A Brief History of the Order
The vast majority of the ‘additional’ degrees worked in England in the early part of the nineteenth century originally came under the patronage of warrants granted by the ‘Antients’, who held that Craft Warrants entitled Lodges to work any Masonic degree to which they had knowledge and members available who could work it. Upon the formation of the United Grand Lodge various groups of degrees were gradually organised into separate Orders each with their own governing body.
By the end of that century a large number of unrelated Degrees of no direct interest to any Grand Body was still being worked in different parts of the country. In the late 1870’s it was agreed by the then Grand Secretaries of the Craft, Mark, and Ancient and Accepted Rite to establish a ‘Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees in England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown’. The headquarters would be at Mark Masons’ Hall.
It was also agreed that no new body purporting to be a Masonic body could be legally established in England without the consent of the Governing Bodies of the Knights Templar, the Ancient and Accepted Rite, the Mark Masters, the Red Cross of Constantine, the Royal and Select Masters, and the new Grand Council; and that any new body established with such consent should be under the direction of the Grand Council. Thus was born Grand Council, which we know now as the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales and Districts and Councils Overseas.
Constitution of the Grand Council
The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees was formally constituted in 1880 to bring under its direction all lodges of various orders which recognised no central authority and were not regulated by the other established governing bodies. Initially the degrees of Grand High Priest, St. Lawrence the Martyr, the Red Cross of Babylon and Knights of Constantinople placed themselves under the control of this body. and by 1897 the degrees of Grand Tilers of Solomon, one degree of the Secret Monitor and the Order of Holy Wisdom (Knight Templar Priest grades) had also been included. Eventually, however, in 1923 a Grand College of Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests or England was formed at Newcastle and the Allied Grand Council accordingly disclaimed control of this group of degrees. By 1931 the Grand Council had also relinquished control of its single degree of the Secret Monitor, and private Councils of the Order were hence forth empowered to confer the degrees, as listed below.
The Order Today
Having been Exalted into the Holy Royal Arch and Advanced into Mark Masonry, the Master Mason with a thirst for more knowledge and possessing an enquiring mind, will be faced with a number of opportunities for further Masonic advancement.
One of the most interesting and compelling discoveries are the five diverse and enjoyable Degrees comprising the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees. Membership of this interesting and friendly Order initially requires only the Regalia of a single breast Jewel, after having successfully completed the five Degrees. The first “working Degree” is St. Lawrence the Martyr. In which all normal Allied Masonic Degrees Council business is conducted.
The Five Degrees are:
- St. Lawrence the Martyr: With the ceremony centring on the 3rd Century martyrdom of Lawrence the Deacon, with lessons in fortitude and humility.
- Knight of Constantinople: With the story of two Roman Nobles in the time of Emperor Constantine. It teaches the two haughty Romans Humility and Equality.
- Grand Tilers of Solomon: With the story focusing on the secret precincts of King Solomon’s Temple and Intruders! It teaches the dangers of carelessness and hasty judgements.
- Red Cross of Babylon: Seventy years after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar. Babylon has fallen to the Persian Empire, under the rule of Cyrus and then Darius. Zerubbabel returns with the Israelites, but before he can begin building the second Temple, he needs a favour from a former friend.
- Grand High Priest: Strictly speaking, an Order in its own right, spanning over 400 years from the Blessing of Abraham by Priest King Melchizedek to the Consecration of Aaron as High Priest. It is a truly outstanding ceremony.
Once the Degree of St Lawrence the Martyr has been taken, the remainder can be taken in any order and, indeed, in any Allied Masonic Degrees Council.
Structure and Qualification
In a Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees we find that the office structure varies from degree to degree as shown in the accompanying charter. The degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr is that in which all administrative work of the Order is carried out, where candidates are first admitted, and where the Installation of the Worshipful Master takes place. Prospective candidates for admission must hold the rank of Master Mason, Mark Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason. Councils of the Order are grouped under District Grand Councils which are administered by a District Grand Prefect, supported by an appropriate team of Officers.
If you should wish to join our fascinating, progressive Order, you would be assured of a warm and friendly, fraternal welcome and no doubt be reacquainted with old Masonic friends and colleagues from the Craft, Royal Arch and the Mark.
The first point of contact for any enquiring Master Mason who is already a member of the Royal Arch and the Mark Degree, would be to complete and submit the Enquiry Form on the Contact Us page of this website.
The Degrees
St. Lawrence the Martyr
The actual date when this ritual was introduced is not known, but it is believed to have been worked in England two centuries ago. It is generally accepted to be the remnants of an old operative ceremony originating in Lancashire and designed to distinguish the true craftsman from the speculative mason. While having little Masonic connection, the interesting legend relates to the martyrdom of St. Lawrence who was afterwards canonised for his fidelity and Christian attributes. Understandably, the lesson taught is fortitude.
Knight of Constantinople
This degree is an authentic 'side degree' where it was customary for one brother to confer it on another, and while it is known to have been working in America in 1831 its actual origin is unknown. The ritual attempts to connect the legendary Constantine with the Masonic fraternity and teaches a fine lesson in universal equality and humility; it also incorporates a suggestion of operative influence in an extensive lecture which also imbues the lesson of justice.
