Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (Rosicrucian Society of England) is a

Rosicrucian Rosicrucianism is a spiritual and cultural movement that arose in Europe in the early 17th century after the publication of several texts purported to announce the existence of a hitherto unknown esoteric order to the world and made seeking its ...

esoteric Christian order formed by

Robert Wentworth Little Robert Wentworth Little (1840 – April 11, 1878) was a clerk and cashier
at the Grand Lodge of Bri ...

in 1865,King 1989, page 28 although some sources acknowledge the date to be 1866-67. Members are confirmed from the ranks of subscribing

Master Mason Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

s of a

Grand Lodge A Grand Lodge (or Grand Orient or other similar title) is the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country. In Freemasonry A Grand Lodge or Grand Orient is the us ...

in amity with

United Grand Lodge of England The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is the governing Masonic lodge for the majority of freemasons in England, Wales and the Commonwealth of Nations. Claiming descent from the Masonic grand lodge formed 24 June 1717 at the Goose & Gridiron T ...

. The structure and grade of this order, as

A. E. Waite Arthur Edward Waite (2 October 1857 – 19 May 1942) was a British poet and scholarly mystic who wrote extensively on occult and esoteric matters, and was the co-creator of the Rider–Waite tarot deck (also called the Rider–Waite–Smith o ...

suggests, were derived from the 18th-century German

Order of the Golden and Rosy Cross The Order of the Golden and Rosy Cross (Orden des Gold- und Rosenkreutz, also the ''Fraternity of the Golden and Rosy Cross'') was a German Rosicrucian organization founded in the 1750s by Freemason and alchemist Hermann Fictuld. Candidates were exp ...

. It later became the same grade system used for the Golden Dawn.

History

The society claims to be inspired by the original

Brotherhood but does not allege a provable link thereto. It bases its teachings on those found in the ''Fama'' and ''Confessio Fraternitas'' published in the early 17th century in Germany along with other similar publications from the same time. The society was founded in 1867, derived from a pre-existing Rosicrucian order in Scotland (which bore no relation to the similarly named ''Societas Rosicruciana in Scotia'', which was a later creation), following the admission of William James Hughan and

Robert Wentworth Little Robert Wentworth Little (1840 – April 11, 1878) was a clerk and cashier
at the Grand Lodge of Bri ...

. Little was a clerk and cashier of the General Secretary of the

William Henry White Sir William Henry White, (2 February 1845 – 27 February 1913) was a prolific British warship designer and Chief Constructor at the Admiralty. Biography White was born in Devonport, the son of Robert White, a currier, and his wife, Jane M ...

. These Fratres were advanced quickly in Scotland and granted a warrant to form a Society in England. The formation meeting took place on 1 June 1867 in Aldermanbury, London with Frater Little elected Master Magus, the title of "Supreme Magus" not being invented until some years later. They produced a journal, called ''The Rosicrucian'', which was co-edited by William Robert Woodman.

Membership requirements

The society requires all aspirants for membership from the ranks of subscribing

s of a

in amity with

to declare a belief in the fundamental principles of the

Trinitarian The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Fa ...

Christian faith and offers assistance to all its members in working out the great problems of nature and science.

Structure and governance

The Order is subdivided into:

1st Order

Members of the 1st Order(''Fratres'') meet in a College which is equivalent to a Freemasons Lodge. A College is empowered to confer the first four degrees of the society which are known as Grades. A minimum of six months must elapse between the receipt of grades. However, the emphasis in the work of the society is learning, therefore every member is encouraged to deliver a paper of their own work on some topic of interest in open college. *Grade I - Zelator *Grade II - Theoricus *Grade III - Practicus *Grade IV - Philosophus

2nd Order

This is equivalent to a Masonic Provincial Grand Lodge headed by a Chief Adept and his deputy (Suffragan) who have jurisdiction over all first order Colleges within the Province. The Chief Adept is empowered to confer three further Grades at this level to deserving ''Fratres'' of Grade IV who have been a member of the Society for a minimum of four years. *Grade V - Adeptus Minor *Grade VI - Adeptus Major *Grade VII - Adeptus Exemptus A minimum of one year must elapse between the receipt of grades at this level. A member can only serve as the Celebrant (Master) of a College of the First Order after receiving the Grade of Adeptus Exemptus.

