History of the Order of the
Red Cross of Constantine

                        

                                    Constantine                          The Vision of Constantine
 
313 A.D.   Foundation of the Order of Constantine the Great after the battle of Saxa
 Rubra, October 28, 312, near Rome, and his vision of the Cross before the battle, as
related in tradition.
 
1099         Revival of the Order of the Red Cross and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre
amonst the Crusaders.
 
1750         The Order of the Red Cross, alluded to in connection with Freemasonry
by the Baron Hunde in his Templar System of "Strict Observance."

 

                                     

 
Order of the Red Cross         Order of the Holy             Order of St. John
of Constantine                       Sepulchre                       the Evangelist
 
1808         Order of the Red Cross of Constantine recognized in London, May 4, with 
new Constitution and under the name "Illustrious Order of the Red Cross," and the
Chapter General made the governing body of the Order which could confer the
Grand Cross.  Judge Walter Rodwell Wright elected the Grand Master.
 

HRH Augustus Frederick,

Duke of Sussex
 
 
1788         The Order of the Red Cross, Holy Sepulchre and St. John introduced into
England.
 
1796         The Right Honorable Lord Radcliffe elected Grand Master.
1813          His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex installed Grand Master.
 

1825         Robert Carlile publishes an ‘Exposure’ in England that contained a Degree
 called the “Order of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine,” which  appeared
to be a shortened and modified version of the Order, and was being worked at that
time in Scotland and Ireland.
 
1865         Order revived, after fifty years of lethargy, and the Grand Imperial  of
Council of England established under a new Constitution which abolished the titles
Chapter General and Grand Master.  William Henry White elected Grand Sovereign.
 
 
1866         Lord Kenlis (Earle of Bective) installed Grand Sovereign of the Grand 
Imperial Council of England.
 
1870         The Orders introduced into the United States, May 19.
 

1871         English branch of the Order changes its title from “Imperial Ecclesiastical and

Order of the Red Cross of Constantine” to the “Military and Masonic Order of the Red
Military  Cross of Constantine.”  The American branch retains and continues to use the
former title.
 
1872         Grand Imperial Council of the State of Illinois organized at Chicago, August
30, by five Conclaves chartered by the Grand Council of England.
 
1899         Grand Imperial Council of the Western Masonic Jurisdiction of the United 
States, organized at Jacksonville, IL, October 13, by all of the Conclaves in the
obedience of the Grand Council of Illinois.
 
1907         Grand Imperial Council for the United States of America, organized at
Duluth, MN, August 14 by all the Conclaves in the obedience of the Grand Council.
 
1946         Due to the independence of the Phillipines and the existence of Conclaves 
Mexico, the name "The Grand Imperial Council of the Imperial, Ecclesiastical and
in  Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and Appendant Orders, for the
United States of America, Mexico, and the Phillipines" was adopted.
 

 

Seal of the United Grand

Imperial Council
 
1958         Grand Imperial Council of the Imperial, Ecclesiastical and Military Order of
Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine for the U.S.A., Empire of the East and the
Grand Imperial Council of the Red Cross of Constantine and Appendant Orders for
the U.S.A., Mexico, and the Phillipines united in Washington, DC, February 18,
forming the United Grand Imperial Council of Knights of the Red Cross of
Constantine and Appendant Orders of America, Mexico, and the Phillipines.
 

1958         As a result of the merger of the Grand Imperial Councils, the use of

numbers to identify individual Councils is discontinued.
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