The Masonic Order is chivalric and Christian in nature, and is of international importance. It encourages the enquiring Companion to seek a fuller understanding of his Masonry through his enjoyment of the Constantine experience.
The ceremonies elevate a Companion from Esquire to Christian Knight and thus enable him to continue his journey of discovery and enlightenment.
The historical setting of this Order is the time of Constantine the Great, Emperor of Rome, and features his well-known vision of a cross in the heavens which led to his victory at the battle of Saxa Rubra in 312 AD and his consequent acceptance of the Christian Faith.
The candidate, who must be a Royal Arch Mason, and profess his belief in the Holy Trinity, is first admitted as a Knight of Rome; then, in a ceremony based on Constantine's vision, is installed as a Knight Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine.
Two Appendant Degrees have long been included in the workings of the Order of Constantine - the Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and the Knight of St John the Evangelist.
The former was traditionally developed on the finding of the true cross by St Helena, the mother of Constantine, and the consequent mounting of a guard over the Holy place.
The latter relates a Christian perspective on the origin of Speculative Freemasonry and takes its theme and content from a discovery in the ruins of King Solomon's Temple in the fourth century AD.
In progressing in office to the second and then first chairs of a Conclave, the Knight receives the degrees of Priest Mason (as the Conclave's Viceroy) and Prince Mason (as the Most Puissant Sovereign).
These extend the teaching of the Red Cross of Constantine degree and the offices filled are similar to the Craft Lodge positions of Senior Warden and Worshipful Master.
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