Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp
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H E L L O !
Don Jose de La Mancha
Don Jose de La Mancha
Walker Colt said:Picture is definitely Masonic KT. The KGC had nothing to do with Freemasonry. We have a pretty good list of known KGC members from the Texas Castles that were taken from Newspaper accounts and such. Very few are listed in the Returns located at the Grand Lodge of Texas.
Texas Jay, The KGC were very active in Texas before the war with numerous accounts of them in the newspapers. As far as the list is concerned I believe it will be shown in Keehn's follow up to his article "The Strong Arm of Secession". If not I will ask him if I can post the information for you. I have been researching the ritual of the KGC and their masonic ties.
As far as post war KGC activities I have yet to be convinced of their existence. I believe the KGC died with Bickley in 1867. In 1865 Bickley denied any ties to the Order of American Knights and the Sons of Liberty.
Membership in the KGC was not part of what they kept secret as Bickley told them he wanted them to wear the emblems of the Order not unlike we in the masonic fraternity wear rings with our square and compasses emblem. The secrets they kept are mentioned in the Obligations they swore to and ritual in the 3 degrees IH, TF, and KCS.
Walker Colt said:The picture is American Masonic KT. You can buy a Templar uniform at http://www.lafsco.com/knighttemplar.html or at http://newlondonregalia.com/shop/categories/Knight-Templar/.
Every country and state has varying regulations on uniforms and swords.
prospector40 said:WOW!! After reading all that I guess I was wrong. I was thinking that the dude in the middle was someone I saw on Saturday Night Live back in the 80s.
Rebel - KGC said:Gary, you have a VERY nice KGC web-site... the OLD KGC ritual of the FIRST degree, ( I thought I had the SECOND), is that of the MILITARY degree from the Castroville, TX
Castle/Lodge... which ANYONE can get by "googling" MILITARY DEGREE - KGC CASTROVILLE CASTLE. It would be NEAT, if ppl could find KGC Regalia in Castroville, TX area "old & new shops",
antiques shops, estate sales (family history "hand-me-downs"). Where you at?
SWR said:Seriously....the uniforms are of the Masonic York Rite Knights Templar, not KGC:
Real de Tayopa said:OK Gentlemen: You now have my curiosity aroused. I have a Ceremonial Sword that has been in the family from the 1800's It has FCB on the reverse of the hilt, "Fraternal order of Pythias". Any connection with the KGC? I have found none?
I also have a contract sabre from Germany, straight blade, that was used by the southern Cavalry. It originally had a man's initials and unit lightly cut in the brass hilt with a knife. Unfortunately my son, wanting to keep it in a like new condition, vigorously polished and cleaned out the "useless scratchings" , sigh.
Don Jose de La Mancha