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The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (Sometimes Called “Rose Croix”)

STRUCTURE OF THE ORDER

 Working under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite for Australia, the Rite is divided into two separate and distinct bodies, Sovereign Chapters and Sovereign Councils. Entrance into the Order is by way of the Sovereign Chapter which confers the degrees 1st - 18th. Of the eighteen degrees, the first three are deemed to be the equivalent to the three Craft Degrees and are therefore considered already attained. The Intermediate Degrees, 4th - 17th are conferred by name. The full working of these degrees is demonstrated periodically by Chapters of Improvement. The 18° “Excellent and Perfect Prince Rose Croix” is worked in full. 

Qualification for membership is one year as a Master Mason of good standing and, as the Rite is Christian in character in Tasmania, a willingness to enter into an obligation in the name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is required. 

The Degrees 19th – 30th are conferred within a Sovereign Council. As within a Sovereign Chapter, the intermediate degrees 19^th to 29^th are conferred on the candidate and the 30^th degree is worked in full. The minimum qualification for admission into a Sovereign Council is having served three years as a member of the 18^th degree.  

Minimum admission into the 31° and 32° are three years in the previous degree.  

The 33^rd degree is conferred on a member when he is appointed District Commander i.e. Head of a District. 

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ORGANISATION OF THE RITE IN TASMANIA (REGION 8) 

Tasmania (Region 8) consists of two Districts, each under the direction of a District Commander 33°. The District of Tasmania Bass takes in the North and North-West of the State, and the District of Tasmania Derwent, the Southern part of the State.

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Tasmanian Chapters 

 Tasmanian Councils 

Tasmanian Chapter of Improvement 

For further information, please contact either the: 

District Recorder, Tasmania Bass,
Raymond Chell
20 Charob Avenue, LILYDALE TAS 7268
Phone (03) 63951023
Email ray.chell@optusnet.com.au

or 

District Recorder, Tasmania Derwent
Allan Sangwell
3 Haven Court ROSNEY TAS 7108
Phone (03) 62446552
Email allanandpam3@bigpond.com

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HISTORY OF THE RITE

The use of the word "Scottish" has led many Masons to believe that the Rite originated in Scotland. Actually, the first reference to the Rite appears in old French records where the word "Ecossais," meaning Scottish, is found. During the latter part of the 17th Century, when the British Isles were torn by strife, many Scots fled to France and resumed their Masonic interests is that country. It is believed that this influence contributed to the use of the word "Scottish."

In 1732, the first "Ecossais" or Scottish Lodge, was organized in Bordeaux, one of the oldest and most influential Masonic centres in France. The membership included Scottish and English Masons. The years 1738-40 saw the formation of the first "Hauts Grades" or advanced degrees.

Our first record of what is now known as the Rose Croix Degree (18^th) dates from 1765. In its early years the degree had a chequered history and eventually became one of twenty five degrees in what was known as the Rite of Perfection. In 1786 a group of eminent members of the Rite under the titular direction of Fredrick the Great of Prussia published the Grand Constitutions of 1786. Under these Constitutions the Rite of Perfection was renamed the “Ancient and Accepted Rite” and extended to thirty three degrees of which the Rose Croix degree became the Eighteenth.

The Grand Constitutions of 1786 provide for a procedure whereby a Supreme Council in one country can move to establish a Supreme Council in another country where a Supreme Council does not already exist. Under this procedure, a Patent to establish a Supreme Council for England and Wales was sought from the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction U.S.A. and was granted in 1845. A patent to establish a Supreme Council for Scotland was granted by the Supreme Council for France in 1846.

Within a comparatively few years both the Supreme Council for England and the Supreme Council for Scotland has approved petitions for Charters to establish Rose Croix Chapters in Australia.

Until 1945 progress of the two orders was slow but steady. After 1945 development of Rose Croix Freemasonry in Australia accelerated. It was natural that post 1945 there should be a demand for a Supreme Council 33° for Australia and in 1985 that demand was satisfied. The Supreme Council for England and Wales and the Supreme Council for Scotland conducted a plebiscite of all their members and Chapters. The plebiscite proved favourable and on the 12^th October 1985 the “Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for Australia” came into being.

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 RECENT AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS The end of an Era - Death of V. Ill Bro. Stanley Kenneth Woodman, VRD, BE Adel 33', Sovereign Grand Inspector General

Ken Woodman was, indeed, a ‘landmark’ in Freemasonry – permanent and ever-present, arguably the most knowledgeable freemason in Tasmania, and friend and mentor to us all. For as long as any of us can remember, Ken had always been part of the Masonic landscape and we had come to accept that he always would be – a lynchpin on whom we could all rely and to whom we could refer on any point of detail.

