+ Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jérusalem +
THE GRAND MASTER
13-11-1963 / 20-01-2024
H.E. Mgr. Luis Jose MARTINEZ
GRAND MASTER
O.S.M.T.J. WORLD
O.S.M.T.J. INTERNATIONAL
RGRAND CROSS OFFICER / GRAND COLLAR
SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTOR GENERAL
OF THE TEMPLE – °33
It is with great regret that we have to bring you the sad news, and must report the passing of our dear Brother and friend:
our beloved Grand Master Luis Jose MARTINEZ.
On Saturday Januari 20th, 2024, at the age of 60, unexpectedly he passed away at the hospital in Orlando, Florida, USA.
He leaves behind his wife Sor. Carmen Rosalia GARAY and his son & daughter.
Luis was elected early 2022 to lead the International Order and in a short time performed a tremendous amount of work.
He reunited Freemasonry with the Temple and sought to unify the devided Templar landscape around the world.
His passing is a great loss to the Temple Community all over the world.
Luis Jose MARTINEZ, in his childhood was living in the USA and GERMANY. Although he lived mostly in PUERTO RICO. Growing up he was involved in civic oriented organizations such as LEO (Youth of Lions International), Boy Scouts of America and later the CIVIC AIR PATROL. He attended Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OHIO graduating with a BSAS in Criminal Justice and Spanish. After college he worked at the Affirmative Action Office in charge of a scholarship program sponsored by the US Government.
Back in Puerto Rico, he taught both Spanish and English in several Catholic schools, previous to serving in the PR Corrections Administration as a Probation Officer and Parole Officer.
While working in the Correction Administration he became Vice President of the Union of Civilian Employees in the Corrections Administration.
In Florida he worked as a Child Protection Investigator for the Government and became later the CEO of his own Private Investigation company :
“AGENCY for SECURITY and INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES”, Inc.
For many years he was serving in the O.S.M.T.J. – Order. After being Knighted he held various positions within O.S.M.T.J.
He became the Leader of the Templar Academy and became, Officer, Grand Officer, Grand Cross Officer and later the Grand Prior of Puerto Rico & Florida USA.
Due to disagreements within the group, he and about twenty Grand Priors (worldwide) split off and at the end of 2021 / early 2022, they had official and independent elections organized by the Portuguese branch of the Knights Templar : OSMTU in order to ensure global legitimacy.
Brother Luis J. MARTINEZ was elected as the new official GRAND MASTER to serve and lead OSMTJ Worldwide.