Organizational Structure of the Order in the USA:

The Grand Priory of the United States of America incorporates a central administration comprised of the Grand Officers and the Grand Council. Grand Officers are nominated and elected by the Grand Council and serve two year terms changing on even years. The Executive Committee of the Grand Priory is comprised of the Grand Prior, Grand Chancellor, Grand Inspector, Grand Secretary, and Grand Treasurer. The Executive Committee is supported by a host of Grand Officers that provide technical and administrative expertise and service to the ongoing work of the Grand Priory. Basically, officers are either administrative or ceremonial as concerning their specific responsibilities. The Order is established along military lines and as such, the Grand Prior is vested with all authorized prerogatives of command.

The Grand Council is comprised of all Grand Officers, all serving Priors and Commandery Commanders, and all members holding the rank of Grand Cross. The Grand Council meets formally twice a year, usually in the spring and fall, to conduct the business of the Grand Priory.

Regional commands of the Order are called Priories. By organizational definition, a Priory consists of 25 or more active members of the Order. Typically the Priories are headquartered in metropolitan areas. A comprehensive list of present priories and Commanderies within the USA can be found at the GPUSA website. Priories can have wide variances in actually membership and geographical size. Newer Priories are unlikely to have much more than the requisite minimum of 25 active members were the older established Priories have many more. Some of the older Priories in the USA have 200 plus members. There is no defined upper size limitation. Priory organization is patterned after that of the Grand Priory. Thus, the principal officers in a Priory are the Prior, Chancellor, Inspector, Secretary, Treasurer, and a handful of other officers who either have supportive administrative duties, or hold ceremonial positions.

Local commands of the Order are called Commanderies. A Commandery is typically comprised of ten to twenty five members. A Commander, Chancellor, Inspector, Secretary, and Treasurer provide the leadership and administrative duties required. As the Commandery grows, other officers are usually appointed. It is expected that a Commandery will grow and evolve into a Priory within two years.

Officers of Priories and Commanderies are elected by their membership to serve two year terms which cycles on odd years.

There are presently some 2000 members of the Order in the USA. At the time of this writing there are 24 recognized Priories and 13 Commanderies established within the boundaries of the United States. By way of comparison, in 1998 there were 13 Priories and 7 Commanderies.

Presently, the Order is experiencing quite rapid growth both within the USA and internationally. The reason for this is most likely an increasing public awareness of the Order and an increasing positive public image brought about by the visible efforts of the Order at all levels.

Ranks, Uniforms, Badges, and Regalia:

The Order recognizes four membership ranks. In keeping with the origins of the Order, these ranks are often pronounced in French. Entry level rank is that of Knight or Dame. This rank is signified by a gold cross of the Order enameled in red and suspended from a neck ribband of red and black. For the Dames of the Order, the insignia is a smaller version of the cross suspended from a ribband tied in a bow and worn above the left breast. Members of this rank utilize the postnomial designation of KTJ or DTJ respectively.

The next rank is that of Knight or Dame Commandeur. Knight Commandeur insignia consists of a trophy placed upon the neck ribband from which the cross of the Order is suspended. A Dame Commandeur wears a black ribband in a bow displaying a smaller version of the commander trophy. The postnomials for this rank is KCTJ or DCTJ respectively.

The third rank is that of Grand Officier. Members of this rank rank wear the previous insignia plus a silver breast star carrying the cross of the Order in the center. The postnomial designation is GOTJ or DGOTJ respectively.

The fourth and highest rank of the Order is that of Grand Croix. Members who receive this rank wear the breast star plus a gold cross patee' enameled red and suspended from the neck ribband of red and black. In White tie or Dress Mess uniform, a cordon is worn with the bow over the left hip and the cross of the order suspended from the bow. Post nominal designations for the Grand Croix is GCTJ or DGCTJ. Those of the rank of Grand Croix or lower ranks serving as a Prior, can incorporate the modified patriarchal cross of the Order into their personal signature. The Grand Prior incorporates a three barred cross into his signature.

Members are officially titled as a Chevalier if a Knight or a Chevaleresse if a Dame, regardless of rank. Those holding the rank of Grand Croix are addressed as Excellencies (His or Her Excellency). This conforms to the accepted practice of chivalry as recognized throughout the world chivalric community.

Often, members of the Order will follow their signature with "NND,NN" or "NND,NN, SNTDG", or some similar design. This is the abbreviation for "Non Nobis Domine, Non Nobis, Sed Nomine Tuo Da Glorum" ("not unto us oh Lord, not unto us ...") extracted from the ancient motto of the Order. It serves to remind us that the Templar mind-set should be single to the glory of God.

Promotion is based upon service and tenure. Typically, a minimum tenure of two years active service is required between promotions. However, promotions are not automatic. Members gaining promotion to the rank of Grand Officier, and especially to that of Grand Croix are heavily scrutinized by the Grand Prior and the Executive Committee before these promotions are granted. The participation of the individual and the contribution (non-monetary) that the member has made during the tenure of his or her membership is the fundamental criteria for promotions.

A goodly percentage of the membership is current or prior military. Therefore it is very common to see members in dress uniform of the branch of service from which they come. For members not having a military background, black tie or white tie is the accepted "uniform" at the formal events of the Order. Kilts with Scottish formal dress is also very popular with the Knights of the Order.

The Grand Priory of the USA also awards, on a very selective basis the Order of Merit. This represents a second order of knighthood within the general Order of the Temple. It is bestowed only a few times a year, and typically for exceptionally meritorious service to the Order and specifically for support of the Order's efforts in the Holy Land. This too is awarded in four ranks. Although the highest rank is very rarely awarded. I know of only three times in the history of the GPUSA that the Order of Merit has been awarded at the highest rank of Grand Cordon. The Order of Merit can be bestowed upon non-Christians thus facilitating a participation pathway for non-Christians interested in the work of the Order. In addition to being awarded within the general membership for exceptional service to the Order, the Order of Merit is used to honor both non-Christians and non- members who have supported in some grand fashion the work of the Order.

The Order also has six commendations that have only recently been approved. These are bestowed in recognition of tenure within the Order, and for various degrees of noteworthy or meritorious service. The Pilgrims medal is awarded to individuals that have visited recognized sites of Templar history or to specific sites in the Holy Land.

The ceremonial regalia of the Order consists of the white mantle lined in red bearing the large red cross of the order on the left shoulder.

Continue to Part Three