The Fratres (singular. Frater) of the Society meet in Colleges, which are presided over by an annually elected Celebrant who also oversees all First Order ceremonial. Chief Adepts are responsible for all Colleges within their Province, they personally oversee all Second Order ceremonial activities and are appointed by The Supreme Magus who governs the Society worldwide via his High Council and oversees Third Order ceremonial.[6]
The society is inspired by the original Rosicrucian Brotherhood but does not openly claim a provable link thereto. It bases its teachings on those found in the Fama and Confessio Fraternitatis published in the early 17th century in Germany, along with other similar publications from the same time such as the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz.
The society was founded in 1867, derived from a pre-existing Rosicrucian 'non-Masonic' order in Scotland (which bore no relation to the similarly named Societas Rosicruciana in Scotia, which was a later creation), following the admission of William James Hughan and Robert Wentworth Little.[10] Little was a clerk and cashier of the General Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, William Henry White. These Fratres were advanced quickly in Scotland and granted a warrant to form a Society in England. The formation meeting took place on 1 June 1867 in Aldermanbury, London with Frater Little elected Master Magus, the title of "Supreme Magus" not being invented until some years later.
The Rosy Cross
The organisation was initially named the Rosicrucian Society of England or the Brethren of the Rosy Cross, these names are still used interchangeably to this day. However, the former name was Latinised to Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (or SRIA), and has been commonly used throughout the society since 1889.[11]
The society requires that all aspirants for membership apply from the ranks of subscribing Master Masons[1] of a Grand Lodge in amity with United Grand Lodge of England[13] to declare a belief in the fundamental principles of the Trinitarian Christian faith and offers assistance to all its members in working out the great problems of nature and science.
Structure and governance
The Society is subdivided into three Orders:
1st Order
Members of the 1st Order(Fratres) meet in a College. A College is empowered to confer the first four degrees of the society which are known as Grades. A minimum of six months must elapse between the receipt of grades. However, the emphasis in the work of the society is learning, therefore every member is encouraged to deliver a paper of their own work on some topic of interest in open college.
First Order Grades
Grade
Grade Name
Grade I
Zelator
Grade II
Theoricus
Grade III
Practicus
Grade IV
Philosophus
2nd Order
The Second Order is managed at a provincial level, headed by a Chief Adept and his deputy (Suffragan) who have jurisdiction over all first order Colleges within a Province. The Chief Adept is empowered to personally confer three further Grades at this level to deserving Fratres of Grade IV who have been a member of the Society for a minimum of four years.
Second Order Grades
Grade
Grade Name
Grade V
Adeptus Minor
Grade VI
Adeptus Major
Grade VII
Adeptus Exemptus
A minimum of one year must elapse between the receipt of grades at this level. A member can only serve as the Celebrant (Master) of a College of the First Order after receiving the Grade of Adeptus Exemptus.
3rd Order
The Third Order is headed by the Supreme Magus, Senior Substitute Magus, and Junior Substitute Magus. Members of the second order who have given service to the Society and have been selected by the Supreme Magus for such advancement may be awarded these two further Grades.
Acting recipients receive Grade VIII or Grade IX, however, the Supreme Magus can also grant the grades honorifically (8° & 9°). All recipients receive the full ceremony, which is personally overseen by the Supreme Magus and his team.
Third Order Grades
Grade
Honorific
Grade Name
Grade VIII
8°
Magister
Grade IX
9°
Magus
Regalia
Fraters within the First Order wear a jewel (medal) hanging on a green ribbon, the ribbon changes to yellow for Fraters within the Second Order.[14]
When a frater becomes a Celebrant he wears a red robe, and thereafter he continues to wear a red robe.
Certain officers within a College wear regalia specific to their office.
Supreme Magus
There have been 14 Supreme Magi since the founding of the SRIA:
The Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia has led to several Societas Rosicruciana organisations in different countries such as Scotland (SRIS), Portugal (SRIL), and The Americas (SRICF).[15]
Royal Order of Eri
An invitational Irish order requiring membership of both Freemasonry and the SRIA. Members must be 5th grade or above in SRIA to be considered for invitation.[16] The Masonic order is derived from an ancient Order in Ireland which was founded by the historic Kings of Ireland. The order's name relates to Erin the ancient Irish name for Ireland.
In 1888, three members of SRIA formed the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which removed the restriction on membership, allowing non-Christians, non-Freemasons, and women to join. A great deal of the SRIA structure survived in the new order, which went on to greatly influence the modern occult revival in the 20th century. While SRIA inspired several aspects, there is no active link between the SRIA and any modern-day Golden Dawn organisation.
