The Consolidated Rite of Freemasonry

Frequently asked questions

What is the Consolidated Rite?

How does it work?

The Consolidated Rite is open to any Brother who may be seeking further involvement in Freemasonry beyond that provided by his Craft Lodge. In order to participate, you must have completed the 3rd Degree, Master Mason, in a regularly warranted Craft Lodge recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England, and you must maintain your Craft Lodge membership. You must also profess the Trinitarian Christian Faith, which is a requirement specified by the Supreme Council as governing body of the Rose Croix Degrees.

Having attained the 3rd Degree in Freemasonry, you are encouraged to receive the three elements of the College of Instruction, which provide Extensions to the three Craft Degrees. Once you feel familiar with the three Degrees of the Craft and their respective Extensions, you may pursue the Rose Croix Degrees. By working this eminent set of degrees, you will be able to progress beyond the 3rd Degree and as far as the 18th Degree in Freemasonry.

How do I join?

Since the Consolidated Rite is a recommended 'course of action' for the individual Master Mason, rather than an organisation in its own right, there is no direct membership in the Consolidated Rite itself. Membership in the Consolidated Rite is exclusively through membership in its constituent components. A Freemason can therefore not – strictly speaking – join the Consolidated Rite as a member, but rather participate in it, or pursue its constituent components. The Consolidated Rite does not administrate any ritual, exercise a central authority or charge any subscription fees. Brethren who elect to follow this system are therefore not referred to as 'Members', but as 'Friends of the Consolidated Rite'.

How do I participate in the Consolidated Rite?

Freemasonry is a journey of learning and self-improvement, in which 'the journey is its own reward'. This is particularly true of appendant systems such as the Consolidated Rite. You should therefore only ever consider moving on to a new step of the Rite if you feel confident that you have fully mastered the steps that precede it – in other words, once you feel thoroughly familiar with the Masonic ritual and symbolism you have encountered so far. There is no better judge of your readiness to proceed than your own honest self.

As a Friend of the Consolidated Rite you will educate yourself through pursuing the following steps, in this order: Lectures of the Craft, Mark Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason. These elements constitute the College of Instruction. It is recommended that you spend at least four months familiarising yourself with the teachings of each step before proceeding to the next. After the College of Instruction you will be able to engage in the so-called Rose Croix Degrees. Please note that it is a mandatory requirement specified by the Supreme Council that every candidate for the Rose Croix Degrees must have been a Master Mason for at least one full year, and be in good standing with a regular and recognised Craft Lodge.

How many Degrees are there in the Consolidated Rite?

Thirty-three. The foundation of the Consolidated Rite are the traditional three Degrees conferred in Craft Lodges, to which the College of Instruction provides valuable Extensions. The degrees from the 4th through the 18th inclusive constitute the Rose Croix Degrees. Progression beyond the 18th Degree is possible, although restricted to former presiding officers of Rose Croix Chapters. The 33rd Degree is an honorary degree conferred upon presiding officers of Districts and senior members of the Supreme Council in London.

How does the Consolidated Rite complete the Degrees of the Craft?

It doesn't, as it does not need to. The Consolidated Rite holds that the three Degrees of the Craft are complete in themselves. No Masonic degree is of higher value than the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. Any additional degrees worked beyond the Craft are for continued Masonic instruction rather than giving a Brother higher rank within the Masonic fraternity.

In this sense the College of Instruction offers relevant and valuable Extensions to each of the three Craft Degrees, but these should not be considered as either superior nor subordinate to the Craft Degrees. While the College of Instruction prepares you for taking the Rose Croix Degrees, it doesn't claim to complete something which is already complete.

What regalia are worn in the Consolidated Rite?

The Masonic regalia worn by Brethren who participate in the Consolidated Rite are generally identical to those worn in Lodges and Chapters elsewhere. This means, for example, that Brethren who pursue the Consolidated Rite through Lodges and Chapters under the English Constitution will wear Masonic regalia that are appropriate under the said Constitution. The Consolidated Rite does neither possess nor encourage the use of any dress items that are different from those of the organisations which administrate its constituent components.

How is the Consolidated Rite governed?

The Consolidated Rite consists of the Craft Degrees, the College of Instruction and the Rose Croix Degrees. Within the Consolidated Rite, the United Grand Lodge of England is the governing body of the Craft Degrees, while the College of Instruction is governed by various organisations (see here). The governing body of the Rose Croix Degrees is the Supreme Council in London. These authorities are, separately and independently, responsible for the constituent components of the Consolidated Rite. The Consolidated Rite itself does neither possess nor administrate its own Masonic ritual, nor does it charge any subscription fees or determine the policies governing its constituent components.

Do I have to be invited to participate in the Consolidated Rite?

