Ritual & Regalia

A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE ALLIED MASONIC DEGREES

The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees, which can be said to have emanated from the Grand Mark Lodge of England and Wales, was formed in 1879 to bring under its direction all Lodges of various orders who recognised no central authority, and were not regulated by the other major governing bodies.

Initially the Degrees of Grand High Priest, St. Lawrence the Martyr, The Red Cross of Babylon, and the Knights of Constantinople placed themselves under the control of this body. By 1897 the degrees of Grand Tilers of Solomon, one degree of the Secret Monitor, and the Order of Holy Wisdom (Knight Templar Priest grades) had also been included, (the latter forming their own Grand College in 1923). In 1931 the Allied Masonic Degrees ceased working the single degree of the Secret Monitor. In 1972 the title was changed to “The Grand Council of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees.

Following an understanding reached in 1931, the Grand Council has been responsible for five Masonic Degrees, namely:

ST LAWRENCE THE MARTYR

 

 

This teaches especially the lessons of fortitude and humility and is the first degree to be taken by all candidates.

KNIGHTS OF CONSTANTINOPLE

 

 

Preaches the virtues of humility and universal equality.

 

GRAND TYLERS OF SOLOMON

 

 

Warns of the great danger of carelessness and of hasty judgment and teaches the importance of careful tiling.

RED CROSS OF BABYLON

 

 

Associated with the Royal Arch during the reigns of Cyrus and Darius.

GRAND HIGH PRIEST

 

 

The Blessing of Abraham and the consecration of the Patriarch Aaron.

Candidates for the Order must be both Royal Arch Companions and Mark Master Masons.

The Order was Constituted in 1879. Since then the Constitution has been extensively revised and the title of the Order is known as :-

“The Grand Council of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales and Districts and Councils Overseas.”