- warwickshirerosecr
- Nov 23, 2024
- 1 min read
A special visit by our Inspector General
Very Illustrious Bro Stephen W Fowler, 33°, joined the brethren of Aesculapius Chapter No. 687 for their Enthronement meeting on Wednesday, 13th November 2024. After Illustrious Bro Robert Ashford, 30°, had Enthroned Excellent & Perfect Bro Sylvester During, 18°, in a memorable manner our Inspector General presented a Supreme Council Certificate recognising fifty years’ service to the Order to Illustrious Bro Martin WL Burton, 32°-elect, MBE.
The Agenda also included the election of Illustrious Bro Richard Austen, 31°, to Honorary status, proposals for another Candidate for Perfection and a joining member.
At the meal after proceedings Ill Bro Martin shared anecdotes about his life outside masonry and gave a fascinating insight into his journey as a Freemason, emphasising the primacy of his enjoyment of the Ancient and Accepted Rite.
Below is Very Illustrious Bro Stephen W Fowler, presenting a Supreme Council Certificate recognising fifty years’ service to the Order to Illustrious Bro Martin WL Burton MBE.
Above is Ill Bro Robert Ashford, E&P Bro Sylvester During, V Ill Bro Stephen Fowler.
1. It must be recognised that the Ancient & Accepted Rite was founded as a Universal Masonic Order, not a Religion. On a worldwide basis it is today the largest Masonic Order behind the Craft.
2. The Rose Croix degree was first recorded in England in about 1770. The Knights Templar degrees, also Christian, were starting in England at about the same time and eventually the Rose Croix degree took its place as the final (or ne plus ultra) degree of the English Knights Templar encampments. The Rose Croix Chapters gradually moved to their present position as the 18º of the Ancient and Accepted Rite.
3. The Grand Constitutions of 1786 state that a Supreme Council only needs four members of nine to be of the majority religion of the country of jurisdiction.
4. The Mother Supreme Council of the world, The Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, was founded in 1801. It consisted of four Jews and five Christians of different denominations, including an Anglican Priest.
5. The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States arose from a Patent issued to them by the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States and it was established as a Universal Order.
6. In 1845 the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States issued a Patent to Dr. Thomas Crucifix to found a Supreme Council for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas. At that time in England and Wales only Anglican Christians could be elected to public office as an MP, JP or go to Oxford, Cambridge, or Durham Universities. The inclusion of non-Christians was illegal.
7. Ironically just one year later in 1846 Parliament passed the Religious Disabilities Act 1846 which removed the last restrictions against dissenters and Catholics. It also extended to Jews the same rights and freedoms in education, property, and the administration of charities. However, our Order, having developed from the Knights Templar Order, continued to require its members to swear allegiance to the Trinitarian Faith.
8. Of the fifty Supreme Councils with whom we are in amity only five are exclusively Christian and they were all constituted by our own Supreme Council. We readily receive Rose Croix members of other faiths from abroad into our meetings but did not allow our own UGLE non-Christian members to join us.
9. The Grand Prior was set the task of consulting with Senior Masons who were Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh to identify what changes needed to be made to become Universal. That led to: a) No change to furniture or regalia, b) Prayers to conform to Craft inclusiveness but retain the use of “Amen”, c) Obligations to be taken on Candidate’s VSL and in a posture appropriate to their religion, and d) Some Christian symbolism has been broadened e.g. “The Pelican is a symbol of self-sacrifice; for, as it was reputed to feed its young with its own blood to save them from death, so Jesus shed His blood for the sake of others; may it remind us all to sacrifice our selfish desires for the Glory of God and the wellbeing of His Creation.”
10. Two Anglican Bishops who are members of our Order fully supported the changes that have been made. One commented, “continuing to exclude our brethren who follow other faith traditions from listening to the Christian story is like assembling a community around a village War Memorial cross, listening to John Chapter 15 Verse 13: “Greater love hath no man but this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” whilst telling attendees who were not Christian to go away as they are not welcome.”
In conclusion The Supreme Council were adamant that it would be inappropriate, given the foundational identity of the Rose Croix degree as a Christian working within this jurisdiction, to 'de-Christianise’ the ritual of the 18°, which is held in such high regard. Our ritual is fundamentally reflective of the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, and the Council decided it would be inappropriate to remove or 'water down' the Christian character of the degree. However, they were equally convinced that the Order's stance failed to reflect the Christian — and Masonic — need to be loving towards all and to treat one another with equity.
To that end the Council came to the unanimous conclusion that the requirement to profess the Trinitarian Christian faith should be removed from admission to this Order, which strives to be reflective of a modem, inclusive society. The Council took the view that removing the restriction is the Christian thing to do, thereby ensuring our Order is both inclusive and welcoming to all; emphasizing our masonic strengths and, indeed, Christian virtues.
Many good people were prevented from experiencing the Higher Degrees of Freemasonry but who would enjoy membership and be assets to our Order. Now there is no reason why they should not join if they wish, provided they are willing to strive to uphold the Christian ideals of Faith, Hope, and Charity exemplified by the life and teachings of Jesus, so beautifully represented in the 18°.
SWF 29/10/2024