The Order - an Overview

The Allied Masonic Degrees are a collection of rituals that provide a further insight into other Masonic rites and preserve a time slice of the mid 1800’s Masonic landscape - which was then burgeoning with rites, side degrees and systems of philosophy.

The Order now consists of a collection of disparate degrees, rites and orders that were generally languishing in the 1870’s. The Grand Council was established in 1879 to secure the future this assortment of separately administered rites, and degrees worked under warrants of ‘Antient’ craft lodges.

The Order previously had control over other Masonic systems, some of which are extant today. Two such bodies included the ‘Order of Holy Wisdom’ or Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests which the Order had control of until 1897, and the Order of the Secret Monitor which remained a degree of this Order until 1931, even though a Sovereign body was established for the Secret Monitor in 1887.

The Orders, that previously were separate, but now constitute the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees were grandiosely styled the Grand Lodge of Saint Lawrence Masons, the Ancient and Honourable Order of Knights of Constantinople, the Order of English Masters, the Order of Knights of Red Cross of Babylon and the Holy Order of Grand High Priest.

The Grand Lodge of Saint Lawrence Masons has a suggested ‘operative’ origin (circa 1600) which purpose was to distinguish operative from speculative masons and appears to have its origins around either Lancashire or Yorkshire in England. The degree as now worked has a distinct medieval ‘mystery’ or ‘morality play’ basis.

Earliest extant records of the Ancient and Honourable Order of Knights of Constantinople are from the USA and are dated around 1830 with a suggested Scottish origin - an ‘Antient’ military lodge with a travelling warrant. A grand body was established in 1874 and worked concurrently with the Allied Masonic Degrees until 1907 when all control was ceded. Those Councils titled ‘time immemorial’ still wear their original regalia and perform the original ritual which required all aspirants to be of the Christian faith.

The origins of the Order of English Masters, otherwise known as the Grand Tilers of Solomon or Masons Elect of Twenty-Seven are unconfirmed but the earliest records date from the USA in 1761. The Order has many similarities to the degrees of ‘Intimate Secretary’ in the Ancient & Accepted Rite and ‘Select Master’ of the Cryptic Rite and so it may be that they have a common origin.

The degree as worked in the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross of Babylon is probably descended from degrees of the Rite of Perfection, which no longer exists, and the degree pre-dates 1754.

It is suggested that the Holy Order of Grand High Priest comes from ‘antient’ lodges circa 1750, but a more likely origin is from one of the European Orders of the ‘Priesthood of Melchizedek’ circa 1770. The Order was closely associated with the Principals of a Royal Arch Chapter under many constitutions.

The degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr is the administrative degree of the Order and includes the only Installation ceremony preserved within the Order. It is also the initial degree for a candidate entering the Order. This degree commemorates the martyrdom of a Spaniard, St. Lawrence, in Rome in 258 AD and teaches humility, fortitude and fidelity to one’s faith in the face of oppression.

The ritual of the degree of Knight of Constantinople inculcates the useful lessons of humility and universal equality.

In the degree of Grand Tilers of Solomon or Masons Elect of Twenty Seven the brethren are warned against carelessness and hasty judgement and the ritual highlights the importance of a diligent tyler. The degree also inculcates tolerance to the unfortunate.

The degree of Red Cross of Babylon is the most profoundly mystical degree in the Allied Masonic Degree series and is partially based on the first book of Esdras. It is still worked under the Baldwyn Rite (Bristol, UK) and is similar in presentation to the Red Cross Knights in the NSW Royal Arch series. In Ireland and the USA it constitutes the Order of Knight Masons. The degree teaches us to keep inviolate our Masonic secrets and to withstand temptation. It also emphasises fidelity, integrity and truth. The degree is esoterically symbolic of the passage of upright man from the struggles of this world to the reward of the next and extols the maxim “Great is the Truth”.

The ritual of the Order of the Grand High Priest suggests that there were originally three degrees amalgamated for convenience. For historical reasons it still maintains the status of an Order. The degree emphasises that those who are set apart to rule are done so for the glory of God, and to serve his fellow-man.

The Order now exists throughout Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Canada, Bahamas and more recently has been introduced into continental Europe.

In Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, the Order is governed by the Grand Council of Australia, and there are six Councils meeting at: Keysborough, Preston, Baxter, Geelong, Hamilton, and Ardeer in Victoria; a further Council meets at Adelaide in South Australia; one meets in Brisbane, one at Rosewood and another meets at Townsville in Queensland. The Queensland Councils are organised into a Division, under control of a Divisional Grand Prefect who is supported by Divisional Officers.

The qualifications for membership are that a candidate must be a Mark Master Mason and a Royal Arch Mason in good standing and maintaining financial membership of a regular Craft Lodge.

The regalia worn by members today consists of a set of 5 miniature breast jewels, or a composite jewel depicting the emblems of each degree within the Order. Past Masters wear a breast jewel of special design and members holding grand rank wear a distinctive collarette with an embroidered collar and jewel.