Preceptory
Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem
Knights Hospitaller
Royal Black Knights
Protestant Knights of Malta in Australia
In the first issue of The Protestant Standard (based in Sydney), it records that No. 60 of the Knights of Malta and Black Preceptory were meeting under the Scotch Constitution, as brought from Scotland by John McDowell KC.
On Thursday 24 June 1869, the first annual Knights of Malta dinner was held in Sydney, with one year since it first being formed in Sydney.
On Monday 1 November 1869, a second Preceptory was launched by John McDowell.
On Saturday 13 November 1869, the advertisements ran that there was No. 60 Knights of Malta and Black Preceptory, No. 2 Knights of Malta, both these under the Scottish Constitution, as well as the Royal Chapter of Black Knights, Encampment No. 146, under the Grand Black Chapter of Ireland. At this point, the Scottish groups were calling themselves “Preceptories”, while the Irish “Encampments”. Further, the Irish were also identifying themselves as “Black Knights”.
On Saturday 19 February 1870, John McDowell began an Encampment in Newcastle.
On Thursday 26 May 1870, a Provincial Grand Chapter was formed, with its own Constitution of New South Wales, along with No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 at Newcastle, and plans to form an Encampment at Newcastle.
On Saturday 9 July 1870, the Irish Black wrote an article against the Scottish Black, admitting that their order had been in bad hands when the Scottish was founded in New South Wales, but also claimed that the Irish had the older claim and that these were seeking grandness, ritualism and even drew implications to the Papal Knights of Malta, and lastly that the Scottish Black was illegal having begun under one person, not seven.
On Saturday July 23 1870, John McDowell replied that he sought and still awaited a meeting with the Irish Black, and would show the falsity of statements made against the Scottish.
On Saturday 30 July 1870, John McDowell made a full reply, claiming that Orangism began in England in 1686, that Samuel Robinson opened a Preceptory in Glasgow No. 24 having received a warrant from Dublin, that in 1830, all of the Irish Black movement was revoked, and new Black organisations were founded in Ireland in 1832 as issued from Scotland, and it was in 1847 that several then in Armagh reformed the Irish Chapter. McDowell says that he was an official in Glasgow, and resolved to go to Australia in 1864. He was given a warrant by the Scottish to found the work in Australia, and upon arriving first associated with the Irish Black already at Sydney and then began his own work.
On Saturday 27 January 1872, letters from the Scotland Grand Encampment were published supporting the work there, and directing all to come under the authority of them.
On Saturday 18 August 1874, the Irish met and stated that they could not join with the Knights of Malta under the New South Wales Constitution because it would mean severing all their connections.
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In the 1870s, the Australian Protestant Standard listed multiple Royal Black Preceptories, and multiple “Royal Black Encampments of [the] Knights of Malta” under their own New South Wales Constitution, while in Queensland, the meeting “Under Warrant from the Grand Lodge of the Universe” (i.e. Glasgow).
The Scottish persisted and then dwindled in the next few years, to just the No. 4, which, on about the 1 March 1884, reverted to calling itself No. 4 “Shining Light”, “Under the Imperial Parent Black Encampment of the Universe”, no longer an independant New South Wales Constitution.
In 1887, the movement dwindled, and on 28 January 1888, the Irish Black noted that the conflict was over, and proclaimed that William Johnson (of the Irish Black) was the “Imperial Grand Master of Universe”. The article indicated that basically the Scottish had been absorbed into the Irish.
