Jonathan W. McConnell, founding Wichita criminal defense lawyer at the McConnell Law Firm, was recently awarded the coveted Golden Chalice in recognition of his contributions to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. The Knights Templar is a subset of the York Rite of Freemasonry, a Christian-based branch of Freemasonry, and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation is their primary charity and source of philanthropic work.
“I initially wanted to join and support the Knights Templar because of their involvement with pediatric vision loss. My grandfather grew up with poor vision as a child, but his family did not possess the means to purchase the proper glasses he needed to see. Much of the charity that he did in his own life was centered around children’s vision loss,” said McConnell. “I believed that the Knights Templar Eye Foundation would be a great way for me to honor my grandfather while giving back to the community.”
About the Knights Templar Eye Foundation
The Knights Templar Eye Foundation, originally founded in 1956, is sponsored by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar and has expended over $156 million on patient care, research and education, with research grants totaling over $28 million awarded to researchers in the fields of pediatric ophthalmology and ophthalmic genetics. According to the foundation, its original mission was “to provide assistance to those who face loss of sight due to the need for surgical treatment without regard to race, color, creed, age, sex or national origin provided they are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources and to provide funds for research in curing diseases of the eye.” Today, their mission remains to improve vision through research, education, and access to care.
That Others May See
Within the York Rite of Freemasonry, there are different subsets, with the final body a member can join being the “commandery” before reaching the status of a Knight Templar, the highest degree in the York Rite. McConnell followed this traditional approach, joining the commandery before becoming a Knight Templar and supporting the efforts of their charity through financial contributions. Each year, the Golden Chalice is awarded in recognition of a single donation of a previously set amount and may be applied to the Permanent Donor Fund.
Most recently, McConnell was presented with a Golden Chalice adorned with the inscription “That Others May See” in special recognition of his generous donation to the foundation. The history of the chalice and its inscription dates back to the Knights Templar original mission and pays homage to the organization’s Christian-based heritage during the Crusades. Those struggling with vision issues as a child are at a natural disadvantage and are forced to find other ways to learn. With financial contributions like McConnell’s, the foundation has been able to help children have proper vision so that they may see, get ahead in life, and continue to learn.
“In Masonry, we are often asked about what we seek. In general, we seek light,” said McConnell. “And, we seek the knowledge of information so that others may see the light, learn, and have this same thirst for knowledge.”
More About the McConnell Law Firm
The McConnell Law Firm is comprised of a team of expert Wichita criminal defense lawyers specializing in Driving Under the Influence (DUI), false sexual accusations, traffic law, white-collar crime, and civil litigation. We are actively involved in the community, giving back whenever and wherever possible.
Please visit our Community Involvement page to find out more about our community involvement and the organizations we support.
