Statues of the International Order

Part I - Introduction to the Order

Article I. Title.

The title of this Organization in Latin is "Ordo Supremus Templi Hierosolymitani" which, as used by its constituent bodies, may be followed by a translation of the title into the national language in use by the constituent body, and hereafter this Organization shall be called in these Statutes "the Order". The Order is a cultural Christian and humanitarian organization.

Article II. Motto of the Order.

"NON NOBIS DOMINE, NON NOBIS SED NOMINI TUO DA GLORIAM"

Article III. Objects and Purpose of the Order.

The Order is based on an ancient Christian brotherhood, and its objects and purposes shall be:

To provide an opportunity for the practice of ecumenical Christianity.
To encourage and promote Christian humanitarian work and charity generally, but especially in support of people in the Middle East.
To encourage all that makes for the spiritual and moral strengthening of mankind in accordance with the first great principle of the Order embodied in the motto:
"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory."
To support the precepts of Christian Chivalry.
To investigate and emulate the historical ideals of the ancient Order.
To form and administer establishments, councils, associations, centers or other subordinate bodies to facilitate the work of the Order in all geographical areas.
To maintain contact and develop collaboration with kindred Orders and bodies.
To establish and maintain libraries and museums, and to collect works of art and objects of historical interest to the Order.

Part Two - Organization of the Order

Article IV. The Grand Magistral Council.

The Grand Magistral Council shall be the Legislative Body which shall comprise the following: the Grand Commander and the Grand Priors (heads of all the national jurisdictions), with decisional vote, and the Grand Magistral Officers with consultative vote. Any Grand Magistral Officer who is also a serving Grand Prior may only vote once as an officer, however, his Grand Priory may also be represented by his designee who shall cast the vote of the Grand Priory. Any vote of the Grand Magistral Council may be vetoed by three Grand Priors.

Article V. Powers of the Grand Magistral Council.

1. The Grand Magistral Council shall make all appointments and shall exercise supreme direction, administrative and executive control over the Order, its Establishments, its other subordinate organizations, and its members. The Grand Magistral Council shall have the right to veto any recommendation, resolution, decision or proceeding of the Grand Chapter General, or of any Establishment, or other subordinate organization, of the Order.

2. The Grand Magistral Council, on its own, or on the recommendation of the Grand Chapter General, shall have the power to make, amend, revoke or suspend (in whole or in part and either generally or in relation to any specified area) Regulations or Rules for any purpose expressed in these Statutes or otherwise as it may deem necessary or expedient for the conduct, control or management of the affairs or work of the Order and, when published in such manner as the Grand Magistral Council may direct, such Regulations shall be binding on all organizations, or persons, to which they are applicable.

3. To facilitate the conduct of the affairs and work of the Order, the Grand Magistral Council may, in its discretion and subject to any limitations as it may impose, delegate in such manner as its deems fit any of its powers and authority to any Grand Magistral Officer, or other officer of the Order as it may specify, provided always that the Grand Magistral Council shall not delegate its authority to make Regulations or Rules, or to approve the recommendations for admission or attachment of Establishments to, or promotion in the Order.

4. In the event that the Grand Magistral Council is unable to exercise its power or authority due to absence of a majority, or other exceptional reason, such power or authority may be exercised, for only so long as such exceptional circumstances exist, by the Grand Commander, on its behalf. All actions taken by the Grand Commander in such circumstances must be ratified by the Grand Magistral Council at its next meeting.

5. The Grand Magistral Council, on the recommendation of the Grand Chapter General, may appoint Standing or other Committees of such membership and with such terms of reference as it may specify, or as may be prescribed by these Statues.

Article VI. The Grand Commander.

The Grand Magistral Council shall elect a Grand Commander of the Order who shall hold office for three years, renewable once, or until resignation, if earlier. The Grand Commander shall submit to the Grand Magistral Council for approval or direction any matter which he deems to be of important principle.

Article VII. The Grand Magistral Officers.

