The Order of the Crown of Thorns was founded in the year 1308 by King San Luis of Felipe and was authorized to be re-established in 1880 by His Holiness Ignatius Peter III, the then Patriarch of the Apostolic See of Antioch. The Order came to the United States in the 1920s and was led by several notable individuals.  However, it became dormant until the 1960s when Rev. Dr. Edwin S. Malone, III, after having received the order and being appointed Legat, re-organized the Order and incorporated it as an independent organization patterning itself after the ancient orders of knighthood of the Middle Ages.  The current organization does NOT claim any unbroken lineage to the original Order, only takes its name and seeks to operate in its tradition.

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Dr. Malone re-wrote the Constitution to conform to the laws of a United States 501 (C 10) Corporation; appointed new officers and led the organization in the spirit of Christian chivalry until his retirement.  He was followed by F. Douglas Mitchell until his untimely death.  Now Jason McLendon Blair is leading the organization as the third Prince Grand Master since reorganization.

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The Order supports two principal charities:  Scholarships to deserving High school seniors or students already enrolled in a college program.  These scholarships are typically $1000 each paid in two payments.  

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