In summary, T. H. Gilmour wrote in 1903, “At a meeting of Grand Council, held on the 15th October, 1868, a letter was read from Bro. M’Dowell, of Sydney, Australia, intimating that Warrant No. 60, which he had taken out, was working well, requesting to know the Grand Lodge charges for the same, and also requesting twelve paper and twelve parchment certificates. On the motion of Sir Henry M’Neil the Council resolved to renounce the Warrant fee. Instructions were given to send the certificate requested, also Bro. M’Dowell’s own certificate, it being in Grand Lodge. The secretary was also instructed to send out two Warrant forms to Bro. M’Dowell, also a document empowering him to form a District Encampment, when he thought the interests of the Order required it. In the annual report for 1870-71 we have the first report of the Provincial Grand Priory of Sydney, with four Encampments working. Unfortunately their existence was of short duration. We find them regularly reported up till 1884. In the Grand Recorder’s report, 11th June, 1887, we have the following:— ‘I regret to inform you that repeated efforts to keep alive the connection with the Order in New South Wales have been unavailing, as no answer has been received to several communications transmitted to that part of the Universe.’”
Royal Knights of Malta in New South Wales
Preceptory has an authentic Protestant tradition. Besides the fact that various Protestant Orders of St John exist, is the article quoted in full from The Protestant Standard (Sydney), 6 November 1869.
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ROYAL KNIGHTS OF MALTA IN NEW SOUTH WALES
(communicated)
The second Encampment, of the above order in New South Wales was duly inaugurated in the Chippendale Wesleyan School-room, on Monday evening, November 1, 1869, by Sir Knight Commander John McDowall. It is now about two years since Bro. McDowall opened the first Encampment in Sydney under a warrant brought by him from the Grand Master of the Royal Black Chapter of Scotland, and is less than twelve months from its inauguration it has numbered more than fifty members; since which time there has been such an increase as to make it desirable to draw another warrant for another Encampment. This being done in legal form by Bro. W. C. Wearne, Deputy Commander of the first, the warrant was granted to him, and now, in Redfern, the new Encampment bids fair soon to equal No. 1 in point of numbers, there being twelve candidates on the list for initiation on the first night of meeting.
It may not be out of place here to give a short account of the order in Scotland, not that it is needed by our friends, but as our enemies — i.e., enemies that should be friends — tell us that our origin was popish, and that we have no claim in Scotland to the ancient Order of Malta; for their sakes, and that our brethren throughout Australia may be able to refute such statements, I now submit for their perusal the following brief and concise history of the Black Order in Scotland, and assure my brethren that the sacred deposit has been handed down by a connected chain of unimpeachable men, to the present time.
In the year A.D. 1120, King David of Scotland founded St Johns Preceptory in Linlithgowshire, and its repute became so great that, in 1463, the honour of ordination was conferred on Sir William Knolls, by the Grand Master at Rhodes. During fifty-one years he governed, and, in old age, died in the battle of Flodden Field, along with King James IV. Sir George Dundass was appointed his successor; and after him, Sir W. Lindsay. After the latter’s death, the government of the order devolved upon that good and great Reformer, Sir James Sandilands.
He was installed in 1538. History tells us that in early life he attached himself to the reformed views; and, throughout, protected their preachers and professors, abandoned popery, and was excommunicated by the Pope. It does not appear that the knights and members of the order were displeased at this change of religion, as they joined or coincided with his views. The new religion, as it was termed, gained ground so rapidly, that in 1560 an Act was passed, declaring that no subject should submit to acknowledge the authority of the Pope and the Crown alone monopolised the right of presenting and appointing preceptors and grand masters; and Sir James Sandilands was continued in his office afterwards, and we find him frequently sent to represent his monarch in foreign States.
After John Knox had returned to Scotland, he resided with Sir James, who was better known then as Lord St John, because he was chief in Scotland of the Order of Military Knights. The Knight was now venerable for his grey hair as well as for his valour, sagacity, and morals. He had long been a friend to the reformed cause, and had contributed greatly to its preservation in Scotland. In 1548 he had presented to the parsonage of Calder, John Spottiswood, afterwards the reformed superintendent of Lothian, who had imbibed the Protestant doctrines from Archbishop Cranmer in England, and who instilled them into the minds of his parishioners, and the nobility and gentry that frequented the house of his patron. Among these were Archibald, Lord Lork, Earl of Argyle, a most zealous reformer; John, Lord Erskine, who commanded the fortress of Edinburgh Castle during the wars between the Regent and Protestants. He afterwards became Earl of Mar, and died Regent of Scotland. James, Lord Stewart; also Regent during the minority, of James VI, and prior of St Andrew’s.
