A Commandery of Knights Templar in the United States confers three Orders: The Illustrios Order of the Red Cross, The Order of Malta, and The Order of the Temple. The Masonic Orders of the Temple and Malta are founded upon the traditions of the Chivalric Orders of Knighthood of the middle ages, and the Rite has therefore acquired the title of Chivalric Masonry. The Orders of the Temple and Malta areentirely based upon the ethical, moral, and spiritual concepts for a well governed life.
The Commandery is the local Templar unit and it exists primarily to create Knights Templar. Commanderies which are directly subordinate to the Grand Encampment are termed "Subordinate Commanderies" while those subordinate to a Grand Commandery are "Constituent Commanderies". There are almost 1,600 Commanderies in communities across the United States, Germany, Italy and Mexico, with over 260,000 members. Similar bodies exists in other countries as well.
The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America is the national governing body of the Knights Templar, a Christian-oriented fraternal organization and an integral part of the Masonic Fraternity.
Commanderies organize many social activities, including Ladies Auxiliaries, Drill Competitions, Public Divine Services, Family Picnics, Organized Trips, Dinner Parties and Entertainments, Christmas Observances, Easter Sunrise Services, and Memorial Services.
Mount Olivet Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar was chartered on May 15, 1878 and is the largest Commandery located within Kansas with a recorded membership of 252 as of December 31, 2004. They meet the first Friday of the month at 7:30 pm. The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Kansas reported as of December 31, 2004 a total of 38 Chartered Commanderies with a total membership of 3,021.
| Eminent Commander | SK Eldon E. Leitzel, PGC |
| Generalissimo | SK George W. Woodyard |
| Captain General | SK Carral N. Roberts, PC |
| Senior Warden | SK Ray D. Swenson, PC |
| Junior Warden | SK John Staton |
| Prelate | SK William B. Manning, PC |
| Treasurer | SK David F. Snyder, PGC |
| Recorder | SK Boris N. Bulatkin, PC |
| Standard Bearer | SK Eldon G. Miller, PC |
| Sword Bearer | SK Wayne N. Price |
| Warder | SK Ronald E. Farthing, PC |
| Sentinel | SK Michael Bennett, PC |
| Guard | |
| Guard | |
| Guard |
Current & Past Grand Commandery Officers from Mt. Olivet Commandery:
Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Kansas
Grand Commandery Officers 2006 - 2007
E.·. Ronald E. Farthing, Grand Captain General
E.·. Dennis Roberts, Grand Junior Warden
E.·. Chuck Arens, Grand Standard Bearer
Living Past Grand Commanders of the Grand Commandery of Kansas
1985 - SK David F. Snyder, PGC
1994 - SK Joe N. Randall, PGC
2003 - SK Eldon E. Leitzel, PGC