Preceptory
Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem
Knights Hospitaller
Royal Black Knights
Heritage
Preceptory has a direct heritage and involvement with various traditions touching the following common interests:
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The Christian religion
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The holy land
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Crusading
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The Eastern Orthodox, Byzantine and Russian traditions
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British traditions
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Involvement in Australian society
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Loyalism
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Upholding principles of monarchism
BELOW: Flag of the Order of St John (and Malta).
Patriarchal, imperial and cultural perogative
The view within British heritage is that those people decended from Noah’s son Japheth, and that the Anglo-Saxon kings could trace their decent to him. Indeed, some new studies are finding consistency with the old claim that the Saxons decended from the Biblical figure Ashchenaz. The people of Ashchenaz were with Cyrus the Persian when he conquered Babylon. Since that time, the people of Ashchenaz, who at one time were at Troy (Asgard), migrated around the Black Sea through Scythian areas, and eventually settled northern Europe.
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The placement of Preceptory within the context of the English-speaking world, and with its direct connections to specific bases in the Eastern or Orthodox world, give the outworking of Christian chivalry a strong basis.
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BELOW: An Order of St John crest.
Royalty and princely titles
The head of the Order of St John has, as a distinct position, been at times styled as a kind of head-of-state or sovereign, or at least, been treated with great dignity. Further, beyond having the respectable position of being head of an Order, there have been royal patrons or protectors. In Russia, a reigning monarch was Protector and Grand Master of the Order. In Britain, a reigning monarch chartered a branch of the Order.
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However, in the face of various claims, a word like “prince” can be used to describe any ruler, chief or leader in general. Further, the title of “Prince” has also been used without implying specific royalty, i.e. used legitimately without claiming to be a Prince of the blood of some royal house. The position usually relies on some authority, e.g. marriage, bestowal by a monarch, recognition within a system of government, etc.
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In the case of the Order of St John, there are several possible examples, one of which is Prince Bermondt-Avalov, who primarily claimed to be a prince by marriage or adoption. However, this title was also used in his own Order of St John, and later, by Bermondt-Avalov’s connection to Order of St John groups in Denmark, to which Preceptory had some connection at its founding. A host of other links include historical ones to King Peter II of Serbia, The Duke of Cumberland and later king of Hannover, and to representatives from the house of Oliver Cromwell. In further cases relating to figures such as Bermondt-Avalov and Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich, a connection to those by pedigrees going back to a J. G. B. Bulloch organisation. Further, ironically, such a background touches directly into Jacobite circles, as well as those of the Puritans. Other spiritual links by religious propositions also provide a strong case for principality.
BELOW: The Avalov crest.
Religion
The different branches of the Order of St John have been largely partisan, though many have become nominally non-denominational or ecumenical, as exemplified in the cases of derivative lines from the Russian Orthodox tradition. These have allowed Protestants to become members, and created the opportunity for an essentially Protestant outworking. The Loyalist tradition within the United States also tended to become non-denominational, especially in light of more fraternal organisations, though there is still a Protestant representation in the Black Knights of Malta tradition.
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BELOW: The Orthodox Order of St John crest.
Nobility
Nobility in its natural sense, has descended from our ancient Germanic ancestors, and had great expression with the ruling houses and knights of the ages.
In these days, nobility is now defined in two separate ways, first by birth and blood, and second, by merit and virtue.
If measured by elite bloodlines, what happens when such people fall into ignominy? The trend of the modern age and the nature of nations who were once colonies of Europe is that nobility or honour must now be measured by merit and virtue. This means that pedigrees count for little, except that the current practitioners are worthy or excel in their heritage.
This principle has been recognised by those on both sides of the historical battle for nobility, as Oliver Cromwell once wrote, “I had rather have a plain, russet-coated Captain, that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that you call a Gentleman and is nothing else.”
Further, where Orders of Knighthood were once designed for a particular party, the non-exclusive membership and homogeneity of ideas has led to such movements become other than what they began as. The twenty-first century Jacobite might be more fiercely pro-Windsor than any Hanoverian-derived group. The same can be said for traditional Roman Catholics when comparing them to mainline Protestants.
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A rather revolutionary passage of the New Testament states, that not many wise, not many mighty and not many noble are called, and that apparently foolish, weak and despised are chosen of God to bring to nothing things that are. Thus, by largeness of spirit, nobility in character could manifest from the most unlikely of places. The view that there could be a nobility, ordination and high callings would be the gift of God, a most disconcerting concept to some. For, after all, if ultimate authority and standards are with God, then all things are bestowed by the grace of God. Indeed, aligning with Christ makes royal all, and can nullify other claims. This also winnows out pretenders and self-seekers.
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BELOW: The Protectorate coat of arms of Oliver Cromwell.
St George
St George was born in Lydda and he became a cavalry soldier when he was seventeen, soon becoming renowned for his bravery. One day he came to a city called Salem where a dragon was harassing the locals, who would cast lots who should be fed to the dragon. That time, the lot had fallen to the local ruler’s daughter. St George was resolved that she should not die, so he went to the swamp and attacked the dragon, killing it. When he complained about the persecution of Christians which was being made by Emperor Diocletian, he was put to death in 303 AD. The Emperor Constantine dedicated a church to his memory. His name was famous.
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During the crusades, the red cross on white was used as George’s cross. St George was a seen as a model knight.
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The story of St George and the dragon is also strongly symbolic in that the dragon represented evil, while George represented the victory over it. Various enemies of Christianity have always been represented as dragons. This was true in Constantine’s victory over Paganism, it was true in the crusades and it was even a factor in the conflict between the Parliament and King Charles. Afterwards, when Oliver Cromwell ruled, he retained the cross of St George.
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Many different Orders of St George have existed, as well as societies in his honour. Interestingly, the highest degree of the Royal Black Knights is the Red Cross. The crusader’s use of this cross links them back to both St George and to the conversion of Constantine the Great.
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The Legion of Frontiersmen overtly bears the cross of St George on its roundel. It also uses the symbol of St George on its medals, which symbol is used by many other groups also.
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BELOW: Flag of St George, England.
Other
There are a whole range of influences, direct or indirect, upon Preceptory. This can be through personal connections, material produced by such groups or common culture. Below are named just a few examples of various concepts, and should not imply full endourcement or formal ties.
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RELIGIOUS. The greatest tribute must be made to the many and widespread English-speaking Protestant churches, denominations, groups and ministries.
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MONARCHICAL. There are many monarchist groups, including the Royal Commonwealth Society.
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PATRIOTIC. The input and influence of a variety of patriotic movements, not the least of which is that of individuals like Cecil Rhodes and Robert Heinlein and institutions like the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the John Birch Society (JBS).
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MERIT. As exemplified in orders of merit through individuals, such as recipients of the Order of Australia Medal.
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TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. Including the Sons of Temperance, Band of Hope, Blue Ribbon Army, Good Templars and so forth.
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MUTUAL BENEFIT AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. Such as the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society (PAFS), etc.
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SERVICE, BUSINESS AND SPECIAL INTEREST ORGANISATIONS. As diverse as The Chauvel Society to the Full Gospel Business groups.
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POLITICAL GROUPS. Protestant Federation, Australian Protective League (APL), King and Empire Alliance, Robert Menzies and so on.
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MILITARY. As can be traced in Australia from the Loyal Associations, Volunteer units, military through Boer, First and Second World Wars, Volunteer Defence Corps (Home Guard), etc. from which also other organisations, such as the Returned and Services League (RSL), Fort Queenscliff Museum, etc. have formed.
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YOUTH ORGANISATIONS. Such as the Scouts, Army/Air/Navy Cadets, etc.​