The first Protestant Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, in Scotland, after the Reformation, was administered in Sir James Sandilands’ house, in 1558. The barons formally petitioned the Regent. Their petition was presented by Sir James, in the palace of Holyrood, in presence of a great number of nobility and bishops; it contained five requests — 1st, To obtain liberty to read the Scriptures. 2nd, That any difficulty in reading the same might be cleared up by the most godly in the land. 3rd, That the Holy Sacrament of Baptism may he used in the vulgar tongue. 4th, That the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper be administered in the vulgar tongue. 5th, That the flagrant and insufferable abuses which prevailed in the Church of Rome should he corrected; and the violence of the clergy restrained.
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In consequence of the Treaty of Edinburgh, as well as by the ordinary forms of business, it became necessary to lay the proceedings of Parliament before the King and Queen. For this purpose, Sir James Sandilands Lord St John was appointed to repair to France.
Where is there any popery there?
The Order of the Knights of Malta is based upon the Bible. It is true we have lost to a great extent our military character, as the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual.
I ask the readers of the above truthful statements, in what part will they find popery or popish principles? They may rest assured that the slander is too flagrant to he believed by any one who knows anything of the principles of the order.
It is one of the many associations which appeal to the law and the testimony which proclaim and maintain Jesus to be the alone Saviour of mankind, — which ignore and discountenance the doctrines of the Romish Church. This order has the Bible for its chart, and the principles of Protestantism, which are of the Bible, as its principles. It will defend the Bible, and support and maintain the British law to its utmost power.
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BELOW: G. W. Welsh from the American Knights of Malta, headquartered in York, PA, USA, and their logo as used in the 1920s.
Royal Black Knights of New South Wales
An article describing the degrees and positions as quoted in full from The Protestant Standard (Sydney), 22 August 1874.
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ROYAL BLACK KNIGHTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES
(Holding authority from the Imperial Parent Grand Black of the Universe, Scotland)
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Sir Knight Companion John McDowell having received commission from the Grand Commander, J. U. C. Merryweather, Esq., M. R. C. S., to open a new encampment at the Manning River to be called No. 11 Diamond Royal Black Knights, proceeded by the steamer on the 27th July, and on the 29th instant duly opened the new Encampment. Twenty-seven candidates being in attendance, all of whom received the degrees of the Royal Black and Scarlet, and on the following night they were further advanced to the degree of Royal Mark or Sublime Architect. On the subsequent evening, the offers received the following degrees: — Blue, Royal Blue or Master Builder, Knight of Israel, Gold or Princely Order, Green and Apron, and lastly that sublime degree of the Knight of Malta — the acme of a Royal Black Knight.
The following are the office-bearers: — Francis Dimond, S.K.C.; James Cox, D.K.C., George McCartney, C. G.; Charles Gordon, Rec.; Francis Longworth, Tres.; Henry Lyndon, Chaplain; Albert Watson, S. W.; Malcolm McDonald, J. W.; John Galloway, Foreman of Committee, all of whom were installed by Sir Knight Commander, McDowell, and ably instructed in their various duties.
They have proposed for their next monthly meeting ten candidates. Brother McDowell was commissioned to procure the necessary paraphernalia for the proper working of the degrees.
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BELOW: W. G. Ingram, leader of the Black Knights of Malta in Scotland at the turn of the 20th century.
The Royal Black Association
An article showing the view of the Black in the The Protestant Standard (Sydney), 28 January 1888. The inference is that the Black Knights of Malta were absorbed with the Irish Black, as based on similar arrangements having been made in Ireland (and Canada).
