Covid-19 Information – Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Ohio

Sir Knights,

As members of a Christian organization, we should all be keenly aware of our duties to God and our fellow humanity. While current conditions preclude us from gathering together physically, many of our places of worship have taken to alternative methods of worship. If any of these are available to you, I encourage you to use them. If you must observe Easter and Ascension Day alone or with members of your immediate family, I would like to call to mind a couple of verses from the Holy Bible:

Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

God does not live exclusively in a church building or a Masonic Lodge room; he lives in each of us, wherever we may be. Let us ever keep in mind the lessons we are taught in our churches, through our Holy Bible and in the Order of the Temple, and let us celebrate as best we can the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We will overcome.

Courteously and Fraternally,

Robert C. Hager, KCT

Dear Sir Knights,

With the recent edict from Most Worshipful Grand Master Keith Newton, many of our Chapters and Councils are also returning to in-person meetings. I feel it is my duty to remind you that General Order #12 from Most Eminent Grand Master Jeffrey N. Nelson is still in full effect, and in-person Commandery conclaves are prohibited. This General Order has no expiration date.

This may present an interesting dilemma for some Commanderies who normally meet on the same evening as their Chapter and Council in a joint meeting. If the Companions are all together again, it might be tempting to conduct some Commandery business while they are together.

I take the Most Eminent Grand Master’s General Order very seriously, and will not tolerate any willful violation by any of our Commanderies. The safety and welfare of all of our Sir Knights is my top priority.

I am directing all Deputy Division Commanders to reach out to these Commanderies (you should know who they are) and make sure that they DO NOT meet in person to conduct ANY Commandery business this month.

If necessary, hold a special conclave to keep your Sir Knights out of the temple. Guidelines for holding virtual conclaves and a virtual installation of officers have previously been sent out to all Commanders and Recorders, and are available on the Grand Commandery website on our COVID-19 page.

Thank you for your assistance, cooperation and patience. If and when I hear anything different from our Most Eminent Grand Master, I will let you know.

Courteously and Fraternally,

Robert C. Hager, KCT