Welcome

Welcome to the Home of the Ancient and Accepted Rite

The Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas is a Christian Order comprising of 33 degrees. In England, the Order is more popularly known as 'the Rose Croix'. Membership implies a desire for further advancement in Masonic knowledge and the constituent degrees amplify the teachings of Craft Masonry within a Christian context. For this reason, all candidates wishing to join Rose Croix are required to profess the Trinitarian Christian faith.

Rose Croix acknowledges the authority of the United Grand Lodge of England over the three degrees of Craft Masonry, and accept the three degrees of Craft Masonry as equivalents of the first three degrees of this rite.

The ceremony of admission into Rose Croix is known as the 'Perfection' and a candidate for Perfection must:

• have been a Master Mason for at least one full year
• be of good standing in the Craft and
• have received his three Craft degrees under the auspices of the United Grand Lodge of England

In the ceremony of Perfection, the 4^th to the 17^th degrees, known as the 'Intermediate Degrees', are conferred by name only, and the 18th degree is worked in full.

A member of a Rose Croix Chapter can, in time, be expected to be invited to progress through the offices culminating in 'the chair', as in other Masonic Orders. The learning requirements of these offices are minimal but, as might be expected, the ritual from the chair needs more effort, although the work can be shared so as to minimise the demands of the Office.

Brethren meeting the criteria mentioned above, are cordially invited to consider becoming members of the Rose Croix. Wherever you live in the Province there is sure to be a Rose Croix Chapter meeting near you - for full details of Chapters, their locations and meetings, use the appropriate links on the right hand side of this page.

Regalia is minimal and is comprised of a spectacular Collar and Jewel; neither gloves nor black tie are worn at our meetings. The regalia, though spectacular, is expensive, therefore in Nottinghamshire the Brethren of the Rite support a scheme whereby candidates for the Order make a one-off payment of £55 to secure regalia for their entire Rose Croix career; 18^o to 32^o if necessary.

The subscription varies slightly from Chapter to Chapter, but is around a modest £60 per annum (plus an initial fee for Perfection). Further information about the Order can be obtained from the District Recorder.

Fraternally
Richard N Howarth 33^o
Inspector General
Nottinghamshire District