20-Years in Freemasonry

Today marks 20 years since I was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. As I look back on that evening in 2006 and the journey that has followed, I find myself filled with gratitude...gratitude for the Brethren who guided me, the friendships forged across countless miles, the lessons learned through service, and the opportunities afforded to me by the Craft and the many concordant bodies of Freemasonry.

When I first petitioned Oriental Lodge No. 60 in Boise, Idaho, I could not have imagined where this path would lead. What began as a simple curiosity sparked by a glimpse of a Masonic cemetery in New Orleans while preparing for deployment to Iraq eventually grew into a lifelong vocation of service to Freemasonry. During my deployment, I read every book on the fraternity that I could find. Upon returning home, a chance conversation with two coworkers led me to my first Lodge visit. I immediately found something that resonated deeply within me.

I was initiated on May 19, 2006, passed on June 16, and raised on June 23. I progressed through the degrees and then the officer line, eventually serving as Worshipful Master of Oriental Lodge No. 60 in 2009. Those early years taught me one of the most important lessons of Masonry: that no man advances alone. Every success I enjoyed was built upon the encouragement, mentorship, and example of dedicated Brothers who invested their time and wisdom in a young Mason eager to learn.

What followed over the next two decades was a journey far beyond anything I could have anticipated.

Through the York Rite, I found additional opportunities for growth and service. From serving as High Priest of Boise Chapter No. 3, Illustrious Master of Idaho Council No. 1, and Eminent Commander of Idaho Commandery No. 1, to later serving as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of Idaho and Most Illustrious Grand Master of Cryptic Masons in Idaho, I was privileged to work alongside some of the finest men I have ever known.

In 2016, I was elected Worshipful Master of Idaho City Historic Lodge No. 1863. That same year, I joined fellow Fratres in Montana to help establish Montana College of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis, presiding over the conferral of the Zelator Grade. It was also that year I completed my Master of Arts in Political Science at Boise State University, an achievement that reflected another lifelong pursuit encouraged by Freemasonry: the pursuit of knowledge.

The years that followed brought increasing responsibilities in Masonic, Templar, and Rosicrucian circles. In 2018, I was elected Most Excellent Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of Idaho and Pre-Eminent Governor of Tri-Valley College No. 178, York Rite Sovereign College. Yet that same year reminded me that life is not measured solely in accomplishments. My father was diagnosed with cancer, and later that summer I left the Grand Encampment Triennial early to be with him during his final days. His passing was one of the most difficult moments of my life. The support of my family, friends, and Brothers during that period demonstrated the true strength of fraternal bonds.

In March 2019, Idaho College SRICF was formally established, and I was honored to be elected its first Celebrant. Later that year, I was advanced to the Third Order and received the VIII° and IX° of the Society. For a Rosicrucian student, these honors represented not merely advancement, but a reminder that the pursuit of wisdom is a lifelong endeavor and that every attainment carries with it greater responsibilities.

The COVID pandemic brought challenges that none of us anticipated. Lodges closed, meetings were canceled, and many cherished traditions were temporarily interrupted. Yet even amid uncertainty, Freemasonry endured. In April 2020, I was virtually installed as Most Illustrious Grand Master of Cryptic Masons in Idaho and continued serving the Craft in whatever manner circumstances allowed. Later that year, I was appointed Deputy General Grand High Priest for the Northwest Region of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International, an office that provided opportunities to travel throughout the region and assist Companion Masons across multiple jurisdictions.

As restrictions eased, the years from 2021 onward became some of the busiest of my Masonic career. I presided over numerous bodies, attended conferences and triennials throughout the United States, participated in the conferral of degrees and grades in multiple jurisdictions, and continued my service within the SRICF, Allied Masonic Degrees, Red Cross of Constantine, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, and many other organizations. Over the years, I've been privileged to receive honors including the Ephraim A. Kirby Award, Order of the Secret Vault, the Knight Commander of the Temple, the Order of the Purple Cross, and appointment as a Kentucky Colonel. 

My Masonic travels expanded far beyond Idaho. I attended meetings and ceremonies across the United States, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, and Israel. Among the most memorable experiences was my initiation into the Mysteries of Mithras in London in 2024. These experiences reinforced a lesson I have observed repeatedly throughout my travels: while customs, jurisdictions, and traditions may differ, the principles of brotherhood remain universal.

Not all of the significant moments of the past decade were joyful. In addition to losing my father in 2018, I lost my grandfather in 2024 and my grandmother in 2025. Those losses served as poignant reminders of the lessons taught in our ritual regarding mortality, memory, and the enduring influence of those who have gone before us. As Masons, we are constantly reminded that our lives are finite and that our true legacy rests not in titles or honors, but in the lives we touch and the work we leave behind.

The past several years have brought new service opportunities. I have served as Grand Commander of Knights Templar in Idaho, Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Idaho, Grand Recorder of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Idaho, Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Idaho, Grand Registrar for the Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon USA, and Grand Superintendent of the Pacific Northwest for the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States.

As I look back over two decades, what stands out most are not the offices held, the honors received, or even the miles traveled. Rather, it is the people. The mentors who challenged me to improve myself. The Brothers who stood beside me during difficult times. Those who have passed. The Companions, Sir Knights, Fratres, and friends whose fellowship enriched my life in countless ways. Freemasonry has given me opportunities to serve, to learn, and to grow, but above all it has introduced me to remarkable men whose friendship I treasure.

Twenty years ago, I knelt at an altar. Today, I remain a student of the Craft. There is still much to learn, much to accomplish, and much work yet to be done. If the past twenty years have taught me anything, it is that the journey itself is among life's greatest blessings.

For that journey, and for every Brother who has walked a portion of it beside me, I am profoundly grateful.

Passing of Bill Miller

I found out today that William R. Miller, a good Mason, passed away. I met Bill when I joined Knight Masons and St. Thomas of Acon in March 2013. Along with Joe and Louis, it was through Bill's generosity that I was able to attend Masonic Week, starting in 2014. I would sleep on the hide-a-bed in the hospitality room that they hosted. Over the next few years, I got to know Bill very well. In 2015, he appointed me as a member of his Hospitality Committee when he presided over the Red Cross of Constantine.