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THE ROYAL BLACK ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
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(By J. T. Caswell, Past Provincial Grand Master.)
This Institution has been in active working order in New South Wales for many years. For some time its progress was slow for various reasons. The scarcity of population in the country districts, the extra amount of ability required for the working of its Preceptories, its great distance from its centre, Ireland, and until lately the length of time it took to receive or forward any intelligence from the Mother country; and greatest of all the number of degrees (11), the whole of the detail of lectures, &c., &c., having to be learned orally, no part of its working with the exception of the by-laws being printed, necessitated a great deal of labour to those interested in the order. Now thanks to the greater facilities for travelling, and the influx of population, officers are enabled to diffuse their knowledge with greater ease, and as a consequence the order has advanced very considerably of late. Its main object, being the instruction of its members and the advancement of their brethren, it is evident that as time advances this Institution must also succeed in like proportion. Its members have been among the most industrious workers of the Loyal Orange Institution, as lecturers, officers, and detail supporters of their various lodges and have numbered in their ranks many distinguished Orangemen. Among these are late Sir Knight McMillan to whom the warrant to hold a Provincial Grand Chapter was granted. Sir Knight S. S. Goold, late Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Orange Institution of New South Wales, with other enthusiastic members.
The present Imperial Grand Master, of the Universe, Sir William Johnston of Ballykilbeg, is a tower of strength to the Protestant cause in Ireland. Politicians are well acquainted with the character of this Sir Knight as a member of the Imperial Parliament for Belfast.
The Preceptories and members of this Association circle the globe and can be found in the wilderness as well as the city. Wheresoever you go you are confronted by a Sir Knight of the Camp of Israel.
The Association has had various vicissitudes in its history, notably its conflict with the Knights of Malta over happily for ever, and peace reigns. The order in New South Wales has now assumed such proportions that the Grand Chapter of Ireland has created the Past Grand Master a Deputy Grand Master of Ireland, a high distinction.
There are some 35 warrants working in New South Wales and several more have been applied for; with a roll of about 1000 members. One Preceptory in this colony taking the lead with 179 members. The Hunter River district is now connected from Newcastle along the Northern line by Preceptories that will soon reach Brisbane, so that in a very short time the colonies will he encircled. We invite the attention of all Royal Arch Purplemen to our Society as a means of advancement in the upward path.
It may be as well to add that the organisation is quite distinct from the Orange Institution; but it only accepts as members those who have taken the 2nd degree in the Orange Institution, and in case of expulsion or suspension of members by the Orange Institution the Royal Black Association deals similarly with those members. The two associations therefore though perfectly distinct in their government and working, are fraternally united. One is the compliment of the other.
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BELOW: William Johnston, long time leader of the Black in Ireland.
The Royal Black jubilee
On 29 September 1921, an article appeared in The Watchman (Sydney), giving the flawed Irish view of the history of the Royal Black. Evidently, they had no proper record of their organisation from before 1871 in New South Wales.
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A SKETCH OF THE ASSOCIATION’S HISTORY
In the course of his address at the Jubilee dinner of the Royal Black Association, Sir Knight Ridgway, Grand Registrar, gave an interesting statistical sketch of the Institution. We were compelled to crowd it out of the report in last issue, but publish the main features now. Mr Ridgway, in the course of his speech, said—
We meet tonight, not as Orangemen, but as Royal Black Knights, and some person may naturally ask “What is the difference?” It is hard sometimes for an outsider to find out, but it was once said that a Rechabite was a better Rechabite if he was a Good Templar, and vice versa. Applying this to our own case, we might say that an Orangeman is a better Orangeman if he is also a Black Knight.
I have been endeavouring to find out what was the origin of the Black Association. We read about Sir Knights who existed about 1000 years ago. All through the dark ages we read of them, but with these Knights we have nothing to do; we have nothing in common with them. As a rule those Knights were Roman Catholics. Our Association, is, and always has been, an ultra-Protestant one, an Orange Association, had its inception in Orangeism, and has existed side by side with Orangeism ever since it was started.
