State Commanderies

In addition to the Commandery-in-Chief, the Loyal Legion also consists of 20 state Commanderies.  These are semi-autonomous groups operating under the authority granted to them through the Constitution and By-Laws of the Loyal Legion.  Companions maintain their membership at the Commandery level, and unlike some hereditary societies, there is no at-large membership in MOLLUS.  Although there is no restriction as to what Commandery an interested applicant may seek membership, applicants usually apply to the state Commandery closest to their home or, if extant, the Commandery from where their Qualifying Ancestor served.  The list of current state Commanderies are:

  • Pennsylvania – Founded on April 15, 1865.
  • New York – Founded on January 17, 1866.
  • Tennessee – Founded on August 29, 1866. Reactivated on November 16, 2024.
  • Massachusetts – Founded on Mary 4, 1868.
  • California – Founded on April 12, 1871.
  • Wisconsin – Founded on May 15, 1874.
  • Illinois – Founded on May 18, 1879.
  • District of Columbia – Founded on February 1, 1882.
  • Ohio – Founded on May 3, 1882.
  • Michigan – Founded on February 4, 1885.
  • Missouri – Founded on October 21, 1885.
  • Kansas – Founded on April 22, 1886.
  • Iowa – Founded on October 20, 1886.
  • Indiana – Founded on October 17, 1888.
  • Connecticut – Founded in 1967.
  • Virginia – Founded in 1997.
  • Kentucky
  • Texas
  • Rhode Island – Founded on October 20, 2001.
  • Florida – Founded on October 21, 2017.

 

Several other state Commanderies have existed in the past and are now considered quiescent.  Those are:

  • Maine – Founded on April 25, 1866.
  • Arkansas – Founded on May 6, 1868.  Charter revoked before 1874.
  • Minnesota – Founded on May 6, 1885.
  • Oregon – Founded on May 6, 1885.
  • Nebraska – Founded on October 21, 1885.  Charter returned in 2025.
  • Colorado – Founded on June 1, 1887.
  • Washington – Founded on January 14, 1891.  Charter returned on February 14, 1978.
  • Vermont – Founded on October 14, 1891.
  • Maryland – Founded on December 8, 1904.
  • Southern California – Founded on December 4, 1929.  Folded into the California Commandery.