STORY

The Knights Templar came to Washington State from the State of Missouri. On July 16, 2001 at the Grand Conclave of the United Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Missouri  two charters were approved which authorized two more Constituent Commanderies, which added to the one existing, that ultimately established a total of three Constituent Commanderies in Washington State.  On September 16, 2001, the three constituent commanderies met in Seattle, Washington to form a Grand Commandery of Washington State and Its Jurisdiction Knights Templar PHA.

Recognition status for the September 16, 2001, Washington Jurisdiction Grand Commandery of Knights Templar was removed by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Washington and its Jurisdiction on August 2, 2024, whereas Right Eminent Miles G. Hicks was appointed as the Most Eminent Grand Commander by Most Worshipful Grand Master Terrell D. Hicklin on January 15, 2025 (Masonic Year 2024-2025). This action constituted the re-establishment of recognition for the purpose and the formation of a new Grand Commandery of Knights Templar (Prince Hall Affiliation), in the state of Washington and its Jurisdiction by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Washington and its Jurisdiction.
On January 16, 2025, three UD charters were issued and after renaming were the following Commanderies: Headquarters Commandery No. 1, Frederick of Prussia Commandery No. 2 and Valentin Comacho Commandery No. 3 that formulated the W.E.B. Du Bois Grand Commandery, Order of Knights Templar, Washington and Jurisdiction (PHA). The Grand Charter was issued by Most Eminent Grand Commander Korlon Kilpatrick II of the James W. Moss Prince Hall Grand Commandery of Knights Templar, Jurisdiction of Indiana (PHA) to the state of Washington on April 24, 2025.

That same day, the Most Eminent Grand Commander Miles G. Hicks, KYGCH, officially granted Charters to the three original Commandery’s, now recognized as:

➢ HQ. Commandery No. 1 – Washington State
➢ Fredrick of Prussia Commandery No. 2 – Kaiserslautern, Germany
➢ Valentine Camacho Commandery No. 3 – Pyeongtaek, South Korea

On July 12, 2025, Most Eminent Grand Commander Miles G. Hicks, granted Charters to 6 additional Commandery’s:
➢ Paynes De Molay Commandery No. 4 – Tokyo, Japan
➢ Thomas Bowers Commandery No.5 – Everett, Washington
➢ St. Maurice Commandery No. 6 – Tacoma, Washington
➢ Hugues De Payens Commandery No. 7 – Doha, Kuwait
➢ Jocques De Molay Commandery No. 8 – Manama, Bahrain
➢ Joshua Commandery No. 9 – Dubai, U.A.E

On November 20, 2025, Most Eminent Grand Commander Miles G. Hicks, granted a Charter to:

➢ Shuri Valor Commandery No. 10 – Okinawa, Japan