Eminent Commander
- The metal on this jewel is gold colored. The jewel is a passion cross surmounted by ray of light.
- These rays are symbols of the humility, love, and pure benevolence that emanate like rays from the religion of the Blessed Emanuel.
- They also symbolize the power and majesty of the crucified and risen Christ and the victory he achieved over death.
The duties of the Eminent Commander are to distribute alms to the poor and weary Pilgrims traveling from afar, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bind up the wounds of the afflicted. Also, to inculcate the duties of charity and hospitality, and govern the Commandery with justice and moderation.
Generalissimo
- The metal on this and the rest of the officer jewels is silver in color.
- The square is to remind you that friendship and lover ever govern Knights Templar.
- The square for all Masons is a symbol of morality and is used be operative masons to prove angles right. It became an emblem of accuracy, integrity, and rightfulness.
- The paschal lamb atop the square has long been a symbol of Christ and came into use in the 15th century.
- Heraldry defines it as a representation of a lamb passant walking, having around its head a halo supporting on the right shoulder a cross like staff bearing a flag argent charged with cross gules.
- The cross represents the manner under which we Templars have become his knights. The walking lamb illustrates that activity that we should pursue in marching steadily onward to help spread his kingdom on earth.
- Thus this jewel also reminds us to conduct ourselves with those high standards of morality and character which were taught by the Lamb of God.
The duties of the Generalisimo are to assist the Commander in the duties of his office and in his absence to preside over the Commandery.
Captain General
- The jewel is a level, surmounted by a cock.
- As the undaunted courage and valor of the cock stimulate him to conquer his enemy and fight to the last extremity, so should you be stimulated in the discharge of every duty.
- We meet upon the level because Masonic rights, duties, and privileges are the same for all members without a distinction. It also symbolized that we walk on the same level of time until death erasing all distinctions and reducing all of us to the same level.
- In Christianity the rooster is noted for crowing three times when Peter denied Christ. As such it became a symbol for Christ’s passion. Later it would signify Peter’s repentance, religious vigilance, the resurrection and the daily triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
- It reminds us of the need for attentiveness and vigiliance in the performance of our duties.
- It tells us we are equally new to and equally far from our heavenly father.
The duties of the Captain General are to see that due preparation is made for conclaves of the Commandery, that the asylum is in suitable array for the instruction of candidates and the dispatch of business, and to execute the orders of the Commander. In the Commander’s absence and that of the Generalissimo, to preside over the Commandery.
Prelate
- This jewel is a triple triangle with red passion crosses in the center of the triangles.
- Triangles have long been a symbol of diety. For Templars the triple triangles represent the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
- They are of equal sizes which indicates the omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence of the Holy Trinity.
- The total nine sides represent the time of Christ’s death (nine hours after being nailed to the cross), the nine times he appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, and the nine fruits of spirit named by St. Paul (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness, and self-control).
- The three crosses represent the three crosses of Calvary, and the rejection of the first thief, repentence of the second, and the redemption brought by Christ for all of us.
- This jewel reminds us of God in three persons, the sacrifice of Jesus, which symbolizes salvation, and our community of Christiane Masonic Knights bound together by Faith, Hope, and Chairty, and striving to cultivate the nine fruits of the spirit.
The duties of the Prelate as the religious leader of the Commandery are to minister at the altar and to offer up prayers to the Deity.
Recorder
- This jewel is of crossed pen quills.
- It symbolizes the recorders responsibility for letters and documents being written and preserved.
- Those quills to be used to record knowledge and learning.
- They also symbolize Justice and Equality – these are symbols placed before lawyers pleading before the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
The record’s duties are to faithfully record the transactions of the Commandery, collect the revenue, and pay it over to the treasurer.
Treasurer
- This jewel is of crossed keys.
- Crossed keys are a symbol of power over wealth and a power to admit or excluded.
- The treasurer’s jewel reminds us that we are guardians and conservators of Templary and of our responsibility to guard well the door of our asylum against the unworthy or impious.
The duties of the Treasurer are to receive in charge all the funds and property of the Commandery, pay all orders drawn on the Treasury, and to render a true account when required.
Senior Warden
- The jewel is a hollow square with a mailed arm and hand grasping the sword of justice, pointing upward.
- This reminds you that as the children of Israel marched in a hollow square in their journey through the wilderness in order to guard and protect the Ark of the Covenant, so should you be vigilant in guarding every avenue from innovation and error. Let the sword of justice, therefore, be ever drawn to guard the Constitution of the order. Thus it may be interpreted as s symbol of protection or security.
- The square has been interpreted as a symbol of of the earth and of earthly things. The four sides have been taken as symbols of north, south, east, and west – spring, summer, winter, and fall – prime elements; earth, fire, water, and air – stage of life; birth, child, adult, and death. So the square speaks to us of order and stability of matter and materialistic things.