From what I have been able to gather from many sources its origin was this: In the Orange Institution somewhere about ninety years ago, there were a goodly number of degrees given, many more than at present. These were nice ceremonies, and had beautiful groundwork; but the Grand Lodge of Ireland said that these degrees were not to be given in the Orange Lodges. This was after the inquiry into the workings of the Orange Institution by a Royal Commission of the British House of Commons in about the year 1830. There were many members who thought so much of these degrees and ceremonies that they considered it a pity to allow them to fall into oblivion, and they banded themselves together to still confer these degrees. The result was that after years had passed away, and one band was working these degrees in one place and another band in another place, and so on, all these bands working these degrees were brought together, and the Grand Black Chapter of Ireland was formed.
From another authoritative source I learn that the Black Association existed in Ireland from the year 1793, and in the early part of the 19th century numerous Preceptories were working in various parts of Ulster, but they lacked coherence, and as time rolled on they lapsed through want of a governing body, or were overshadowed, as it were, by the mightiness and importance of the Orange Institution. About the year 1840 the Black Knights had almost ceased to exist outside the Counties of Down, Antrim, and Tyrone. In 1849 Sir Knight William Johnston, had a conference with the leading Black Knights, and the result was the formation of the Grand Black Chapter of Ireland, under which the Association has so prospered till it has spread to all parts of the English-speaking world, and is one of the enduring monuments to the memory of “Johnston of Ballykilbeg”. (Our last number is 1066.)
He was the first Grand Master, holding that position from 1849 till his death in 1902 (53 years). He was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Sir Kt Hunt W. Chambre (who was a member of the G.B.C. of Ireland for over 60 years), till his death in 1914, and the position has since been filled by the present occupier, Sir Kt W. H. Lyons. You will no doubt be surprised to learn that our Sovereign Grand Master has been totally blind for a long number of years, yet he never fails to be in his place, whether the meeting is held in England, Scotland, or (as Sir Kt Oliver Paul puts it) in God-forsaken Ireland.
So you see our illustrious Association is not of great antiquity, and there has only been three Grand Masters. But its principles will live and endure for ever. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
PROVINCIAL GRAND BLACK CHAPTER OF NEW SOUTH WALES
The earliest record I can find is contained in the report of the Grand Black Chapter of Ireland for 1871. It there states that a resolution was carried — “That a Provincial G. Chapter Warrant be granted to New South Wales, with power to issue Dispensations, to hold Preceptories for the period of six months, in order to give time to get Warrants from Ireland, and that all other matters connected therewith be referred to the Committee on Canada, who hall have full power to deal with them.” The Dispensation to open the Prov. G. Chapter was issued in 1871, and the same was opened in September, 1871.
In the same report the resignation of Joseph Smallwood, of No. 70, was confirmed; and William Coulter and Thomas Spencer, of No. 146, were expelled for joining the Knights of Malta; and Frederick Mason, of the same Preceptory, was expelled for eloping with the wife of another man.
The first Provincial Grand Officers were:—Grand Master, Hugh McMillan; D.G. Master, James Pearson; G. Chaplain, Rev. William Burnett; G. Registrar, Alexander M. C. Scott; G. Treasurer, Frederick M. Harvie; G. Lecturer, James McCoy; D.G. Lecturer, William Ritchie; G. Censors, David Price and John Steel; G. Pur., James Earngey.
There were only two Preceptories in the formation of the Chapter, Nos. 146 and 70. No. 146 was opened on April 20th, 1864, and No. 70 on October 8th, 1870, and they are both (like Johnny Walker) still going strong.
