The Ancient and Accepted Rite (Rose Croix)
The Ancient and Accepted Rite originated in France in 1754 and worked in the USA where a Supreme Council was formed in 1801.
The Supreme Council for England and Wales was established in 1845 under a patent from the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America. The Rite consists of its own 33 Degrees entirely separate and distinct from any other Order.
The three Craft Degrees are accepted as equivalent to the first 3 Degrees of this Rite. Candidates for Perfection are taken from the 4º to 17º Degrees by name only, prior to being made Excellent and Perfect Princes Rose Croix in a detailed and beautiful 18º Degree ceremony. This is the only degree permitted to be worked in a private Rose Croix Chapter. Degrees above the 18º are awarded on merit after a brother has passed the Chair of his Chapter.
For more information on the Order of The Ancient and Accepted Rite, please contact the District Recorder: Larry Baldry or click on the link to the Supreme Council website.
The ‘Rose Croix’ in England and Wales a uniquely loved order
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Francis Wakem
Inspector General - District of Wiltshire
The head of The Ancient And Accepted Rite (Rose Croix) in the District of Wiltshire is Francis Wakem.
Born in Salisbury, Francis is married to Dorothy, who is a retired midwifery sister and avid artist, they have two adult children and a grandson Robert who is only 15 years old but like all youngsters today has the air of a 25 year old.
Francis served with the Wiltshire Constabulary first as a cadet and latterly as a senior officer in the rank of Chief Superintendent. The Queen honoured Francis with the Queen's Police Medal in recognition of his service to the Wiltshire Constabulary and the community in general.
He is currently Chairman of Splitz Support Services (Wiltshire) and a National Volunteer Advocate for Victim Support.
Having been Initiated into Corsham Lodge No.6616 Francis became Master of the Lodge in 1988. His enthusiasm for Freemasonry has seen him become a member of numerous Lodges in Wiltshire and Berkshire. Francis is also an Honorary Member of a number of Lodges in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Monmouthshire and London.
Honoured by the Province of Wiltshire, he has served in many of the offices including Provincial Grand Secretary and Assistant Provincial Grand Master
Grand Lodge appointed Francis to Grand Rank as Provincial Grand Master for Wiltshire in 2004 a position he held for just over a decade!
Francis was Perfected in the The Ancient and Accepted Rite (Rose Croix) in the St Aldhelm Chapter Rose Croix No. 819 in 1990. He is a member of Chapters in Wiltshire and London.
Francis has enjoyed Provincial and Grand rank in the Holy Royal Arch having been Exalted in St Edmund Chapter No. 4714
As a Mark Mason Francis has enjoyed Provincial and Grand Rank since being Advanced in Lansdowne Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 1035. He has also enjoyed Grand Rank as a Royal Ark Mariner having been Elevated in Wiltshire Anchor Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No. 178.
Francis welcomes enquiries from brethren who wish to know more about the Order and looks forward to developing ever closer ties with all Freemasons within the Province of Wiltshire.
Rose Croix
As the craft degrees have evolved, so too have independent Orders of Freemasonry and rituals peculiar to them.
Prominent among them in England and Wales is the Ancient and Accepted Rite, whose Chapters are grouped into Districts and administered by a Supreme Council, which is also responsible for certain Districts and Chapters overseas.
It chooses to accept the three craft degrees of UGLE as a qualification for entry into a Chapter, rather than administering entry degrees of its own. Progression to further degrees is then within Chapters, and in ceremonies generally conducted by the Supreme Council itself.
The Rite is frequently referred to as the 'Rose Croix', although this is only one of its degrees.
All candidates for membership of the Ancient and Accepted Rite under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council for England and Wales must profess the Trinitarian Christian faith and have been Master masons for at least one year in UGLE, or have joined a lodge under UGLE from a recognised Grand Lodge.
