The Order
To be considered for membership of this deeply significant order you must profess the Trinitarian Christian Faith and be:
A subscribing Master Mason in the Craft of at least 3 years standing.
A subscribing Royal Arch Mason.
A subscribing Knight Templar.
The gatherings of this delightful Christian Order take place in a Tabernacle, where the ceremony of admitting a Knight Templar Priest is worked.
The Order, in its modern form, did not set out to be deliberately exclusive, but the thirty one Appendant Degrees each have their own ceremonial working and it was determined, by our Founders, that a Mason needed to be of a certain standing and qualification within Freemasonry to comprehend and appreciate these especial degrees.
The remaining 31 degrees are conferred in name only in a short but impressive part of the ceremony. During the ceremony the candidate is conducted around seven Pillars formed in a triangle. Readings are given from the Old and New Testaments and each Pillar has a word referring to the Lamb of God who opened the seven seals (Revelation Chapters 6-8) revealing the seven spirits of God.
The Symbol of the Order is an Equilateral Triangle on which are inscribed certain important letters alluding to the secrets of the Order.
The admission of aspirants into the Order of Holy Wisdom takes place in a Congregation formed within the District for that purpose.
Regalia
Regalia Knight Priests wear a white tunic with a red cross, a plain white mantle and a mitre with a cross on the front. High Priests wear a taller mitre with a Patriarchal cross.
Knight Priest Tunic Knight Priest Mitre High Priest Mitre
Knight Priests who are members of the Order of Holy Wisdom also wear a cordelier, the colour of which signifies their rank. Mitres are not worn in Order of Holy Wisdom congregations.
Example of a Cordelier
Advancement
As in other Orders, advancement is through the various Offices of a Tabernacle to reach the Chair of High Priest. Grand College rank may be conferred two years after installation as High Priest. Officers of Grand College are appointed or promoted to Active or Past Ranks at the Annual Assembly of Grand College held in June.
There are no intermediate District (Provincial) ranks, other than Grand Superintendent and High Prelate, and the officers appointed by him – District Recorder, District Treasurer and District Director of Ceremonies.
Becoming a Member
For more information or questions about becoming a member or the Order in general please contact the District Recorder on the Welcome page or the Tabernacle Recorder the Tabernacle closest to you which can be found on the Tabernacle page.