Rosicrucian Society of England

The Society claims to be inspired by the original Rosicrucian Brotherhood , but does not exist in a proven connection with it. It bases its teachings on those found in Fama and Confessio Fraternitas, published at the beginning of the 17th century in Germany, along with other similar publications of the same time.

The Society was created in 1867 on the basis of the pre-existing Rosicrucian Order in Scotland (but not the Scotland Rosicrucian Society of the same name, which appeared later). Little was the clerk and teller of the Secretary General of the United Great Lodge of England, William Henry White. These fraternities were quickly promoted in Scotland and granted a patent for the creation of the Society in England. The opening meeting took place on June 1, 1867 in Aldermanbury, London , with Brother Little, elected Master Mage, the title “Archmage” was invented only a few years later.

They released a magazine called The Rosencruiser, which was edited by William Robert Woodman.

Society demands that all applicants for membership declare the fundamental principles of the Trinitarian Christian faith, and offers all its members help in solving the great problems of nature and science.

1st Order Members of the 1st Order (Fratres) meet at the College, which is equivalent to the Lodge of Freemasons. The college is authorized to assign the first four degrees of society, which are known as degrees. At least six months must elapse between degrees. Nevertheless, the emphasis in the work of the society is on training, therefore, each member is encouraged to make a report or their work on any topic of interest to an open college.

• I degree - Zealous
• II degree - Theorist
• III degree - Practitioner
• IV degree - Philosopher

2nd Order He was the equivalent of the Masonic Provincial Grand Lodge, led by the Chief Adept and his deputy (Suffragan), which has jurisdiction over all the colleges of the first order in the Province. The Chief Adept was authorized to award three more degrees at this level, after the fourth degree, in which there were members of the Society for at least four years.

• V degree - Junior Adept
• VI degree - Senior Adept
• VII degree - Free Adept

A minimum of one year must elapse between obtaining degrees at this level. A member can only serve as the jubilee (master) of the college of the first order after receiving the degree of Free Adept.

3rd Order It is equivalent to the Grand Lodge, led by the Supreme Mage, Senior Deputy Mage and Junior Deputy Mage. The members of the second order, who served the community and were elected as the Supreme Mage for such advancement, can receive two more degrees.

• VIII degree - Master
• IX degree - Mage

In 1888, three SRIA members created the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn , which lifted membership restrictions by allowing non-Christians, non-Masons, and women to join. Most of the SRIA structure survived in the new order, which subsequently had a great influence on the modern occult revival in the 20th century. Society has led to the creation of a number of similar organizations in different countries, such as Scotland, Canada and America. ^[four]

• Robert Wentworth Little (1869-1878)
• William Robert Woodman (1878-1891)
• William Wynn Westcott (1891-1925)
• WJ Songhurst (1925-39)
• Frank M. Rickard (1939-56)
• WR Semken (1956-69)
• Edward Varley Kayley (1969-74)
• Donald Penrose (1974-79)
• Norman C. Stamford (1979-82)
• Alan G. Davies (1982-94)
• Ronald E. Rowland (1994-2002)
• Andrew B. Stevenson (2002-06)
• John Paternoster (2006-present)

• Samuel Liddell McGregor Mathers
• Arthur Edward Waite
• John Yarker

• Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
• Rosicrucians
• Alchemy