One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Royal Order of Scotland 
Authentic documentary proof in the archives of the Grand Lodge gives rise to the popular assertion that the Royal Order of Scotland is senior to every other Masonic system, except for the Craft. The Grand Lodge is recorded as having first met in 1769. 

From the earliest written recordings of meetings, the Order claimed that the King of Scots was the Hereditary Grand Master, and a seat is always kept vacant for him at every meeting of each Provincial Grand Lodge, and all meetings of Grand Lodge. The Order is administered from Edinburgh. 

Membership of this elite Order is highly prized, admission is by invitation only to Master Masons of 5 years and upwards, by two current members of this Order.

You can read more about them here: https://www.royalorderscotland.org/

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

The Operatives
The full title of this Order is the Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Walkers, Slaters, Paviours, Plaisterers and Bricklayers, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Commonwealth, and Territories Overseas. It is often familiarly known as the ‘The Worshipful Society of Freemasons’. 

Operative or Guild Masons were organized in England with royal approval dating at least from as early as the Grand Assemblage of 926 in York, which is reputed to have been authorized and encouraged by King Athelstan. The constitutions of the Society state that the Order was founded in 1913. The ritual of The Operatives as they are familiarly called, is more archaic in form and much fuller than that of the ‘speculatives’, containing practical instruction of which only echoes are found in speculative ritual, thereby providing an interesting field of study for the serious Masonic student. 

Lodge meetings are held in Assemblages.

The degrees of the Society are seven in number. 

The regalia is minimal and consists of a blue cord or blue collarette from which is suspended the badge of the member’s grade.
Badges are simply exchanged as progression is made. All members wear the distinctive Society tie.
 
Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Master Mason, a Mark Master Mason, and a Royal Arch Mason.
Find out more here: https://www.theoperatives.org/

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to the Royal Order of Scotland

One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Order of the Secret Monitor
The full title of this Order is The Grand Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan in the British Isles and its Districts and Conclaves Overseas.

Meetings are held in Conclaves.

Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Master Mason. The joining ceremony is called ‘Induction’.

The regalia consists of a breast jewel of the degree held with the higher two degrees also having a sash.

The Order is based on upon the principles of self-sacrifice, mutual trust, watchful Brotherly care, warning in time of danger, solace in time of sorrow and skilful and effective friendly advice in every circumstance of life

Next time we will introduce you to the Ancient Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord. If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to The Scarlet Cord

One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Allied Masonic Degrees
The full title of this Order is The Grand Council of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales and its Districts and Councils Overseas. It is more familiarly know as the ‘Allied Degrees’.

Meetings are held in Councils.

Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Mark Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason.

The regalia consists of five breast jewels, one for each degree.

The Order is based on a collection of orders that had no central authority. The five degrees give various moral lessons including integrity and fortitude, humility, the danger of hasty judgement and the importance of truth.

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to the Order of the Secret Monitor

One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Royal and Select Masters
The full title of this Order is The Grand Council of the Order of Royal and Select Masters of England and Wales and its Districts and Council Overseas. It is more familiarly known as the ‘Cryptic Degrees’.

Meetings are held in Councils.

Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Mark Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason.

The regalia consists of a triangular apron with a crimson edge and a triangular breast jewel.
 
The Order is based on the history of the first Temple at Jerusalem. The four degrees throw light on a sequence of events and demonstrate the essential link between the degrees of Master Mason, Mark Master Mason, and Royal Arch Mason. 

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to the Allied Masonic Degrees

One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

The Red Cross of Constantine
The full title of this Order is The Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St John the Evangelist.
 
Meetings are held in conclaves.
 
Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Royal Arch Mason and believe in the Trinitarian Faith. The joining ceremony is called ‘Installation’.
 
The regalia consists of a purple sash and a red cross breast jewel.
 
The Order is based on the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity after seeing a sign from heaven in the form of a special cross. He directed that this cross should be worn on the armour of Christians in his army. A conclave of the knights of the order was formed whose members were the bodyguard of the sovereign. The candidate is admitted and obligated then made a Knight Companion where the history of the Order is detailed. There are two appendant ceremonies where the aims of Freemasonry are revealed.

You can find out more about this order here: https://www.markmasonshall.org/orders/red-cross-of-constantine

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to Royal and Select Masters.

One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Rose Croix
The full title of this Order is The Supreme Council 33rd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas. It is more familiarly known as ‘Rose Croix’.

Meetings are held in Rose Croix chapters.

Qualification for joining is that a candidate must have been a Master Mason for a year and believe in the Trinitarian Faith with membership usually being by invitation. The joining ceremony is called ‘Perfection’.

The regalia consists of a pink collar with higher degrees having different coloured collars along with a sash and the highest degree also includes a cap.

There are 33 degrees within the Rite with the Chapter taking candidates up to the 18° Perfection.

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to The Red Cross of Constantine.

One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Knights Templar and Knights of Malta
The full title of this Order is The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, and Malta, in England and Wales and its Provinces Overseas. It is more familiarly known as ‘KT’.
 
Knights Templar meetings are held in Preceptories and under the authority of its warrant, Knights of Malta meetings in Priories are also held.

Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Royal Arch Mason and believe in the Trinitarian Faith. The joining ceremony is called ‘Installation’.

The regalia is based on that of a Templar Knight and consists of a cap, tunic, mantle, sash, belt and sword. The Malta regalia is similar, but the tunic is red and mantle and cap are black.
 
The Order is based on the actions of a band of Knights who were granted a place of habitation within the sacred precincts of King Solomon’s Temple. The candidate is admitted as a pilgrim and undergoes a period of pilgrimage and warfare then penance and meditation before being made a Knight of the Temple.

You can find out more about this order here: https://www.markmasonshall.org/orders/knights-templar

If you are interested in joining this order within Buckinghamshire, please message us.

Next time we will introduce you to Rose Croix.

One Step Beyond the Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.

Royal Arch
The continuation of the Third Degree is the 'Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch'. It is more familiarly known as ‘Chapter’.
 
Meetings of a Royal Arch Chapter are known as Convocations and have three Principals who rule the Chapter as opposed to the single Master in a Craft Lodge.
 
Qualification for joining is that a candidate must be a Master Mason. The joining ceremony is called 'Exaltation' and the members are called Companions.
 
The regalia consists of an apron, sash and breast jewel. The colours of the apron and jewel are crimson and dark blue which vary depending on a member’s rank.

The Order is based on the return of the Jewish tribes from their captivity in Babylon to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem having been destroyed at the end of King Solomon's reign. During the preparation for the building of the Second Temple, a momentous discovery is made and it is this discovery that is the basis of the Exaltation Ceremony.

If you would like to be part of a global community, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/info
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

Next time we will introduce you to Mark Master Masons.

One Step Beyond The Craft

You may not realise that Freemasonry is made of a number of different 'Progressive Orders'. This series will explain these various Orders and how they are linked.
 
Craft
Every Freemason begins by being Initiated into the 'Craft' which is the starting point in their Masonic journey. The Craft consists of Three Degrees including the 'Royal Arch'.
 
The three degrees are what most people will have seen pictures of with members wearing the familiar light and dark blue collars and aprons.
 
On being Initiated a Freemason enters the First Degree and is called an Entered Apprentice. On passing their Second Degree they then become a Fellowcraft. Finally, they are raised to the Third Degree and are known as a Master Mason. The members are called Brothers 

If you would like to be part of a global community, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/info
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.

Next time we will introduce you to the Royal Arch.