words to the Disciples in St. John 13:34.The scriptural references tend to be tantalisinglybrief, forever offering new insight for theChristian Freemason.The last part of the ceremony incorporates'a secular feast of fraternal rejoicing', whoseorigins pre-date even Christianity.

The Rose Croix in EssexThere are two separate Rose Croix districtsin the County, North Essex and South Essex,each commanded by an Inspector General.Each District is administered by a DistrictRecorder who will always be pleased to givefurther advice. The complete list of DistrictOfficers, with contact details for membersof the Executive, may be found in the EssexFreemasons' Handbook, or at the South Essexwebsite, www.southessexrosecroix.org.uk.

RegaliaThe only regalia required initially would bethe collar and jewel pictured overleaf. Thesignificance of the symbolism in the designsof the collar and jewel is explained during theceremony. The beautiful apron of the degreeceased to be worn many years ago; examplesof aprons can still be seen in some Chapterrooms, perhaps being used as decorativecushion covers.

Dress worn is usually a dark suit and 'sober'tie with a white collar. (Some colourfulshirts have been seen recently!) Some Princesdo wear their Masonic morning dress, butwearing a black tie is forbidden; this is adegree of rejoicing rather than mourning.Higher degrees have their specific collars orsashes.

Recorder/District Recorder

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North and SouthEssex

TheRose Croix

ofHeredom

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The Rose Croix degree is one of the degreesof the Ancient and Accepted Rite, an Orderof Freemasonry as old as the Craft itself. TheRose Croix degree is in fact the 18th of 33degrees of the Rite. In the ceremony of joininga Rose Croix Chapter, a brother is 'Perfected' asa 'Prince Rose Croix of Heredom' . In England,Wales, Scotland and Ireland, this degree isspecifically Christian.

Our Order is governed by the' Supreme Council330 for England and Wales and its Districts andChapters Overseas'. There are other SupremeCouncils, for example, for Scotland. Full detailsof the requirements for membership of theOrder are given in the 'Rules of the SupremeCouncil', but advice would be given b y aRecorder (he is the Secretary of a Chapter) orany of the members.

Essentially,

a candidate must have been a MasterMason for at least one full year and bein good standing with the Craft before hecan be elected to this Order.

He must have received his three Craftdegrees in a Lodge or Lodges under The

The CeremonyThe VSL used in the ceremony is the Bible.The ritual is metaphor based on the firstverse of S1. John's Gospel (at which theBible is open for most of the time) extollingthe principles of Christianity. Almost everyline of the ritual is either a direct quotationof, or Masonic allusion to, verses of the NewTestament, culminating in Christ's

What a Candidate for the Rose Croix degree should know

The purpose of this leaflet is to advise aspiringmembers of the Order what the Supreme Councilconsiders a member of the Craft should knowbefore his name is submitted to a Rose CroixChapter as a possible candidate for Perfection.

The Rose Croix of Heredom

United Grand Lodge of England unlessotherwise authorised in the Rules of theSupreme Council.

He must profess the Trinitarian ChristianFaith. He will be required, prior to anyformal consideration of his candidature,to sign a declaration to this effect.

The Supreme Council actually suggests thatprospective candidates should apply formembership of Chapters near to their homes orto their places of work.

As in other Masonic Orders, a member of aChapter will be invited, over a period of years,to progress through a number of Offices insuccession, should he so wish, before attainingthe Chair as Most Wise Sovereign. The learningrequirements of these offices are minimal.The ritual of the Chair requires more workbut is usually shared throughout the year, theSovereign conducting various different partsof the ceremony of Perfection at differentmeetings. It is not necessary to have beenWorshipful Master of a Lodge before becomingSovereign.

Some of the names of the Offices in a Chapter,for example, 'Captain of the Guard', arereminders of the days, long ago, when theRose Croix degree was worked by the KnightsTemplar.

The Degrees of the Ancient and AcceptedRite.

The first three degrees are deemed to beequivalent to the first three degrees ofthe Craft.

The Intermediate degrees, the 4th to the17th, are conferred on a candidate by namejust before the ceremony of the 18th degree.One or two of these Intermediate Degrees aredemonstrated each year at some places in thecountry, by the King Edward VII Chapter ofImprovement Demonstration Team. Mostly,these degrees continue the stories of theHiramic legend.

The degree of the Rose Croix of Heredom, the18th, is the last of the degrees of the Rite thatcan be conferred by a Chapter.

Subsequent degrees are conferred by theSupreme Council of Sovereign GrandInspectors at the Headquarters of the Order,known as the 'Grand East', at Duke Street inLondon. Usually, members are recommendedto be given the 30th degree after having servedas Most Wise Sovereign of a Chapter, andhaving been a member of the Order for at leastthree years. The 19th to 29th degrees are againconferred by name.

Promotion to the Higher Degrees, 31 st, 32nd,and 33rd, is strictly limited to senior members.