We had early representation on the G.B.C. of Ireland, for in 1876 William Mason and Stephen Styles Goold, of No. 146, and James Roby (Grand Registrar), of No. 339, Balmain, were appointed as members of the Grand Committee. In 1876 permission was given for a certain Preceptory, of which some of you have heard, to be called “Moutray.” This Sir Kt was at that time Grand Chaplain, but for a good number of years afterwards was Grand Registrar.
In 1876 there were 23 Preceptories under the jurisdiction of this Prov. G. Chapter, 14 of which sent in returns as follows:— 70, Sydney; 146, Sydney; 228, Woolloomooloo (you should see how that word is spelt in the report); 317, Mudgee; 318, Hill End; 329, Geelong, Victoria (then under N.S. Wales); 339, Balmain; 340, Kiama; 349, Sydney; 350, Newcastle; 364, Burrawang; 366, Coldstream; 371, Goulburn; 372, Queanbeyan; 373, Bulli; 374, Newcastle; with a total membership of 418. The Preceptories that were marked “No returns” were — 289, Tambaroora; 290, Wollongong; 306, Bathurst; 337, Cobbity; 339, Balmain; 365, Wagga Wagga; and 378, at West Maitland. No. 146 was premier that year with 64 members; 228 (Woolloomooloo) with 60; 70 with 51; and 349 with 33.
In 1877 there were 25 Preceptories, 13 only sending in returns. No. 70 was premier with 59 members. (I do not wish to weary you with statistics, but I thought these would interest you.) In 1880 a Prov. G; Chapter Warrant was granted for Victoria to A. C. Ramsay, District Master, with, four Preceptories. No returns were sent in that year from N.S. Wales, though we had 25 Preceptories.
In 1882 a Prov. Warrant was granted to Queensland, with four Preceptories. In 1886 No. 146 had 107 members; 349 had 146; and 371, at Goulburn, 99. (Randall has it as 102.) In 1889 I find that Sir Kt J. R. M. Cooper was Grand Lecturer (he has been in harness ever since); and the late Rev. Dill Macky was D.G. Chaplain. In 1892 No. 70 had 88 members; 146 had 106; and 349, 222. The highest number outside the Metropolitan area was No. 306, at Bathurst, with 36.
Now this brings us down to comparatively modern times, and there is no need to give any further numbers. In all we have had 26 Grand Masters, so that there has been no monopoly during the 50 years. Of these, 11 are still living, and 8, including the present Grand Master, are still in active work. Sir Kt Oliver Paul is a full Deputy Grand Master of Ireland.
We commenced this year with 57 Preceptories (5 of which were inoperative), with a membership of 2375, being an increase of 248 on the previous year. Now ones have been opened at Thirroul, Murwillumbah, Werris Creek, Cootamundra, Campsie, and Casino, all of which are in good going order. Steps are being taken to open others at Hornsby (next Saturday, the 24th), Lidcombe, Guildford, and Macksville, all of which will probably eventuate this year. Up to date I have received this year 536 propositions for membership. We now have 56 active working Preceptories and 4 dormant Warrants.
It is pleasing to note that after 50 years of existence the fraternal and harmonious unity that is so characteristic of our Association has been maintained under all circumstances, in sunlight or shadow, in fair weather or foul, in city and country, the result surely of the requirements and teachings of our Association. The influence of Black Knights has been felt in our Orange Institution in days gone by to its great advantage. The founder of the Orange Institution in N.S. Wales — Andrew Alexander — was a Black Knight, and through years of obscurity, trial, and danger, the Black Association was the mainstay that kept the Orange Institution in existence.
Nearly the whole of the first hundred Orange Lodges were opened directly or indirectly through the exertions of Sir Knights, and many of the other States owe much of the vitality they possess to Sir Knights from New South Wales. Are we not justified, then, in our boast that the “Black Men” are the cream of the Orange Institution? If not, they should be.
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BELOW: Sir Kt Andrew Alexander, founder of the Orange Order in NSW.
