OMSDT Australia

The Knights Templar

Ordre Militaire Supreme
des Templeiers

Templar Manual

OMSDT
The Grand Priory of Australia

The OMSDT Priory of Australia

Ordre Militaire Supreme
des Templiers

The supreme Military Order of the Knights Templar

Welcome to The Knights Templar

Congratulations on your decision to join our most holy Order. As a Companion At
Arms, you will journey toward knighthood with the full support and encourage-
ment of all your Brothers and Sisters throughout our Order.
This simple guide was assembled to help you get a strong start on that journey by
highlighting the protocols, procedures and unique aspects of what it means to be-
come a Templar Knight.

We are very happy that you are here with us!

Our motto is:

Non Nobis Domine, Non Nobis,
Sed Nomini Tuo Da Gloriam

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
but to thy name give glory.

You are now a member of the Ordre Militaire Supreme des
Templiers (OMSDT - the holy Order of the Knights Templar
- an ancient Order that is as vital and as needed in the
modern day as it was in the time it was founded 900 years
ago.

This means you are now a part of a very unique and holy fellowship!
Yes, we understand that joining a new group can be nerve wracking.

• You do not know the rules.
• You are not sure what will be expected of you.
• You have so much to learn!
• You do not know anyone and wonder if you will fit in.

It is normal to feel that way, BUT you will not feel that way for long here! Those doubts
and fears evaporate very quickly once you actually meet your brothers and sis-
ters. There is a certain spirit here! There is a unique energy among us. You will only
feel like a stranger for the length of time it takes you to say hello.

Once that contact is made, you will realize right away that this is a true brother/sister
you are meeting. You will feel at ease. You will know it is genuine. You will know they
are here for you. It is not false. It is not slick. It is not a façade. The spirit among us is
the energy the Holy Spirit gives us. This spirit sustains us...urges us to grow closer to
Christ.....to be there for our brothers and sisters and it compels us to help those around
us as best we can.

This is the Templar Spirit

Now, take a look behind you...

In your mind, imagine yourself standing in the front of a very
long line of others. You have just become the newest link in a
chain of Godly people who have served this Order before
you. This line stretches out behind you and goes back over
900 years! This line stretches across the United States and
goes to Europe, Africa and onward to Australia. It extends
back to the Middle East and rests in the holy city of Jerusalem
at the Temple Mount where the original Templars took their
name and made their headquarters.

These few dedicated knights started an Order that has stood the test of time! It is an
Order that focused itself entirely on serving God and serving others. This is an Order that
has distinguished itself over and over again.

They were from all walks of life. Yet as diverse as we were back then as well as now,
they all went "all in" to give themselves to God's service. Together we went on to do
great things:

• We fought in the Crusades.

• We showed both great courage and great skill on the battlefield.

• We developed a form of discipline and internal structure that enabled
us to act as an international organization. This structure still works and
is still used today!

• We invented international banking.
• We built impressive fortresses.
• We created an imposing navy.
• We faced unimaginable persecution and hostility.
• We faced internal discord and splintering.

We are still here and still going strong! 900 years later, we continue to enable ordinary
Christian men and women to live extraordinary lives of service to God by touching the
lives of others!

We think you will find yourself transformed through membership here! You will be chal-
lenged in many ways:

• Challenged to go "all in" like those before you did.

• Challenged to give more of yourself than you think you have to give.

• Challenged to love those you may not have even noticed before.

• Challenged to make time for the Order when it seems like you already
have no time of your own.

We all face these challenges, but in facing them, in staring them down and confronting
them, we become stronger and gain power over the challenge. We become better Chris-
tians and better people than we were before!

There is much work to do, but also much reward to gain! We know you will be better
than you have ever been before as a result!

Your Priory is one of the many parts making up the national body of the Australian Grand
Priory. The Australian Grand Priory includes all the members in all the priories within
Australia and is headed by the Grand Prior and the Executive Council.

A Priory is a subdivision of the Order and it often covers a large area. The leader of a Pri-
ory is a Prior (or sometimes a Master Commander). A Priory can be further subdivided
into Commanderies headed by a Knight Commander.

Each priory covers a specific region of Australia. Each priory is autonomous, but they all
report to our Grand Seneschal and Grand Prior.

As a new member, you have the opportunity to help your priory grow into a strong and
thriving unit of the Australian Order! Perhaps years from now, newer members will look
back and see the things you did here to make the Priory into what it will become!

IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
We think everyone in each priory is important and special, but here is a list of some key
people you should get to know.

PRIOR - The Prior is the lead person of a priory.
SENESCHAL - This is the second in command in the priory
MARSHAL - This is the third in command in the priory
CHAPLAIN/ASSISTANT - Acting chaplain for the priory providing spiritual services.

HOW YOUR PRIORY FITS INTO THE BIG PICTURE
Each national Grand Priory makes up the International Order of OMSDT. The International
Leadership governs and oversees the operations of the Knights Templar worldwide.
Today, our leader and Master is Rick Trujillo He resides in the United States . Sir Trujillo
has a background in Tactical Security and Surveillance, and has been awarded the Grand
Cross by the OSMTJ.

Rick Trujillo

OMSDT- Master of the Order

IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IN THE US GRAND PRIORY:
It is important that you learn their names as this is how you will see them post on Belief
Book.. Even though their title is not listed, you should be aware of who they are so you
address them correctly and show proper respect.

Grand Prior Kenneth MCDonald He is the leader
for the Australian Order. He is always referred to
as "Grand Prior".

OMSDT in Australia is divided into regional areas called priories. Each priory is headed
by a prior. Each priory is an important part of the national Order, but they can be
quite different from each other. The Grand Prior of Australia grants a lot of freedom
to each prior to operate their areas as they see fit so long as they fall within the na-
tional guidelines. So, if you were to travel around Australia, you would find that things
can be very different in one priory than in another.

Some priories are enormous and cover many states. Some are much smaller. Some
meet a lot and some not so often. Some do one major service project per year, while
others do smaller projects all year long. Some are seriously into military discipline
while others are more casual and brotherly. Each priory has its own style and set of
values that they emphasize. Despite all this diversity, we are united in our devotion to
Our Lord and to the Order and its protocols.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN YOUR PRIORY?

1. BROTHERHOOD - When you enter our Order, you enter a true brotherhood. This is
not a club. We support each other, we pray for each other, we care for each other,
we serve Our Lord with each other. If you do not know who your fellow members are
it is not because we have not encouraged it, advocated it or supported it. Your broth-
ers and sisters in this priory will be there for you and it is expected that you will do the
same for them.

2. SERVICE - To be a true Christian is to be like Christ in all aspects of our lives. Christ
always reached out to people. He went to those who were rejected by society and the
establishment of his day and helped them both spiritually and in their physical needs.
We seek to do the same. How can we not? The resurrected Christ asked St Peter "Do
you love me?" when Peter said that he did, Christ told him "Feed my lambs". Loving
Christ =serving others.
3. COMMUNICATION - We are big into communicating with each other! In addition to
monthly Priory Meetings, we post to our Priory's Facebook page often, we report
what is going on with us in Roll Call and Prayer Circle. The Prior will reach out every so
often to keep in touch and offer help if needed. The Chaplain will be doing the
same. It is expected you will be in frequent contact with other members of your pri-
ory and commandery. Some may find this kind of openness a little strange at first, but
once you get used to it, you will find that it is a good thing. It is good to have strong
people around you who really know you and are there for you.

HOW WE MEET AND HOW WE COMMUNICATE

Our geography makes getting together in person very difficult. Although the geography
differs with each priory, local meetings would necessitate great distances of travel for
many members, especially when a priory spans multiple states.

To help overcome this, we make good use of social media - Belief Book. We
urge you to make the commitment to use Belief Book at least once per
week to keep up with things posted from the Australian Order and your
priory and commandery. This is also the primary means in which we will
contact you personally so, also check your message center often and re-
spond promptly to anything sent to you.

When it comes to social media, some fear losing their identity and others are concerned
about privacy, but our Belief Book presence is a "Closed and Secret" group. It's available
only to those who are invited to the group by an Administrator. No one can barge their
way into our Group...it's for members only.

As you develop "friends" (a process within Belief Book), you'll be able to get to know your
Brothers and Sisters in Christ much more thoroughly....and they'll get to know you better
by virtue of what you share through your postings.

Some priories and commanderies hold monthly Meetings via video conferencing. This
enables us to see each other and discuss issues in real time without having to leave our
homes. The preferred media format for these on line meetings is Zoom.

Zoom has proven to be a very easy to use utility that has gained in popularity during the
Covid-19 pandemic. Used by businesses throughout the world, it’s also available to the
general public free of charge.

