Provincial Priory of Kent

Boxley Abbey Preceptory No: 402

Date of Warrant: 25th January 1966

Second Monday in March and October, Forth Friday in May
(Installation - Second Monday in March) 

Knight Templar

Historical Prelude
Profane History gives us no account of these Knights anterior to the time of the Crusades; but the Revelation of Sacred History and Ancient Mystery, supposes them to have been orders in the degrees of the Temple, as they now assume to be in Masonry. The title of Hospitaller is traceable only to a 
provision for pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem in Palestine; while the distinction of Knights of Rhodes and of Malta was acquired in the crusade wars, by their Knights getting and defending the possession of those islands. They had two residences in London; that which is now called St. John's-square, and the Temple by the river.

Modern Varieties
In the Masonic Degree of Knights Templar, the names of the officers vary in different Encampments. The following are found amongst them:- Grand Master, Grand Prior, Grand Sub-Prior, Grand Captains first and second, Grand Orator, Grand Prelate, Grand Chancellor, Grand Chaplain, Grand Recorder, Grand Drapers, Grand Preceptor, Grand Herald. Grand Equerries, Grand Almoner, Grand Councillor, Grand Admiral, Grand Treasurer, Grand Hospitaller, Grand Marshal or Grand Vice-Admiral, Grand Bailiff, Grand Commander, Grand Master of the Ceremonies, Equerries of the Outposts, and a Janitor or Tyler.

Some encampments make the Order of Malta to be distinct from that of the Templar; while others create a Knight at once as a Knight Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, of Palestine, of Rhodes, of Malta, and Knight Templar of Jerusalem.