Important milestones for the SMOTJ (registered in Switzerland under its formal Latin name, abbreviated as OSMTH) since 1960 include 1) opening the Order to all Christian faiths, 2) the recognition and incorporation of the American Grand Priory, 3) the growing number of grand priories disenchanted with Sousa Fontes’ self-serving administration, and 4) the decision, finally, in 1995 to replace that family’s leadership with a Grand Council of Grand Priors. The Grand Council ultimately designated British Major General Sir Roy Redgrave, M.B.E., as Interim Grand Master in 1998. The most recent major milestone was the Order’s recognition by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in 1999. Today, the Order includes over 5,000 members from 40 nations, and its leaders both hail from the American Grand Priory: Grand Master Rear Admiral Sir James Carey, and Grand Chancellor Brigadier General Sir Patrick Rea. The organization and its numerous humanitarian and diplomatic activities are described in detail on its website: http://www.osmth.org/

The American Grand Priory

The Grand Priory of the United States of America is one of the Order’s thirteen national grand priories, tracing its roots to the American members of the Grand Priory of Switzerland in the late 1950’s. In 1962, the Swiss Grand Prior and these members established the new Grand Priory as an independent, non-profit corporation in New Jersey. Its first Grand Prior was Crolian W. Edelen, and its first Royal Patron was Peter II of Yugoslavia. Since then, the Grand Priory has grown to a membership of over 2900, based in 30 local priories and commanderies in major cities across the country. Today, His Excellency Major General Robert Disney, GCTJ, GMTJ, Grand Prior, leads the organization, and HRH Princess Elisabeth of Ysenberg und Budingen, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg serves as its Royal Patron. For more information on the Grand Priory, please visit its website: http://www.smotj.org/

Appreciation is expressed for historical information provided by:
Leo Thys, KTCG, OSMTH Grand Archivist
Major Charles Andrew Wells, KCTJ
The Priory of St. Michael and St. George, New York City

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