Michael Harrison Charles

Prior
H.E. Chev. Michael Harrison Charles, GCTJ

Mr. Charles, the son of Melvin Mower and Sylvia Ann Cookus Charles, was born in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He was educated at Jacksonville Episcopal High School, the University of Florida, Florida State University and New York University.

Michael Harrison Charles, Prior of the Priory of St. Michael and St. George, New York City, The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, was originally knighted in 1986 by F. Carter Schwab, Prior of the Priory of St. Bernard de Clairvaux

in Palm Beach, Florida. In October of 1991 while living in Rochester, NY, Mr. Charles, then Knight Commander, transferred to the Priory of St. King Charles the Martyr of Washington, D.C.

Upon moving to New York City in July, 1997, Mr. Charles became affiliated with the Priory of St. Michael and St. George. When the Pilgrim Shell program was introduced, Mr. Charles was awarded the Silver Pilgrim Shell for his pilgrimage to the Temple Church in London, England. At a convent of the Priory of St. George held in Westfield, NJ, November 2001, Mr. Charles was promoted to Grand Officer. Upon the retirement of Edmund Voyer as Prior of St. Michael and St. George, Michael Harrison Charles was elected prior in March of 2004. In 2005, the Prior was elevated to the rank of Grand Cross at the annual investiture at Thomas Church Fifth Avenue.

Mr. Charles is a well-known interior designer having worked for several major architectural firms before founding Michael H. Charles Associates in 1985. His designs have been published in numerous magazines and books over the years and he was the recipient of the prestigious Wool Bureau Award for fabric design. Michael H. Charles Associates maintains offices in New York City and St. Augustine, Florida.

Hereditary
* Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia (life member)
* General Society of Colonial Wars (Secretary and life member of New York Society;
   regular member of Florida Society Societies; Gentleman of the Council in New
   York and Florida Societies)
* Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York (life member; Member of the
   Council)
* Colonial Order of the Acorn (life member)
* Order of the Indian Wars of the United States (life member)
* General Society Sons of the Revolution (member in the States of New York and
   Pennsylvania; life member of NY Society; Fraunces Tavern Museum Board
   Member)
* Saint Andrews Society of New York (life member)
* Saint David Society of New York (life member)
* Saint George's Society of New York (life member; Board member; Chairman
   Activities; Chairman - Queen's Jubilee 2002; Ball Committee)
* Society of the Sons of Saint George of Philadelphia (life member)
* Military Society of the War of 1812 (life member)
* Veteran Corps of Artillery State of New York (life member)
* The Huguenot Society of America (life member; Registrar General; Member of
   the Membership Committee)
* Colonial Society of Pennsylvania
* Military Order of the Stars and Bars (life member; Commander of the New York
   Society)
* Order of the Southern Cross (life member)
* Dutch Settlers Society of Albany (life member)
* Huguenot Society of Pennsylvania (life member)
* National Society Sons of the American Colonists (life member; former Vice
   President General)
* Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy (life member)
* Hereditary Order of the Descendants of Colonial Governors (life member; Third
   Vice President General)
* Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry (life member)
* Flagon and Trencher (life member)
* Descendants of the Founders of New Jersey (life member)
* National Society Descendants of Early Quakers (life member)
* Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Philadelphia (life member)
* Order of Descendants of Colonial Physicians & Chirurgiens (life member)
* Sons and Daughters of the Colonial & Antebellum Bench and Bar 1585-1861 (life
   member)
* National Society Sons of the American Revolution (Florida State, Past Regional
   Vice President; Organizing President, St. Augustine Chapter; First Continental
   Chapter, New York City, Member of the Council)
* General Society of the War of 1812 (former Florida State President)
* National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims (Florida and New York;
   Councilor - New York Branch)

* The Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America
   (Member of the Advisory Council)

Chivalric
* Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Officer)
* Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (Prior of St. Michael &
   St. George New York City Priory; Silver Pilgrim Shell)
* Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Cavalieri)

Other Notes
Mr. Charles is a member of the Pilgrims of the United States, New York, as well as The Honourable Company of Freemen of London. He is also a member of St. Thomas Church of Fifth Avenue where he serves as Head Usher, and on the Choir School Benefit Committee, as Acquisitions Chairman, and on the Stewardship Committee. He is a life member of the Society of Mary and serves as the Secretary of Our Lady of Fifth Avenue. In addition, he hold life memberships in the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament; Guild of All Souls; Society of King Charles the Martyr; and the Church Club of New York.

Mr. Charles is Worshipful Master of Independent Royal Arch Lodge No. 2 F&AM, of New York City, est. 1760. He is also a member of Long I Grotto; Scottish Rite, Valley of New York, 32 degree; Ancient Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, New York City; Columbian Council, Cryptic Masons, New York City; Morton Commandery, Knights Templar, New York City; Paumonock Council, Knight Masons, New York City; Quartro Coranotti Lodge, London, England.

He is a member of the Ponte Vedra Club of Jacksonville, FL; the Royal Scottish Automobile Club of Glasgow, Scotland; and the Lansdowne Club of London of London, England.

Listed In
Who's Who in America
Who's Who in Interior Design
The Social Index (Palm Beach, Florida)

H.E. Chevalier Michael Harrison Charles, GOTJ
420 East 58^th St. Apt. 5B
New York, NY 10022-2346
(212) 758-1160

Prior@smotjnyc.org