The ‘Rose Croix’ Degree is the 18th of a series of 33 degrees.
The Rose Croix ceremony, known as the ceremony of Perfection, is the only ceremony which can be worked in full by a Chapter. The first three degrees of Craft Masonry are accepted by The Supreme Council for England and Wales as the equivalents of the first three degrees of the Ancient and Accept Rite and the intervening degrees from the 4º to the 17º (known as the Intermediate Degrees) are conferred by name. These however are full degrees which are worked in extenso by the King Edward VII Chapter of Improvement.
The Ceremony
The ceremony takes a candidate from a 3° Master Mason to a 17°, Knight of the East and West, then straight into the ceremony of perfection.
Led through a series of rooms, the ceremony seeks the Perfection of those wonderful Christian virtues; Faith, Hope and Charity. It is an impressive ceremony which leads candidates to look deep within themselves.
Beyond the 18º Degree
The degrees from the 19º to the 29º are conferred in a similar manner as the Intermediate Degrees.
The 30º – 33º are considered ‘The higher degrees’. These are only conferred by the Supreme Council at regular ceremonies, and recognise substantial services to the Order.
Joining
The qualification for joining is that you must have been a Master Mason for at least one year and be in good standing with your Craft lodge(s). You must profess the Trinitarian Christian Faith and be willing to take an Obligation in the name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity.