Masonic Order of Athelstan
The Masonic Order of Athelstan formed in 2005, grew out of the shared interests
that a number of like-minded individuals had in the origins of Masonry. Their
research culminated in a few members of that group focusing specifically on the
Saxon Chronicles. In essence, their informal meetings became more and more
regular and the rich and invigorating debates offered each member considerable
encouragement and support to continue with their personal endeavours. They had
become a dedicated Masonic and historical discussion group.
As the group progressed its
subsequent interface with other like-minded Masons encouraged them to progress
the idea of a new Order even to the writing of a ritual to support it. This
ritual was based on the research of many old historic documents and the
discovery of old Craft and other Masonic ritual. Eventually a draft of the
ritual was produced based upon the life and symbolism of King Athelstan, the
grandson of King Alfred, and the first King of England to be referred to as
"The King of All the English". The Grand Court of the Masonic Order of
Athelstan was conceived if not yet born.
As the group explored the idea of setting up the Order it caught the
imagination of more and more Freemasons both senior and junior. Eventually there
was a following which quickly grew as "word of mouth" spread and has
now become a vehicle for many well-read and like-minded Masons to come together
and discuss their individual learning.
The order is Masonic, and therefore candidates must be Craft Freemasons as
well as Companions of a Royal Arch Chapter (these are the requisite
qualifications). If a potential candidate holds these requisite qualifications
they can be invited to our Festive Board and will be warmly welcomed by all. The
intention is to enable brethren to attend the dinner, after the meeting, as a
way of introducing them to the Order without disclosing the ritual and workings
of the Order.
Normally a maximum of three meetings a year are encouraged, two working and a
third the Installation. At this meeting the ceremonial is about 40 minutes in
total and allows for a 20 minute talk or lecture. This is encouraged by way of
an annual Provincial Certificate and a Grand Court Presentation to the best of
the best.
Like other Masonic ceremonies that use legend and allegory to tell a story
and portray good ethical conduct and behaviour. In the Order we use the legend
of Athelstan's York Assembly of 926 as the framework and conduit for ours. We
aim to bring to life the 926 Court that was held in York to educate and raise
the quality of masonry in 10th Century England and in so doing to explore the
development of the Craft over the centuries in order to prompt further study and
research. As such our meetings are held in a Court and our candidates are ‘Instructed’
into the Order.
The Masonic Order of Athelstan portrays the story of a Master Mason called to
York in 926 to receive the Ancient Charges. The initiation
ritual goes on through a series of ritual to explain a lot of the Symbolism
we still see in some Lodges today and culminates with an Historical oration
taking us through the development of the various Grand Lodges and ends at 1813
with the formation of the UGLE.
‘The Inner Workings of an Eminent Prior’, deals with the earliest passing
of the veils ceremony and the Kabbalistic explanation of the four banners of the
Royal Arch, ‘The Inner Workings of a Worshipful Master or Grand Master of
Speculative Masons’ based on the betrayal of Athelstan by Edwin and the 20° A
& AR and finally ‘The Knights Paladin of the Scarlet Mantle’.
This last Order bears some further explanation, it is made up of 9, 10 and 12
Knights added to which are the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Master making a
total of 33. This is further explained as the 9 being representative of the 9
Knights Templar who first went to the Holy Land, the 10 is that of the 10 mystic
Knights who Guarded Charlemagne and the 12 are the 12 disciples of Christ and
the 12 Knights of the Round Table of whom Athelstan was thought to have been a
model for the mythical King Arthur. This then added up and including the Deputy
and Grand Master makes the Mystical number 33 or the years that Christ lived on
Earth.
The appendant Order of the Scarlet Mantle is strictly a reward-based degree.
It is a Knighting ceremony and is commemorative of the Knighting of Athelstan by
Alfred the Great in and around the year 898 (the first recorded making of a
Knight in England). It is stated that Athelstan, upon being knighted was given a
‘Sword with a golden hilt and a scarlet mantle bedecked with jewels’.
Members bear the initials of Knight of the Scarlet Mantle (KSM), Knight
Commander of the Scarlet Mantle (KCSM) or Grand Cross of the Scarlet Mantle
(GCSM) after their name and naturally can only use this in the context of the
Masonic Order of Athelstan.