Ken was perfected in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the Earl of Euston Chapter, No 147 in South Australia in 1946. Subsequent to moving to Launceston, he joined Ernest Clark Sovereign Chapter in 1958 and was enthroned as Sovereign of the Chapter in 1961. He was elevated to the 30^th degree in 1961 in the Northern Tasmania Sovereign Council, to the 31^st degree in 1969, and to the 32^nd in 1975.

In May 1975, he was made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General and served, from 1975 to 1980, as District Commander for the District of Tasmania in the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales.  Ken was a moving force in the establishment of both Coronation Sovereign Chapter and Rose of Launceston Sovereign Chapter and was enthroned as Most Wise Sovereign of the latter in 1973. He was honoured for his contribution to both Ernest Clark and Rose of Launceston by being made a Member Emeritus of both Chapters in 2009.

Ken died in December 2009, just several months short of his 102^nd birthday. Our Order has been diminished by his death. We remember him fondly and with deep affection.

Ken, as we wish to remember him – living life to the fullest until the last.

Trevor Taplin – 50 year jewel (text and photo – Rob Clarke)

M.Ill.Bro. Trevor Taplin OAM was Perfected in the Hobart Sovereign Chapter on the 13^th February 1960 and moved through the various offices to become the Most Wise Sovereign on the 8^th February 1975. 

 Degrees above the 18^th were at that time issued by patent and Trevor received his 31^st and 32^nd Degrees and 33 Degree in 1980. 

Rose Croix masonry in Tasmania at that time operated under the Supreme Council 33Degree for England and Wales, with an Australian Branch Council covering the operations in Australia. 

Trevor became the District Commander in English constitution and a member of the Australian Branch Council until the establishment of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Australia. Indeed he was Sovereign Grand Inspector General (District Commander) for the period 1980 through to and including 1990, operating in both the English and Australian based constitutions.  

During his time as District Commander Trevor initiated the holding of 30^th Degree ceremonies in both Hobart and Launceston until sufficient interest was obtained to set up two Sovereign Councils, Holy Grail in Hobart and Northern Tasmania in Launceston. 

He remains an active member of the rite in Tasmania.

V. Ill. Bro. Rob Clarke, District Commander, Tasmanian Derwent District; Ill. Bro. Norm Cooper, MWS of Hobart Crown of Life Chapter; M. Ill. Bro. Taplin;
M. Ill. Bro. Bill Morgan, regional Commander - Tasmanian Region.

Visit of Sovereign Grand Commander.

The Sovereign Grand Commander, M P Bro. Peter Straw 33', visited Tasmania on 15 May 2010 for the first time assuming office as head of the Order. M P Bro. Straw attended 31st and 32nd degree meetings held on the day and meeting of the Holy Grail Sovereign Council.  He also officiated at the consecration of the new Tasman Chapter of Improvement.

M.P.Bro. Peter Straw is pictured congratulating Em. Bro. Bill Robinson, Ill. Bro. George Aplin, and Em. Bro. Maurice Lawson, who were elevated to the 32nd degree on the day. 

Consecration of the Tasman Chapter of Improvement

Tasmania now has its own Chapter of Improvement, the Tasman Chapter of Improvement, headed by Preceptor, Em Bro. Ray Patmore 32°. Ray will be assisted by Ill Bro. Ian Green 30°. Both were installed in their respective offices of Preceptor and Assistant Preceptor, during the impressive consecration ceremony on 15 May 2010 that established the new Chapter. The ceremony, conducted by M P Bro. Peter Straw assisted by members of the 33rd degree, is one that is rarely seen.

 Prior to the establishment of Region 8, expositions of the Intermediate Degrees were conducted in Tasmania under the auspices of the Victorian-based Southern Cross Chapter of Improvement.  The Southern Cross Chapter of Improvement will continue to support expositions in Tasmania through the loan of regalia for the various degrees. The new Chapter will, however, be ably supported by Em Bro. Lloyd Potter 32° who has made much of the lodge furniture and equipment required for previous expositions and is well known throughout the State for his fine craftsmanship.

 The first exposition to be conducted by the new Chapter will be an exposition of the 11th degree in Launceston on 18 June. The exposition will be presented by a team from Coronation Sovereign Chapter led by Ill Bro. Russell Ker 30°.

Ernest Clark Sovereign Chapter Installation 

Excellent and Perfect Bro. Brad Emmerton 18° was installed as Most Wise Sovereign of Ernest Clark Sovereign Chapter at the Chapter’s installation ceremony held in May. Brad has been an active participant in expositions of the Intermediate Degrees and is well known in other orders of Freemasonry.

Most Wise Sovereign of Ernest Clark Sovereign Chapter, Excellent and Perfect Bro. Brad Emmerton 18°, pictured with Regional Commander, M Ill Bro. Bill Morgan 33°, and District Commander, V Ill Bro. Greg Parkinson 33°. 

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