Why are we Templars: Our Charities
During my 40-year Masonic journey, 38 of which have been dedicated to the Templar Order, I have witnessed a reluctance among our leadership to make crucial decisions and implement necessary changes. This hesitation has led to a loss of purpose within our Order and a neglect of our duty to care for our wives, widows, and orphans. Currently, we offer them little more than holiday cards and occasional dinner invitations, which is far from adequate. Furthermore, our engagement with our three Grand Encampment charities is unbalanced, with one charity receiving more attention and funding than the others.
I have had the privilege of direct involvement with all three charities at the state and local levels, allowing me to witness these imbalances firsthand and work towards rectifying them with some success. Notably, in Maryland, I have served as the State Coordinator for the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, where I played a starting role in achieving 100% Life Sponsorships and increasing the number of Grand Commander and Grand Master Club members. My successors have continued this work, achieving and now maintaining our 100% Life Sponsorship rate.
The Eye Foundation stands out as a model for charitable work, both within and outside our Fraternity. However, the Holy Land Pilgrimage program faces financial challenges. I have served as a pilgrim minister in this program and understand its value. Despite my efforts to secure funding for ministers in Maryland and beyond, the Grand Encampment has not provided financial support or established an endowment to cover the rising costs of the pilgrimage. This has resulted in a burden on sponsoring Commanderies or Grand Commanderies, reaching nearly $4,000 per pilgrim. As a consequence, the pilgrimage program struggles to attract participants, with most from the eastern United States, with no representation from our non-U.S. jurisdictions. We urgently need a clear plan to expand both the Knights Templar Educational Foundation and the Holy Land Pilgrimage. Additionally, our budget relies heavily on endowment and permanent funds to bridge income shortfalls, necessitating a more proactive approach to address membership and funding challenges.
In Maryland, our Educational Foundation accounts are thriving, with an annual income exceeding $15,000 to $20,000, surpassing the operating funds of some Grand Commanderies. However, our attempts to seek information and guidance from the Grand Encampment Knights Templar Educational Foundation have been met with silence. This leaves us making decisions without clarity on the foundation’s bylaws, which is unsustainable. At the Grand Encampment level, there has been little effort to increase funding for the Educational Foundation since its establishment, and over one-third of the Grand Commanderies have limited funds available for awards without touching the principal.
Beyond financial concerns, there are pressing matters that require our attention. Several Grand Commanderies struggle to confer the Orders without resorting to mere reading or seeking external assistance. This is unacceptable, and I support the Grand Master’s plans to address this issue and have ideas to enhance our Ritualistic practices and recognize Ritual proficiency.
Moreover, we have an opportunity to bolster our leadership through tailored training for Templar officers and future leaders. The York Rite Leadership Program is a promising start, but we need specific training to equip our Templar officers and leaders effectively. My diverse experiences in military leadership, pastoral and theological knowledge, and program management have equipped me with the tools to offer customized solutions for the unique challenges and opportunities in each jurisdiction. These solutions, coupled with effective training and support, can be applied at the local Commandery, Chapter, Council, and Lodge levels.
While I may not have visited every grand jurisdiction over the past five years, I have engaged with Knights both in the USA and abroad, enabling me to identify our opportunities and successes. My leadership background in the military, my spiritual and theological insights as a parish pastor, and my role as a program manager have prepared me for this service to our beloved Fraternity. The lessons I’ve learned on my journey, from Entered Apprentice to my current status, have enriched my understanding and capacity to contribute.
I invite you to share your thoughts with me and humbly request your prayerful consideration. Embracing change is challenging, and maintaining the status quo may seem easier. However, it is crucial that we acknowledge the necessity for change and transformation. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the collective strength of countless dedicated men working together, we have the potential to achieve remarkable and transformative outcomes.