Bill was born on November 2, 1935, in Seattle, WA, but he received his public education in Washington, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa. He received a B.S. in Industrial Administration from Iowa State University, where he joined the Delta Epsilon fraternity. After nearly 38 years, he retired in July 1994 as a Facilities Resource Manager with Boeing. Bill and his high school sweetheart, the late Maralyn Edwards, a Rainbow girl, were married on October 12, 1957, in Knoxville, TN. 

Bill was a member of the Morningside Chapter of DeMolay, where he was a Representative DeMolay and received the Zerubbabel Key. He was Dean of Tacoma Legion of Honor Preceptory (1983). As an adult, he served on the Advisory Boards of the local DeMolay Chapter and Rainbow Assembly, serving as Dad Advisor and Rainbow Dad, respectively, receiving the DeMolay Guild of the Leather Apron and Grand Cross of Color. He was elected a member of the DeMolay Supreme Council in 1994 and was Grand Orator (2008). He was a Past Patron of Pyramid Chapter No. 257, Order of the Eastern Star. 

Bill was made a Mason in Queen Anne Lodge No. 242 in Seattle on March 12, 1959, later demitted to Thornton F. McElroy Lodge No. 302 in Federal Way, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1966 and again in 2016. He served as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Washington (1989-90). He served the Conference of Grand Masters of North America on its Fraternal Relations Committee (1989-93). He was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Masonic Foundation for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Children (1988-1994) and its President (1992-94). 

In the Scottish Rite, he served as Venerable Master of Tacoma Scottish Rite 1984, was made a Knight Commander Court of Honor in 1973, coroneted an Inspector General Honorary in 1985, was crowned Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Washington in October 1993 (serving for 20 years) and served as Grand Minister of State of the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. 

He was a member and past presiding officer of a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Council of Cryptic Masons, Commandery of Knights Templar (recipient of the Illustrious Knights of the Triangle from the Grand Commandery of Washington and the Knight Commander of the Temple from the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar), York Rite College (recipient of the Order of the Purple Cross and Past Deputy Grand Governor of Washington) and SRICF College (IX° - Magus). He was also a member of the Royal Order of Scotland, KYCH, the Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, and the Afifi Shriners. Bill was Sovereign Master of Pacific Council No. 30 and Most Venerable Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council (AMD) in 2006. He was the Excellent Chief of Clontarf Council and served as the Most Excellent Great Chief of the Grand Council of Knight Masons, USA in 2018. Bill was Worthy Master of Tahoma Chapel No. 30, St. Thomas of Acon, and served as Most Worthy Grand Master of the Grand Masters Council, USA in 2017. He joined the Holy Order of Knights Beneficient of the Holy City, Great Priory of America (CBCS) in 2000 and served as the Most Reverend Great Prior. He joined St. Alban Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine in 1983, served as Puissant Sovereign in 1991, and Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign in 2014-2015. 

Bill was a member of Marine View Presbyterian Church and the Federal Way School Board (1975-1986) (three terms as president) (Washington State School Board of the Year 1980).

Bill was survived by son Brian, daughter Kathleen Ancel, and grandchildren Jeremy, Kyle, Colin, and Brandon.

A. E. Waite

Arthur Edward Waite (1857–1942) occupies a unique place in the history of Western esotericism. An American-born poet, mystic, and occult scholar who spent nearly his entire life in England, Waite wrote prolifically on the subjects of mysticism, ceremonial magic, Kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, and alchemy. He was also the co-creator of the Rider–Waite Tarot deck, the single most influential tarot pack of the modern era. R. A. Gilbert, Waite’s biographer, observed that Waite’s importance lies in the fact that he was “the first to attempt a systematic study of the history of Western occultism.” Waite’s career was marked by his constant search for what he called the “Secret Tradition”, a hidden stream of mystical Christianity preserved within the symbols of esoteric societies and texts.

Early and Personal Life

A. E. Waite was born on October 2, 1857, in Brooklyn, New York, to Charles F. Waite, a Captain in the American merchant marines, and Emma Lovell, daughter of a wealthy London merchant involved in the East India trade. Charles and Emma never married, and Waite and his sister Frederika were thus illegitimate. When Charles died at sea, Emma returned to England with her two children, raising them in poverty on the margins of London society. Rejected by her family, Emma converted to Roman Catholicism when Waite was 6 years old, a decision that would shape his religious outlook for the rest of his life.

Waite, unable to receive a formal education, educated himself and became a voracious reader. He spent two terms at St. Charles’ College at 13 years old before leaving formal schooling. Much of his education came through voracious reading, ranging from cheap novels and romances to medieval and mystical texts. In 1874, the death of his sister deeply shook him, weakening his Catholic faith and setting him on a lifelong quest for spiritual consolation. By age 21, he was studying esotericism in the British Museum Library, exploring Spiritualism, Theosophy, and eventually the works of Éliphas Lévi, whose writings ignited Waite’s enduring fascination with the Hermetic and mystical traditions of the West.

In 1888, Waite married Ada Lakeman, whom he affectionately called “Lucasta,” and they had one daughter, Sybil. Between 1900 and 1909, he supported his family as a manager for the Horlicks company. Lucasta’s death in 1924 was a personal blow; in 1933, he remarried Mary Broadbent Schofield, with whom he spent his final years in Kent.

Writer and Scholar

Waite’s literary output was vast. He authored, translated, or edited works on alchemy, Kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, and ceremonial magic, in addition to devotional poetry and mystical theology. His ‘The Builders’ became a popular Masonic classic, distributed widely in America, and in 1916 he was honored by the Grand Lodge of Iowa with the rank of Past Senior Grand Warden.

His book ‘Devil-Worship in France’ (1896) was particularly influential, as it exposed the notorious Taxil Hoax, which had alleged Masonic involvement in Satanism. Waite’s careful analysis demonstrated the fraudulent nature of the claims and earned him the gratitude of both Masonic and occult leaders like William Wynn Westcott. While non-Masonic reviewers thought Waite had perhaps overstated the case, the work effectively put an end to popular interest in “Masonic Satanism.”

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Waite joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1891, entering the Second Order in 1899. He was involved with the Order until 1914, save for a break between 1893 and 1896 when he became disenfranchised with the activities of some of his superiors in the order. He founded his own branch, the Independent and Rectified Order of the Golden Dawn, in 1903, but dissolved it in 1914.