No. As a Master Mason in good standing, you are encouraged to pursue the Consolidated Rite and to apply for membership in its constituent components. You can do this whenever you feel ready to progress 'beyond the Craft', and without awaiting a specific invitation. It is also not improper to solicit any Master Mason to participate in the Consolidated Rite. On the contrary, one should have no hesitation in inviting a Brother to delve further into the teachings of Freemasonry and to improve himself for the good of humankind.

What are the qualifications required for membership?

Since participation in the Consolidated Rite is exclusively through membership in its constituent components, any Brother who wishes to pursue the Consolidated Rite must be able to meet the respective membership requirements for the various constituent components as established by the Governing Bodies. For example, the Supreme Council as governing body of the Rose Croix Degrees specifies that every candidate must have been a Master Mason for at least one full year, be in good standing with a regular and recognised Craft Lodge, and profess the Trinitarian Christian Faith. For greater detail, please visit the membership sections on the websites of the respective Governing Bodies (see here).

How much does it cost?

As stated above, participation in the Consolidated Rite is exclusively through membership in its constituent components. Subscription fees are established by the Governing Bodies for their members, and each Lodge and Chapter fixes its own fees. Each body also requires annual dues as fixed by its by-laws. Please check with the Governing Bodies for the current fees and dues (see contacts). There are no subscription fees for the Consolidated Rite itself.

Are there any religious requirements? Do you have to be a Christian?

Yes. The Consolidated Rite requires its participants to be professing Christians, compared to traditional Craft Lodges which require their members to believe in a Supreme Being. While most of the governing bodies of the Consolidated Rite's constituent components welcome men of different faiths and only require the belief in a Supreme Being, the Supreme Council as governing body of the Rose Croix Degrees specifies that every candidate must profess the Trinitarian Christian Faith. Although a belief in the Trinitarian Christian Faith is required, Supreme Council does not attempt to teach a specific creed but accepts any Christian denomination. All meetings are opened and closed with a prayer and Masonic ceremonies reflect the essential truths and moral teachings common to many of the world's great religions. No discussion of religion itself is permitted in Masonic meetings.

Will I be required to progress through Lodge or Chapter offices?

A major difference between Freemasons participating in the Consolidated Rite and membership of a Craft Lodge is that natural progression in the former is by advancing through Degrees rather than through offices. In a Craft Lodge, progression is primarily achieved by taking up a sequence of Masonic offices. With regular attendance, Brethren participating in the Consolidated Rite can progress to the 18th Degree over a period of time. There is no obligation that a Brother in the Consolidated Rite ever takes office in a Lodge or Chapter, although it is encouraged as all Lodges and Chapters depend on the active involvement of their members in order to work the ritual and to fulfil other Masonic purposes. Depending on your talents and experience, there is always a  place for dedicated Brethren who wish to participate in the ritual or hold office in a Lodge or Chapter.

Most Brethren who pursue the Consolidated Rite aspire to attain not only the 18th Degree, but to progress further. Continuing to the 30th Degree in Freemasonry is restricted to those who have served as presiding officer of a Rose Croix Chapter and carried out the work associated with this office. By the time a Brother has served his term as presiding officer, he will have conducted the complete ceremony of the 18th Degree and also the ceremony of installing his successor. As very few Brethren withdraw from extending their Masonic knowledge through holding office, it can take some time to pass through the various Lodge and Chapter positions. The 33rd Degree is an honorary degree conferred upon presiding officers of Districts and certain senior members of the Supreme Council in London.

After becoming a Friend of the Consolidated Rite, will I be permitted or required to resign from my Craft Lodge?

No. Participation in the Consolidated Rite is exclusively through membership in its constituent components. Any Brother who wishes to pursue the Consolidated Rite must at all times be able to meet the respective membership requirements for the various constituent components as established by their Governing Bodies. Termination of your membership in a Craft Lodge will, in most cases, automatically terminate your membership in the constituent components and thus in the Consolidated Rite itself.

I became a Royal Arch Mason straight after the Craft Degrees, but never joined any other elements represented in the Consolidated Rite. Can I still participate?

Yes. Normally, the recommended sequence of steps to be followed in the Consolidated Rite is as listed above, however this is not always possible – particularly in the case of Brethren who hear about the Consolidated Rite only after having already joined other Masonic orders. Since the Consolidated Rite is a recommended 'course of action' for the individual Brother rather than a formal regulation, there are no restrictions on a Freemason wishing to pursue it even after having already joined one or several of its constituent components.

May I join Masonic organisations other than those of the Consolidated Rite?

Yes. Under the English Constitution, there are a large number of separately administered Masonic organisations open to Master Masons, some of which are referred to and acknowledged by the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. The Consolidated Rite, being itself a collection of separate organisations and degrees that would otherwise operate independently, does not impose restrictions on a Brother wishing to join additional Masonic organisations or orders 'in amity' with the United Grand Lodge of England. All Brethren are reminded that they should take great care before associating with any organisation which purports to be Masonic. If in doubt, enquiry should be made of the United Grand Lodge of England. Contact with irregular organisations should be avoided.

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