Introduction

Rt Ill Kt Timothy John Barrett

Intendant General of the East Midlands Division

Welcome to the website of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine for the East Midlands Division.

Here you will find information regarding the Order including its history and details of the Conclaves that make up our Division.

As a Royal Arch Mason, you are now entitled to seek membership of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine. Since the establishment of Grand Imperial Conclave in 1865, the Order has steadily grown with Conclaves formed throughout the world. Why Constantine? Candidates in this Degree recognize how Christianity can be embraced by seeing how the legend of Constantine's conversion is set within Masonic ritual that is linked to the history of the Roman Empire. Constantine a Roman, was destined for the college of Emperors, but following the death of his father, he was hailed by the Legions in York as Augustus and became the Governor of Britain and Gaul. After several successful battles across the Alps and Italy, he eventually established himself as the lawful Emperor of both East and West and transferred the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium later to be named after him. He was the first Roman Emperor to openly encourage Christianity and his conversion began one evening after a long day's march with his army when, in what he believed was a sign from heaven, he and his army saw in the sky, and by the rays of the setting sun, a pillar of light in the form of a special cross. To sanctify the minds of his pagan army, he had made a standard bearing a Cross like that seen and ordered it to be carried before him in his wars. Several Christians in his army came forward and avowed their faith following which Constantine directed that they should wear on their armour a red cross. Having been successful in battle it is said that Constantine with the help of his chief bishop, Eusebius, opened a Conclave of the Knights of the Order whose members became the bodyguard of their Sovereign.