Grand Tilers of Solomon
Under an early title of Select Masters of Twenty Seven, this degree is known to have been conferred in America in 1893. It is very similar in character to the degree of 'Select Master' and relates the story of the accidental intrusion of a craftsman into the secret vault of The Temple, where the three GMs determine his fate. This degree ·was conferred upon the Earl of Euston, the Grand Master of Allied Masonic Degrees, in 1893 with powers to promulgate it in England, and accordingly it was incorporated under the authority of the Grand Council.
Red Cross of Babylon
This degree is of considerable antiquity, being worked in two parts, and is closely associated with the Holy Royal Arch and the rebuilding of the second Temple of Jerusalem with the candidate bearing the name of Zerubbabel. The legend begins in a Royal Arch Council in the days of Cyrus, King of Persia, and continues through to the Persian Court in the time of Darius, incorporating an outstanding feature of passing a bridge over a river which has particular significance. The degree culminates with an intricate debate taken from the First Book of Esdras which established the profound maxim 'great is truth'. In Scotland this degree is found as the Babylonish Pass, while in America it is annexed to the Templar grades. In both Ireland and America it also constitutes part of the Order of Knight Masons.
Grand High Priest
This is an amalgamation of two degrees originating from Germany and France in the middle of the 18th century and was worked extensively in America around 1802, being in many cases a perquisite or honorary degree conferred on those who have presided as, or are elected to the chair of, First Principal of a Holy Royal Arch Chapter. In England there was ample evidence of this Holy Order when the Grand Council was formed in 1879, and it was one of the first Orders to be placed under its aegis. The degree is founded on the Blessing of Abraham and the Consecration of Aaron, and the candidate is admitted by the President (who represents the King of Salem) and is set apart with due ceremonial to the Holy office of Grand High Priest in a most beautiful and uplifting enactment.
Knights of Constantinople - Plymouth Working
In 1865 a Council of Knights of Constantinople was formed at Devonport, Plymouth and from the St Aubyn Council (now No 33 TI on the present Grand Council roll) several other Councils were warranted: at Truro (1866), Chatham (1866), Hong Kong (1866), Gibraltar (1868), Bristol (1878) and Plymouth (1874 and 1907). In 1910, the three remaining Councils situated in Plymouth, Nos 33, 34 and 35, ceded to the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees, but in so doing obtained for themselves the exclusive privilege of continuing to wear their own distinctive apron and jewel, and also the right to confer the degree as practised by Plymouth Councils since 1865. The degree embodies the principle of humility and equality, and, possesses some interesting elements not to be found elsewhere. Unlike the degree of the same name conferred in other Councils of the Order, only Christian brethren are eligible for admission into a Plymouth Council.
Regalia of the Order
The regalia of the Order consists of breast jewels, which may be worn in the form of five miniatures, or the special composite jewel.
St. Lawrence the Martyr
A gridiron in silver, suspended by a ribbon orange in the centre, bordered on each side with royal blue. A Past Master's gridiron, however, is enclosed within a circle.
Knight of Constantinople
A Maltese Cross surmounted by a crescent both in gold, suspended by a green ribbon on which are three poignards in gold pointing downward (Plymouth Councils have a jewel of special design).
Grand Tilers of Solomon
A triangle in black enamel edged with gold, inscribed on the obverse with the number 27 in Hebrew characters, and on the reverse with the Ineffable Name in the Cabalistic Order, suspended by a ribbon, fiery red in the centre, bordered on each side with pale grey and surmounted by three crowns in gilt. On the ribbon is a hand grasping a poignard pointing downward, in gilt.
Red Cross of Babylon
A gold seven-pointed star with gold crossed swords on a green enamel circle in the centre, suspended by a green ribbon.
Grand High Priest
A mitre on a triangle, both in gold suspended by a red ribbon. Jewel of the Order: Alternatively, a 'composite jewel' of the Order may be worn. It is gold in colour, pentagonal in shape and incorporates symbols of the five degrees within its segments, being suspended from a plain thistle-green ribbon from a golden bar.
Officers of Councils
Wear a collar in the colours of the degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr, being of orange silk four inches wide with a one-inch border of royal blue on each side. From this collar is suspended the silver emblem of office (as in the Craft) superimposed on a gridiron within a circle, bearing the name of the Council.
Past Masters
Wear the pentagonal (composite) jewel suspended from a plain thistle green collarette, one inch in width.
District Grand Officers
Wear a collar of thistle green ribbon, four inches wide, having a silver button and braid at the point of the collar, from which is suspended a silver jewel bearing the emblem of office, while active District Officers also wear a one-and-a-quarter-inch similar coloured collarette bearing the jewel of office.
Grand Officers
Holders of this rank wear a thistle-green collar four inches wide which is edged with gold lace and bears an attractive embroidered design of oak leaves and acorns, while a representation of the seal of the Order is suspended from the point of the collar. The Undress collar is plain thistle-green, four inches in width, with a gold button and braid at the point of the collar. The Grand Master, his deputy and District Grand Prefects wear chains of special design.
How to Join
To become a member of this fascinating Companion Order you must first be a Royal Arch Mason as well as a Mark Master Mason. The Five Degrees which make up the Allied Masonic Degrees will add to your enjoyment, knowledge and experience of both those Orders.
As with all Masonic Orders, there are useful and important lessons to be learned from each of the Degrees, three of which are reasonably short. It is not uncommon for a Candidate to take two or more during one meeting.
Please refer to the range of Council Meetings shown of the Councils page and then make contact with us using the Contact Us Form which you need to complete and submit.
We look forward to welcoming you into the Surrey District of our excellent Order.