1. The Grand Magistral Council shall also elect, for a similar term as the Grand Commander, a Deputy Grand Commander and a Grand Chancellor, who shall perform the duties described hereinafter. The Grand Commander and those holding the offices hereinafter mentioned shall, in the precedence listed, be the Grand Magistral Officers of the Order, that is to say:

The Deputy Grand Commander, who shall assist the Grand Commander in carrying out his duties, and who shall act in the place of the Grand Commander if he is unable to perform the functions of his office by reason of absence or ill health.

The Grand Chancellor, who shall be the chief operating officer of the Order and shall perform the functions of the Grand Commander or Deputy Grand Commander if they are both unable to perform the functions of their office by reason of absence or ill health.

The Grand Marshal, who shall be appointed by the Grand Commander upon ratification of the Grand Magistral Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Grand Commander or until earlier resignation, shall prescribe and regulate the arrangements for all ceremonies of the Order in accordance with the wishes of the Grand Magistral Council.

The Grand Chaplain General, who shall be Christian cleric of Episcopal rank, and who shall be appointed by the Grand Commander upon ratification of the Grand Magistral Council, shall hold office during the pleasure of the Grand Commander or until earlier resignation, shall be the advisor to the Grand Magistral Council in all matters of an ecclesiastical nature and shall determine the form of religious service and prayers to be used on such occasions as are not otherwise provided for the Statutes, Regulations or Rules.

The Grand Almoner, who shall be appointed by the Grand Commander upon ratification of the Grand Magistral Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Grand Commander or until earlier resignation, shall be responsible for the charitable and humanitarian activities of the Order in accordance with the wishes of the Grand Magistral Council.

The Grand Referendary, who shall be appointed by the Grand Commander upon ratification of the Grand Magistral Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Grand Commander or until earlier resignation, shall be responsible to deal with any possible disputes that may arise between the Grand Magistral Council and the members of the Order, or members of the public.

The Grand Secretary General, who shall be appointed by the Grand Commander upon ratification of the Grand Magistral Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Grand Commander or until earlier resignation, shall be responsible for all administrative matters of the Order.

The Grand Treasurer, who shall be appointed by the Grand Commander upon ratification of the Grand Magistral Council, and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Grand Commander or until earlier resignation, shall be responsible for all of the financial matters of the Order.

2. The Grand Commander may appoint other officers who, upon ratification of the Grand Magistral Council, shall hold office during the pleasure of the Grand Commander or until earlier resignation, and shall be responsible for such matters as may be referred to them by the Grand Commander.

3. Grand Magistral Officers other than the Grand Commander, Deputy Grand Commander and the Grand Chancellor, may not, at the beginning of their office, be serving Grand Priors of a Grand Priory.

4. After the end of their term of office, all Grand Magistral Officers shall be entitled to retain their title of office followed by the word "emeritus."

5. Special Grand Officers.

The Grand Master, who shall be elected by the Grand Magistral Council for a term of eight years, shall be the ceremonial head of the Order, shall represent the Order at diplomatic and international functions, and shall perform such other duties as may be mutually agreed with the Grand Magistral Council.
The Religious Protector shall be a senior Christian religious leader who shall consent to provide religious protection and guidance to the Order.

Article VIII. The Magisterium.

The Grand Commander, Deputy Grand Commander, Grand Chancellor, Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary General and the Grand Referendary shall be the Magisterium of the Order. The Magisterium shall meet at the call of the Grand Commander, shall consider all matters referred to it by the Grand Commander, and shall make recommendations for action to the Grand Magistral Council.

Article IX. Powers and Constitution of the Grand Chapter General.

1. There shall be a Grand Chapter General of the Order which, subject to the authority and power of the Grand Magistral Council, shall be the governing body of the Order and may deliberate upon and make recommendations to the Grand Magistral Council regarding all matters which shall appertain to the affairs or work of the Order and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may exercise any powers or authority expressly conferred upon the Grand Chapter General by these Statutes, Regulations or Rules.

2. The Grand Chapter General shall consist of all members of the Order who shall be entitled to vote on all matters brought before the Grand Chapter General by the Grand Commander. Votes shall be taken on the basis of one vote for every ten members (or fraction thereof) for whom dues and oblations are currently paid.

