white_rose_newsletter_42-1 - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West ...

THE ANCIENT ANDMASONIC ORDER OFTHE SCARLET CORDTHE 21 July 2010 was an historic andsignificant date in the history of BritishFreemasonry. On that date the Ancientand Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cordwas inaugurated at Freemasons’ Hall,Great Queen Street, London, the firstMasonic Order to be founded in theBritish Isles in almost threequarters of acentury.The Royal Order of the Knights of theScarlet Cord (original name of the Order)was developed in the British Isles at theend of the 19th century and was foundedupon ancient 18th century documentsfrom the Amsterdam Masonic archives.The rituals and ceremonies were rewrittenand enriched by one of the authors of thethree rituals currently used in the Order ofthe Secret Monitor (OSM), His HonourJudge Frederick Adolphus Philbrick, KC.Judge Philbrick conceived the idea ofan appendant degree, partly no doubtcopying the other sovereign Masonicbodies, which had one, but mainly toprotect the welfare of the members andgive the Order considerable charitablestatus by developing a Benevolent Fund.Up to that time the 2nd Degree(Princes) ritual of the OSM included in theaddress to the candidate the story ofRahab and the Scarlet Cord, taken fromChapter two of the Book of Joshua.Philbrick decided to expand this part ofthe address into a ceremony in its ownright consisting of six Grades. The primaryobject of which was to assist thedevelopment of the Benevolent FundThe Benevolent Fund was set up in1901 and formally opened with a creditbalance of 17 guineas. The Fund hadthree divisions, which expended theirfunds in furthering the education ofchildren of Secret Monitors; assistance ofSecret Monitors or their families insickness or convalescence; the care ofaged Secret Monitors. During World War1 the Benevolent Fund subscribed to themaintenance of a bed in the Freemasons’War Hospital. This was known as ‘OurBrother’s Bed’.Candidates for membership of TheRoyal Order of Knights of the Scarlet Cordwere required to be Princes of the Order,and holders of a special badge showingmembership of the Fund of Benevolenceof the Order of the Secret Monitor. FurtherSupreme Ruler Stewart Glasgow Carleythan this there was no bar to admission,except the usual ballot.During the relatively short life of theOrder there was only one Consistory inthe British Isles - The MetropolitanConsistory, which worked regularly until1914, went into abeyance for the period1914-1918, was revived in 1919 butceased operations in 1929. In that year itwas resolved that “All ceremonial work inconnection with the Royal Order ofKnights of the Scarlet Cord shouldcease”.In 2004 the then Grand Supreme Ruler,M W Bro Peter Glyn Williams decided tobring back the Order into mainstreamFreemasonry. In December 2006, afterthe rituals had been refreshed and insome cases rewritten, the Scarlet CordConclave No 500 was consecrated. Theoriginal idea was to have just oneconclave, based at Mark Masons’ Hall,which would be responsible for bringingBrethren into the Order of the ScarletCord. However, it was soon realised thatthis was impracticable. The Order grewat such a rate that it was decided to allowOSM Provinces to form a Scarlet CordConclave with a view to introducingBrethren into the first three Grades of theOrder at a local level.To this end, the Scarlet Cord Conclaveof Yorkshire, West Riding No 538 wasconsecrated on 20 October 2009 atBlenheim House, Batley and quickly took15 candidates to the First Grade in itsappendant Consistory.The Consecrating officer was R Wy BroBrian Clifford Wareham, Deputy GrandSupreme Ruler, who also Installed R WyBro Stewart Glasgow Carley as the firstSupreme Ruler. The Brethren were joinedfor lunch by the R W Provincial GrandMaster, John K Clayton.During 2009 a steering committee wasformed by the OSM Executive to considerhow the Order of the Scarlet Cord shouldbest progress. As a result of itsdeliberations it was decided that theOrder should split from the OSM andbecome a separate Order in its own right,hence the inauguration on 21 July 2010.As a result the Order has been renamedthe Ancient and Masonic Order of theScarlet Cord. Also the Scarlet CordConclave of Yorkshire, West Riding No538 has undergone a metamorphosis intothe Calder Vale Consistory No 19 TI (TimeImmemorial).As stated earlier the qualification formembership of the Order is thatcandidates must be Princes (2nd Degree)of the Order of the Secret Monitor,although the need to make a contributionto the Benevolent Fund has beendropped.If you are a Prince of the Order of theSecret Monitor and you would like furtherinformation on the Scarlet Cord you maylike to visit the website of the Order atwww.thescarletcord.org.uk or you cancontact ray.johnson4@btopenworld.com.If you are a Master Mason andinterested in the Order of theSecret Monitor, you could visitwww.osmwestyorks.com or again contactthe above.HAIGH FARM SHOP LTD.Far Common Road, Mirfield, WF14 0DQThe Provincial Grand Conclave of West Yorkshire in the ORDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR or BROTHERHOODof DAVID and JONATHAN IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS PAGE OF THE WHITE ROSE MASONIC NEWS40