- The mailed hand grasping a sword is found un heraldry. There is symbolizes the sword of justice and the arm of God. The extension of this meaning may represent divine justice which is perfect rather than human justice which is imperfect.
- Thus this jewel can be interpreted as follows: within the square representing our earthly existence, is enclosed the arm of divine justice representing the spirit of divinity within us, which reminds us of our duty to dispense, insofar as we possibly can, true justice, and charity to our fellow man as well as a reminder of the words of the Lord “… behold the Kingdom of God within you”.
The duties of the Senior Warden are to attend Pilgrim Warriors, comfort Pilgrim Penitents, and after due trial introduce them into the asylum.
Junior Warden
- This jewel is an eagle with wings holding in its talon a flamin sword.
- It suggests to you the performance of your duties with justice and valor, having an eagle eye on the prosperity of the order. The eagle, in some cultures represented freedom and power as well as spiritual protection. It carried prayers and brought strength, courage, wisdom, illumination of spirit, healing, creation, and a knowledge of music.
- It also represented great power and balance, dignity with grace, a connection with higher truths, intuition, and a creative spirit.
- In the Old Testament the eagle is the messenger of God and a link between Heaven and earth.
- Because the eagle soars upward it is a symbol of the resurrection or ascension of Christ. By extension it symbolizes baptized Christians who have symbolically died and risen with Christ.
- The flaming sword was a symbol in the bible of God’s immediate presence with the Holy Spirit.
- Thus the Junior Warden’s jewel might also be taken to symbolize to Knights Templar that we must daily renew and strengthen our faith in Christ to live forever with our Lord in Heaven.
The duties of the Junior Warden are to attend poor and weary Pilgrims traveling from afar, accompanying them on their journey, and in due time recommend them to the Commander.
Warder
- This jewel is a hollow square with crossed swords pointing downward and a trumpet.
- The trumpet refers to the description of the Lord in 1st Thessalonians 4:16, descending from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the “trump” of God.
- The swords pointing downward symbolis the rest/peace which Chirst will bring at his next coming.
- There are three symbols in this jewel. When considered as a whole, we can interpret their symbolism as heralding that time when wat and suffering shall be no more, when we are at rest from our labors, and when the resurrection of Jesus will be consummated by the resurrection of all the faithful and a renewed creation – an eternal kingdom or peace, justice, and love.
The duties of the Warder are to sound the assembly, post the sentinel, announce the approach and departure of the Commander, and see that the asylum is duly guarded.
Standard Bearer
- This jewel is a plumb surmounted by the banner of the order.
- The plumb represents the best of conduct, unequivocal uprightness, constant integrity which builds a spiritual temple in us all.
- The Banner of Beauceant was originally peculiar to the Knights Templar and had many historical references. But the Templar Banner is also credited to the battle cry of the Templars – “Beau Sant” – meaning “Be Noble” or “Be Glorious”.
- As such it was the rallying point of the Templars on the field of battle, a point at which to regroup.
- The black section represents the sins of the secular world.
- The white section the purity that the order offered them.
- White and black, light and dark, good and evil, life and death, sky and earth, fire and water, male and female, flesh and spirit.
- A symbolic meaning of this jewel might be, as Masonic Templars engage in the struggle between good and evil, our conduct and integrity must be such as to stand the test of the supreme architect’s plumb.
The duties of the Standard Bearer are to display, support, and protect the Banner of the Order.
Sword Bearer
- This jewel is a triangle with crossed swords pointed upward.
- Crossed swords symbolize military might. The swords pointing downward is a symbol of peace versus swords pointing up as a symbol of war or conflict.
- The Sword Bearer’s jewel is a reminder of our constant warfare with lying, deceit, and the vanities of the world.
- Thus, as the Sword Bearer’s duty is to assist in protecting the banner of the order, so is it each of our duty to protect and defend the faith of our risen Lord and Savior.
The duty of the Sword Bearer is to assist in protecting the Banner of the Order.
Sentinel
- This jewel is a hollow square with the sword pointing upward.
- The Chrisitan symbolism of the sword deals with protection, righteousness, and justice.
- When double edged they give us symbolism of duality of nature and the dual powers of manifestation also symbolized by creation and destruction, and life and death.
- The sword is generally said to be the emblem of military honor and should incite the bearer to a just and generous pursuit of honor and virtue. It symbolizes liberty and strength, was, aggression, and power. Placed inside the square box may be taken as symbolic of our desire to severe our attachments to the things of this material world and to pursue Christian honor and virtue.
The duty of the Sentinel is to guard the asylum from cowans, eavesdroppers, and enemies.
Guards
- This jewel is a hollow square with a battle axe.
- It is a symbol of authority and execution of military duty.
- The symbolism of the guard’s jewel thus teaches us to be vigilant in the cause of Christ, to protect our order with fidelity, and to fight valiantly for those things, both moral and spiritual, which will hasten the coming of our Lord and the ultimate redemption of his people.
The duty of the guards is to assist at any time to guard and defend the realm, asylum, and Commandery.