Invitational chivalric order / United States
Knight Masons USA
Knight Masons in the United States belongs to an Irish-derived family of degrees associated with Zerubbabel, return from Babylon and the Second Temple. It is a small Council body, requiring prior Masonic progress rather than serving as a first appendant order.
This guide explains the public Christian or chivalric character of Knight Masons USA in United States, including the qualifications and local commitments that should be checked before an enquiry. By Beyond the Craft Editorial Team · Published 14 June 2026 · Last reviewed 21 June 2026 · 8 min read.
What it is
Knight Masons USA is an optional Masonic route with its own qualifications and administration. It should be considered for its continuing work, not treated as a promotion or an inevitable next rank.
Why people explore it
Royal Arch Masons interested in Irish ritual heritage, chivalric narrative and invitational Council work.
What not to assume
Knight Masons USA is not a rank above Craft Masonry and is not automatically equivalent to a similarly named system in another jurisdiction.
Documented chronology
The public about page says the Grand Council of Knight Masons was formally constituted in 1923 for degrees previously worked in several settings. [2]
The official American site identifies the body as the Grand Council of Knight Masons, USA and describes it as invitational and honorary. [1]
The public page states that Master Masons who have become Mark Master Masons and Royal Arch Masons may seek to join after one year. [2]
A Second Temple degree family
The official about page places Knight Masonry in a sequence linked with the return from Babylon and the building of the Second Temple. That makes it thematically close to Royal Arch and related Temple-restoration material, not to military Templary. [2]
Readers often see the word Knight and assume Commandery-style chivalry. In this case the better comparison is with Royal Arch, Mark and Allied Masonic Degrees rather than with the Knights Templar orders. [2]
Modern governance and older material
The public history says the Grand Council of Knight Masons was formally constituted in 1923 to care for degrees previously worked in Royal Arch Chapters, High Knight Templar Preceptories and other settings. [2]
That is a governance statement, not a simple origin date for every legend, lecture or ceremonial element. The page should therefore describe documented organisation separately from the biblical setting used in the degrees. [2]
Joining and commitment
The public about page says Master Masons who have become Mark Master Masons and Royal Arch Masons may, after one year, request to join a Council. That wording is more specific than a generic claim of invitation-only secrecy and should be treated as the current public baseline. [2]
Because Councils are comparatively few, the commitment may involve travel and visiting as much as frequent local meetings. A candidate should ask about Council location, meeting rhythm and expected participation before assuming the calendar is light. [2]
Who may value it
Knight Masonry may appeal to a Mason who enjoys Royal Arch and Temple-restoration themes, smaller Councils and a degree family with Irish associations. [2]
It may not be the right next step for someone seeking broad public charity, youth work or Christian chivalric observance. Those readers should compare Commandery, Shriners or York Rite Sovereign College instead. [1] [2]
Key distinction
Knight Masonry is not the same as Knights Templar. Its setting is biblical and Temple-restoration focused, while its modern American identity is Council-based and connected with the Grand Council of Knight Masons.
Key questions
Frequently asked questions
What most distinguishes Knight Masons USA?
Knight Masonry is not the same as Knights Templar. Its setting is biblical and Temple-restoration focused, while its modern American identity is Council-based and connected with the Grand Council of Knight Masons.
Who may join Knight Masons USA?
The official body describes membership as open by invitation to Master Masons who also belong to a Royal Arch Chapter. Confirm the present faith declaration, prerequisite memberships and local admission route with the governing body.
How should its history be understood?
The public about page says the Grand Council of Knight Masons was formally constituted in 1923 for degrees previously worked in several settings. The Christian or chivalric setting is symbolic context; documentary continuity must come from dated records of the modern body.
What should I compare with Knight Masons USA?
Start with Royal Arch Masonry in the USA and Allied Masonic Degrees USA. Compare faith wording, prerequisite memberships, governing body and ordinary ceremonial commitment.
- Grand Council of Knight Masons, USA: official homepage ↗Grand Council of Knight Masons, USA · Official organisational source · Retrieved 21 June 2026 · Supports: current identity, invitational and honor body, American governing body.
- Grand Council of Knight Masons, USA: about ↗Grand Council of Knight Masons, USA · Official organisational source · Retrieved 21 June 2026 · Supports: degree themes, 1923 constitution, membership route.
Continue exploring
Related Reading
The network of sovereign state and territorial Grand Lodges often described historically as mainstream American Freemasonry.
United States guidePrince Hall FreemasonryA historic family of sovereign Grand Lodges tracing authority through African Lodge No. 459.
United States guideRoyal Arch Masonry in the USAThe Capitular branch of the American York Rite, normally the first body entered after the Master Mason degree.