In this part 211, the Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and Knight of St. John the Evangelist certificate.

The Column

 The central feature of this certificate is the Ionic Column which separates the Latin inscription on the left, from the English version on the right, both of which, as you would expect, certify that the holder is a member of the Orders of the Knights of St John the Evangelist and of the Holy Sepulchre, and give the time and place of his installation.

The dates are given A.D., A.L., and A.O., the significance of which was explained at the presentation of your Red Cross certificate.

Above the column is the Imperial Crowned Eagle. We must remember that the Eagle, the symbol of the everlasting, is also the emblem of St John the Evangelist, and it will remind us that the Gospel of St John reaches greater heights than the others, so is properly represented by the highest soaring of all birds.

We are also told that the rising Eagle was assigned to St John because his gaze pierced farther into the mysteries of Heaven than that of any other man.

As described in the Book of Statutes, the Eagle ‘is displayed regardant, passant to the sinister’. I must add that unfortunately, many of the heraldry words are based on French and Latin. It means in this case, that the Imperial Eagle is shown looking to the left.  Sinistra, in Latin, means left, as opposed to dextra.

An omen appearing from the left was meant inauspicious hence the use of the word ‘sinister’.

A Bible rests at the top of the column, normally opened at the first chapter of the Gospel according to St John on which you took your obligation.

The open book reminds us of the discovery, you will recall played an important role in the ceremony of the Royal Arch Degree, and which has further significance in this Order, as explained in the Commandery ceremony.

The Four Crosses

•  The Cross on the bottom left corner with four bars placed at right angles at each of the open ends of the two main crossing arms is called a “Cross Potent” and is the basic shape of each of the other Crosses.

When a series of similar, but smaller, crosses is placed within the arms of the full cross, it is known as a Jerusalem Cross, and three of the crosses depicted here are in this form, but will further be elaborated.

The Jerusalem Cross was first adopted by Baldwin the Crusader, as the official badge of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and ever since has been associated with the Holy Sepulchre itself.

• The second cross on the upper left and the third cross on the upper right, are Cross Potent, but this time they are crowned crosses and we have four Fleur de Lys within the main arms.

Superimposed in the centre of the cross is a smaller Jerusalem cross.  The Fleur de Lys is a symbol of the Holy Trinity, but is also a stylised representation of a lily, which was one of the symbols, used by our founder to represent his Saviour. These crosses are worn by all officers of Grand Imperial Conclave on their sash and as a jewel suspended from the collarette.

• The cross on the right is, as described in the Book of Statutes of the Order, ‘charged with a gold Imperial Crown and the words Grand Commander in gold in the circlet’. The Grand Sovereign carries this jewel suspended from a chain.

Similarly, the cross on the left is worn, also suspended from the chain, by the Grand Eusebius and Viceroy. It is charged with a gold Mitre and, as you can see, carries the words Deputy Grand Commander in the circlet.

• The last cross, at the bottom right, is part of the jewel of a Knight Companion is worn normally suspended below the crowned Imperial Eagle.

This last emblem is described as a black Lozenge bound by a looped gilt cord and showing two Crosses Potent one within the other.

This jewel was presented to you when you were made a Knight of the Order of St John, which is now pinned to your left breast and which also features on your sash. This variation of a Cross Potent, which has a further, rather stubby cross at the heart of the main cross, is known as a St Chad’s Cross, which is here adorned with a circle, the emblem of eternity.

This jewel is worn furthest from the heart, following the jewel of the Red Cross of Constantine, which you received first and therefore holds the inner position.

You must always wear both jewels at all assemblies until you change them for those appertaining to the office of sovereign, sometime in the future.

The Emblem of St John

 In the centre at the bottom, is a curious figure described in our statutes as the emblem of St John, “a rayed triangle within an interlaced square and parallelogram within a triple circle”.

M Ill Kt the Revd Canon Richard Tydeman, interpreted its obscure meaning thus:

“The square and parallelogram represent the materials for the building of King Solomon’s Temple which consisted of stones that were either square or oblong, and that the temple was built as an House of God.

We, as Masons, for want of territory built them in our hearts, so, as the rayed triangle – which is a symbol of the Trinity – is surrounded by the square and oblong, so the Almighty Three-in-One occupies the central place in the temple that we build, and that all this lies within the triple circle, to remind us of Him who said “Destroy the Temple and in three days I will raise it up”.

This design appears on the sash between the cross of the Holy Sepulchre and the eagle of St John the Evangelist, and I am sure that it is no accident that it there holds the position nearest to the wearer’s heart, where the right hand is placed evry time the name of God is invoked”.

The Roll number and Signatures

To the left of the emblem of St John is your certificate number as recorded in the Grand Imperial Conclave register and to the right, the signature of the Grand Recorder.

The Marks

The combination of Marks or Crosses permitted to be used by each knight is detailed in our Book of Statutes and in the first book of Ritual.

Knight Grand Cross of Constantine (GCC)

 The mark beside the Grand Recorder’s name identifies him as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order, a distinction limited to a very small number of senior knights. Apart from Grand Sovereigns and Grand Viceroys, present and past, who have their own symbols and Royal personages who are members of the Order, there are at any one time not more than twelve other members of that distinguish group of Knights Grand Cross of Constantine (GCC).

Knight Commander of Constantine (KCC)

 The next in order of precedence are the Knights Commander of Constantine (KCC) of whom there are never more than twenty-five.

Intendant-General

 Intendant-general are next and their mark is a combination of a simple Latin cross like the one a worthy knight may use and the cross of Lorraine with two bars which is the mark of a Viceroy.

It is made complete by the addition of your signature in the margin. The Latin inscription “Ne Varietur” indicates that this should be your usual signature and should not be changed or altered.

The whole certificate lies within a Border in the Greek Strap Pattern design, with a simple representation of a flower at each of the corners.

I congratulate you on having passed through the ceremony of Knighthood into the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St John the Evangelist, which I am sure will have made a lasting impression on your mind.

They are unsurpassed by any other ceremonies in Freemasonry, and when you have had an opportunity of being able to observe them, and more importantly in taking part yourself, you will begin to appreciate the important step that you have taken in the Order.

May you live long to enjoy the pleasures and benefits it has to offer and I look forward to watching your progress in the years, which lie ahead.

The above information was gathered from various documents (authors unknown) and has not been in any way approved by the Grand Imperial Conclave.

Marc L Burton

Assistant Intendant-General

February 2002