Knightly Orders

30 August 22

In part three of the series discussing those degrees and Orders that lie Beyond the Craft, VW Bro Alan Gale covers three Knightly Orders: Orders where a concept of Knighthood prevails as does a requirement for a belief in the Christian faith and in some cases, a desire to defend it against all attackers. 

Royal Order of Scotland 

The ritual of the first degree of this Order gives the reason for its formation: ‘to correct the errors and reform the abuses that had crept into the three Craft degrees.’ 

Essentially this means its ritual is an archive of some of the original Christian symbolism in Freemasonry that was deleted in the 1720s. The Order is proud of the fact that it preserves – in an original form – an interpretation of Speculative Masonry that has survived unchanged by the massive purging and editing process that took place in England between 1717 and 1813. 

There is evidence of the Order being worked as early as 1741 in London, from whence it moved to Scotland, where a Grand Lodge of the Order was formed in 1767. This remains the sole controlling body for the Order throughout the world: in all other countries (or geographical areas) the ruling and degree working body is a Provincial Grand Lodge subservient to Scotland. The King of Scots remains the hereditary Grand Master and a seat is reserved for him (complete with the requisite symbols of royalty) at all meetings. 

The first degree is a true initiatory rite as, apart from re-examining much of Freemasonry from a Christian perspective, it contains a ‘crossing the bridge’ section and a figurative journey from an old life of ignorance to a new life of wisdom. The second, a Rose Croix type of degree, has similarity of intent with other knighthood degrees in that it relies on discourse to convey its philosophical tenets. 

The ritual of the Royal Order of Scotland is nothing less than intense and deeply symbolic. It is considered to be the oldest continual and most original ritual being worked in the world. It contains recognisable references and elements from many other Orders, in which can be easily traced elements of Craft, Royal Arch, Rose Croix and Templar Masonry with plenty of unique material of its own. The style of the ritual is truly unique, and the Christian interpretation of Speculative Freemasonry has many layers of symbolism. One of the charms of the Order is that the ritual is delivered in an ancient versified and metric form as a dialogue between the presiding officer and his two wardens. Some of its charges have rhyming stanzas whilst others are in Shakespearean blank verse. When worked well and confidently, it is a ritual tour de force. 

Qualifications for Membership 

Master Mason for five years and of Good Standing with a belief in the Christian Holy Trinity. 

Knights of the York Cross of Honour 

This exclusive Order was formed in Monroe, North Carolina on 13 March 1930. Two months later, the Convent General of the United States of America was formed to administer the Order. 

Membership in the Knights of the York Cross of Honour is by invitation to suitably qualified candidates and cannot be applied for. 

Knights of the York Cross of Honour (KYCH) are masons who have served Freemasonry in the Craft, the Royal Arch, the Knights Templar and the Cryptic Rite and have dedicated themselves to that service as a labour of love. 

The meaning of membership in KYCH can best be explained by a closing statement of Most Eminent Knight Donald E. Friend, Grand Master General, at his Convent General Session in 1995. 

‘As a Knight of the York Cross of Honour, you are a proven servant of the Masonic Fraternity. Your inspiration has come from your past, your duty is in the present, your hope is in the future. I ask you always to remember – in all you do, in all you say, in all your actions, take a good look at yourself: you are someone’s impression of Freemasonry.’ 

If a member has served as the leader in any of the required Orders, such as Grand Master of the Craft, Most Excellent First Grand Principal of the Royal Arch, Most Thrice Illustrious Master of the Cryptic Grand Council 

or Grand Master of a Great Priory of Knight Templars he is entitled to receive the distinction of Knight Grand Cross of Honour and is presented with a coloured jewel for each Order over which he has presided. 

The colours are blue for the Craft, red for the Royal Arch, purple for the Cryptic Council and white for the Knights Templar. These are termed Quadrants. 

Qualifications for Membership 

By invitation to candidates who have been: Worshipful Master of a Craft Lodge, First Principal of a Royal Arch Chapter, A Thrice Illustrious Master of a Cryptic Council and a Preceptor of a Knights Templar Preceptory. 

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite 

There are two bodies representing this Order in the jurisdiction: the Supreme Council of Australia of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Australia and the NSW Province of the Supreme Council for Scotland of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Both work the same Rite but use different ceremonies. In short, the Australian ceremony is not as florid as the Scottish. It’s a bit like comparing Anglican and Greek Orthodox church services. 

This Rite of 33 degrees, controlled by various Supreme Councils throughout the world, is probably the reference point for many people who erroneously claim there are 33 degrees in Freemasonry. Practices and administrations vary considerably among the jurisdictions. 

The Rite has its origin in the period following the changes in the Craft which opened Freemasonry to men of all faiths. Its development was both haphazard and varying in the number of degrees. The first reference to the Rite appears in French records where the word Ecossais (meaning Scottish) is found. During the 1600s, when the British Isles were torn by religious and political strife, many Scots (including their kings) fled to France and continued their masonic pursuits. This influence contributed to the use of the word Scottish. There is a discredited theory the exiled King of Scotland styled himself Grand Master and licensed a series of degrees, hence Scottish Rite. 

Records from the 1700s show activity of the Rite in Bordeaux, France, from whence it spread to the West Indies and then to the American colonies. The first Supreme Council was formed at Charleston, USA in 1801 and the content of its rituals is heavily influenced by the writings of Albert Pike. From Charleston, it spread throughout the world. 

Although the Rite has its own first three degrees, in territories where a Grand Lodge of the Craft exists the three degrees of that body are taken as their equivalent. (Putting this another way: whilst the Rite has the ability to initiate, pass and raise, it chooses not so to do in jurisdictions where it is in amity with the Grand Craft Lodge.) In NSW, two Lodges demonstrate the first three AASR degrees: The Zetland Lodge of Australia No 9 and Lodge France No 1021 and are both well worth a visit. 

The degrees worked are the 18th (Rose Croix) and 30th (Knight Kadosh) with the intermediary degrees in each case being conferred (and explained further either by lecture, publication or demonstration). The 31st and 32nd degrees are worked in both the Australian and Scottish Constitutions, again with variations in the ceremonies. In the Scottish, all degrees above the 18th are considered promotions for service rendered. In both cases, the 33rd degree is a leadership position. 

As with most degrees additional to the Craft, these provide a different approach to the lessons taught therein and in all Scottish and all but three Australian chapters with a strong Christian emphasis. Thus the allegory of the passage of man from darkness to light (or ignorance to wisdom) is retold with emphasis on the three theological virtues as guides (in the 18th) or the need to oppose fanaticism in all its forms while protecting innocence and virtue (in the 30th). 

Qualification for Membership Master Mason of two years in Good Standing and a believer in the Christian faith and the Holy Trinity. There are three ‘universal’ Chapters of the Australian Supreme Council meeting in Sydney where the Christian faith requirement does not apply