Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem
Visit All Saints, May 2010

Last month the Knights Templar, who are associated with Freemasonry, and to which two members of our congregation belong, visited All Saints.

There is a similar group, not affiliated with Freemasonry, that is active in the tri-city area and Phoenix, who visited All Saints on Mother’s Day this year. They are The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, or SMOTJ.

The order enjoys the distinction of being the only international Templar Order recognized as a United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with Special Consultative Status. In an age of democratic materialism and secular humanism, the SMOTJ seeks, by reconstituting an ancient chivalric order, to adopt an organization of proven effectiveness in capturing the allegiance and spirit of dedicated leaders, and to show that spiritual idealism is most certainly relevant and not inconsistent with a sensibility for tradition, nor inconsistent with patriotism nor civic duty.

The Order's purposes include assisting and facilitating the growth of the virtues of Christian gentlemen and ladies, by endeavor with God's Grace. The members believe they have an obligation to participate in the coalescing and preservation of a constructive force similar to that which created knighthood and chivalry during the Middle Ages.

There are both a Chaplain's Corps for ordained ministers, and a Chirurgeon's Corps for medical professionals. It also has an associated honorary Order of Merit that recognizes accomplished individuals of all faiths for their extraordinary work for God and humanity.

Their recent investiture added six Knights and Dames to thier roles, an event attended by All Saint's Knight James "Robbie" Robinson, and Fr. Walt Crites. Among the membership are many Anglicans, including the Rt. Rev. Herbert M. Groce Jr. of the Diocese of the Midwest, in our own Anglican Province of America.

You will find more information about the organization at their website (www.smotj.org).

Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem Visit All Saints May 2010
(Priory of the Light)

SMOTJ Investiture Knight James Robinson, Prioress Carol Black, & Fr. Walt Crites	SMOTJ Chaplain
SMOTJ Capt Chevalier and Keith Larson	SMOTJ Knight James Robinson