Ancient and Heroic Order of the Gordian Knot
Honorary Masonic Body
Europe
Snods of Europe
Albion Synod No.1
Surry, England
Simon E. Polkinghorne
simonpolkinghorne@yahoo.co.uk
Grand Synod of Latin America
Snods of Latin America
Short History of the Golden Knot
We owe a great amount of gratitude to Brother Varick Steele for his many hours of research regarding this Order. Under his guidance many Synods in Germany and a Synod in Saudi Arabia flourished with membership. However, with the reduction of military and civilian employees, the Synods had no choice but to close their doors. Today there are no Synods in Europe.
WB Lloyd E. Atterson, Sr. received this Order in Germany and for many years searched for a Synod in the United States. There was one but with no activity. He petitioned to start a Synod in Indianapolis, Indiana it was originally housed at Millersville Lodge No. 126 F&AM. He then proceeded to resurrect the Supreme Grand Synod and with the support of Brother Varick Steele it is now headquartered at Hancock Lodge No.101 Greenfield Indiana. His vision is to see the Synods flourish in the United States.
The Ritual
Ritual of the order is loosely based on the events which took place during the time of Alexander the Great during his excursion to Gordium. The ritual was written by Bro. Varick Steele while he was working as a civilian employee in Germany in the 1960s. Bro. Varick was active in the York Rite in Germany and rose to the office of Most Excellent Grand High Priest of Germany during his tenure in the country.
There are four officers of the Synod who act as the executive committee and must hold the rank of Knight Templar in the York Rite or be a 32° Master of the Royal Secret of the A. A. S. R. this degree is open to any Master Mason.
Alexander the Great, the Gordian Knot, and Freemasonry
Alexander, son of Phillip of Macedon, was born in Pella in 356 BC. In 336 BC, at the age of twenty, Alexander ascended the throne following the assassination of his father. By the time of Alexander's death at age of thirty-three in 323 BC, this young Macedonian King, through force and statesmanship, had conquered most of the known world and earned for all time the appellation Alexander the Great. Recently, his exploits were the subject of the PBS series, In the Footsteps of Alexander.
Still, fascination with Aristotle's most famous pupil, Alexander, never ceases: In fact, his story is soon to be again memorialized by Director Baz Luhrman (Moulin Rouge) and Director Oliver Stone (Platoon) who are both rushing competing motion pictures about Alexander the Great into production for their respective movie studios (Intermedia and Warner Bros).
Ancient and Heroic Order of the Gordian Knot
Given the magnitude of Alexander's accomplishments, it is hardly surprising that Masonic Research and fiction have also plumbed the depths of his historic and legendary exploits. In this regard, many Freemasons may be unaware of the existence of an obscure degree conferred only on Master Masons that relates to Alexander the Great and his famous journey to Gordium. (Plutarch, 33:18)
This degree is conferred in Synods of the Ancient and Heroic Order of the Gordian Knot.