Charity and Community Engagement
CHARITY
Knights Templar have charitable funds which regularly contribute to nominated charities. These include:
Wellington District Education Fund
Supporting the award of the Wellington Masonic District Knights Templar Award to a student at He Huarahi Tamariki School for teenage parents in Tawa.
View the latest He Huarahi 2017 T4 Newsletter here.
The Northern Foundation
The Northern Foundation is for the establishment, promotion, encouragement, benefit and assistance to the youth of the Northern District, with youth being defined as any person under the age of 25 years.
The Central Foundation
Providing for the loan of musical instruments to deserving school children.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Nelson public talks and re-enanctment
In 2015, Nelson Priory very successfully ran a series of talks in Nelson about the Knights Templar culminating in a re-enactment of an old French ritual. Over 100 people attended the demonstration, including members of the Press. Copies of the Templar Rules from circa 1130 were also made available. The event was very favourably reported in the Nelson Mail. The efforts of the Ven. Prior David Marsh were instrumental in making this event such a success. Read about it here.
Funeral attendance
Although a sad occasion, the funeral arrangements for Heaton Haglund particularly requested attendance by Crusader Priory members in full uniform. Heaton was a well-known “personality” in the Wairarapa. With the permission of the Grand Master, Heaton’s casket was carried into the church by six members of his Priory in full regalia (minus hats and swords) in fulfilment of his particular request and with the blessing of his family. Well over 500 people attended this funeral and the attendance of the Knights was favourably reported in the Wairarapa Times-Age.