NORTHERN GRAND TEMPLE
This Grand Temple is one of the oldest in the history of the Independent Order of True Templars. Indeed, it is the mother of many Grand Temples in the north of the Orange River.
The establishment of the Northern Grand Temple occurred on September 25, 1904 in Kimberley. The Right Worthy Officers who took charge were Brother Theo Scheiner as the Right Worthy Templar and Sister Kate H R Stuart as the Right Worthy Secretary. Seventeen Subordinate Temples existed at that point in time. How the 17 Sub-Temples came into being, the matter is still under research.
The First Grand True Officers were:-
| GTT | Brother H Fenwick Thompson |
| GTS | Brother J W Gordon |
| GTCo | Brother W Thompson |
| GTSJW | Sister F C Cannel |
| GTTr | Sister A Uys |
No Charter was issued although the Grand Temple was officially opened on this date, 25 September 1904.
The Grand Temple grew gradually up to a point where she registered thirty Sub-Temples and twenty Bands of Hope. The year was 1921 during which the Charter was released and signed by Bro Thomas Searle as Right Worthy Templars and Sister Kate H R Stuart as Right Worthy Secretary.
The Area of operation, that is, the jurisdiction of the Northern Grand Temple comprised all Subordinate Temples in Griqualand West, Bechuanaland (now Botswana), Orange Free State, Transvaal and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The jurisdiction covered by the Grand Temple was so cast that operational work was too difficult to manage. Growth had reached fifty-five Sub-Temples with 1592 members.
The Grand Session of 1924 held in Pretoria resolved unanimously that a division was necessary. The following year, 1925, at Bloemfontein Grand Session, the Pretoria resolution on the division was implemented, registered here was the birth of the Transvaal Grand Temple. Hard work had been done by the Grand True Executive to make the division a success. Be that as it may, more work needed to be done as the growth of God’s work could not be hindered.
As we look back, we are conscious of the fact that very little has been done and the years ahead are challenging us. The challenge is greater than before. The forces of intemperance and alcoholism are gathering momentum. This call of our JUBILLE year to all sober minded men and women is for more Recruits if we have to save the present generation from annihilation. The call is “Rise up, men of God! Forward into the battle!”
During the years 1875 – 2000 growth in templar work was tremendous and awesome. This teaches that God’s Work cannot be hampered by evil forces.
The following Grand Temples were created out of the Northern Grand Temple:
| Transvaal Grand Temple | 1925 |
| Orange Free State Grand Temple | 1928 |
| Transvaal Borders Grand Temple now called Transvaal & Swaziland Borders Temple | 1942 |
| Northern Midland Grand Temple | 1950 |
| Rhodesian Grand Temple | 1971 |
| Northern, Botswana & Zimbabwe Grand Temple | 1995 |
| Southern Gold Grand Temple | 2009 |
HAIL! NORTHERN GRAND TEMPLE! MOTHER OF SEVEN GRAND TEMPLES
The Current Grand True Executive, elected in 2019 December is:
| G.T.T | – |
| P.G.T.T | – |
| G.T.C | – |
| D.R.W.T | – |
| G.T.S | – |
| G.T.Tr | – |
| G.T.Chap | – |
| G.T.S.C.S | – |
| G.T.S.J.W | – |
| G.T.V.T | – |
| G.T.M | – |
| G.T.V.S | – |
| G.T.R.S | – |
| G.T.A.S | – |
| G.T.A.Tr | – |
| G.T.A.S.C.S | – |
| G.T.A.S.J.W | – |
| G.T.A.M | – |
| G.T.A.V.S | – |
| G.T.A.S.Y.W | – |
| G.T.Mess | – |
| G.T.I.G | – |
| G.T.O.G | – |