Many of the services and ministries we engage in for enrichment are also done
online. This enables everyone, no matter where you live, to have quick access to infor-
mation and to their fellow members.

We make frequent use of posting information and prayer requests on the Priory page on
Belief Book . We stay in touch with the national body through the national Order page.

In addition, some priories form smaller units called
"Troops" wherever there is a cluster of members in the
same area. The Troops can meet as often as they like in
person to enjoy fellowship, perform service projects and
give mutual support.

Each Priory performs at least one priory-wide, real life
event per year. This will usually be the Investiture Service
where new knights are given their accolade. If there is no
Investiture in that year, a Recognition and Rewards Ban-
quet will be held instead.

INTERNET REFERENCES

Preferred Method of Communication

The primary means of communicating with each other is our
own social media platform; Belief Book There, we are struc-
tured as a main group for members only and subgroups rep-
resenting our priories and commanderies throughout the
country. In the past, we have used a series of "Closed" groups
on Facebook, but FB's oppressive policies have served as im-
petus for us to create our own media platform.

Recommendation: Once aligned with your Commandery, look at the Group
Membership on Belief Book and send friend requests to everyone within your
Commandery. This will put you in touch with all Brothers and Sisters in the
group. It’s important to build relationships with your Brothers and Sisters as
we rely upon each other to fulfill God’s will.

Important Links
The Knights Templar Main Belief Book Channel
https://www.beliefbook.org/groups/view/5/omsdt-u-s-a-ordre-militaire-

Companion At Arms - On line Training

Templar Academie

Training Division of the OMSDT-USA.

As a part of your progression through the ranks and your initial training, all
new members are required to complete an on line course that will help you
attain a better grasp for our Values and yours as well.

Here’s what you need to do to being your course.

Contact your prior or commander and request these two items:

1. The web address for your particular on line course.
2. An access code that will enable you to have access on line. You

will need this code to gain complete access to the curriculum.

We have custom tailored courses for Templars of all ranks. We use the word-
press on line course format. These online courses are self-paced meaning there
is no time requirement for completion. We do, however, recommend you give
the training a high priority as you journey to Knighthood. As a CAA you will be
added to the CAA Corps Belief Book page and the Templar Acadamie page,
These pages are where you will find the training course information and fellow-
ship with Templars from across this most Holy Order.

Templar Round Table Discussion
with

Each week, a Templar Round Table Discussion is held on line using the Zoom Vid-
eo Conferencing application. This software allows computer users to speak on a
chat channel with fellow computer users, much like a telephone conference call.
We encourage all Brothers and Sisters to attend if at all possible.
Each week we have a new guest speaker who will share experiences of their walk
with our Lord, discuss scripture and other topics of great interest. It’s an excellent
opportunity to “plug in” and take advantage of the life experiences and wisdom
of others who love our Lord.
Each Round Table is approximately one hour in duration. The guest speaker
shares his or her story for approximately 20 minutes and the balance of the hour
consists of an open session with Q&A. It’s an excellent way to experience fellow-
ship with your Brothers & Sisters and add value to the lives of everyone.

To join the Round Table Discussion, simply go to this web site:
http://zoom.us

Click on “Join a Meeting” and the following popup will appear:

Simply add the Meeting ID number you see above and click “Join”
For your first time use, you will be prompted to download the software. Simply
follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

That’s it. You’re ready to partake in the discussion.
Please familiarize yourself with the software prior to attending your first session.

Important Note:
When joining a meeting, please make sure that your microphone is muted. This will
eliminate any unnecessary feedback that can disrupt the presenters. When called
upon to speak, you can go live by unmuting.

Contact your mentor for an updated schedule of Round Table Discussions.

And who outranks who…..