Waite’s approach to esotericism emphasized mysticism and Christian spirituality, a contrast to figures like Aleister Crowley and W. B. Yeats who favored ceremonial magic and practical occultism. Crowley, in particular, mocked Waite in print, calling him “Dead Waite” and lampooning him in ‘Moonchild.’ Yet Gilbert and other scholars argue that Crowley’s animosity stemmed from Waite’s insistence that true magic pointed beyond occultism toward mystical union with the divine.

“Crowley’s hostility centred on his awareness that Waite had perceived the true nature of magic and pointed to another way — that of the mystic. Unwilling to accept what he knew inwardly to be true; Crowley turned to verbiage and venom, at the same time belittling himself and ensuring that future generations of occultists should know of Waite and be curious.” 

- R.A. Gilbert

Masonic Career

A.E. Waite was initiated as an Entered Apprentice on September 19, 1901, in Runymede Lodge No. 2430 at Wraysbury in Buckinghamshire. As a courtesy to Runymede Lodge, Waite was raised as a Master Mason on February 10, 1902, in St. Marylebone Lodge No. 1305 in London. He would serve as Worshipful Master of Runymede Lodge in 1910. He was admitted to the Grade of Zelator in Metropolitan College of the SRIA on April 10, 1902. He would later serve as Exponent of this College in 1913. He was exalted into the Holy Royal Arch in Metropolitan Chapter No. 1507 on May 1, 1902. A week later, he was installed as a Knight Templar in King Edward VII Preceptory.

His most treasured initiation came in February 1903, when he traveled to Geneva to receive the Rectified Scottish Rite and the grade of Chevalier Bienfaisant de la Cité Sainte (CBCS). Waite regarded the Rectified Scottish Rite as the purest expression of the mystical Christian “Secret Tradition.”

“The ceremony throughout was read or recited, the rituals not being committed to memory as in English Masonry. The effect was in reality much better, but it is possible that the ritual lends itself especially to this kind of delivery as it was more narrative and exhortatory than are the Craft degrees. I wish in any case to record that as regards both grades the rites could have scarcely been simpler, more impressive or worked with more smoothness and dignity.”

In 1905, he was initiated into Mark Masonry, which he saw as a purer form of Craft Masonry, not the ‘muddled Deism of Anderson's Constitution.’ In 1930, he was still actively promoting the Mark when he became a founder and first Master of Tower Hamlets Mark Lodge No. 892. He was a founding member of Sancta Maria Preceptory of Knights Templar in 1906 and served as Preceptor in 1909 before serving as Registrar from 1910 to 1940. He received the Chevalier-Profès (Professed Knight) and Chevalier-Grand Profès (Grand Professed Knight) by correspondence in 1907; he did not make a second visit to Geneva. He was perfected (initiated) in the Orpheus Chapter Rose Croix No. 79 in 1909, becoming its Sovereign in 1915, and, from 1918 onwards, he was its Recorder.In 1914, Waite resigned from the SRIA after failing in his bid to be elected as Celebrant of Metropolitan College.

After 1920, his association with Craft Masonry faded, although he remained a member of his mother lodge until his death. By this time, he was a member of virtually every rite that was worked in England, and he had played an active role in many of them, including the Holy Royal Arch, the Knights Templar, the Knights of Malta, the Swedenborgian Rite, the Red Cross of Constantine, and the Secret Monitor.

Despite his wide involvement in Masonic bodies, Waite was often critical of mainstream Freemasonry, which he felt had lost its spiritual depth in favor of worldly ceremony and social respectability. By the 1920s, he had largely withdrawn from active Masonic life, though he remained affiliated until his death.

Martinism and Tarot

One of the lesser-known but crucial influences on Waite’s spiritual development was Martinism, the mystical Christian philosophy derived from Louis Claude de Saint-Martin (“the Unknown Philosopher”) and later systematized by Gérard Encausse (“Papus”). Waite encountered Martinism in the late 19th century, shortly after his exposure to Lévi. Whether Waite formally joined Papus’s Martinist Order remains uncertain, but his writings and ritual work demonstrate a deep assimilation of Martinist themes.

At the core of Martinism lies the doctrine of humanity’s fall from divine unity and the possibility of reintegration with God through inner purification and the cultivation of divine wisdom. Waite absorbed this theology and wove it into his broader search for the “Secret Tradition.” His Fellowship of the Rosy Cross reflected Martinist emphases on mystical ascent, Christian esotericism, and the symbolic use of ritual to awaken the soul to divine realities.

Fellowship of the Rosy Cross

In 1914, he resigned from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the SRIA, which coincided with the decline of his Independent & Rectified Rite of the Golden Dawn. He directed all of his energies to the rituals and creation of the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross (FRC), a Christian Order structured in a series of grades that represented a symbolical ascent of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. The Fellowship of the Rosy Cross was founded on July 9, 1915, with the consecration of Salvator Mundi Temple at De Keyser's Hotel on Victoria Embankment, London. Waite’s Order was supposed to be Christian and mystical, rather than pagan and magical, and it synthesized elements from Freemasonry, Kabbalah, alchemy, Martinism, and Tarot in its rituals. Unlike the Golden Dawn, the FRC rejected magical practices in favor of contemplative mysticism and sacramental ritual. For Waite, the FRC represented the culmination of his lifelong quest to reconstruct the “Secret Tradition” as a living spiritual path.

The Tarot

Waite is best known for his involvement with the Rider–Waite Tarot deck, first published in 1910 and illustrated by his fellow member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Pamela Colman Smith. He also authored the deck’s companion volume, ‘The Key to the Tarot’, which was republished in expanded form in 1911 as ‘The Pictorial Key to the Tarot’. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Waite viewed the Tarot as a book of spiritual doctrine. The Rider–Waite deck embodies this vision: its imagery is infused with Christian mysticism, Rosicrucian allegory, and echoes of Martinist philosophy. The Fool’s journey, in Waite’s interpretation, is not merely a tale of chance or fate but a spiritual pilgrimage toward divine union. By fully illustrating all 78 cards (when most decks at the time depicted only the 22 Major Arcana), Waite and Smith introduced narrative and symbolic coherence to the entire Tarot, encouraging its use not simply for divination, but as a meditation on the stages of the soul’s return to God. Although Waite authored dozens of works, it is the Rider–Waite Tarot and its companion volume that secured his enduring fame. The deck revolutionized Tarot practice and has since become the foundation upon which nearly every modern Tarot deck is built, ensuring Waite’s lasting influence on the esoteric tradition.