A unique Royal Black Preceptory gathering
On 21 August 1924, an article appeared in The Watchman (Sydney), giving some account of the Black in Victoria, though not extending back to before the 1880s.
FORTY YEARS A MEMBER
The Sir Knights who received invitations to attend the meeting of the Sir William Johnston G.B. Preceptory at the Protestant Hall, Melbourne, on Monday evening, August 11, cannot fail to regard it as a red letter event in the history of that Preceptory. The Grand Registrar (Sir Kt Alex. G. C. Ramsay, Hon. D.G.M.I.) is a foundation member of the Sir William Johnston R.B.P., which came into existence 40 years ago, and Sir Kt Ramsay issued invitations to several Sir Knights to join in celebrating the fortieth anniversary. There was an excellent response, and it was pleasing to notice the large attendance. The W.M. (Sir Kt J. Gartner) presided. During the course of the meeting it was notified that the Grand Black Chapter of British America at its golden jubilee session on July 24 at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, had conferred the honour of Hon. D.G.M. upon Sir Knight Walter Bradshaw, Prov. Grand Master of Victoria, and had also sent him and the Grand Registrar (Sir Knight Ramsay) gold souvenir triangles bearing the letters G.B.C.B.A., the date 1924 in the apex, and with suitable colours and ribbons.
After the business of the Preceptory was finished, the meeting assumed a social form. The toast of “The King” having been drunk, the W.M. called upon the first registrar to give a history of the Sir William Johnston Preceptory, No. 470. Sir Kt Ramsay, on rising, was heartily received. In a delightfully reminiscent address, he traced the early history of the Preceptory. He said that the Loyal Diamond Orange Lodge, which was opened in 1880, had in 1884 so grown and contained such a number of R.A.P. brethren, anxious to advance, that a petition was forwarded to the Provincial Black Chapter of Victoria, of which his father (Sir Alex C. Ramsay) was Grand Master, to grant a warrant for the opening of a R.B.P. at Hotham (now called North Melbourne).
When the petition was acceded to, it was decided to call the preceptory after the Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Black Chapter (Sir William Johnston), who was well known in Ireland for his fearlessness in the cause of Orangeism. The Preceptory was inaugurated on April 25, 1884. The foundation knights were Sir A. C. Ramsay, Prov. G.M.; Sir S. W. Ramsay, D.G. Reg.; Sir Alex Ramsay (then known as junior), and Sir W. Waite, all of whom were members of R.B.P. No. 87.
He (Sir Alex Ramsay, Jr.) was appointed the first registrar, and during the 40 years that had elapsed, he had been a regular attendant at the meetings. Although the place of meeting was named at Hotham, it was decided in March, 1880, to meet in the Protestant Hall, Melbourne, and for the past 38 years the Preceptory had regularly met there. The reason given for the change was that no suitable room was available at Hotham. In addition to the regular meetings, a special degree meeting was held once a month. On October 5, 1886, his father attended for the last time, and in May, 1887, he was called to the Great Grand Lodge. The only meeting of the Preceptory which had lapsed was in November, 1880, when the late Sir Simon Fraser, Sir J. B. Patterson and Judge Hamilton were raised in the R.A.P. at St Kilda Lodge, and the Sir Knights attended there to witness the ceremony.
The present prosperity of the Sir William Johnston Preceptory was an evidence that its foundation had been well and truly laid. A superstructure had been raised which today is a credit to the pioneers, and a bulwark of sturdy Protestantism, and long may it continue. (Applause.)
Sir Kt W. McKnight, who was D.G.K.M. when the Sir William Johnston Preceptory was opened, proposed the next toast — “The First Registrar of Preceptory 470.” He said that he had had the privilege of being associated in Preceptory work with the father and grandfather of Sir Kt Alex G. C. Ramsay, who was the first Registrar of Preceptory 470. When he (the speaker) had received his degrees, it was in a place off Collins Street, as the Protestant Hall was not opened for that purpose until 1882, but now things were very different, and there was every convenience to work harmoniously and well. In all his acquaintanceship with the Ramsay family, he felt honoured, and no better family could be found. He was pleased to be present to propose the toast of the Grand Registrar. (Applause.)
