Spartanburg Chapter KSA History
After several organizational meetings where a core group of 32nd Masons in the Valley of Spartanburg, South Carolina fleshed out a vision for a KSA chapter, the day finally arrived for the official chartering on June 1, 2009. In a moving ceremony conducted by Ill. Michael D. Smith, 33rd, S.G.I.G. in South Carolina he reminded all the charter members of the solemn duties they learned in the 29th Degree of the Rite and charged them ever to diligently uphold them as a duly constituted body of the Order. At the conclusion of the ceremony the charter was signed by the S.G.I.G. and the General Secretary of the Valley, thereby bringing into existence the Spartanburg Chapter of the Knights of St. Andrew.
The charter members are all very excited to begin this new work in Masonry. While they are fully cognizant that most KSA chapters are service organizations, the members of the Spartanburg chapter intend to focus not only on service to the valley, charity work, and fundraisers, but on the esoteric and Masonic educational needs of the members. Ritual, esoterica, and education will factor heavily into all their meetings and activities.
This photo was taken at the conclusion of the ceremony and signing of the charter. Pictured left to right, 1st row: Nick Gregory 32nd, Junior Warden; Ray Moore, 32nd, Venerable Master; Ill. Michael D. Smith, 33rd, S.G.I.G. in SC; Gary Frazier, 32nd, Secretary-Treasurer; Trent Henderson, 32nd, Prelate. 2nd row: Tommy Watson, 32nd, Sentinel; Warren Lunsford, 32nd; Steve Whitaker, 32nd; Tyler Peters, 32nd, Junior Deacon; Guy Burrell, 32nd; Rickey Gilbert, 32nd. 3rd row: Duane Smith, 32nd, Senior Deacon; Rodney Baldwin, 32nd.
The charter members are all very excited to begin this new work in Masonry. While they are fully cognizant that most KSA chapters are service organizations, the members of the Spartanburg chapter intend to focus not only on service to the valley, charity work, and fundraisers, but on the esoteric and Masonic educational needs of the members. Ritual, esoterica, and education will factor heavily into all their meetings and activities.
This photo was taken at the conclusion of the ceremony and signing of the charter. Pictured left to right, 1st row: Nick Gregory 32nd, Junior Warden; Ray Moore, 32nd, Venerable Master; Ill. Michael D. Smith, 33rd, S.G.I.G. in SC; Gary Frazier, 32nd, Secretary-Treasurer; Trent Henderson, 32nd, Prelate. 2nd row: Tommy Watson, 32nd, Sentinel; Warren Lunsford, 32nd; Steve Whitaker, 32nd; Tyler Peters, 32nd, Junior Deacon; Guy Burrell, 32nd; Rickey Gilbert, 32nd. 3rd row: Duane Smith, 32nd, Senior Deacon; Rodney Baldwin, 32nd.
History of the Knights of Saint Andrew
When the Order of The Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon or of The Knights of the Temple, the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Jesus Christ (known as the “Knights Templar”), which was established in 1118, had been declared heretical by Pope Clement V at the instance of Philip the Fair of France in 1307; when all of the Order in France had been arrested and imprisoned, many executed, more tortured and all impoverished; when, in most of the other European States, the Estates of the Order had been confiscated and divided between the Sovereign, the Knights Hospitalers, and the Pope; and when the Grand Master Jacques de Molay and the Grand Preceptor Guy had been burned alive on the 18th of March 1313, Old Style; the Templars no longer had a common head, nor could anywhere maintain their organization under their old name which had become so famous. Their possessions confiscated, their leaders incarcerated for life or put to death, the Brethren persecuted in every way, the survivors were compelled, for the sake of concealment and to be in safety, to leave their homes, lay aside the garb of the Temple, and mingle again with the world, or enter other Orders. In Portugal, where they were pronounced innocent, the name of the Order was changed to that of the Order of Christ. In England, King Edward proscribed them, and forbade them to remain in the realm, unless they entered the Commanderies of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, or of the Hospital. In Scotland, they found protection, and joined the army with which King Robert Bruce met the invasion of his country by Edward II of England.
The battle of Bannockburn was fought on the 24th of June 1314. In consequence of the assistance rendered him on that memorable day by the Templars, Bruce created and received them into the Order of Saint Andrew du Chardon [of the Thistle] of Scotland. This was afterward annexed to the Degrees of the Rite of Heredom, Herodom, or Hie rodom, a word coined from the two Greek words ['IeposAouos Hieros domos], HOLY HOUSE, and said to be the name of a mountain in Scotland (where there is no such mountain), to conceal the real name of the Order, which was HOLY HousE of the TEMPLE at Jerusalem.” The meaning hidden in the word “HOLY” you may, perhaps, be hereafter fortunate enough to learn. King Robert reserved to himself and to his successors forever the title of Grand Master of the new Order; and granted a charter of lands to Walter de Clifton, Grand Preceptor of the Templars for Scotland, for the assistance which they rendered him at Bannockburn.
Prince Charles Edward Stuart was the last Grand Master of the Order of Herodom in Scotland, and exercised his powers in France, by establishing a Chapter of Rose Croix at Arras, and by other acts. And when the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was finally organized, by those in possession of the Degrees of the Rites of Herodom and Perfection, and of other Rites and detached Degrees that had been from time to time established in Scotland, France, Germany, and elsewhere, the Order of Grand Scottish.
Knights of Saint Andrew became the 29th of the new Rite, formed by selecting, from the different Rites and Observances, seven Degrees, in addition to the twenty-five of Perfection; and creating the 33rd, as the Supreme and last Degree, to rule the whole.
The battle of Bannockburn was fought on the 24th of June 1314. In consequence of the assistance rendered him on that memorable day by the Templars, Bruce created and received them into the Order of Saint Andrew du Chardon [of the Thistle] of Scotland. This was afterward annexed to the Degrees of the Rite of Heredom, Herodom, or Hie rodom, a word coined from the two Greek words ['IeposAouos Hieros domos], HOLY HOUSE, and said to be the name of a mountain in Scotland (where there is no such mountain), to conceal the real name of the Order, which was HOLY HousE of the TEMPLE at Jerusalem.” The meaning hidden in the word “HOLY” you may, perhaps, be hereafter fortunate enough to learn. King Robert reserved to himself and to his successors forever the title of Grand Master of the new Order; and granted a charter of lands to Walter de Clifton, Grand Preceptor of the Templars for Scotland, for the assistance which they rendered him at Bannockburn.
Prince Charles Edward Stuart was the last Grand Master of the Order of Herodom in Scotland, and exercised his powers in France, by establishing a Chapter of Rose Croix at Arras, and by other acts. And when the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was finally organized, by those in possession of the Degrees of the Rites of Herodom and Perfection, and of other Rites and detached Degrees that had been from time to time established in Scotland, France, Germany, and elsewhere, the Order of Grand Scottish.
Knights of Saint Andrew became the 29th of the new Rite, formed by selecting, from the different Rites and Observances, seven Degrees, in addition to the twenty-five of Perfection; and creating the 33rd, as the Supreme and last Degree, to rule the whole.
