Masonic Knights Templar Explained: York Rite, Membership and History

Masonic Knights Templar are a modern fraternal order within the wider Masonic family. In the United States, they are associated with the York Rite and organized locally in Commanderies. They are not the medieval military order recreated unchanged across seven centuries, and becoming a Masonic Knight Templar is not simply earning a “higher rank” than a Master Mason.

That distinction answers two of the most common searches at once: Are Knights Templar Masonic? Yes, there is a Masonic Knights Templar organization. Are Freemasons the direct continuation of the medieval Knights Templar? The historical record does not establish that kind of direct institutional descent.

If you are trying to see where the organization sits among other groups, start with our Masonic Appendant Bodies Explained guide.

Where do the Masonic Knights Templar fit in the York Rite?

In the United States, the York Rite is commonly described through three related bodies: a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a Council of Royal and Select Masters, and a Commandery of Knights Templar. These bodies are separately governed even though they are usually presented together as a York Rite path.

The Grand Encampment Knights Templar, U.S.A. says that its Knights Templar organization requires membership in a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and, in some jurisdictions, a Council of Royal and Select Masters. A local Knights Templar body is called a Commandery.

This is why the phrase “Knights Templar degree” can be confusing. Within the U.S. Commandery system, members commonly speak of chivalric Orders, not a simple extension of the numbered Craft degrees.

Do you have to be a Master Mason first?

Yes in the regular Masonic systems described by the official bodies cited here. The path starts with Craft Masonry. A candidate first becomes a Master Mason, then follows the applicable York Rite prerequisites before petitioning a Commandery.

If that foundation is unfamiliar, read Degrees of Freemasonry Explained and How to Become a Freemason.

Do Masonic Knights Templar have to be Christian?

In the U.S. Grand Encampment system, the Knights Templar is explicitly Christian-oriented, and its public information states that members profess belief in the Christian religion. Canadian Masonic Knights Templar organizations likewise describe Christian requirements in their membership path.

This is a major difference from the basic Craft Lodge degrees in many regular jurisdictions, which typically require belief in a Supreme Being but do not require one particular Christian denomination. It is also why someone can participate in parts of the York Rite but not necessarily qualify for the Knights Templar Commandery.

Exact language and prerequisites can vary, so a prospective member should verify the current rules of the Grand Commandery, Great Priory or equivalent governing body in his own jurisdiction.

Are the Masonic Knights Templar the same as the medieval Knights Templar?

No—not in the sense of an established, continuous institution running directly from the medieval Order of the Temple to the modern Masonic organization.

The medieval Knights Templar emerged in the context of the Crusades and were suppressed in the early 14th century. Modern Masonic Templary developed much later and uses Christian chivalric themes, names and symbolism. That can create a strong visual and narrative resemblance, but resemblance is not the same thing as documented institutional continuity.

This distinction matters because online discussions frequently mix three separate questions:

• What happened to the historical medieval Templars?
• When did Templar themes appear in Freemasonry?
• How does today’s Masonic Knights Templar organization operate?

This article owns the third question while giving enough history to prevent the first two from being confused with it.

Is Knights Templar the “highest level” of Freemasonry?

It is better not to describe Freemasonry as a single pyramid. The Grand Encampment itself calls Knights Templar the top-ranking Masonic organization in the York Rite, but that means within its York Rite framing—not that every Mason everywhere is ranked beneath a Knight Templar.

A Master Mason who never joins an appendant body is still a Master Mason. Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine and other bodies are different optional paths, not one worldwide promotion chart.

This misunderstanding shows up repeatedly in public discussion. A July 2026 r/freemasonry thread from a Fellow Craft considering the Shrine, Knights Templar and Scottish Rite drew answers centered on prerequisites rather than “power levels.” Respondents noted that many bodies can be petitioned after Master Mason, while Knights Templar adds a Christian requirement.

What does a Commandery do?

Public information from the Grand Encampment describes local Commanderies as the basic local units of the Masonic Knights Templar. Their activities combine formal ceremonial work, Christian observances, fellowship and charitable efforts. The organization also supports causes such as the Knights Templar Eye Foundation.

As with a lodge, the public can learn the structure and purpose without needing private ritual details. A useful guide should explain the organization without pretending to reveal ceremonies that members treat as private.

What should a Mason ask before joining?

• Do I meet the prerequisites in my jurisdiction? Check your local York Rite bodies and governing authority.
• Am I looking for Christian chivalric tradition specifically? That is central to Masonic Templary in the systems discussed here.
• How active is the local Commandery? Meeting frequency, service projects and culture matter more than a title on paper.
• Do I want to rush through bodies? Many experienced Masons encourage newer members to build a solid Craft Lodge foundation before adding more commitments.

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-Mason join the Masonic Knights Templar?

No. The Masonic Knights Templar discussed here requires Masonic membership and additional York Rite prerequisites.

Can a non-Christian become a Masonic Knight Templar?

Under the U.S. Grand Encampment system, the public membership description is Christian-oriented and requires profession of Christian belief. Rules should always be checked locally.

Is Knights Templar the same as Scottish Rite?

No. Knights Templar is associated with the York Rite path in the United States. Scottish Rite is a separate appendant system.

Does becoming a Knight Templar make someone a 33rd degree Mason?

No. The 33° belongs to Scottish Rite terminology. Knights Templar uses a different organizational and ceremonial structure.

Sources and further reading

• Grand Encampment Knights Templar, U.S.A. — About the Order
• Shriners International — Partner Organizations and York Rite overview
• Grand Lodge of Manitoba — Knights Templar in Canada

If your interest is symbolic rather than organizational, browse our Masonic Coins collection. Symbols can open useful conversations about Masonic history and values, but an object by itself should never be treated as proof of a person’s membership or degree.