It can be confusing! With practice, you will get all this! First, let's look at RANK. Rank
is something you earn. From Highest to lowest the ranks are:

• PRIOR - The leader of a Priory.
• MASTER COMMANDER - The lowest rank at which a person can lead a priory
• KNIGHT COMMANDER - The preferred rank for leading a Commandery
• KNIGHT CAPTAIN - The lowest rank a person can lead a Commandery
• KNIGHT LIEUTENANT - The preferred rank at which a person can lead a ministry

within the priory.
• KNIGHT - Required rank for ministry leadership position. Receives full accolade of

knighthood and is entitled to wear a Knight’s mantle.
• SERGEANT MAJOR - Executive Officer of Sergeants Corps
• FIRST SERGEANT - The lead Sergeant of other sergeants within the priory.
• STAFF SERGEANT - Preferred rank of a Sergeant who leads or operates a ministry

In the priory.
• SERGEANT FIRST CLASS - A sergeant who has progressed showing leadership skills.
• SERGEANT-AT-ARMS - Entry level rank for person completing Templar Basic Train

ing and no longer on probation. Receives a certificate for this ranking.
• COMPANION-AT-ARMS - The entry level rank of members older than 18. It brings

full membership, but is also probationary.
• SQUIRE - The child of an existing member at least 14 years old but younger than 18

who wishes to affiliate with the Order. Does not have full membership, but can par-
ticipate in some activities.
• PAGE - The child of an existing member between the ages of 7 and 13 who wishes to
affiliate with the Order. Does not have full membership, but can participate in some
activities.
In addition to these basic ranks which are at the local level, there are many additional

ranks that can be earned as you progress over time. For a com-
plete summary of those ranks, go to our web site here:

https://www.omsdt.com/

Now, let's look at OFFICER POSITIONS. Officer positions are ap-
pointed and based on the skills, talents and abilities of the per-
son. To be considered, a person must be at the rank of Knight or

OFFICER POSITIONS

• PRIOR - It’s a rank as well as an officer position. CEO of the priory, sets the tone
and direction of group, has final say in everything.

• SENESCHAL - Second in rank in priory. COO of priory. Monitors and evaluates opera-
tions. Takes over leadership when Prior is absent.

• MARSHAL - Third highest rank in priory. Focuses on personnel issues. Oversees
training, maintains records, encourages participation.

• TURCOPOLIER - Fourth highest rank in priory. Focus is on protocol and military
etiquette enforcement. Keeps everyone in line with Templar guidelines.

• ALMONER - Organizes and runs fundraisers, creates and runs charity events, can act
as Treasurer of the group.

• CHAPLAIN - Provides spiritual welfare of priory. Represents the members to the
Leadership Council.

Note: When a person is a Priory Officer, that title takes precedence over their rank.
For example, if Knight Captain John Doe is also the priory Seneschal, he is referred to
simply as Seneschal John Doe.

HOW DO YOU GET PROMOTED?

To be considered for promotion, the Prior and Leadership Council will
consider the following:

1. Dues are paid
2. Required training has been completed. This can be Templar Basic

training, Sergeants Corps Advanced Training, or Chaplain's Corps.
3. Degree of participation in Priory activities.
4. Leadership ability - For officer positions, this is an additional factor that

is taken into consideration.

PROPER BEHAVIOR AND DECORUM AROUND EACH OTHER AND WITH LEADERSHIP

OMSDT is both a religious Order that follows military style structure and discipline. It can
be tricky sometimes to know whether to nod, shake hands, salute or jump to attention
when you meet another member. How can you be sure what to do?

Relax! In very formal situations, there is a Templar etiquette that you will need to know.
In those situations, you will most likely be prompted on where, when and how to conduct
yourself ahead of time. Our emphasis here is more on brotherhood, but with proper re-
spect for rank and position!

SALUTING - Generally we do not salute each other. It is mostly done in recognition of a
promotion. For example, the Prior may salute a person he or she has just promoted to
Sergeant. Salutes may be given whenever appropriate to recognize a superior ranking
officer, to acknowledge achievement or at any time to show respect. Salutes should be
initiated by the lower ranking person to the higher ranking person as a demonstration of
respect. Salutes can be given by the higher ranking person to acknowledge achieve-
ment.

Salutes can be performed in the usual US Military style where you
stand erect and bring your flat right hand swiftly up to your brow
and hold it until your salute is acknowledged. There is a Templar
Salute called the "Swordless Salute" is sometimes used as well. This
consists of a closed fist against the heart as if holding an invisible
sword before your face. The idea is that a sword is not needed be-
tween brothers. Use the US Military style unless directed otherwise.

UNIFORMS - How you should dress depends on the circumstances and the activity.

• Formal - For some events you will need to dress formally. Males below the rank of
knight should wear dark (preferably black) suit, white shirt, plain red tie (can be regular or
bow tie), dark shoes.

Knights and above should wear their neck crosses and also wear their white
mantle. Females below the rank of Sergeant should wear dark (preferably
black) skirt, white blouse, plain red tie or scarf, dark shoes. Like the males,
those at or above the rank of Sergeant should wear the Templar neck
cross. Knighted women should wear the white mantle.

