Following the 1823 formation of the Grand Encampment of Virginia, Winchester Encampment, Warren Encampment, and Mont Carmel Encampment were notified to apply for charters from the General Grand Encampment. Winchester Encampment No. 1 and Warren Encampment No. 2 did so and received such charters; but Mont Carmel Encampment No. 3 refused to do so and became extinct in 1824.

At a Special Assembly of the Grand Encampment on August 11, 1824, Richmond Encampment was advised of the existence of the State Grand Encampment of Virginia and was invited to join, which it did, and the complication was resolved. Thus, Richmond Encampment No. 2 became a sponsor, and the formation of the Grand Encampment of Virginia was healed.

At the General Grand Encampment Triennial XIII Session in 1856 Sir Knight William B. Hubbard (1847-1859) was elected Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment and oversaw changes in the names of the Grand Bodies and their officers. 1857 marked the movement from the name Grand Encampment to Grand Commandery for State Jurisdictions; thus, Richmond Encampment was changed to Richmond Commandery No. 2.

Sir Knight Edward H. Gill, Right Eminent Grand Commander, and member of Richmond Commandery, called a Special Assembly in Richmond on the morning of February 22, 1858. After drilling and inspecting the Grand Commandery in due form, the Sir Knights were informed that the Assembly was called for the purpose of acting as a mounted escort to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Virginia on the occasion of the inauguration of the Equestrian Statue of George Washington.
The Grand Commandery proceeded to the residence R. E. Sir Gill and Lady Gill presented the Grand Commandery with a beautiful banner.

Afterward, the officers and visitors of Grand Commandery of Virginia, along with the Sir Knights of Commanderies of Richmond No. 2, DeMolay No. 4, Appomattox No. 6, and Dove No. 7, consisting of 110 Sir Knights in all, mounted and in full regalia, then proceeded to the Masonic Hall, and escorted the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Virginia to the Capital Square, where the Equestrian Statue of George Washington was inaugurated. The Richmond Commandery No. 2, hosted a dinner for the guests from Grand Lodge and the visiting Sir Knights in Corinthian Hall.

The Civil War and Reconstruction was hard on Virginia, but Richmond Commandery maintained a strong membership between hundred fifty and two hundred knights. On November 13, 1878, the Grand Commandery of Virginia chartered another Commandery, St. Andrew Commandery No. 13, in the City of Richmond.

The period 1875 to 1914 ushered in a new period of peace, prosperity, and harmony throughout the Jurisdiction of Virginia. The Richmond Commandery duly drilled, inspected, and encamped in solemn form. Its knights were visible in full uniform escorting Grand Lodge and Symbolic Lodge Cornerstone Ceremonies and Masonic Funerals, marched in formation at several celebratory parades, and at divine services in the many community churches in Richmond.

In 1919, pursuant to a resolution, Richmond Commandery No. 2 and St Andrew Commandery No. 13 were appointed joint hosts along with the Grand Commandery of Virginia for the One Hundredth Stated Grand Conclave and Centennial Ceremony. Richmond Commandery No.2 and St. Andrew Commandery No. 13 provided 225 and 200 knights respectively. A Grand Reception, refreshments, and dance was held at the Richmond Coliseum for the Sr Knights, Ladies, and Guests.

Richmond Commandery No. 2 survived the “Roaring Twenties”, the “Cultural Civil War” and its social tensions, the 1929 Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression, World War II (1941-1945), the Cold War (1947-1989), the Korean Conflict (1950-1953), the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam Conflict (1955-1973).

Harmony was the hallmark between the City of Richmond’s Commanderies: Richmond Commandery No. 2 and St. Andrew Commandery No. 13. The Sir Knights were active in Templary tactics and ritual and escorting Grand Lodge and Symbolic Lodge Cornerstone Ceremonies for community churches and public buildings. They were visually presenting flag programs and wreath laying ceremonies, escorting Masonic funerals, marching in formation in parades, and attending divine services in various community churches.

Membership in Commanderies of Knights Templar had been dropping for years and many of the knights were members of both Richmond and St. Andrew Commanderies, in 1953 the knights voted to merge into one Commandery – Richmond Commandery No. 2 with a combined membership of five hundred ninety two knights. In 2021, Richmond Commandery reported a membership of sixty-two knights.

Richmond Commandery No. 2 is one of only two Commanderies left from the original foundation of the Grand Commandery of Virginia. It has a rich history,  and an effort is underway for our Archives and History Committee to assist the Sir Knights of Richmond Commandery to provide and document its current history. As Robert Burns said in Sorrowing, Yet Not Without Hope, still a future:

No! though the grave hath claimed our best,
No! though the green sprigs mark his rest,
Weeping we cry with chastened faith,
Trust in the Lord, and conquer death.

No! though a seat is vacant here,
No! though his voice no more may cheer,
Upward we cast the eye of love,
Lost to the earth, but sale above.

How through long years of wasting pain
Bright burned his soul and fired his brain;
In this dear place he loved to be —
Here keep his name eternally.

Brethren, be strong, for life’s demand
Boldly endure and bravely stand;
From his bright life example take —
From his blest grave let hopes awake.