Maryland Commandery No. 1
Stands for Christian knighthood in practice—faith, service, and fraternity—rooted in an enduring history.
Our Mission
Faith, Duty, and Chivalry
Our mission is to uphold the vows of a Knight Templar: to defend the Christian faith, to protect the innocent,
and to live as soldiers of the Cross—strengthening the spiritual life of our Sir Knights while serving our churches and communities.
Our Current Asylum
Mount Ararat Lodge, Bel Air
Maryland Commandery No. 1 currently assembles at Mount Ararat Lodge, 136 E. Gordon St, Bel Air, MD—our home base for conclaves, fellowship, and the work of Templary.History
Originated as Encampment No. 3 at Baltimore; name/number shifted with evolving Templar customs and jurisdictions.
Much of the first century narrative draws from Edward T. Schultz’s 1890 work: “History of Maryland Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar… from 1790 to 1890.”
Traditionary evidence places conferral of the Order of Knighthood as early as 1790 in Baltimore.
Edward Brynan receives a diploma from Encampment No. 1 certifying he was dubbed a Knight Templar and Knight of Malta.
Webb’s Monitor lists Maryland Encampments at Baltimore (Nos. 3 and 13) and Havre de Grace (No. 24) under lodge sanction customs of the era.
Formation of the Pennsylvania Grand Encampment; SK Henry Keatinge of Baltimore serves as Secretary of the Grand Convention.
Charter of Recognition granted; styled Encampment No. 1, Maryland at Baltimore.
Earliest surviving record period begins (later destroyed in the Dec 25, 1890 fire).
Resolution to enter jurisdiction of the General Grand Encampment.
“Encampment” replaced by “Commandery” in usage
First meeting under the new title Maryland Commandery No. 1.
Grand Commandery of Maryland constituted by Maryland No. 1, Baltimore No. 2, and Monumental No. 3.
Hosts the 18th Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment in Baltimore.
Masonic Temple heavily destroyed by fire; records and folios lost.
Charter confirmation provided under the Grand Commandery of Maryland.
Baltimore Masonic Temple destroyed by fire again; Commandery meets temporarily at the Court House.
Mergers and consolidations strengthen continuity under Maryland Commandery No. 1.
Commandery relocates with Grand Lodge property move to Cockeysville.
Masonic activities suspended and later resumed under General Orders.
Commandery relocates to Mount Ararat Lodge in Bel Air spreading Templary to Harford County.
Commandery celebrates 235 years of Templary!
Still going strong; looking ahead to the 250th Anniversary in 2040.