3rd Order

This is equivalent to a Grand Lodge headed by a Supreme Magus, Senior Substitute Magus and Junior Substitute Magus. Members of the second order who have given service to the society and been selected by the Supreme Magus for such advancement may be awarded a further two Grades. *Grade VIII - Magister *Grade IX - Magus

Influences

Structure of Masonic appendant bodies in England and Wales

In 1888, three members of SRIA formed the

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ( la, Ordo Hermeticus Aurorae Aureae), more commonly the Golden Dawn (), was a secret society devoted to the study and practice of occult Hermeticism and metaphysics during the late 19th and early 20th ce ...

, which removed the restriction on membership, allowing non-Christians, non-Freemasons, and women to join. A great deal of the SRIA structure survived in the new order, which went on to greatly influence the modern occult revival in the 20th century.

Supreme Magus

Robert Wentworth Little Robert Wentworth Little (1840 – April 11, 1878) was a clerk and cashier
at the Grand Lodge of Bri ...

(1869–1878) * William Robert Woodman (1878–1891) *

William Wynn Westcott William Wynn Westcott (17 December 1848 – 30 July 1925) was a coroner, ceremonial magician, theosophist and Freemason born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England. He was a Supreme Magus (chief) of the S.R.I.A and went on to co-found t ...

(1891–1925) * W. J. Songhurst (1925–1939) * Frank M. Rickard (1939–1956) * W. R. Semken (1956–1969) *

Edward Varley Kayley Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

(1969–1974) *

Donald Penrose Donald is a masculine given name derived from the Gaelic name ''Dòmhnall''.. This comes from the Proto-Celtic *''Dumno-ualos'' ("world-ruler" or "world-wielder"). The final -''d'' in ''Donald'' is partly derived from a misinterpretation of the ...

(1974–1979) * Norman C. Stamford (1979–1982) * Alan G. Davies (1982–1994) * Ronald E. Rowland (1994–2002) * Andrew B. Stevenson (2002–2006) *

John Paternoster John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(2006–2019) * Anthony W. Llewellyn (2019–present)

Known members

* William Robert Woodman *

* Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie * Samuel Liddell "MacGregor" Mathers *

Arthur Edward Waite Arthur Edward Waite (2 October 1857 – 19 May 1942) was a British poet and scholarly mystic who wrote extensively on occult and esoteric matters, and was the co-creator of the Rider–Waite tarot deck (also called the Rider–Waite–Smith o ...

John Yarker John Yarker (17 April 1833 – 20 March 1913) was an England, English List of Freemasons, Freemason, author, and occultist. He was born in Swindale, Shap, Westmorland, in the north of England. He moved with his parents to Lancashire and on to ...

Robert Felkin Dr Robert William Felkin FRSE LRCSE LRCP (13 March 1853 – 28 December 1926) was a medical missionary and explorer, a ceremonial magician and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a prolific author on Uganda and Central Africa, and e ...

Frederick Bligh Bond Frederick Bligh Bond (30 June 1864 – 8 March 1945), generally known by his second given name ''Bligh'', was an English architect, illustrator, archaeologist and psychical researcher. Early life Bligh Bond was the son of the Rev. Frederick ...

Modern times

The ''Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia'' has led to a number of similar organisations in different countries such as Scotland, Canada, and two in America.Morrisson, page 18

References

Sources

* * * *

External links

Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia
- Official Website.

an online course of introduction to the principles of the SRIA.
Bishop Wilkins SRIA College
An SRIA college with papers, Rosicrucian texts and information about the Society. {{DEFAULTSORT:Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia Hermeticism Masonic organizations Rosicrucianism