Death and Legacy

Waite spent his final years in Bishopsbourne, Kent, where he died on May 19, 1942, at the age of 84. He was buried in the local churchyard. While often mocked by contemporaries such as Crowley and even caricatured by H. P. Lovecraft, Waite’s reputation has grown steadily among scholars of esotericism. His insistence on the distinction between occultism and mysticism, his rejection of sensationalism, and his quest for the “Secret Tradition” have left a lasting legacy. As Fort Newton remarked in 1916, Waite “warns us against the dark alleys that lead nowhere, and the false lights that lure to ruin.”

References

1. A.E. Waite. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._E._Waite 

2. Arthur Edward Waite. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Province of Greater London for the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia: https://srialondon.org/arthur-edward-waite/ 

3. Arthur Edward Waite. (n.d.). Retrieved from Grand Lodge of British Columbia & Yukon: https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/esoterica/waite_a/waite_a.html 

4. Arthur Edward Waite — The Man Behind the Modern Tarot. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mister Tarot: https://www.mistertarot.com/arthur-edward-waite%E2%80%94designer-of-the-modern-tarot/ 

5. Gilbert, R. A. (1986). The Masonic Career of A. E. Waite. Retrieved from Skirrit: https://skirret.com/papers/waite/masonic_career.html 

6. Higgins, S. (2013, December 11). A. E. Waite and the Occult. Retrieved from The Oddest Inkling: https://theoddestinkling.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/a-e-waite-and-the-occult/ 

7. Steele, E. C. (2015, October 2). Arthur Edward Waite is Born. Retrieved from MasonryToday: https://www.masonrytoday.com/index.php?new_month=10&new_day=2&new_year=2015

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It has been a busy week. This last week I started a new position within my company. On Thursday, Idaho Commandery No. 1 met for its monthly meeting where we initiated 5 new Companions into the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross. Friday night started the 221st Spring Reunion of the Boise Valley of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite. Saturday morning I took part as the Expert in 14th degree or Perfect Elu. Sunday morning I served as Captain of the Host for 30th degree or Knight Kadosh. This morning I served as Captain of the Host for the 30th degree or Knight Kadosh.

Now, it's time to sit back, drink a Guinness, and relax. Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Erin go brách!

Thurman C. Pace

I'm saddened to learn of the death of Brother Thurman C. Pace, Jr. of New Jersey. He was 99 years old (next week he would have turned 100). While I had only met him a few times, I learned how dedicated he was to Freemasonry.

Thurman was a World War II Veteran who was present when the Dachau Death Camp was liberated. After the end of the war, he returned to the States and earned a Bachelors degree from Auburn University. He retired in 1987 as Financial Executive of the corporation and President of the United States Mutual Liability Insurance Company. In 1950 he married his wife Betty and they had three children: Donna, Arthur, and Susan. They were married for 74 years.

As another Mason said, "Sir Knight Thurman's Masonic record is an enviable one. He's presided over more than 30 Masonic organizations during his life. Again, space does not permit their listing. It would be far easier to list what Thurman hasn't done!"

Thurman was a 33° and former Deputy of New Jersey for the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the USA; Past Commander of the Legion of Honor Preceptory for New Jersey DeMolay; a Most Illustrious Past Grand Chancellor and Knight Grand Cross in the Grand College of Rites; Past Grand Commander and Past Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of New Jersey, Past Department Commander of the Northeastern Department (1982-1985), recipient of the Knight Commander of the Temple, and an Honorary Most Eminent Past Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar USA; a Most Excellent Past Great Chief of the Grand Council of Knight Masons USA; an Honorary Most Venerable Past Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the USA; a Most Illustrious Past Grand Sovereign of the United Grand Imperial Council of the Red Cross of Constantine; the founder and first Grand Preceptor of the Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor (he served for over 25-years as Grand Preceptor); and a Most Worthy Past Supreme Magus and a Knight Grand Cross of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis where, in 2002, he also chaired the proclamation ceremony for the formation of the Societas Rosicruciana in Lusitania (Portugal) and the investiture of the Supreme Magus for the newly formed High Council.

I'm sure I missed an accomplishment of this truly amazing Mason and his death will be felt around the world of Freemasonry. Requiesce in pace.

Farewell 2023

Another year has come and gone. 2022 had been a fantastic year and I was looking forward to what 2023 had to bring. The year started with work trips to Iowa and South Dakota (you know...the good times to visit the Midwest). In Iowa, I had a chance to visit with my Masonic Brothers.

February brought Masonic Week and it was a busy one. I received the rank of Past Grand Herald from the outgoing Grand Master. I was also elected as Commander-General of the Masonic Order of the Bath for the USA after we initiated 85 candidates into the order. I also received the Knight Commander of Zerubbabel in the Knight Masons.

In April, the annual sessions of the Grand York Rite of Idaho were held. I was elected and installed as Honorable Grand Commander of the Left Wing for Syringa Order No.121 of the Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, the Master of Templars for Idaho Chapter of the Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor, and the Very Eminent Deputy Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Idaho.

After attending the Grand York Rite of Montana at the beginning of June, I spent the rest of the month on the road for work. 

In July, I attended the Rocky Mountain SRICF Conference in Las Vegas. Fratres from Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and New Jersey were present. We conferred the four Grades of the First Order to four candidates from Nevada. I then flew from there straight to another work trip.

I attended the 72nd Triennial Convocation of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International and the 48th Triennial Assembly of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International in August. It was my final duty as a Deputy General Grand High Priest to attend and turn over my collar and apron to my successor.

At the beginning of September, I attended the 88th Annual Conclave of the Convent General of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor where I watched a good friend installed as the Deputy Grand Master-General. A few weeks later I attended the 156th Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Idaho (first time since 2019). September was busy in general because I also attended two meetings for my Lodge, one meeting of my Commandery, and one meeting for the Masonic Order of Athelstan.

