please contact Richard Skym, the Divisional Recorder: richardskym@outlook.com