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History of the Order of the |
Red Cross of Constantine |
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Constantine The Vision of Constantine |
313 A.D. Foundation of the Order of Constantine the Great after the battle of Saxa |
Rubra, October 28, 312, near Rome, and his vision of the Cross before the battle, as |
related in tradition. |
1099 Revival of the Order of the Red Cross and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre |
amonst the Crusaders. |
1750 The Order of the Red Cross, alluded to in connection with Freemasonry |
by the Baron Hunde in his Templar System of "Strict Observance." |
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Order of the Red Cross Order of the Holy Order of St. John |
of Constantine Sepulchre the Evangelist |
1808 Order of the Red Cross of Constantine recognized in London, May 4, with |
new Constitution and under the name "Illustrious Order of the Red Cross," and the |
Chapter General made the governing body of the Order which could confer the |
Grand Cross. Judge Walter Rodwell Wright elected the Grand Master. |
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HRH Augustus Frederick, |
Duke of Sussex |
1788 The Order of the Red Cross, Holy Sepulchre and St. John introduced into |
England. |
1796 The Right Honorable Lord Radcliffe elected Grand Master. |
1813 His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex installed Grand Master. |
1825 Robert Carlile publishes an ‘Exposure’ in England that contained a Degree |
called the “Order of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine,” which appeared |
to be a shortened and modified version of the Order, and was being worked at that |
time in Scotland and Ireland. |
1865 Order revived, after fifty years of lethargy, and the Grand Imperial of |
Council of England established under a new Constitution which abolished the titles |
Chapter General and Grand Master. William Henry White elected Grand Sovereign. |
1866 Lord Kenlis (Earle of Bective) installed Grand Sovereign of the Grand |
Imperial Council of England. |
1870 The Orders introduced into the United States, May 19. |
1871 English branch of the Order changes its title from “Imperial Ecclesiastical and |
Order of the Red Cross of Constantine” to the “Military and Masonic Order of the Red |
Military Cross of Constantine.” The American branch retains and continues to use the |
former title. |
1872 Grand Imperial Council of the State of Illinois organized at Chicago, August |
30, by five Conclaves chartered by the Grand Council of England. |
1899 Grand Imperial Council of the Western Masonic Jurisdiction of the United |
States, organized at Jacksonville, IL, October 13, by all of the Conclaves in the |
obedience of the Grand Council of Illinois. |
1907 Grand Imperial Council for the United States of America, organized at |
Duluth, MN, August 14 by all the Conclaves in the obedience of the Grand Council. |
1946 Due to the independence of the Phillipines and the existence of Conclaves |
Mexico, the name "The Grand Imperial Council of the Imperial, Ecclesiastical and |
in Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and Appendant Orders, for the |
United States of America, Mexico, and the Phillipines" was adopted. |
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Seal of the United Grand |
Imperial Council |
1958 Grand Imperial Council of the Imperial, Ecclesiastical and Military Order of |
Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine for the U.S.A., Empire of the East and the |
Grand Imperial Council of the Red Cross of Constantine and Appendant Orders for |
the U.S.A., Mexico, and the Phillipines united in Washington, DC, February 18, |
forming the United Grand Imperial Council of Knights of the Red Cross of |
Constantine and Appendant Orders of America, Mexico, and the Phillipines. |
1958 As a result of the merger of the Grand Imperial Councils, the use of |
numbers to identify individual Councils is discontinued. |