Grand Commandery "Order Of Knight Of The Red Cross" Ritual Book

Item Details

A 1853 Knights Templar Order Of Knight of the Red Cross Masonic ritual book from the Grand Commandery of Kentucky. Awarded to Lorenzo D. Croninger (1827 – 1898). This special book has a red leather cover with L.D. Croninger embossed in gold. Croninger was a Masonic leader during the late 1800’s. He served in the Knights Templar for over 45 years, most notably as Grand Recorder of the High Priesthood of the State of Kentucky. Croninger became a Mason in 1848 at age 21 in the Covington Lodge 109. He quickly earned his Master Mason degrees, his Capitular degrees and became a Royal and Select Master in May 1851. In 1853, at the age of 26, he was awarded the Order of Knighthood and Order of the Red Cross for the Knights Templar in the Covington Commandery #7 where he would have received this code of rituals manual for the Knights Templar. Ironically, since he worked in the printing industry for the Masonic orders, he would also have been the publisher and printer of this booklet. He was elected Grand Recorder of High Priesthood for the Kentucky State Commandry in 1874 and served in that capacity until his death in 1898. For eight years Croninger also held the office of Chief Engineer of the old Covington Fire Department and was an elected councilman to the first ward of the Covington city council.

Dimensions

Item #

15CIN104-002