The band was first named the Knights of
Malta Band, receiving it's first charter
in early 1912 from the Knights of Malta,
Order of St. John, 99th Meridian Sun
Commandery, lodge in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
and functioned as the official KoM lodge band
into the late 1960's. Early in the Malta
Band's history it was seen by the KoM that
their band was quite able to play a much
larger role in the Lancaster community and
obtained a second charter for their band.
The MALTA BAND of LANCASTER
received it's second charter in 1922 from
the state government, the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, as a stand-alone, fully self
supporting Non-Profit Music Educational
Organization. The second charter allowed
adult non-members of the KoM lodge to
participate in the band and allowed the
band to function completely independent
and yet, remain supportive of the founding
KoM lodge. The Malta Band of Lancaster
is no longer actively affiliated with either
the Knights of Malta or the Knights Order
of Saint John, except historically.