The toast was received with musical honours, and then Sir Kt W. G. White related humorous incidents in regard to a visit to Ireland. The W.M. proposed “The Prov. Grand Master and his Officers.”
Sir Kt Bradshaw, G.M., said that it afforded him much pleasure to be present at the fortieth anniversary of Sir Kt Ramsay as Registrar of the Sir William Johnston Preceptory. In the course of his remarks, the Prov. G.M. referred to the disaster at the Wonthaggi Mine, and hoped that nothing would happen to any of the members of the Preceptory there, many of whom were engaged at the mine.
At this point Sir Kt Ramsay sang a song appropriate to the occasion, and the rousing chorus was much appreciated.
Sir Kt W. H. Badford, P. Prov. G.M., was pleased to be present on such an auspicious occasion. Sir Kt Ramsay had just proved to be the possessor of a good voice, and he had never been afraid to speak out in the cause which was dear to his heart. He regretted that he was not able to attend that Preceptory, as on the second Monday of each month he was engaged arranging matters in connection with his Orange lodge. It was pleasing to see Sir Kts Ramsay and McKnight looking so well, and to notice that for 40 years they had been closely associated. Whenever Sir Kt Ramsay conducted a Preceptory, there was a distinctive atmosphere about the way in which everything was carried on. Decorum and precision were supreme, and these qualities were always required at the meetings of every Preceptory. It was not what a man took out of anything that benefited him, but what he put in, and Sir Kt. Ramsay had done much in that direction. Those who lived in Australia had not, perhaps, the experience of the old members of Preceptories in Ireland; but they knew what Orangeism and Black Knighthood meant, and they had come to realise what their forefathers had done. If it had not been for King William the Third the English nation would have become Roman Catholic. Even in Victoria the Roman Catholics were spreading out, judging from the many places they had secured for schools and the churches they had built. He congratulated the Prov. G.M. and Sir Kt Ramsay on the honours which had been conferred upon them. No one could say that Sir Kt Ramsay was dilatory in regard to his office as Grand Registrar, and he hoped that he would long be spared. (Applause.)
Sir Kt Ramsay, in reply, related many matters of interest. He said that his entry into Orangeism was through his father, although he considered that his mother, who haled from the County Tyrone in Ulster, had something also to do with it. (Laughter.) He was initiated, on October 1, 1880, and had been an active member since. (Applause.) In giving the younger members some good advice, he referred to them always showing respect to their parents, and especially to their mother.
He related how one man went over to Tasmania ten times a year to see his mother, aged 94, and how vigorous she was at that age. That man was the seventeenth child in the family, and now had children of his own married.
He (the speaker) had lost his mother when he was 17 years of age, but her memory still continued fresh. Sir Kt Ramsay entered into many matters. He referred to the new Sovereign Grand M aster, Sir H. J. Allan Bart., M.P., in the Imperial Parliament, and in the Northern Ireland Parliament; spoke on events in connection with past meetings, and gave much pleasure to his listeners. In concluding his speech, he said that it was by the standards of each one’s character that the Great Grand Master would finally judge them, and if they had proved true to the ideals of Black Knighthood, they had nothing to fear. (Applause.)
Sir Kt Thomas proposed “The Grand Treasurer” and Sir Kt Mayberry responded. He said that he was an optimist, and felt sure that if occasion arose a spirit of militant Protestantism would arise in Australia, and that God would be on their side, they had nothing to fear from those who were against them.
The healths of visiting W.M.’s from Geelong, Mildura, Shepparton and Footscray having been drunk and responses made, the proceedings concluded with hearty thanks to Sir Kt Ramsay for his hospitality, at the instance of Sir Kts Hallam and Walters.
