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Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord

Toward the close of the 19th Century, The Order of the Secret monitor resolved to form a Benevolent Fund and in December 1899 it was formally opened with a credit balance of 17 guineas.

In order to promote this benevolent fund and to increase the membership of the Order of the Secret Monitor, a senior member, R. Wy. Bro. Judge Philbrick conceived the idea of forming  an appendant rite to be known as The Royal Order of the Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord.

Grade 1: Where candidates were elected to be Ostiartii or Doorkeeper.

Grade 2: Where they were chosen to be Lectors or Readers.

Grade 3: They were promoted to be Fellows.

Grade 4: Preferred as members of the Court of Assistants.

Grade 5: Dedicated as High Priests.

Grade 6: Installed as Knights.

Each of these Grades comes with a nice certificate with red seal. Also some come with a pendant and Medal. The Scarlet cord is worn in various ways depending on level.

There are 2 courts established in USA. North Carolina Court and Philadelphia around 2011.

History
The Grand Conclave of the Order of Secret Monitor of England and Wales, under the authority of the Most Worthy Supreme Grand Ruler Peter Glyn Williams transmitted the 1st , 2nd , and 3rd Grades of the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord on November 12, 2008 unto several senior members of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees for the United States of
America with the intention that, in due course, said Grand Council would incorporate theses grades under the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees with the authority to control and superintend the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord in the United States of America. To aid in this endeavor, The Grand Conclave of the Order of Secret Monitor of England and Wales conferred the 1st grade of the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord on 223 members of the Allied Masonic Degrees on February 13, 2009.

The Grand Conclave of the Order of Secret Monitor of England and Wales, under the authority of the Most Worthy Supreme Grand Ruler Peter Glyn Williams transmitted the Preparation and Installation of a President Ceremony on November 11, 2009 unto several senior members of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees for the United States of America unto several senior members
of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees for the United States of America with the intention that, in due course, said Grand Council would incorporate the Presidents Ceremony under the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees with the authority to control and superintend the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord in the United States of America. To aid in this endeavor, The Grand Conclave of the Order of Secret Monitor of England and Wales, under the authority of the Most Worthy Supreme Grand Ruler Michael William Guest conferred grades 1, 2, 3 and the Presidents Ceremony of the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord on 142 members of the Allied
Masonic Degrees on March 26, 2010.

United States
On February 13, 2010 the Sovereign Grand Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America, Most Venerable Brother William R. Logan declared all senior members of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of American who received these degrees in England to be members of the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord of the United States of America under the authority and control of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America.

On July 21, 2010 The Grand Conclave of the Order of Secret Monitor of England and Wales relinquished control of the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord so that it could become a stand alone Grand Body in England and Wales. Thus was form The Ancient and Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord under the leadership of Most Distinguished Companion Michael William Guest.
The final two grades of the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord, now The Ancient and Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord will transmit on March 18, 2011 unto several senior members of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees for the United States of America with the intention that, in due course, said Grand Council will incorporate theses grades under the Grand Council of the
Allied Masonic Degrees with the authority to control and superintend the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord in the United States of America.

The Order consists of the following Grades:

• 1st Grade - Ostiarius or Doorkeeper (Conferred in a Consistory)

• 2nd Grade - Lector (Conferred in a Consistory)

• 3rd Grade - Fellow or Healer & Exorcist (Conferred in a Consistory)

• Presidents Ceremony

• 4th Grade- Councillor (Conferred in a Council of Elders)

• 5th Grade – Keeper of the Hidden Secret (Conferred in a Council of Entrusted)

• 6th Grade – Prince of Jerusalem (Conferred in a Council of Princes)

1. Only members who have presided over a Consistory shall be eligible to receive the 4th Grade.

2. Only members who have received the 4th Grade and who have served as an appointed or elected Grand Officer of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees for the United States of America shall be eligible to receive the 5th Grade.

3. Only members who have received the 5th Grade and who have served as an elected Grand Officer of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees for the United States of America shall be eligible to receive the 6th Grade.

4. The Grand Council may establish passing fees for each grade of the Order and authorize that a portion of said fees be directed to a Benevolent Fund established by the Grand Council for the relief of a member of the Order or his immediate family.

The Grand Conclave of the Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord in the United States of America may be convened by the Sovereign Grand Master acting in his capacity as Grand Summus during the annual meeting of the Grand Council and at such other times as may suit his pleasure. The Grand Conclave, however possess no powers of legislation, neither shall it exercise any authority over the brethren of this Grand Council, all such power being reserved unto the Grand Council.

The Officers of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America shall be the Officers of the Grand Conclave of the Royal Order Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord of the United States of America with corresponding ranks therein as follows:

Each Past Sovereign Grand Master of this Grand Council shall be and is declared a Most Distinguished Past Grand Summus of the Grand Conclave of Grand Conclave of the Royal Order Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord of the United States of America.

The prefixes to be accorded to and used by Past and Present Grand Officers of the Grand Conclave of the Royal Order Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord of the United States of America shall be as set forth herein above. Presidents and Past Presidents of Consistories appurtenant to Constituent Councils and a chamber thereof shall be entitled to use the prefix “Distinguished”.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grades of the Order may be exemplified in a Consistory of these degrees appurtenant to each Constituent Council of the Grand Council, which Consistory shall bear the name and number of the said Constituent Consistory, and shall be a chamber thereof, and which shall not be separately chartered, nor separate dues paid by its members, subject to the following conditions:

1. No one may advance by receiving a succeeding grade who has not revived all of the preceding Grades.

2. All candidates prior to receipt of the 1st Grade of the Order must pay the sum of $40.00 to a Benevolent Fund established by the Grand Council, together with such other fees and costs that the Grand Council may, from time to time, establish.

3. The Presidents Ceremony may only be conferred by dispensation of the Grand Summus which dispensation must provide that the Conferring Officers and the recipients are qualified to participate in
   this ceremony and that the Ceremony will be conducted in a manner and under such circumstances as befit the dignity of the Order.

The Officers of a Constituent Council of Allied Masonic Degrees shall be officers of a Scarlet Cord Consistory appurtenant to an AMD Council and a chamber thereof, which corresponding rank as follows: