Dames of Malta

Badge of Dame Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion - Malta (1st half of 20th century)

Dames of Malta are female members of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The male counterparts of these Dames are the Knights of Malta.

This secret fraternal order, also known as Ladies of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, was originally named Ladies of Malta. In 1902, it was consolidated with the Daughters of Malta, and assumed the name "Dames of Malta." These Dames are an auxiliary to the Ancient and Illustrious Order Knights of Malta. Their governing body is known as "Zenodacia," the branches are called "Sisterhoods" and are under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Grand Commandery of the Ancient and Illustrious Order of Malta. Candidates for membership must be "white female Protestants, over sixteen years of age, not married to a Roman Catholic, able to write and speak the English language, competent to pursue some useful occupation, believers in the doctrines of the Holy Trinity as expressed in the Apostles' Creed." The "ritualistic work" of the Order unfolds "the marvelous history of its glorious past [the Order claims to be the direct descendant of the ancient Sisterhood of the Hospitallers Dames of Jerusalem] and "the deep religious significance of its institution," and glories in "the fact that it is the only Knightly Order having one Universal Password that admits to all Council Chambers around the Globe."

In 1924, the membership of the Dames of Malta was 28,000. The headquarters were at 1345 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Notable people

Prominent living members

• Anne M. Burke
• Bernadette Castro
• Janne Haaland Matláry
• Karen Garver Santorum
• Marianna, Dowager Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley, served as High Sheriff of Kent (1981–82); widow of Gilbert Walter Riversdale Monckton, 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
• Patricia Mary, Lady Talbot of Malahide (née Riddell)
• Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis
• Princess Michael of Kent

Deceased

• Lady Jean Bertie (née Crichton-Stuart), mother of Fra' Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie, first Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta since 1258 to hail from the English-speaking world
• Emma, Lady Hamilton (1765-1815), awarded the Maltese Cross by Emperor Paul I of Russia for her aid to blockaded Malta. Lady Hamilton was the first English woman to be invested as a Dame of Malta
• Csilla von Boeselager, Hungarian philanthropist; founded the Hungarian Maltese Charity Organisation (Ungarischer Malteser Caritas Dienst)
• Genevieve Garvan Brady, Papal Duchess, Dame of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, holder of the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, founder of the Carroll Club (“for Catholic business girls”), philanthropist; board chairman Girl Scouts of the USA; vice-president of the Welfare Council of New York
• Marie Isobel, Countess Cathcart
• Mary Higgins Clark
• Virginia A. Dwyer (1921-1997), director and deputy chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; chairman of the board of trustees of the University of Rochester; and a board member of Eaton Corporation, Schering-Plough, Borden, Southern Company, the Atlantic Companies, and Georgia Power
• Clare Ann Kalkwarf, Vice-President, Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard, the South African Relief Organisation of the Order of Malta; first South African woman to be invested as a Dame of Malta
• Clare Boothe Luce, American playwright and political activist
• Dorothea Angela McElduff (1926–2013), Member of Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and Dame of Malta
• Mary McShain (née Mary J. Horstmann), great-niece of Bishop Ignatius F. Horstmann (the third Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland); widow of John McShain
• Regina A Quick, American philanthropist
• Phyllis Schlafly, American constitutional lawyer and conservative activist
• Lady Hilda Susan Northcote Swan, late wife of Sir Conrad Swan
• Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
• Princess Maria Ludwiga Theresia of Bavaria