Inspector General for the District of Norfolk

The Inspector General for the District of Norfolk, V.Ill.Bro. Robert Hannam 33° welcomes you to the website for the Rose Croix District of Norfolk and hopes that you will enjoy browsing through the information contained within it.

If you require any further advice please do not hesitate to use the Contact Page to have additional information sent to you.

Rose Croix

The Ancient and Accepted Rite is a prominent independent Order of Freemasonry, deriving from the Rite of Perfection which developed in France mainly in the mid eighteenth century. It was formalised in a document bearing a date in 1762, and was followed by The Grand Constitutions of 1786 which describe the Ancient and Accepted Rite, consisting of thirty-three degrees, largely as it exists today.

The Rite in England and Wales is administered by a Supreme Council which is also responsible for certain Districts and Chapters overseas. The Rite is frequently referred to as the 'Rose Croix', although this is only one of its degrees.

Each member of the Supreme Council holds the highest degree of the Order, the 33°, as do some 50 Inspectors General in England and Wales to whom authority is delegated to manage their appointed Districts, and a few others who contribute very significant services to the Order or to Freemasonry in general. These include the Order’s Grand Patron, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent.

Joining

Candidates for membership of the Rite must profess the Trinitarian Christian faith. The Supreme Council chooses to accept the three craft degrees of UGLE as a qualification for entry into the Ancient and Accepted Rite in England and Wales, and candidates must have been Master masons in UGLE for at least one year. It is not necessary to have held office as Master of a UGLE Lodge.

Authority is delegated to Chapters to confer degrees from 4° to 18°. The higher degrees are generally conferred by the Supreme Council at regular ceremonies, and recognise substantial services to the Order: 30° (including 19° to 29°), 31°, 32° and 33°.