Order of Knight Masons

In Ireland the degrees were being conferred within Masonic Knights Templar Preceptories until 1923. When compared to similar ceremonies, the Irish version of these degrees are very elaborate and exceptionally detailed, and it was decided that they should be given their own governing body and be allowed to practice independently of the Masonic Knights Templars. In 1923 within Freemasons' Hall in Dublin the first meeting of the Grand Council of Knight Masons took place and the consecration of new Councils to preserve the Knight Mason Degrees was planned.

In the US, Knight Masonry quickly flourished and eventually some American Councils formed a separate Grand Council of the U.S.A. This Grand Council governs Councils within many States within the US, however access to American Councils is strictly by invitation only, within the York Rite.[2] Councils in the State of Ohio did not join the new Grand Council of the USA, but have chosen to remain a province under the original (Irish) Grand Council.

In England there are two councils in London (meeting at Mark Masons' Hall), with others in Birmingham, Southend, Gillingham (Kent), Howden (Yorkshire), Gateshead, and Sutton (Surrey).[3] During 2016, two new councils were constituted in England at Leeds, and Plymouth,[4] with another later constituted at Leyland (Lancashire), taking the English total to eleven. The two local provinces are named "England & Wales (North)" and "England & Wales (South)", although there are no councils actually situated within Wales.

In November 2008 fifteen brethren, members of the National Grand Lodge of Greece, subscribing Mark Master Masons and Royal Arch Masons, visited Dublin in order to receive the degrees of Knight Masonry, in a meeting of Babylon Council No. 6. They subsequently petitioned for a new Council of Knight Masons to be established in Athens. The petition was granted and Council Alethia No. 96 was duly constituted and dedicated in May 2009. Due to a rapid increase in members a new petition was submited and granted for Council Eleftheria No. 99, which was constituted and dedicated in Pireaus in October 2011. A third Council, Amici Fedeli No. 106 was established in the island of Zakynthos, constituted and dedicated in September 2014. During the Grand Council Meeting on October 25, 2014 the Great Chief announced the creation of the Grand Council of Knight Masons' Province of Greece and the decision was approved per acclamation. The appointed Provincial Grand Officers were installed and proclaimed during the Grand Council Meeting on December 13, 2014. In February 2016, a fourth council was constituted and dedicated in Athens. Its members belong to various masonic constitutions, coming from different countries and all meetings will be conducted in English.

Today, the Order of Knight Masons under the Grand Council of Knight Masons can be found all over the world. Councils can be found in across the globe in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. New Councils continue to be founded, most recently in Bermuda, Greece and England. Qualification for membership is to have been Initiated, Passed and Raised in the Craft, Exalted into Royal Arch and Advanced to the rank of Mark Master Mason.