About Us

Introduction

The Ancient and Accepted Rite, or “Rose Croix” as it is familiarly known, is one of the oldest Orders in Freemasonry.  Known outside England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland as the “Scottish Rite”, this Order takes as its founding documents the Grand Constitutions of 1762 and 1786, the latter written by a group of eminent Freemasons under the titular direction of Frederick the Great of Prussia.  
The first Supreme Council (as national governing bodies of the Rite are known) was founded in South Carolina in 1801, with responsibility for an area now known as the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.  

A Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States was created in 1813, and it is from that body that “The Supreme Council for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas” was formed, under a Patent issued to Dr. Robert Crucefix dated 26th October 1845. 

The Antient and Accepted Rite chooses to accept the three Craft degrees of the United Grand Lodge of England as a qualification for entry into a Rose Croix Chapter, rather than administering entry degrees of its own. Progression to further degrees is then within Chapters, and in ceremonies generally conducted by the Supreme Council itself. The Rite is frequently referred to as the ‘Rose Croix’, although this is only the 18th of the 33 Degrees of the Order. 

The Order is based at 10 Duke Street, St James’s, London, traditionally known as the Grand East. It moved there in 1910 from its old headquarters at 33 Golden Square.