• Service - When representing your group in performing service work or at
any time when before the public eye, proper service uniforms should be worn. Your Com-
mander or Prior will advise you. If you do not have a service uniform, you may substitute
a plain black polo shirt over whatever appropriate trousers pertains to the situation. For
example, if you are doing physical outdoor work, then wearing clean decent looking jeans
or shorts would be acceptable. If doing indoor work, then chinos or dockers would be a
better choice. You should also wear a pin or other form of ID to show you are with the
Templars.

• Informal - In social times and in many other situations, you may wear whatever you
like. If in doubt, check with your Troop Leader or Prior.

ADDRESSES – ADDRESSING OTHERS

This is the usual way of showing respect. Properly addressing superior rank is something
you need to get right. It can be confusing and will take some time to do properly, but you
should learn it and get it down ASAP. Here is a basic guide:

• National Leaders - National Leaders are always addressed by their rank only; ie.,
"Yes, Grand Prior!" - "Have a seat here, Grand Seneschal!"

• Priory Leaders - Leaders in your Priory are generally addressed by rank and
first name, i.e., Prior Alan, Marshal Bob. This is not true of every priory, so if ad-
dressing the prior of a different priory call him or her, "Prior" only.

• Knight Officers - If a knight holds a rank higher than that of knight, the amplifier is
used, i.e., Knight Lieutenant John would be called Lieutenant John. Knight Captain
Janet would be called Captain Janet.

• Knights - Anyone holding the rank of Knight is called "Sir/Dame". The people named
above could also be called Sir John or Dame Janet.

• Sergeants - Sergeants are referred to by that title. Sergeants can have rank differ-
ences so it can be Sgt. John Smith, Staff Sgt. John Smith, 1st Sgt. John Smith, etc.

• Companions at Arms - All are simply referred to as "brother/sister" and first name,
i.e., CAA Jim Smith would be "Brother Jim", CAA Pam Smith would be "Sister Pam”.

• Squire / Page - Referred to by that designation and their first name, i.e., Squire Dan
Jones would be Squire Dan. Page Emily Smith would be Page Emily.

If in doubt, you are never wrong to call any member of the Order as "Brother" or
"Sister". You should never do this with National Leadership, but otherwise it is usually
safe enough.

You should be aware of the circumstances. Are you "off duty" or "on duty"? That will
help you know how to act.

ON-DUTY - Investiture Ceremonies, Conclaves, formal banquets, service projects,
recruiting activities, fundraisers and other activities as designated by leadership. Be
formal. Everything is by rank and title.

OFF-DUTY - Times of fellowship, prayer, priory meetings, social events and troop
meetings. Be casual. Leadership is addressed by rank and everyone else can be broth-
er/sister.

AT-EASE - There are moments when a leader can change the normal decorum and
put you or everyone "at ease". When this happens, the formal etiquette is set aside
and the parties can proceed on a personal and casual level.

PERSONAL FRIENDSHIPS VS PROFESSIONAL BROTHERHOOD

Our Order places a large expectation upon its members to be true brothers/sisters to
and for each other. It is strongly encouraged to establish personal friendships with
other members.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT A RELATIONSHIP WITH SUPERIOR RANKING MEMBERS?

You can be a personal friend of a member who outranks you. You will, however,
need to keep in mind every moment whether you are On Duty or Off Duty. When you
are "on duty", you must let your personal relationship take a back seat to the role
your rank plays in the flow of duty. You should not expect special favors from having a
friend of a higher rank. When "off duty", you can just be "brothers/sisters" and be at
ease.

WHAT IF YOU DO NOT LIKE ONE OR MORE OF YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS?

This happens. As much as we urge and promote unity and brotherhood, some people
just may not like each other. You are not required to have all your fellow members on
your friends list on Belief Book and similarly, you do not need to socialize with them
when off duty or during social events.

You ARE expected to maintain professional behavior at all times. There is no excuse
for rude or inappropriate demeanor. You must find a way to still work and serve with
this person and not allow it to interfere with Priory affairs. You can always consult the
Prior or the Chaplain for help in this.

