The Ancient & Accepted Rite (Rose Croix)

The Ancient & Accepted Rite

Better known as Rose Croix

The aim of the Order, which is Christian in character and practice, is to provide a duly qualified Master Mason with the opportunity to extend his participation, knowledge and enjoyment of masonry. The Ancient and Accepted Rite continues the teachings of symbolic masonry in a series of most interesting degrees. In 1875 the first New Zealand Chapter was formed at Greymouth under the authority of England and Wales.  The New Zealand Supreme Council was established on February 12, 1994.  

Membership is by invitation and candidates must be Master Masons. The rite consists of a total of 33 degrees, however, not all of those are worked in full. The 18° is the entrance degree for members, with the intermediate degrees being conferred in a short ceremony. In some Chapters there is also a brief working associated with the conferral of the 17°, however, this is not a feature of the ritual issued by Supreme Council.

The 18° is conferred in two ceremonies and is quite different to the Craft ceremonies. Promotion beyond the 18° is based on merit, with Past Sovereigns being promoted to the 30° on completion of a specified set of requirements. As occurs prior to the conferral of the 18°, candidates have the preliminary degrees 19° to 29° conferred in a short ceremony and the 30° is worked in full. This rather colourful degree dates from about 1760 and in 1771 was considered the highest degree of the Rite as it then existed. 

Beyond the 30°, promotion is on merit, with numbers limited according to a proportion of total membership of the Rite in the District. Length of service alone is not a sufficient criteria for promotion, although it is stipulated that the 31° cannot be taken less than three years after the 30°. Similarly the minimum interval between the conferral of the 31° and 32° is five years, although in practice these intervals are much greater. The 31° and 32° are worked in full in separate ceremonies, with the Lieutenant Grand Commander in the Chair in the former, and the Sovereign Grand Commander in the latter. 

In New Zealand the 33° is also worked in full with the ritual work being undertaken by the members of Supreme Council. The degree is conferred upon Inspector Generals of Districts, and on rare occasions on brethren who are appointed directly to Supreme Council. Interestingly, there are only nine rituals for this degree in circulation in this country and these are passed by retiring members of Supreme Council to their successors.