In October, I had more work trips, but then attended the first Joint Southwest-Northwest York Rite Conference in Salt Lake City which also included a meeting for the Northwest Province of the Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon. October ended with me attending the conferral of the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor.

November was a busy month. I went to Massachusetts for work, but was also able to get in a lot of sightseeing. I then attended the annual meeting of the High Council of the SRICF. I spent Thanksgiving in Hawaii with several members of my family.

In December, I attended the meetings of Tri-Valley College of the York Rite Sovereign College, St. Michael Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine, Redemption Tabernacle of the Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, and Salish Court of the Masonic Order of Athelstan. I spent Christmas with my family and I couldn't have asked for a better day. 

2024 is going to be a big year for me and I look forward to it all.

Knight Commander of the Court of Honor

Today I had the pleasure of attending Honors Weekend for the Orient of Idaho of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction of the USA. This morning the 33° was conferred upon those worthy Brothers chosen for that great distinction. This afternoon the investiture of the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor was done in Boise for the entire Orient and among those chosen for this honor were the Junior Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Idaho and my dear friend and constant travel companion, Jeremy.

In the 12 years that I've been a Scottish Rite Mason, I had never attended the Honors Weekend so I learned a few things that I did not know before. The Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, or KCCH, was not a part of the Scottish Rite originally, but was instituted on May 5, 1870, during the governance of Albert Pike when he was the Sovereign Grand Commander. Like any honor should be, the KCCH is by invitation only and a recipient must have been a 32° for 46 months to be eligible for nomination. The nomination must be sent by the Orient's Sovereign Grand Inspector General or Deputy to the Supreme Council where they must cast a unanimous ballot.

It was established not as an additional degree, but as an honor for those 32° Brothers who had served the Scottish Rite well. The KCCH also serves as a pool for those to be selected for the 33° Honorary, but receiving the KCCH is by no means a guarantee that a Brother will receive the 33°.

The jewel of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour is a 'Cross Patee Fitched' or a passion cross with fitched ends (see picture). The cross rests on a circle of gold laurel leaves. On the cross is a raised gold circular plate, with gold beads around the circumference. The plate is enameled in white. On the white plate is a green trefoil (a shape like a shamrock). Around the trefoil, in letters of gold are "KT:. COMM:. COURT OF HONOUR."

After being knighted by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Idaho, the recipients were all given their red cap which is meant to "symbolize that nobility of soul which is the parent of all knightly virtues."

William Wynn Westcott

Born on December 17, 1848, in Leamington, Warwickshire, England, William Wynn Westcott was the only child of Dr. Peter Westcott, but would be raised by his half-uncle (who was also a doctor) after his parents died before William was 10 years old. William was educated and attended University College in London where he earned a Bachelor of Medicine. After his education left London and worked with his half-uncle at his medical practice.

William was involved with his community and served in many capacities and appointments such as Factory Surgeon, Public Vaccinator, Medical Officer of Health, and Quartermaster to a Battalion of Volunteers.

On February 18, 1873, he was married to Elizabeth Burnett. Together they had four children and moved back to London in 1879. From 1879 to 1881, he seemed to have taken a sabbatical where he studied Kabalistic, Hermetic, Alchemical, and Rosicrucian philosophy and teachings.

In 1881, he was appointed Deputy Coroner for Central Middlesex and Central London. In 1894, he was appointed Coroner for Northeast London; he served in this position until 1918. In 1918, he moved to South Africa.

William Wynn Westcott was initiated into Parret and Axe Lodge No. 814 in Crewkerne (England) on October 24, 1871. Little is known about his advancement, but he served as the Lodge's Master in 1877. He was also a member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, the premier Lodge of Research in the world, and served as its Worshipful Master in 1893. He would also serve as Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in Somerset and be awarded the rank of Past Junior Grand Deacon by the United Grand Lodge of England. 

In Capitular Masonry, he was exalted into the Chapter of Brotherly Love No. 329 on April 30, 1873, and served as the First Principal (equivalent to Excellent High Priest in the United States) in 1889. He would go on to be a Past Grand Standard Bearer of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England.

Unlike the US, Mark Masonry is a separate body in England. Westcott was advanced to Mark Masonry in William de Irwin Lodge No. 162 and served as its Master in 1887. He would serve as the Provincial Grand Senior Warden of the Mark Province of Somerset.

He is said to have joined the Order of the Temple or Knights Templar, but the dates are not known nor what offices he held, if any. This claim is disputed.

He joined the Ancient & Accepted Rite in 1875 and was promoted to the 30° in 1878.

He was a member of Rose and Lily Conclave No. 10 of the Red Cross of Constantine.

He was a member of the Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri where he was instrumental in reviving and reorganizing the order, and served as its Grand Master and its senior Knight Grand Cross.

He was admitted to the Swedenborg Rite in 1876 where he served as Worshipful Master of Emanuel Lodge No. 1 and Junior Warden of Hermes Lodge No. 8 in 1886, District Senior Grand Warden and Supreme Grand Senior Deacon in 1877, Worshipful Master of Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction in 1887, and Supreme Grand Junior Warden and Supreme Grand Secretary in 1891.

Westcott joined the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (SRIA) on April 15, 1880, at Metropolitan College. He was admitted to the Grades of the Second Order on December 12, 1881. In 1883 he served as Secretary General of the Society. In 1889, he served as Celebrant of Metropolitan College, and in 1891 he was enthroned as Most Worthy Supreme Magus of the SRIA.

Westcott was targeted by anti-Masons of the age. In 1896, he was listed as the “Chief of English Luciferians” in a French anti-Mason publication called “Mémoires d'une Ex-Palladiste”. This was supposedly written by Ms. Diana Vaughan which of course was a pseudonym used by the hoaxer Leo Taxil.

Westcott was also a member of several non-Masonic esoteric societies like the Hermetic Society and Theosophical Society. The latter organization he advanced to the “inner circle.” But it was with another group that Westcott is highly remembered, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

In 1887 Westcott acquired a ciphered manuscript that proved to be a series of initiatory rituals. In working with his fellow Rosicrucian Frater, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers worked the rituals into a workable form. He, Mathers, and Dr. William Robert Woodman (the then Supreme Magus of the SRIA) established the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in February 1888.

