Qualifications for Membership
The Ancient & Illustrious Order of Knights of Malta is an international faith based fraternal order which aims to promote and protect the Protestant faith in positive practical ways guided by the Word of God.
Our basic qualifications for membership are similar to membership of Protestant churches of the Reformed faith to which we owe our recent ethos and beliefs having supported that great Scottish Reformer John Knox
“ Qualification of Candidates ”
Any person seeking admission into the Ancient and Illustrious Order of Knights of Malta or Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem must be a member or adherent of a Protestant Church; have a sincere love and veneration for the Almighty Creator; a firm and stedfast belief in the existence and functions of the Holy Trinity; in the Protestant doctrine of salvation by faith alone; and in the Holy Scriptures as the only rule of faith and practice.
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Principles of the Order
The Principles of the Order are the precepts of Protestantism put into practice. Formed in the Holy Land at the time of the Crusades to defend the Christian faith the Order at the reformation saw that it was the church itself which had become the greatest threat to the faith. Throwing their weight of arms and their influence behind the Scottish Reformer John Knox the Order sacrificed all for the Reformed faith. Our Grand Master Sir James Sandilands renounced the lands and titles associated with the Order casting off any connection with Rome and fought to fulfil that prayer of Knox – “Give me Scotland, or I die.”
Knox’s prayer was not for political power or the land of Scotland but his earnest desire was see Scotland saved to see the fire of the Reformation burn away the error and superstition of Roman Catholicism. His prayer was also a stark declaration of the reality that faced him – a life or death struggle again Catholicism and the Crown. We are proud to remember the role and the sacrifice of Sir James Sandilands and the Knights of Malta as they fought to secure the Reformation in Scotland.
Our Order was not only central to the Reformation it was reformed by it, it cast aside its titles and lands and the profile and privilege it had enjoyed as a Religious and Military Order. It however retained its Christian principles, its sense of duty and desire to practice its faith through charity, while never forgetting its role as a defender of that faith. Just as the Crusades had cradled the infant order, the Reformation shaped its adult life and today we still stand guard on the walls of Christendom against all foes.
Definition of the Order
The Order of Knights of Malta is a body of men banded together under most binding forms to comfort one another in the practice of the Christian religion; to offer mutual assistance in the time of need, to promote Protestant unity, and to defend the Protestant faith against all foes whatsoever; to ever defend civil and religious liberty: to exercise the fullest toleration and charity toward all men; to practice benevolence, and to maintain a universal Protestant fraternity.
It is neither a national, political nor sectarian association.
It is the most ancient Order in existence and is the legitimate descendant of the illustrious, religious and military Order of the Middle Ages; heir to its greatness and fully endowed with all its ancient rites and ceremonies.
It is Fraternal and its obligations bind to secrecy and mutual protection
It Is Military, but drilling and uniforming are optional.
It is a Religious Order, and welcomes all Protestants, by whatever name known who love our Lord Jesus Christ to enlist under its banner
It Is Beneficial, supporting its members and their families as well as wider charitable and community work.