3. Changes may be made, with the approval of the Grand Magistral Council, in the composition of the Grand Chapter General by resolution passed at a regular or special Grand Chapter General by not less than two-thirds of those present and voting.

Article X. Procedures in Grand Chapter General.

1. The Grand Chapter General shall be convened by the authority of the Grand Magistral Council not less than once every two years upon not less than one hundred eighty days' previous notice.

2. The Grand Magistral Council may at any time convene a Special Grand Chapter General, and shall so convene it at the request of one fifth of the members, or in pursuance of a resolution by a national jurisdiction containing a request to that effect, such request, in either case to contain a statement of the propositions or particular matters to be submitted to the Grand Chapter General. The notice convening a Special Grand Chapter General shall set forth the propositions or particular matters to be submitted to that Grand Chapter General. In special circumstances the ordinary previous notice of one hundred and eighty days may, with the approval of the Grand Magistral Council, be reduced to ninety days. At Special Grand Chapters General no business shall be transacted other than that specified in the notice.

3. The Grand Chapter General shall be held according to ancient usage, and shall always be opened and close with prayer.

4. The Grand Magistral Council, on the recommendation of the Grand Chapter General, and subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, may make regulations as to the manner in which the Grand Chapter General shall conduct its business and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may proscribe who shall preside in the absence of the Grand Commander, the number of members forming a quorum, the filling of casual vacancies in the membership of the Grand Chapter General, the method of voting and the circumstances in which persons who are not members of the Grand Chapter General may be admitted to be heard at any meeting.

Article XI. Establishments of the Order.

The constituent establishments of the Order are Grand Priories and Priories. At the time of initial adoption of these Statutes the constituent establishments of the Order are those Templar organizations who have signed at the end of these Statutes and who maintain the obligations of membership described in the Statutes. Regulations and Rules. Each Templar group wishing to become a member of the Order may petition to the Grand Magistral Council for membership in the Order, and upon acceptance and agreement to maintain the obligations of membership described in the Statutes, Regulations and Rules, shall be a member of the Order.

Part Three - Members

Article XII. Grades of the Order.

1. The Order shall recognize the following Grades:

Grade I Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Temple (GCTJ/DGCTJ)

Grade II Knights and Dames Grand Officer of the Temple (GOTJ/DOTJ)

Grade III Knights and Dames Commander of the Temple (KCTJ/DCTJ)

Grade IV Knights and Dames of the Temple (KTJ/DTJ)

2. The postnominals adopted for each Grade may properly be used by those to whom they apply for the purpose of indicating their grade in the Order in the context of any occasion or matter connected with their participation in the work of the Order, or for inclusion in any publication of a biographical nature but, subject to this, admission, attachment, or promotion to any Grade of the Order, or the privileges derived therefrom of wearing the insignia appertaining or belonging thereto, shall not confer any rank, style, title, dignity, appellation or social precedence whatsoever.

Article XIII. Promotions in the Order.

Promotion in the Order to Grade I (Grand Cross) shall be conferred only by a Grand Prior or by the Grand Magistral Council.

Article XIV. Foundation Dues and Oblations.

The Order is devoted to works of charity and humanitarian action, and it is a fundamental rule that those who belong to the Order shall contribute to its charitable and humanitarian works such dues and oblations as shall be from time to time established by the Grand Magistral Council. On the dissolution of the Order, any amounts remaining, after the payment of debts, will be at the disposition of the Grand Magistral Council, which will dispense it for such charitable causes as it selects.

Article XV. Interpretation and Amendment.

1. In these Statutes, unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the masculine shall include females, words in the singular shall include the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular, all as appropriate to the context.

2. If at any time the Grand Magistral Council, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it, shall ordain that any office or body constituted by or under these Statutes, shall have its title changed to a new title, any reference to such office or body in these Statutes, or in any Regulations or Rules made thereunder shall be read and construed as a reference to such office or body by such new title.

3. If any question arises as to the interpretations of these Statutes, the matter shall be referred to the Grand Magistral Council, whose decision shall be final.

Adopted 2 November 1996
Grand Council
Salzburg, Austria

Amended April 17, 1999
Grand Council
Glasgow, Scotland