Being a public official (the Coroner), he was pressured into retiring from his public life as a member of the Golden Dawn and stepped down from his officer roles. There also seems to have been an internal dispute between him and Mathers who accused Westcott of being a forger and liar. Some speculate that it was Mathers who had informed Westcott's superiors of his involvement in the Golden Dawn to force him out of power. Mathers accuses Westcott of fabricating the documents authenticating the origins of the Golden Dawn. 

William Westcott died of Brights Disease (a kidney disease) on July 30, 1925, in Durban, South Africa. He was predeceased by his wife in 1921, both of his sons (1906 and 1907), and both of his daughters (1918 and 1924). While some of his life may be left in controversy, he was clearly a revered and respected Mason in his time and left a legacy with the Golden Dawn as well. While unknown to most Masons in the US, he was a contemporary of men like AE Waite, John Yarker, Theodore Reuss, and Albert Pike.

References

1. Dr. William Wynn Westcott. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn: https://hermeticgoldendawn.org/biography-dr-william-wynn-westcott/ 

2. Gilbert, R. A. (1987, February 19). William Wynn Westcott and the Esoteric School of Masonic Research. Retrieved from ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM: https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/aqc/westcott/westcott.html 

3. Parsell, H. V. (n.d.). Dr. William Wynn Westcott: An Appreciation. Retrieved from Societas Rosicruciana in America: https://sria.org/dr-william-wynn-westcott-an-appreciation/ 

4. Westcott, William Wynn. (n.d.). Retrieved from Occult World: https://occult-world.com/westcott-william-wynn/ 

5. William Wynn Westcott. (2016, August 14). Retrieved from Geni: https://www.geni.com/people/William-Westcott/6000000009428109687 

6. William Wynn Westcott and the Esoteric School of Masonic Research: Appendix A. (n.d.). Retrieved from MasterMason: http://www.mastermason.com/luxocculta/appendix4.htm

Visiting Iowa

I spent the last 5-days in Des Moines, IA, for work and while I was here I had the chance to reach out to some Masons that I knew lived here. This is one thing I love about being a Freemason: my job sends me all over the country, but no matter where I am, there are bound to be Brother Masons nearby.

After I flew in and got checked into my hotel, I headed to downtown Des Moines to the Scottish Rite Masonic Center where I attended the conferral of the Third Degree of Freemasonry. I always love watching degree work done in other jurisdictions. Legacy Lodge No.678 conferred the first section and the Grand Master and several Grand Lodge officers conferred the second section and raised the new Master Mason. Another Mason who was attending had raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason that morning so I presented both of the new Master Masons with the lapel pin of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Idaho. I walked around and toured the rest of the building which had an excellent library and a large auditorium.

Friday after work I drove around and discovered how much Freemasonry had such a historical influence on the area. I even found a graveyard owned by the Masons. Saturday night, one of the Brothers who is heavily involved in both the York Rite and Scottish Rite took me out to dinner. Yesterday I had beers with another Brother and we had a good chat. Now I'm on my way to South Dakota for another work trip.

What a Year!

While I've seen a few memes saying that 2022 sucked, this year was great for me. I did start it off still recovering from a partially torn ligament, but I was on the mend and the year kicked off with work trips to Wyoming, Alaska, and Oregon. During the Wyoming trip, this site crashed and it took weeks to get it back up. I came really close to shutting it all down for good.

With February came Masonic Week where, among other meetings, I received the Fourth Grade (Councillor) of the Royal Order of the Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord. The rest of the month I spent in California for work.

I attended the Grand York Rite of Alaska during the first weekend of March. The next weekend was the Special Conclave for the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar in Indiana where Sir Knight Michael Johnson was removed as Grand Master. While what was done was necessary, I still consider this one of the lowest points of my Masonic career.

April, May, and June were filled with work trips as well as attending the Grand York Rite of Oregon, Grand York Rite of Idaho, Grand York Rite of Washington, Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Saskatchewan, Grand York Rite of Montana, and the College of Montana, SRICF.

After working most of the month of July in Louisiana and California, I took the last weekend off and attended the SE SRICF Regional Conference in Birmingham, AL.

The last two weekends of August were filled with York Rite appendant bodies in Idaho and the Convent General of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor in Salt Lake City.

I attended the Grand York Rite of Colorado and the Grand York Rite of Wyoming in the first half of September. Wyoming was a bit tense as the Grand Master that was removed back in March is from Wyoming and was present at the Grand Commandery of Wyoming, as was his right.

With October came the annual Northwest York Rite Conference in Boise where I presided over the Chapter portion. I'd like to thank Chad Burks, General Grand Scribe for his assistance and educational presentation.

I along with three other Fratres flew out to Kentucky to attend the annual meeting of the High Council of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis where I presided over the conferral of the VIII° (or Magister) on several worthy candidates on Friday, presented a paper on the Mithraic Mysteries on Saturday, and was appointed Guardian of the Caverns for the 2022-2025 Triennium. Following this meeting, I spent the night in Manhattan before flying out to Israel where I spent 9-days touring the Holy Land.

On the first Friday in December, I was asked to give the Staircase Lecture in the Fellow Craft degree. I did pretty well considering that I had not given it in 14 years. The next day was the first weekend in December which brought the meetings of Tri-Valley College No.178 of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, Redemption Tabernacle No.XL of the Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priest where I was appointed V Pillar, and St. Michael Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine where I was elected Puissant Sovereign.

I spent 211 days on the road, 5,694 miles driven (not counting drives into work or around town), and 78,426 SkyMiles flown.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Years' Eve and New Years' Day! I'll be spending the evening with some old Army buddies who always throw a New Years' Eve Party.

