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Brief History

The modern Masonic Societas Rosicruciana is based upon the writings and philosophy of the mediaeval Fraternities of the Rosy Cross and the ‘Foundation Stones’ of Rosicrucianism, the Fama Fraternitatis and the Confessio Fraternitatis.

It must be stated, from the outset, that there is no documentary evidence of links between the mediaeval Fraternities and the present-day Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (SRIA).

There is, however, somewhat tenuous evidence that societies calling themselves Rosicrucians probably existed from the 17th century onwards; but whether they continued to profess the ideals set out in the Fama is problematical. Early freemason, Elias Ashmole (b.1617), was identified a number of times with the Rosicrucians, although never admitted to such membership.

The first certain date in SRIA history is 31 December 1866, on which day two prominent English freemasons, William James Hughan and Robert Wentworth Little, were admitted to the first two grades of a Societas Rosicruciana [in] Scotia at a meeting in Edinburgh.

These fratres rose rapidly through the grades in subsequent months, and Hughan received a patent to establish the Society in England from the Scottish Magus, Anthony Oneal Haye.

An inaugural meeting was held at the Grand Hotel, Aldermanbury, London, on 1st June 1867 at which Frater Little and six other Masons were present, and the Rosicrucian Society of England was founded.

In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, it has to be assumed that the six Masons were declared in the grade of Zelator as no ceremony would have been possible.

At this inaugural meeting Frater Little was elected Master-General, but on the summons for the next meeting he is shown as ‘Supreme Magus and M.W. Master-General’, so it is apparent that he assumed the title of Supreme Magus.

The Society then settled into work in a small number of ‘informal’ Colleges, although the first warrants were not issued until 1874, when the London College was officially warranted as Metropolitan College, number 1, and the senior fratres established a High Council to govern the Society, which progressed and grew in a more orderly fashion thereafter.

Grades

There are nine grades in the Society, arranged
into three Orders:

I – Zelator
II – Theoricus
III – Practicus
IV – Philosophus
V – Adeptus Minorus
VI – Adeptus Majorus
VII – Adeptus Exemptus
VIII – Magister
IX – Magus

These nine Grades are organised into three Orders: Grades I-IV constitute the First Order and progression within this Order is the responsibility of the individual Colleges; Grades V-VII constitute the Second Order and progression within this Order is the responsibility of the Provinces; Grades VIII-IX constitute the Third Order and advancement within this Order is the sole responsibility of the Supreme Magus.

The fratres in the First Order are considered learners, fratres in the Second Order are considered teachers, and fratres in the Third Order are considered the leaders of the Society.

Progress within any of the three Orders of the Society is not automatic. Unless a Frater is ready to serve the Society he cannot expect advancement beyond the First Order of Grades.