Welcome to the Priory of the Temple Church of The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, Inc. (SMOTJ). The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, Inc. is an autonomous and independent organization, incorporated in the United States, which seeks to emulate the chivalric and charitable traditions of the original Knights Templar.
In short, we are the Modern Knights Templar – an Ecumenical Christian and Chivalric charitable Order. We do not claim direct lineage to the original Knights of the Temple, but we do seek to emulate their positive attributes in our daily lives today. We have adopted two of the original Templar missions: protecting Christians at risk, particularly in the Holy Land and the Middle East; and, keeping the “road to Jerusalem” open to all peoples as our own.
Our guiding lights are the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, through which members aspire to serve faithfully as Knights of God’s Temple. The motto of the Order, “non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo da gloriam,” Psalm 115:1 (Latin), translating to “not unto us, Oh Lord, not unto us, but to Thy Name be given glory.”
The Priory of the Temple Church holds two Convents each year and conducts Investitures of new Knights and Dames at each Convent. We also host Social Events throughout the year at a variety of locations.