My Top Posts from 2022

The Rite of Baldwyn: https://www.travelingtemplar.com/2022/06/the-rite-of-baldwyn.html

Templar Titles and Terms: https://www.travelingtemplar.com/2022/05/templar-titles-and-terms.html

Temple Church: https://www.travelingtemplar.com/2022/07/temple-church.html

What is Monasticism? https://www.travelingtemplar.com/2022/02/what-is-monasticism.html

RIP Rex Hutchens

Tonight I was informed that Bro. Rex Hutchens has passed away. Many know him as a 33° Grand Cross, the author of "A Bridge to Light," and the quintessential Masonic scholar. The first time I met Rex was in 2007 and I had no idea who he was. I was in Arizona for training at Fort Huachuca when I found out that the Grand Lodge was going to do a cornerstone dedication in Rio Rico. The dedication was well attended even though it was over 100°F. As an out-of-state visitor, I was introduced to Rex, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Arizona. We chatted a bit and even played a bit of chess to which he beat me pretty spectacularly. It was after I got back to Idaho that I discovered who he was.

Rex was a very active Mason, to say the least. He was a Past Grand Master of Masons of Arizona (2006-2007), Deputy for Arizona of the Supreme Council of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Past Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of Arizona (1997), Past Grand Master of Royal & Select Masters of Arizona (2004), and Past Grand Commander of Knights Templar of Arizona (2007). He was in the Knights of the York Cross of Honor and recipient of the Knight of the York Grand Cross of Honor (Four Quadrants), a Knight Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine, a Board Member for the Scottish Rite Research Society, a Fellow of the Philalethes Society, a Founding Fellow of the Masonic Society, a Friar of the Society of Blue Friars, and recipient of the Knight Grand Cross in the Grand College of Rites.

I'm sure he was a member of more groups, but I couldn't find anything more. I did find, however, that there is a Lodge named after him, the Rex R Hutchens Research Lodge No.5 in Arizona.

Rest in Peace Brother

The Rite of Baldwyn

Outside of the Blue Lodge, the family of concordant and appendant bodies is a complex system of degrees, orders, grades, and rites. This is especially true with the American York Rite and the organizations that stem or are affiliated with it which seems to be a never-ending rabbit hole to explore. It is even more complex when you start exploring the difference between American Masonry and those corresponding degrees and orders in England. Whether the Scottish Rite, the Royal Arch, or the Knights Templar, there are noticeable differences between the two nations. In studying these differences and researching early Templary in England, I came across an unusual rite located in Bristol called the Rite of Baldwyn (also known as the Baldwyn Encampment or Camp of Baldwyn) which claims to exist from “time immemorial.” This expression is important to its future relationship with governing bodies of Templary, the Royal Arch, and the Scottish Rite (known as the Ancient & Accepted Rite in England).

 The Rite, or Camp, of Baldwyn, takes its name from the early Crusader kings of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. After the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099, the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem was established, and Godfrey de Bouillon became the first king (though he used the title of “Defender of the Holy Sepulchre” rather than that of "king"). After his death the following year, the crown was passed to his brother, Baldwyn. After his death in 1118, the mantle of the king was placed on a cousin, also named Baldwyn, and it was Baldwyn II who played an important role in the formation of the Knights Templar and their residence in the Stables of Solomon.

The Baldwyn Rite is an amalgamation of usually separate Masonic bodies and degrees including the Rose Croix, Knights Templar, and Holy Royal Arch. It is described as being 7 degrees, but really, these degrees could also be described as a body of its own as you will see. The I° is Craft Masonry, composed of the degrees of the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. The II° is the Holy Royal Arch. The III° to the VII° is referred to as the Camp of Baldwyn. The III° is the Knights of the Nine Elected Master. The IV° is the Ancient Order of Scots Knights Grand Architect which is composed of the Order of Scots Knights Grand Architect and the Order of Scots Knights of Kilwinning. The V° is the Knights of the East, the Sword, and Eagle. The VI° is the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, and Malta which is composed of the two orders of Knights of St John of Jerusalem and Knights Templar. The VII° and final is the Knights of the Rose Croix of Mount Carmel. They operate out of Freemason’s Hall in Bristol and it is by invitation only. It is curious to note that Bristol is the only city that is itself a Province within Freemasonry.

Like much of early Freemasonry, it is difficult to study the Baldwyn Rite as there is little documentation that properly traces their lineage. The earliest reference to the Baldwyn Encampment is in January 1772 when a reference to a meeting of Knights Templar at the Rose and Crown Inn in Bristol is recorded in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal. From such a casual mention of the Knights Templar, it seems that this wasn’t anything new or that the readers of this publication were already familiar with the meetings of that group. One theory is that the records were burned during the Stuart Rebellion (1745-1746).

The most well-known document associated with the Baldwyn Encampment is the 1780 Charter of Compact that was established when this Templar group constituted themselves as the “Supreme Grand and Royal Encampment of Knights Templar of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitallers, and Knights of Malta etc.” From my research, many believe there was an earlier document that established this Camp and others like Camp of Antiquity in Bath (as well as in London, York, and Salisbury), but none has ever been found or brought to public knowledge. Some legends state this Templar rite stems from the medieval Templars who had a large presence in Bristol:

“A tradition exists that the Baldwyn Encampment is the lineal successor of an institution founded in Bristol by the warrior monks whose Order there dwells in name, though its glory has passed away.”

The 1780 Charter contains 20 articles that provide for the officers, dress and regalia, petitioning and balloting procedures, fees and dues, and other administrative details. In this Charter, it names the following officers:

Most Eminent Grand Master

Grand Master of the Order

Grand Master Assistant General

Standard Bearers

Until 1791 there was no governing body over Templary in England. In January of that year, a Grand Conclave, now called Great Priory, was formed that took the official name of "Grand Conclave of the Royal, Exalted, Religious and Military Order of H.R.D.M., Grand Elected Masonic Knights Templar K.D.S.H. of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, etc." This formal name would be amended down the road when the Ancient & Accepted Rite was established. The presiding officer on this body was called “Grand Master” and the Sir Knights selected Thomas Dunckerley to be their first. Some sources state that Bristol was on board with the formation of a national governing body, although later actions seem to contradict this, but some state that when Dunckerley presided, he did not interfere with the ritual and operations of an individual Encampment and it wasn’t until later Grand Masters that the relationship between the Baldwyn Encampment and the Grand Conclave degraded. Within a short period of time, Dunckerley constituted 10 new Conclaves. Thomas Dunckerley is a topic of discussion of its own as he accomplished a great deal for and in Freemasonry.

