Knight Commander of the Temple

The second-highest decoration awarded by the Grand Encampment is the Knight Commander of the Temple (or KCT); not to be confused with the 27° of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite with the same name. The recipient also receives a lapel pin and a certificate. The KCT is often awarded at a KCT Dinner held by the Deputies in charge of Grand Encampment Honors for that jurisdiction, and the time and location usually correspond to the Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery. The investiture can be done in public so ladies may be present.

This award originated in 1994 at the 59th Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of the Knights Templar of the USA when the Most Eminent Grand Master William Thornley ordered the creation of three awards to recognize those members who have given continued service to the Templar Order, Freemasonry, their community, and to mankind: the Knight Commander of the Temple, Companion of the Temple, and Knight Grand Cross of the Temple (KGC).

The oversight of the KCT, KGC, and the KTCH the College of Honors was created in 2003 by the Most Eminent Grand Master William Jones and the Most Eminent Grand Master is also the head of the College of Honors. At each Triennial Conclave, one or two Sir Knights are designated as Deputies of the College of Honor for their respective Grand Commandery. A further explanation of the structure of the College of Honors can be read in the article by Sir Knight George L. Marshall, Jr., PGC, KCT, ADC titled "Grand Encampment Awards and Honors." Any recipient of the KCT may make a nomination and the Deputies will accept or reject the nomination according to the merits of the nominee. The amount of nominees for each Grand Commandery depends on the size of their membership.

References

1. Marshall, George L. "Grand Encampment Awards and Honors." Knights Templar magazine, August 2014: 28-32.

2. Zito, Joe. "Honors in the York Rite." The Phoenix York Rite Mason Trestleboard, March 2009. http://www.phoenixyorkrite.org/trestleboards/ewExternalFiles/PYRT%20Winter%20(Mar)%202009.pdf

3. Honorees. n.d. http://yorkritemd.org/gckt/Honorees.html

4. Knight Commander of the Temple. n.d. http://www.msyorkrite.org/index.php/grand-commandery-honors/knight-commander-of-the-temple