Provincial Priory of Surrey

The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta in England and Wales and Provinces Overseas
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Knights of Malta Ceremony at Praesidium Legati Preceptory
On Thursday the 24th February 2022 the Brother Knights of the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard Preceptory, Praesidium Legati, held a ceremony to install two Knights into the Order of Knights of Malta.

The ceremony was conducted in an excellent manner by the Eminent Prior, E.Kt. Paul Kerswell and the Officers of the Priory.

Knights of Malta Ceremony at Praesidium Legati Preceptory

One of the Candidates was Michael Fenech of Whyte Stone Preceptory. There to see Michael Installed was his friend from Whyte Stone Preceptory, E.Kt. Barrie Selway, seen here with E.Kt. Jack Love.

Knights of Malta Ceremony at Praesidium Legati Preceptory

Also present at the meeting was E.Kt. David Olliver, (Assistant Provincial Grand Master in the Craft Province of Surrey) the Priory Admiral; and E.Kt. Chris Eley, Past Great Admiral; who both congratulated Knight Michael on becoming a Knight of Malta.

Knights of Malta Ceremony at Praesidium Legati Preceptory

The Candidate’s View
Afterwards Knight Michael said: Was this the most impressive entry into a new decree or not? It certainly was one of the most interesting, innovative, immersive, colourful, intricate, substantive and meaningful that I have ever taken part in. I could bore you with even more descriptive words but I confess to having more than a passing interest in this supportive degree.

My father, who fought in the R.A.F. during the Second World War as an aircraftsman working on Lancasters, was Maltese. I was fluent in the language as a child but am very limited now. The island is my favourite place to visit as are my twenty-three cousins and their offspring and we are always guaranteed a very warm welcome. I travelled by car some three years ago on a fantastic holiday. Yes, I did use other means of transport from Italy to Sicily and then on to Malta.

I cannot go into the details of my entry into the degrees, suffice it to say that they were very “fact” interesting and colourful. It gave even more veracity to my limited knowledge of the Templars, the Hospitallers and their connection with Malta. A visit to St John’s Co-Cathedral contains so much history of their stay. This amazing and controversial group of men are so fascinating, as are the Knights Templar and the Malta Degrees. Equally fascinating are the different ways in which one takes part in the ceremonies and my involvement in both degrees was one of the best experiences I have come across in my relatively short but fruitful involvement in Freemasonry. Nearly as brilliant as my involvement in The Mark Degree!


Article and photos by Chris Eley

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