Meetings of this Order are held in a Priory and presided over by a Prior.
The Priory is normally only opened either to receive new knights of the Order, or at the installation of the new Prior. This degree of Christian Knighthood recounts the history of the Knights of Malta and their long struggle against the unenlightened. It traces their progress from the time they left Jerusalem until they reached their final home on the island of Malta.
The attention of all candidates is drawn to the presence of five officers who assume the role of personal staff of the Grand Master, while the other officers represent the heads of the eight Langues or Tongues, into which the ancient Order was divided.
An explanation of the traditional history is given as the final part of the ceremony. The ritual has esoteric meaning and invites the candidate to reflect on the meaning of mystical resurrection.
PROVINCIAL MALTA MEETING
The Province of Cheshire and North Wales held its first ever Provincial Priory of Malta meeting on 31 October 2016, in the presence of the Great Sub Prior of Malta, Eminent Knight Steven John Warwick.
The Province has not previously held a separate meeting for the conferment of Provincial Malta rank.
A total of 84 knights were in attendance to witness the Installation of Knight Michael Leese (Provincial Grand Secretary of the Craft Province of Cheshire) as a Knight of Malta by the Provincial Sub Prior, Em. Kt. Alan Pierce . The Great Sub Prior undertook the Accolade and the Provincial Prior, Rt. Em. Kt. Dr. Anthony Mathie delivered the Address.
Knights appointed to Temple rank in June 2016 were invested with their Malta rank by the Provincial Prior during the conferring of the Degree of Knight of St. Paul on Kt. Leese.
A most convivial Festive Board concluded the proceedings when the Great Sub Prior was presented with a bottle of Welsh whisky to commemorate his visit.
