Rose Croix

Out of all the many diverse Orders and Degrees outside the Craft and the Royal Arch, there is no doubt that for many the pinnacle of their Freemasonry is membership of the Ancient and Accepted Rite. The eighteenth Degree is the one beyond the Craft that they would be most reluctant to lose. It is very rare to hear any member speak lightly about the Rose Croix. They are right to value it so highly. To qualify for admittance, a brother must have been a Master Mason for at least twelve months and profess a Trinitarian Christian faith.

The Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas

The Ancient and Accepted Rite originated in France in 1754 and worked in the USA where a Supreme Council was formed in 1801. The Supreme Council for England and Wales was established in 1845 under a patent from the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America. The Rite consists of its own thirty three Degrees entirely separate and distinct from any other Order. The first three degrees of Craft Masonry are considered to be equal to those of the Rite and so prior to being ‘perfected’ in the Eighteenth, the fourth to seventeenth or Intermediate Degrees are conferred on candidates by name; the same occurring again with the nineteenth – twenty ninth Degrees before receiving the overtly templar Kadosh thirtieth Degree . One or two of these degrees are staged annually as demonstrations and very interesting they are.
However, the fact that there are degrees numbered ‘above’ the three Degrees of Master Mason should not lead one to see any of them as ‘higher’ than the Craft. They have little bearing on the eighteenth Degree itself, except in tracing the candidate’s progress from symbolic, Old Testament masonry to that of the New Testament era and the New Covenant which is at the heart of Rose Croix. For such masons, the level of thought has moved on to encompass the life and message of Christ, but one should not think in terms of higher degrees or, worse still, of greater rank or promotion. Prior to being made Excellent and Perfect Princes Rose Croix in a detailed and beautiful eighteenth Degree ceremony. This is the only degree permitted to be worked in a private Rose Croix Chapter.

Degrees above the eighteenth are awarded after a brother has passed the Chair of his Chapter. Of the thirty three degrees, only four, the thirtieth, thirty first, thirty second and thirty third are conferred in full on candidates who have served the Order with distinction.

Regalia requirements on joining consist of an eighteenth Degree Collar Hand Embroidered and eighteenth Degree Collar Jewel

The boundaries of the District of East Kent cover the same area as those of the Masonic Province of East Kent.

The nearest for members of Loyal and True are:

The Saint Margaret Rainham Council No 1029 in Rainham.

Meetings are held on the first Friday in February, May and September.The nearest for members of Loyal and True are:

The St Bartholomew Council No 786 in New Road Ave, Chatham.

Meetings are held on the fourth Monday in January, April, June and November.

The St Ithamar Council No 1032 in Rochester.

Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday in March, and the first Wednesday in September and December.

The St Augustine Council No 144 in Gillingham.

Meetings are held on the first Monday in March, June, October and December.

Contact Details

Name: Michael G Lewry

Position: District Recorder

Telephone: 01233 647137

Email: http://members.eastkentfreemasons.org/about-freemasonry/beyond-the-craft/29-craft/173-rose-croix.html