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Heroines of the
Templar Crusades
The Order of the Heroines Templar Crusades was founded to commemorate
the history and traditions of the Women of the Crusades, and the contribution
they made to this cause, and to perpetuate and foster the high and Noble
qualities of unparalleled valor and heroism.
It can’t be said that all warriors were men, for it is certain that
part of these soldiers in the second Panim War were
women. These women were led by Eleanor
of Aquitaine, of Guinne,
France.
Eleanor was the descendant of William I, the Conqueror,
King of England, and the Sanford Family.
She was the daughter and heiress of William X, Duke of Aquitaine and
her mother Aenor de Chatellerault,
was the daughter of Aimeric I, Vicomte
of Chatellerault.
She was the oldest of three children.
Eleanor, at age 15, married Louis VII of France, 1137,
shortly before his accession to the throne.
They had two daughters, and in 1152 their marriage was annulled. Soon afterwards, she married Henry, Duke of
Normandy, who in 1154 became Henry II of England. They had three daughters and five
sons. Eleanor was well known for her
involvement of the Second Crusades in the years 1147 – 1149. Eleanor assisted in organizing women to
assist in the Crusades. Other women in
different lands of the Crusades were known as the Daughters of Tsion (Zion). All women throughout the lands assisted the
Knights Templar in their quest to preserve the Christian Religion. These women, when they saw the Saracens
taking the Cross of Christ, spitting on it, and trampling it under their
feet, rushed into battle, taking the swords of the dead Templars,
and continued the fight until they won the war. The Order of the Templar Crusade was
established to protect Pilgrims on their way to the Sacred
Temple and places of the Holy Land. From
the very beginning, the Templars were a Military
Order.
In 1914, in the City of Marshall Missouri, at the 30th Annual Grand
Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar, Eminent Sir Willis G.
Mosley, Right Eminent Grand Commander, recommended that an organization of an
auxiliary among the ladies of Knights Templar be instituted. The recommendation was approved. Eminent Sir Milton J. Fields, Past Grand
Commander, was assigned to form the auxiliary. After finding the history and connection to
the Knights Templar, he named them Heroines of Templar Crusades, as they
played a very important part during the Crusades against the Infidels.
In 1917, in the City of St. Louis, Missouri, the First
Guild of the Heroines of Templar Crusades was formed by Sir Knight Milton J.
Fields. Princess Celia Johnson was
Princess Captain, Princess Fannie G. W. McDonald was
given full authority to organize Guilds.
After forming three Guilds under the resolution granted, it was
necessary that a Grand Guild be formed, no later than December 3, 1918. The three Guilds met September 25, 1918, Princess Fannie McDonald was elected Grand Princess
Captain. She started to organize
Guilds in other Jurisdictions.
In 1919, Princess McDonald set up Guilds in Illinois, California, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania Kentucky and District of Columbia. Three Guilds were formed in Illinois. On August 13, 1919, they were called
together, and a Grand Guild was organized in the City of Peoria, by Sir Knight Albert R. Lee, Right
Eminent Grand Commander. Princess
Hattie A. Woolridge was the first Most Noble Grand
Princess Captain. She served 2
years.
Prince Hall Grand Guild became an Auxiliary to Prince Hall
Grand Commandery by Adoption on August 13, 1919, by Eminent Sir Andrew A.
Henderson, Past Right Eminent Grand Commander. Prince Hall Grand Guild’s first Conclave
was held on Tuesday, November 11, 1919, in the city of Champaign,
Illinois. On this date, Prince Hall Grand Guild’s
constitution and by-laws were approved by Prince Hall Grand Commandery. The Committee to organize Grand Guild,
consisted of Eminent Sir Albert R. Lee, Right Eminent Grand Commander,
Eminent Sir Andrew A. Henderson, Past Right Eminent Grand Commander, Eminent
Sir S. Joe Brown, Past Right Eminent Grand Commander, Pr. Levetta
Calhoun, Most Noble Grand Princess Captain, Sir Knight Otis Simmons, Sir
Knight Grand Royal Advisor, Pr. Hattie Woolridge
and Pr. Kathryn Pope.
On August 25, 1920, Grand Princess Fannie McDonald called
a meeting of Representatives from all Guilds to meet in Cincinnati, Ohio,
to form the International Grand Guild.
The first from Illinois
was Princess Lottie Murphy, International Grand Princess Captain,
Sir Knight William H. Jones was International Grand Royal Advisor. Others who have served from Illinois as
International Grand Princess Captains were Princess Mildred R. Barnes and
Princess Sadie B. Owen. Sir Knight John A. Lewis served as International
Grand Royal Advisor. The first state wide contest for the International Grand
Guilds was held during Princess Sadie B. Owen’s
administration and our First Queen was Princess Alma L. Stewart, Past Most
Noble Grand Princess Captain. Our
first Scholarship Program was started under the administration of Princess Norene G. Huntley, Past Most Noble Grand Princess
Captain. We have made wonderful
progress with the help of our Father in Heaven.
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