Minnesota Priory No 24
Knights of the York Cross of Honor
The Order was formed in Monroe, North Carolina on March 13,1930. On June 6,1930 the Convent General of the United States of America was formed to administer the Order. Membership in the Knights of the York Cross of Honour (KYCH) cannot be applied for. In order to be considered for membership, a proposed candidate must have served as: Past Presiding officer of a Lodge of Masons, Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Council of Cryptic Masons, and Commandery of Knights Templar.
Knights of the York Cross of Honour is a Honor Group of York Rite Masons who are dedicated to serving the Masonic Fraternity as a Labor of Love. No individual should aspire to membership in KYCH, when he has done the required work, and done it well, he will be invited to membership. Those who labor will be rewarded by being invited. After a Mason has fulfilled the requirements of membership, his name may be proposed for membership by a member of the K.Y.C.H.. The prospective member should not know that he has been proposed. When a Priory receives a proposed, such proposal must be held over until the next stated meeting of the Priory before it is Balloted on. Some of the Ballot rules vary in different Jurisdictions, to comply with Grand Lodge Rules and Regulations. In this Jurisdiction the prospect must receive a unanimous vote by secret Ballot. The prospective proposal should not know that his name was proposed until he is official notified that he is elected to be invited to petition to membership. If this rule is followed, no one that is proposed and rejected should ever know that he was proposed and rejected, thereby saving much embarrassment. to everyone.
Conclave (Meetings)
When:
Annual Conclave – Traditionally at 1:00 PM on the First Saturday of April, adjusted for conflicts on the Masonic calendar.
Bi-Annual Conclave – at 1:00 PM on the First Saturday of November.
A Luncheon proceeds each Conclave. Contact the Registrar with your reservation.
Where:
Minneapolis Scottish Rite Temple
2011 Dupont Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Contact our Registrar at mnprioryno24kych@gmail.com
Minnesota Priory No. 24
History
Minnesota Priory No. 24 was the dream of 6 Companions and Sir Knights, who petitioned Wisconsin Priory No. 16 in 1944. This was pretty much the beginning of Minnesota No. 24; as shortly thereafter, on November 11, 1945, Minnesota No. 24 was chartered in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul. As stated in the information received from the Convent General History Committee.
According to the information I have at this time, Minnesota Priory saw a large growth in the following years.
To the best of my ability, Companion Knight Donald B. Purrington served as our Registrar for 25 years. He also served the Convent General for many years as Personal Representative to the Grand Master-General.
We have always, to my knowledge, held two meetings a year, although one of them was just a short meeting to read the proposals for the new members. In the last number of years we have changed this process to hold two full meetings. We do the ceremony of reception at both our spring and fall ceremonies, if we have candidates. Also, at the spring ceremony we have our election and installation of the new officers and at the fall ceremony we honor the new KYGCH members for their service to the craft. Our meetings are held in conjunction with our York Rite College as many of us belong to both of these organizations.
At this point in time, we have inducted 298 members and have 90 members plus 1 dual member for a total of 91. Over the years we have had 70 one quadrant members, of which 48 have passed and 22 are active. We also have 18 who have served and received two quadrants, 12 of these are living with 6 who have passed. We have 2 living Companion Knights with 3 quadrants. There has been no one who has received 4 quadrants at this time. Over the years we have had 2 demits, 1 with 2 quadrants and 1 with 3 quadrants.
Our Priory is alive and well and we have a large turnout, between 35 and 45 members, for all of our ceremonies.