1. Pay your dues - We do not ask that much from you financially. Upon
entering you are asked for a passage fee of $50. From then on, your dues
are $25 per year and are always due on June 1st. New members who join
between January 1 and June 1 will not be required to pay an annual on
June 1st. Your Initial donation of $50 will meet your obligation for the cur-
rent year. Your renewal of $25 will be due on June 1st the next year.

2. Participate - Each Priory has structured things to make it as easy as
possible to participate in activities. Many activities are online. Many can be
performed regionally through local events scheduled by your Priory.
Participation makes everything come alive and makes being a Templar a
real thing in your life. We have higher expectations of participation the
higher in rank you become. We know you lead a busy life. We all do too.
We also know that unavoidable things come up to prevent attending
events sometimes. However, the rewards of participation are high and we
encourage you to do what you can.

3. Communicate - Stay in touch. Let us know what is going on with you
and your life. Share your insights, your thoughts, your concerns and your
prayers. Let your priory become a part of your daily life.

SO, WHAT IF YOU DON’T?

1. If you don't pay your dues - If you truly cannot pay, you should contact
your Prior to see if an extension can be given. There is the possibility that
payments can be broken down over time or some other arrangement can
be made. If you cannot or will not pay, you will be classified as "inactive".
You can still participate in some activities, but you cannot hold an officer
position, lead a ministry and you won’t be able to advance in rank while
classified as inactive.

2. If you don't participate - We can lead you to opportunity, but we can-
not make you get involved! Your choice to not participate in activities,
whether online or in real-time, is up to you. You will not be disciplined for
not getting involved, however, it will make us reluctant to promote
you. You will not earn any recognition and you will not be considered for
officer positions. You may not be able to attend certain events. You will
really miss out on some wonderful experiences! It’s truly a blessing to get
that wonderful "service high" when you touch the lives of others. It’s ex-
tremely important to share in the benefit of forming close bonds with truly
good people.

Templarism enriches your life, so not availing yourself of it is like staying
indoors on a beautiful day. You will be OK, but you could have been awe-
some! We all need a time out sometimes, so a temporary dispensation can
be given to sit things out so that you can focus on personal matters. If this
becomes a habit and you remain on the sidelines indefinitely, then that is
a different matter and Leadership may need to discuss your situation with
you.

3. If you don't communicate. This can lead to a long list of problems. Your brothers
and sisters, as well as Leadership will wonder why you are so quiet. Misunderstand-
ings cannot be mended if we do not know they exist. Problems cannot be solved if no
one knows you have them. Strong bonds of brotherhood/sisterhood cannot be
formed if you do not share of yourself. Silence can be taken as indifference. We un-
derstand that not everyone likes to open up about themselves, but we expect that
everyone will make some effort to connect with your fellow brothers and sisters.
Communication is part of participation!

THE KEY TO EVERYTHING- - PARTICIPATION!

The original Templars gave up everything they had to be members. From the moment
they first put on the Templar uniform, their whole life was dedicated to performing
their duty to the Order. They did this with singleness of heart and without ques-
tion. In the modern day, we do not ask that much from you. You continue your previ-
ous life as before.
In the modern day, instead of giving up everything you are called on to sacrifice
some of your free time. Most Templar activities are designed to still allow you to pre-
serve most of your free time. We know how precious your down time is and we want
you to have quality time with your families. However, we also do expect you to attend
and be present for Priory activities unless a valid reason prevents you from doing
so. We understand that things happen. However, a record of poor attendance at Pri-
ory events will count against you and should be avoided.

WHAT COUNTS AS PARTICIPATION?

Do we expect you to participate in everything all the time?
In a way - yes, but, don’t worry because we do not endorse extremism! The modern
Order expects you to incorporate Templarism into your life. We should not be a hob-
by. We should not be a club you join and go to meetings sometimes. We should not
be that thing you do when there is nothing better to do. We also do not expect or
desire you to put the Order before your family, your work, or your own health.

We want you to make us a part of your life, but one in which it is in balance with all
the other parts of your life. We want you to be an excellent parent/spouse/
employee/church member. We do not want you to take anything away from those
areas of your life. The expectations we place upon you can be easily done with only a
minimal sacrifice of time. Yes, it will still be a sacrifice. We never have the time for
new things. We must make time for the Order. The reward will be worth it!

We know you already lead a busy life. We do too! There
are times when you will wonder how you can fit the
Order in. We have all been there! However, it can be
done! There is great reward to all the things we do as
Templars. Whether it is something that benefits us di-
rectly or whether it is the opportunity to be there for
someone when they really need you or touching the
lives of those less fortunate than ourselves, there is a wonderful feeling that goes
along with getting involved. These will not be wasted moments! They are moments
you invest into a great return!

