Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (Rosicrucian Society of England) or SRIA is a Rosicrucian esoteric Christian order formed by Robert Wentworth Little between 1865King 1989, page 28J. Gordon Melton, page 179 and 1867.C.M., The Rosicrucians, page 109R.W. Littles Biography at the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon While the SRIA is not a Masonic order (unattached to any Grand Lodge structure or Masonic Rite), aspirants (people seeking membership) are strictly confirmed from the ranks of subscribing Master Masons of a Grand Lodge in amity with United Grand Lodge of England.

The structure and grade of this order, as A. E. Waite suggests, were derived from the 18th-century German Order of the Golden and Rosy Cross. It later became the same grade system used for the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.The masonic career of A.E. Waite by Bro. R. A. Gilbert

The Fratres (singular. Frater) of the Society meet in Colleges, which are presided over by an annually elected Celebrant who also oversees all First Order ceremonial. Chief Adepts are responsible for all Colleges within their Province, they personally oversee all Second Order ceremonial activities and are appointed by The Supreme Magus who governs the Society worldwide via his High Council and oversees Third Order ceremonial.Sunshine Coast Freemasons SRIA page

SRIA Colleges can be found in England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Wales, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Hungary, Georgia, and Slovenia.

In addition to the ceremonial work within colleges, each Frater is encouraged to research, present, and discuss, papers covering a range of topics, including but not limited to symbolism, alchemy, artificial intelligence, philosophy, esotericism, spirituality, and mysticism.

The society has a rare collection of 400 year old Rosicrucian books, letters and manuscripts, which are on loan to the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in Freemasons Hall, home of the United Grand Lodge of England.

History

The society is inspired by the original Rosicrucian Brotherhood but does not openly claim a provable link thereto. It bases its teachings on those found in the Fama and Confessio Fraternitatis published in the early 17th century in Germany, along with other similar publications from the same time such as the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz.

The society was founded in 1867, derived from a pre-existing Rosicrucian 'non-Masonic' 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. Little was a clerk and cashier of the General Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, William Henry White. 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.

The organisation was initially named the Rosicrucian Society of England or the Brethren of the Rosy Cross, these names are still used interchangeably to this day. However, the former name was Latinised to Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (or SRIA), and has been commonly used throughout the society since 1889.Square Magazine Book Review Regarding Companions of Christian Rosenkreutz book which references SRIAs historic names.

They produced a journal, called The Rosicrucian, which was co-edited by William Robert Woodman.

The national headquarters of the Society was Stanfield Hall in Hampstead, London, until 2022 when the society relocated its Library to the Museum of Freemasonry, and its Headquarters to Harlthorpe Hall in Yorkshire.

Membership requirements The society requires that all aspirants for membership apply from the ranks of subscribing Master Masons of a Grand Lodge in amity with United Grand Lodge of England to declare a belief in the fundamental principles of the Trinitarian Christian faith and offers assistance to all its members in working out the great problems of nature and science.

Structure and governance The Society is subdivided into three Orders:

1st Order Members of the 1st Order(Fratres) meet in a College. 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.

+ First Order Grades Grade Grade Name Grade I Zelator Grade II Theoricus Grade III Practicus Grade IV Philosophus

2nd Order The Second Order is managed at a provincial level, headed by a Chief Adept and his deputy (Suffragan) who have jurisdiction over all first order Colleges within a Province. The Chief Adept is empowered to personally 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.

+ Second Order Grades Grade Grade Name 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 The Third Order is headed by the Supreme Magus, Senior Substitute Magus, and Junior Substitute Magus. Members of the second order who have given service to the Society and have been selected by the Supreme Magus for such advancement may be awarded these two further Grades.

Acting recipients receive Grade VIII or Grade IX, however, the Supreme Magus can also grant the grades honorifically (8° & 9°). All recipients receive the full ceremony, which is personally overseen by the Supreme Magus and his team.

+ Third Order Grades Grade Honorific Grade Name Grade VIII 8° Magister Grade IX 9° Magus

Regalia Fraters within the First Order wear a jewel (medal) hanging on a green ribbon, the ribbon changes to yellow for Fraters within the Second Order.

When a frater becomes a Celebrant he wears a red robe, and thereafter he continues to wear a red robe.

Certain officers within a College wear regalia specific to their office.

Supreme Magus There have been 14 Supreme Magi since the founding of the SRIA: Supreme Magus Years of Office Robert Wentworth Little 1869–1878 William Robert Woodman 1878–1891 William Wynn Westcott 1891–1925 W. J. Songhurst 1925–1939 Frank M. Rickard 1939–1956 W. R. Semken 1956–1969 Edward Varley Kayley 1969–1974 Donald Penrose 1974–1979 Norman C. Stamford 1979–1982 Alan G. Davies 1982–1994 Ronald E. Rowland 1994–2002 Andrew B. Stevenson 2002–2006 John Paternoster 2006–2019 Anthony W. Llewellyn 2019–present

Known members William Robert Woodman William Wynn Westcott Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie Samuel Liddell "MacGregor" Mathers Arthur Edward Waite John Yarker Robert Felkin Frederick Bligh Bond

SRIA Colleges The SRIA has hundreds of Colleges worldwide, however it does not have a presence in the United States of America, Portugal, Italy, or Scotland, which are under the jurisdiction of the SRIA's sister societies.

A map of all SRIA colleges has been published on the official SRIA's official website. Examples of Colleges include:

Bishop Wilkins College

Mersey College

Charles Darwin College

John Dee College

Woodman College (Halifax)

Thomas B Whytehead College (Castleford)

St John of Beverley College (Beverly)

York College

Middlesbrough College

Newcastle College

Pythagoras College

Other organisations There are multiple orders and societies that are associated with or inspired by the SRIA.

Societas Rosicruciana

The Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia has led to several Societas Rosicruciana organisations in different countries such as Scotland (SRIS), Portugal (SRIL), and The Americas (SRICF).Morrisson, page 18

Royal Order of Eri An invitational Irish order requiring membership of both Freemasonry and the SRIA. Members must be 5th grade or above in SRIA to be considered for invitation. The Masonic order is derived from an ancient Order in Ireland which was founded by the historic Kings of Ireland. The order's name relates to Erin the ancient Irish name for Ireland. In Canada and the United States, this order forms part of the Allied Masonic Degrees, but remains invite only.

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

In 1888, three members of SRIA formed the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, 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. While SRIA inspired several aspects, there is no active link between the SRIA and any modern-day Golden Dawn organisation.

References

External links Official SRIA websites Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia - Official Website. The SRIA Province of Greater London & Metropolitan Study Group - The official website for SRIA in London. Rosicrucian Society of Freemasons in Victoria - The official website for SRIA in Victoria, Australia. North West SRIA - The official website for the SRIA Province of North West Counties (England). Western Counties & North Wales SRIA - The official website for the SRIA Province of Western Counties & North Wales. Province of the South Western Counties SRIA - The official website for the SRIA Province of South Western Counties (England). Bishop Wilkins SRIA College - An SRIA college with papers, Rosicrucian texts and information about the Society.

Third-party websites All About John Yarker - includes two talks written by John Yarker for the SRIA in 1875 and 1879. Seven Steps of Wisdom - an online course of introduction to the principles of the SRIA.

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