History

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The Grand Priory of the United States of America (GPUSA) or
sometimes known as the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem
(SMOTJ) was officially established when the Secretary of State of New Jersey
issued the Proclamation of the Corporate Charter under the Official Seal of
that office on June 29, 1962.  GPUSA is affiliated with the international
Templar Organization (OSMTH) and retains autonomous status.

On April 19, 1997, the Commandery became the Priory of St. Vincent

The Priory of Saint Vincent started out as a Commandery in 1994 and was elevated to a Priory on April 19th, 1997.  As St. Vincents continued to grow, there was a need to establish Preceptories to support members in certain geographic regions in South Carolina.  St Vincent has four Preceptories and still growing!

The current Preceptories are:

Preceptory of the Holy Chalice (Aiken/Augusta)

Preceptory of St. Christopher (Columbia/Midlands)

Preceptory of the Rock (Greenville-Spartanburg)

Preceptory of St. Michael the Archangel (Coastal Region)

His Excellency Chester Fairbanks Cotter, GCTJ, GMTJ, of New York and Beaufort, South Carolina proposed the name St. Vincent, based on the subject of a prized statue of his that displayed the Saint cutting a large bunch of grapes with an oversized pruning knife, reminiscent of a Roman short sword. Saint Vincent was a deacon, a martyr of the Church of Saragossa, Spain, who lived during the fourth century. He is now regarded as the patron saint and protector of winemakers.

The Priory’s two founding members