History of Maryland Commandery No. 1

1828 Stamp of the Baltimore Encampment Knight Templars

What follows is the History of Maryland Commandery No. 1, which started as Encampment No. 3 at Baltimore. The name and number have changed ever so slightly over its first roughly 70 years of existence as did the prevailing Masonic customs for the names, as well as the creation of national and state bodies of Knights Templar. The bulk of the narrative below from the first 100 years of its history is primarily the result of the work done by the members of the Commandery and Edward T. Schultz, who authored the book “History of Maryland Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar, stationed at Baltimore, State of Maryland, from 1790 to 1890“, leading up to the Commandery’s Centennial Celebration in 1890.

  • Established 1790 as Encampment No. 3, at Baltimore. No. 3 implies it was attached to Washington Lodge No. 3*, which was founded in 1770 and met in Fells Point. While no records of the Commandery exist from this year, the book “A History of Knights Templar in Pennsylvania” published in 1866 by Alfred Creigh, includes the quote “Encampment No, was located at Baltimore, and claims to conferred the Order of Knighthood as early as 1790 by traditionary evidence.” Thomas Webb’s 1805 edition on the Masonic Monitor, published a list of Encampment of Knights Templar in the United States. Three were listed in Maryland, Nos. 3 and 13 at Baltimore, and No. 24 at Havre de Grace. No. 13 would have been attached to Concordia Lodge No. 13 and No. 24 with Zion Lodge No. 24. At that time early Encampments of Knights Templar, as well as Chapters of Royal Arch Masons, were held under the sanction of Lodge warrants. Encampment No.3 was listed in subsequent editions of Webb’s Monitor as later as 1812. It appears that the Encampment No. 3 was also referred to as Encampment No. 1 in its early years. (No. 3 for its attachment to Lodge No. 3, and No. 1 for being the first Encampment in Maryland.)
    • * – Lodge No. 3 wouldn’t take the name “Washington” until around 1794. So as Lodges at that time would have likely been referred to as a number and location, it would make sense that other Masonic bodies would have done the same at that time. Also, Concordia Royal Arch Chapter No. 1, which was instituted in 1787, began as “Chapter No. 1”. Concordia would only be added to its name when Concordia Chapter No. 5 merged with Chapter No. 1 in 1822.
  • January 16, 1802 – Edward Brynan presented with a diploma, from Encampment No. 1, certifying that he “…has been Dubbed and Admitted as a Knight Templar and Knight of Malta…”.
  • May 18, 1812 – Philip P. Eckel presented with a diploma, from Encampment No.
  • February 15-16, 1814 – the formation of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar in Pennsylvania is held. Sir Knight Henry Keatinge of Encampment No. 1., Baltimore Maryland serves as Secretary of that Grand Convention.
  • May 2, 1814 – From the Grand Recorder of Pennsylvania Grand Encampment of Knights Templar; “Charter of Recognition granted 2d May, 1814; called Encampment No. 1, Maryland at Baltimore.“
  • 1815 – “Enemy at our door” letter to the Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania
  • February 28, 1828. Earliest records of the Commandery begin. First folio contained records from 1828 to August 30, 1847. Next folio contained records through October, 1865. Both folios destroyed totally by a fire that swept through the Masonic Temple on December 25, 1890.
  • March 3, 1828 – reorganized
  • July 4, 1828 – Participated in the parade and Celebration of the laying of the cornerstone of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
  • November 1832 – adopts resolution to enter under the jurisdiction of the General Grand Encampment (of Knights Templar).
  • August 30, 1847 – Resolution “That in consequence of the Encampment not being competent to give the degrees, the said Encampment surrender the Charter to the General Grand Encampment”.  Passed 5-4.
  • September 14, 1847 – Charter Surrendered to General Grand Encampment
  • July 29, 1848 – Reorganized
  • 1856 – Triennial Session of Grand Encampment, the following was adopted: “That the word ‘Encampment’ or ‘Encampments’, whenever applied to State or subordinate bodies in the Constitution, be stricken out, and ‘Commandery’ or ‘Commanderies’ be inserted.” In compliance with this change, the terms “Commandery and Eminent Commander” have since been used.