Here are some of the opportunities for
participation in our Priory

• Priory Meetings - Check with your priory for its schedule. Meetings are usually held
once a month on a Saturday. They normally last 60-90 minutes and are conducted via
video conferencing on ZOOM. You can attend via PC, tablet, laptop, smartphone or
any media allowing access to the internet. If you are present, it counts! If you are not
present, the minutes are posted on the Priory page on Belief Book within a day or
two. If you read the minutes and then sign off in the comments "read and under-
stood", that counts the same as if you attended the meeting itself!

• Troop Meetings - Not all priories have troops. Those that do hold meetings at a lo-
cation that is normally within easy driving distance of where you live. It is expected
that you will attend unless a valid reason prevents you. If something does happen
where you cannot attend, you should contact your Troop Leader and be excused. The
typical Troop meeting runs about 2 hours.

• Buddy Check - Those who choose to sign up for this are assigned to another mem-
ber to be their "buddy". On the 13th of each month you contact each other to make
certain that all is well. You are just there for each other to help lend a shoulder to
lean on. Those who participate in this report that it makes a difference knowing that
at least one person out there really knows you and is there for you when need-
ed. Usually, this is only a one hour call per month.

• Service Work - Service work is scheduled well ahead of time and will occur at a par-
ticular location that will be announced well in advance. Service work is an important
aspect of Templar life, so it is important that you make every effort to be involved in
at least one project per year. Failure to participate in at least one event per year is a
cause for serious concern.

• Social Events - Social events are open to your whole immediate family. They can last
an entire afternoon or evening or even a whole weekend. Because your whole family is
also invited, you will not be sacrificing time away from them to attend.

• Roll Call - Roll Call is launched every Wednesday. It only requires a one minute check
in from you to state what is going on in your life at that time. You have until the follow-
ing Monday to contribute.

• Prayer Circle - Like Roll Call, it only takes a minute to state your personal prayer re-
quest and you have up to a week to contribute. At some point in the week, you should
take the time to actually pray for all the requests on the list.

• Investiture - This is held at most, once per year. It will take up the majority of one
weekend day. It is very important that you make every effort to attend as this may be
the only opportunity to physically be in the presence of your fellow members that
year. It is also very important to show support to the person or persons who have
reached the high calling of knighthood on their special day.

• Conclave - The location of Conclave changes every year. It is a wonderful event to
attend and it is highly encouraged that you do. These gatherings normally run from Fri-
day to Sunday. Time away from home, the cost of travel and other factors are under-
stood to be too much for many. Attendance is highly encouraged, but not required.

• Priory postings - It is hoped and encouraged that you will post in Priory and national
Belief Book pages. They can be statements of welcome to new members, congratulating
people on their promotions, recognizing birthdays, sharing insights learned or an inspi-
rational thought or photo. We welcome anything that others might benefit from see-
ing.

There will be other things as well such as Scripture Study and times when your fellow
brothers and sisters may need prayer or some other form of help. The important thing
to remember is to surrender yourself to God and have Him use you as He wills! Pray
for discernment in all things and do those things you feel lead to do!

All these events are open to all members of all ranks.

Our system is not designed to punish those who sit things out so much as to reward
those who go all in. We also do not want your family to feel like Templar widows or wid-
owers. We designed things so that you can be very active and still have plenty of time
for downtime and quality time with your family. Everything you do whether online or in
person counts!

READING RECOMMENDATIONS

To assist all in the journey to Knighthood, the following is a summary of recom-
mended reading for a Companion At Arms. Each publication will serve to enrich
your understanding of the Knights Templar, our meaning and purpose in life as
Christians and the overall quality of life with God.

All publications are readily available at Amazon

Recommended Reading
Companion At Arms

Reading for men Reading for women

• The Resolution For Men • The Resolution For Women
by Stephen Kendrick by Priscilla Shire

Additionally, please view the following YouTube Video:

The Templar Code - Full Documentry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR-IHewVyEY

Recommended Reading

Sergeant At Arms Knight
Knights Of Christ
Not a Fan
by Kyle Idleman by Daniel A. Biddle

OPTIONAL READING MATERIAL

• Raising a Modern Day Knight - by Robert Lewis
• The Templars: Knights Of Christ - by Regine Pernoud
• The Templars - by Michael Haag.
• Knight Of The Grail Code: The Call To Christian Chivalry
• In A World of Growing Darkness - by Rick Kasparek
• The Making Of A Leader - by Frank Damazio

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
LEARN WHAT ALL THESE STRANGE WORDS MEAN!