After the death of Dunckerley in 1795, relations between the Grand Conclave and the Camp of Baldwyn were kept. In 1809 the Charter of Constitution was established, but the Camp of Baldwyn asserted that the Grand Conclave must acknowledge the rights and privileges of Baldwyn, and should any derivation from the customs and usages occur, the Camp of Baldwyn would break away and resume their independence. In the 1820s, during the reign of Prince Augustus Frederick, the Duke of Sussex, the Grand Conclave slipped into a state of dormancy while the Baldwyn Encampment was said to have prospered during the same period of time.

Attempts were made in 1819 to form a Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite in England, but it wouldn’t be until the 1840s that this would be accomplished. By 1847, Robert Crucefix, Master of Ceremonies for the Grand Conclave of Knights Templar, was instrumental in establishing a Scottish Rite Supreme Council in England, and by this time an effort was being made to sever the Rose Crucis and Kadosh degrees from the Templar Encampments. With the exception of the Encampments of Bath and Baldwyn, the effort was accomplished. In fact, Baldwyn criticized the Grand Conclave for giving up their “birthright for a mess of pottage.”

In 1856, reconciliation between the Grand Conclave and the Camp of Baldwyn was tried, but failed due to the “unmasonic and presumptuous conduct of some members of the Grand Conclave.” The Encampments of Baldwyn and Antiquity (Bath) both declared their independence and that they would live in accordance with the 1780 Charter of Compact. Baldwyn Encampment would go on to issue warrants and establish encampments in Birmingham, Warwick, Salisbury, Highbridge, and Adelaide (South Australia). The South Australian Preceptory is still the only other Preceptory outside of the Baldwyn Encampment that is authorized to work the Baldwyn rituals.

In 1862, a reconciliation was finally reached between the Grand Conclave and Baldwyn Encampment where the former agreed to recognize and give precedence to Baldwyn, making it its own Provincial body and allowing them to practice the degrees they have had since time immemorial. In 1881, an agreement was reached between the Supreme Council of the Ancient & Accepted Rite of England and the Baldwyn Encampment concerning the Rose Croix degree where the latter was recognized preceding the Supreme Council and was allowed to continue its own conferrals.

As mentioned above, the Baldwyn Rite is composed as follows:

Iº - Craft Freemasonry:

Entered Apprentice

Fellowcraft

Master Mason

IIº − Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch

Camp of Baldwyn (or Five Royal Order of Knighthood)

IIIº - Knights of the Nine Elected Masters

IVº - The Ancient Order of Scots Knights Grand Architect

Order of Scots Knights Grand Architect

Order of Scots Knights of Kilwinning

Vº - Knights of the East, the Sword, and Eagle

VIº - Knights of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, and Malta

Knights of St John of Jerusalem (or Knights of Malta)

Knights Templar

VIIº - Knights of the Rose Croix of Mount Carmel

The three degrees of Craft Masonry compose the first degree or body of the Baldwyn Rite and are worked by the United Grand Lodge of England. The Royal Arch degree, the IIº, worked in the Baldwyn Encampment is unique in England and has rituals closer to those found in the US or in Continental Europe. The IIIº, IVº, and Vº are said to be unique to the Baldwyn Rite, but their names remind me of degrees worked in the Scottish Rite and Allied Masonic Degrees. The VIº is composed of the Knights of Malta and the Knights Templar is conferred by the Baldwyn Encampment which falls under the authority of the Great Priory of England and Wales. The final degree of the Baldwyn Rite is the Knight of the Rose Croix of Mount Carmel which is worked in the Bristol Chapter of Rose Croix under the authority of the Supreme Council of the Ancient & Accepted Rite of England and Wales. It is curious to note that if a candidate of the Baldwyn Rite already has gone through the Templar, Malta, and Rose Croix degrees elsewhere, he is considered a full member of the Rite. The rituals of the Baldwyn Rite, particularly the orders of knighthood, are not copied and are jealously guarded.

The 1780 Charter of Compact set out the original hierarchy of the Baldwyn Rite, as mentioned earlier. Today, this Rite is overseen by a Grand Superintendent who is also, by virtue of his office, the Provincial Prior of Knights Templar in Bristol, Inspector General for the District of Bristol of the Ancient & Accepted Rite in Bristol

The regalia worn in the Iº, IIº, and VIº is generally the same as worn by their contemporaries in Craft Masonry, Capitular Masonry, and Knights Templar in England. The regalia worn in the IIIº, IVº, Vº, and VIIº is a breast jewel and apron (only for the VIIº) unique to the Baldwyn Rite. The jewel is a silver Maltese cross hanging from a black ribbon and the apron is adorned with a Pelican which used to be used in the Ancient & Accepted Rite of England and Wales, but is no longer used.

References

1. Baldwyn II. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Ashlar Company - Masonic Shop: https://masonicshop.com/encyclopedia/topics/entry/?i=5006

2. Bennett, J. R. (1907). The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar. Cincinnati: Johnson & Hardin.

3. De Hoyos, A. (2014). Masonic Rites and Systems. In H. Bogdan, & J. A. Snoek, Handbook of Freemasonry (pp. 355-377).

4. History of the Order. (n.d.). Retrieved from Province of Somerset: http://somersetkt.org.uk/history.html 

5. Lindez, D. S. (2009, August 22). The Baldwyn Rite of Bristol, England: A Cohesive Remnant of Pre-1813 Freemasonry. Retrieved from Knights Templar: https://www.knightstemplar.org/KnightTemplar/articles/20090822.htm 

6. Mackey, A. (n.d.). Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. 

7. Price, B. W. (2021). In The Steps Of The Templars. Lewis Masonic. 

8. Rite of Baldwyn. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_of_Baldwyn 

9. Shetty, T. (2018, January 6). Rite of Baldwyn. Retrieved from Alchetron: https://alchetron.com/Rite-of-Baldwyn 

10. The Baldwyn Schism. (1862, June 7). Retrieved from Freemasons Magazine and Masonic Mirror: https://masonicperiodicals.org/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_07061862/page/9/ 

11. Vrooman, J. B. (1968, September). More About Baldwyn Encampment. Retrieved from Knights Templar magazine: https://www.knightstemplar.org/KnightTemplar/Magazine/1968/09.pdf