  • April 10, 1857 (Good Friday) – Annual Assembly of MARYLAND COMMANDERY No. 1, is held. (First meeting with the new name.)
  • September 16, 1859 – Baltimore Commandery No. 2 is chartered by the Grand Encampment of the United States
  • May 16, 1866 – Monumental Commandery No. 3 is chartered.
  • November 20, 1866 – Participates in the laying of the Corner Stone of the new Masonic Temple on Charles Street.
  • September 1868 – Jacques De Molay Commandery No. 4 is chartered in Frederick, MD
  • January 23, 1871 – Grand Commandery of Maryland constituted by Maryland No. 1, Baltimore No. 2, and Monumental No. 3.
  • 1871 – Crusade Commandery No. 5 is chartered.
  • September 19-22, 1871 – Hosts the 18th Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment in Baltimore
  • 1872/73 – Antioch Commandery No. 6 in Cumberland is chartered.
  • 1874-1877 Palestine Commandery No. 7 in Annapolis and Beauseant Commandery No. 8 in Baltimore are chartered.
  • March 10, 1882 – A resolution was adopted requesting the Grand Commandery to permit this Commandery to wear “the black uniform”.
  • 1885-1895 – St. Bernard Commandery No. 9, Chesapeake Commandery No. 10, and Thomas J. Shryock Commandery No. 11 are chartered.
  • May 5 & 6, 1890 – Centennial Celebration of the Commandery
  • December 25, 1890 – Masonic Temple almost totally destroyed by fire. (Article from the Baltimore Sun Newspaper.) (List of items damaged or destroyed.)
  • March 30, 1891 – Charter under the Grand Commandery of Maryland provided.
  • March 22, 1896 – St. Elmo Commandery No. 12 chartered at Hyattsville, MD.
  • January 17, 1908 – Baltimore Masonic Temple destroyed by fire (again). Masonic Temple 1908
  • January 24, 1908 – First meeting of Maryland Commandery No. 1 after the 1908 fire at the Temporary Court House building in Baltimore.
  • November 15, 1909 – Rebuilt Masonic Temple on Charles Street reopens.
  • May 14, 1924 – Har-Ce Commandery No. 15 is chartered. It meets in Harve de Grace, Maryland.
  • October 10, 1931 – Participated at the laying of the Cornerstone for Bonnie Blink (Masonic Retirement Home).
  • March 24, 1933 – The Bank Holiday of 1933 restricts the Commandery’s access to its funds. It responds by moving those funds as they become available to another bank.
  • December 14, 1939 – Har-Ce Commandery No. 15 adopts a resolution to merge into Maryland Commandery No. 1.
  • January 12, 1940 – Maryland Commandery No. 1 members vote unanimously to merge with Har-Ce Commandery No. 15.
  • June 14, 1940 – Maryland Commandery No. 1, sells the robes and paraphernalia of Har-Ce Commandery No. 15 to Montgomery Commandery No. 13 for $50.00.
  • November 22 & 23, 1940 – Sesqui-Centennial (150th Anniversary) Celebration. (Article from the Baltimore Sun Newspaper.)
  • February 27, 1941 – Baltimore Commander No. 2 meets and adopts the following resolution: “Be it resolved, that Baltimore Commandery No. 2, K. T., consolidate with Maryland Commandery No. 1, K. T., and the consolidates Commandery shall hereafter be known as Maryland Commandery No. 1, K. T.”
  • March 13, 1941 – Baltimore Commandery No. 2 approves the resolution to merge into Maryland Commandery No. 1.
  • March 27, 1941 – Final meeting of Baltimore Commandery No. 2.
  • February 26 & 27, 1965 – 175th Anniversary Celebration. (Article from the Baltimore Sun Newspaper.)
  • 1995 – The Grand Lodge of Maryland moves from the Masonic Temple on Charles Street to the current property in Cockeysville, Maryland Commandery No. 1 moves as well.
  • October 8, 1999 – Charter along with the Recorder’s records and the Treasurer’s books are surrendered to the Grand Commandery of Maryland, on the order of the RE Grand Commander.
  • November 12, 1999 – Charter returned by the Grand Commandery, as Maryland Commandery No. 1, fulfilled the requirements dictated by the Grand Commandery.
  • March 16, 2020 – MWGM of Maryland issues edict that all Masonic and Masonic related activities are to be suspended as of midnight March 17, 2020, through May 1, 2020.
  • May 4, 2020 – Grand Encampment of Knights Templar General Order No. 12 – “… all in-person Conclaves of Grand, Constituent, or Subordinate Commanderies be prohibited until further notice.”
  • November 1, 2020 – Grand Encampment of Knights Templar General Order No. 14, allows Commanderies to meet again in person.
  • Today – Still going strong.
  • 2040 – 250th Anniversary!