We know that you have noticed that there are some strange words encountered thus
far! Some of them were explained a little, but below is a better description of what
they mean.

We are an organization that goes back 900 years and we
were originally a French order. Many of the terms and names
we use for things go back to ancient times. So, YES - you will
need to learn some new vocabulary to know what everyone
is talking about! Let's get you started with these words and
terms. We use these a lot, so learning them quickly will make
things a lot less complicated and baffling!

Accolade - The ceremony of dubbing a person and making them a knight.

Beaucant - Pronounced: BOW-sahnt. It is the Templar flag. It consists of one white
stripe and one black stripe with a crimson equal armed cross in the center.

Chaplain - Much as you would expect, he manages the spiritual needs of the Pri-
ory. He is our ecumenical pastor here in the priory. He leads prayer times, conducts
Scripture study, is available for personal counseling and can intercede between a
member and leadership. Everything said to the Chaplain is kept confidential and will
not be revealed without your consent.

Chevalier - Pronounced: shev-all-lee-AY. This is the French word for "knight". Literally,
it means "horse rider" as only knights did that in ancient times. This is what we actu-
ally become when knighted. However, in English speaking countries, we use the more
familiar term of "knight" and the title of "Sir" or "Dame". The feminine form of this
word is "chevalereuse" - pronounced: shev-all-lay-RUSE.

Conclave - This is the yearly official gathering of the entire national body of the US
Grand Priory. It normally runs the length of a weekend and includes an Investiture
Ceremony, a service opportunity and lots of fellowship. This is a great time to meet
members who live in other areas of the country as well as the National Leadership.

Deus Vult - Latin for "God wills it". This was the response to the call for the First Cru-
sade. It was often repeated afterward when noting how God watches over the affairs
of the Templars and how it survives hardship and wins victories despite the odds. The
Templars acted when they knew the Lord was with them on whatever they set out to
do. This gave them strong conviction that they were agents of the Lord's will.

Investiture - This is the ceremony in which the accolade of knighthood is per-
formed. These are performed by the priory at a time other than that of a Conclave. A
knight candidate can choose to receive their knighthood at either event.

Marshal – No, not a law enforcement officer! This is the title of the third highest rank-
ing person in a priory. The original Templar Marshals rallied the troops in battle and
gave them orders. Today they focus on personnel issues.

Non Nobis – These are the first two words of our official motto. It is Latin. In full, it
is: Non Nobis, Domine, Non Nobis. Sed Nomini Tua Glorium. This translates to "not to us,
Lord, not to us. To your name be the glory". It is a quote from Psalm 115. This expresses
our wish to remove our own selfish ambitions from our lives and live in humble service to
God only.

OMSDT - This is the most common way we refer to the Order. It is the abbreviation of
the actual legal name of the Order. It is fine to refer to ourselves as "The Knights Tem-
plar", but this is more of a short-hand. Our actual legal name is in French and stands
for: Ordre Militaire Supreme des Templiers. It is pronounced: OR-druh - mee-lee-
TARE des TAHM-pluh eers. This is why we abbreviate! In English, this would translate to;
The Supreme Military Order of the Knights Templar

Prior - The leader of a priory.

Seneschal - Pronounced: sen-uh-SHALL. This is the second highest rank in the priory. He
or she oversees operations and takes over leadership in the absence of the Prior.

Turcopolier - Pronounced: turk-oh-poe-lee-AY. Usually we just say "Turco". This is the
fourth highest rank in the priory. This person focuses on the protocols and etiquette of
the Order. They also ensure we follow Order guidelines at all times

There will be many more words and terms you will need to know later on. For now, really
try to learn these and make them part of your everyday speech!

Thank you for taking the time to go over all this material. We know it is a lot to take
in. You may need to come back and review things more than once to get it down. Howev-
er, these are things that will help you settle in quickly to the pace and rhythm of life here
in our Order!

We are always here to help you in whatever way you may need. Do not be afraid or hesi-
tant to ask for help!

We look forward to serving Our Lord together with you!

God bless you in this holy journey!