South Wales & Monmouthshire District Rose Croix
About the Order
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
About the Order
Known as the Ancient and Accepted Rite (AAR) or Rose Croix, the Order is one of the oldest orders, yet many Craft Freemasons know little about it.
Known outside England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland as the Scottish Rite, this order takes as its founding documents the Grand Constitutions of 1762 and 1786, the latter written by a group of eminent Freemasons under the titular direction of Frederick the Great.
The first Supreme Council (as national governing bodies of the Rite are known) was founded in South Carolina in 1801, with responsibility for an area now known as the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States. A Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States was created in 1813, and it is from that body that England and Wales received its warrant of constitution in 1845.
Known outside England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland as the Scottish Rite, this order takes as its founding documents the Grand Constitutions of 1762 and 1786, the latter written by a group of eminent Freemasons under the titular direction of Frederick the Great.
The first Supreme Council (as national governing bodies of the Rite are known) was founded in South Carolina in 1801, with responsibility for an area now known as the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States. A Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States was created in 1813, and it is from that body that England and Wales received its warrant of constitution in 1845.
The Ancient and Accepter Rite - Degrees
Documents issued with this warrant instructed that membership be restricted to those of the Trinitarian Christian faith, but today (apart from the British Isles and three other countries) all Supreme Councils around the world use the Craft requirement of a belief in a Supreme Being.
The Rite consists of 33 degrees, of which (in most jurisdictions) the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry are accepted in lieu of the first three degrees of the Rite. Of the remaining 30, different jurisdictions work different degrees, but in England and Wales just five are worked: the 18°, 30°, 31°, 32° and 33°. The only one worked in chapters is the 18°, known by the grand title of Sovereign Prince of the Rose Croix of Heredom. It is from this that the Order gets its nickname in England and Wales: Rose Croix.
The Rite consists of 33 degrees, of which (in most jurisdictions) the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry are accepted in lieu of the first three degrees of the Rite. Of the remaining 30, different jurisdictions work different degrees, but in England and Wales just five are worked: the 18°, 30°, 31°, 32° and 33°. The only one worked in chapters is the 18°, known by the grand title of Sovereign Prince of the Rose Croix of Heredom. It is from this that the Order gets its nickname in England and Wales: Rose Croix.
The 18° - Sovereign Prince of the Rose Croix of Heredom
The 18° is a profound and complex ritual, and one much loved by the members of the Order. The other four degrees are worked only at the Order’s headquarters in London. The ‘intermediate degrees’ from the 4° to the 17° are not worked in this country; however, a group of ritualists, the King Edward VII Chapter of Improvement, demonstrate one or two of them each year around the country for the education of the membership.
Higher Degrees
The 30° is roughly equivalent to Past Master and is awarded to those who have successfully completed a year in the Chair of their chapter. Degrees beyond the 30° are strictly limited, being granted by the Supreme Council for outstanding service to the Order. These promotions are not mere investitures at which a collar or sash is awarded, but a full ritual carried out by the Supreme Council itself.
Promotion to the 33°
Promotion to the 33°, the highest of the Rite, is restricted to Members of the Supreme Council, Inspectors General (roughly equivalent to Provincial Grand Masters) and a few other very senior members of the Order. Past members of the 33° have included Their Majesties King Edward VII, Edward VIII and George VI, and more recently Their Royal Highnesses The Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent. The Duke of Kent is Grand Patron of the Order, an office formerly held by his father, the first Duke.
Supreme Council
The Supreme Council collectively acts as Grand Master of the Order. No Council Member can instigate change without the unanimous consent of the others, which removes opportunities for confrontation. This also helps to maintain a happy and productive environment while the Council strives to work in the best interests of the Order and its members.
Structure
The Order has a flat structure: there are no Provincial Grand Lodges. Rather, each District is overseen by an Inspector General. There is therefore no significant gap in communications between individual members and the Supreme Council, a fact much prized both by the membership and the Council itself. The Supreme Council for England and Wales is ‘in amity’ with more than 40 other countries around the world, meaning members within this jurisdiction may visit chapters in those countries, thus promoting masonic harmony across the Scottish Rite, the largest international masonic community after the Craft.
What are the qualifications to become a member?
The qualification for becoming a member of this Order is that of being a Master Mason for one year or more and the usual requirement of having two sponsors. If you are already a member, there is no restriction on you inviting your Masonic colleagues to join if they fit the criteria.
Further Information
For further information, contact the Supreme Council on info@sc33.org.uk.
Alternatively you may make enquiries about the Order in South Wales & Momnouthshire by contacting us.
Alternatively you may make enquiries about the Order in South Wales & Momnouthshire by contacting us.
Useful Links
Supreme Council 33°
The Supreme Council 33° for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas
www.sc33.org.uk
www.sc33.org.uk
United Grand Lodge of England
The United Grand Lodge of England is the governing Masonic lodge for the majority of freemasons in England, Wales and the Commonwealth of Nations.
www.ugle.org.uk
www.ugle.org.uk
Province of South Wales
South Wales Freemasons, or more formally the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales
www.southwalesmason.com
www.southwalesmason.com
Provincial Grand Chapter of South Wales
Royal Arch Freemasonry - Provincial Grand Chapter for South Wales
www.southwalesmason.com/royal-arch/
www.southwalesmason.com/royal-arch/
Provincial Grand Lodge of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire Freemasonry - Provincial Grand Lodge
www.monmasons.org.uk
www.monmasons.org.uk