This order - usually called the ‘Higher Degrees’, even though one works only in one degree, the Rosy Cross degree - was founded in 1803. The local lodges are called chapters. Membership is open for men who are at least one year Master Mason.
Outside the Netherlands this form of freemasonry is not known, although this typical Dutch form has a strong resemblance to the 18th degree (Rosy Cross) in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. In matters of visitation rights with organizations abroad, this degree is recognized as an equal to the 18th degree AASR. Dutch members of this order can visit AASR-lodges in the 18th degree.
The Higher Degrees consist of three more degrees, Elu, Knight of St. Andreas and Knight of the East and the Sword are communicated upon the candidate. These degrees are called the 'historical degrees'.
The object in this degree is the search for the lost Master's word and more specific, a new aspect to this word.
The degree has two bases:
When mankind opens himself up to the thought, that
only
bringing sacrifices will enable him to grow to a higher
spiritual level, to a
consciousness of a higher level, he will be prepared to accept
suffering as
something that is tied unbreakable with his existence on earth.
With this insight, the acceptance of this suffering is not a
resignation to
one's fate as it is a joyful bearing of the cross, and this
cross becomes the
symbol of a life on earth and suffering as a resemblance of a
higher life, a ‘life,
blossoming in love’. The rose outgrew its cross.
The ritual for the degree of Sovereign Prince of the Rosy Cross has a very christian tone. The read thread is that suffering and making sacrifices changes mankind. This new man, after discovering himself in his deepest being and after discovering the lost Word, would see love in a completely different perspective. A new perspective that is revealed to him and gives his feeling for love a deeply spiritual aspect. Besides this ritual, there is a very simple ritual for the installation of the chairman and other officers of the chapters.
The theme for this degree is Faith, Hope and Love.
Under the Grand Chapter work 31 chapters in the Netherlands and 4 in Aruba, Curacao and Surinam. The order had in 2004 approximately 1443 Dutch members and 184 in the Aruban/Antilles/Surinam chapters.
Chapters:
La Bien Aimée 1, Amsterdam
L’Union Royale 2, Den Haag
Concordia Vincit Animos 3, Amsterdam
De Gelderse Broederschap 4, Arnhem
Willem Frederik 5, Amsterdam
Ultrajectina 6, Utrecht
La Flamboyante 7, Dordrecht
Le Profond Silence 8, Deventer
De Vriendschap 9, Den Haag
(now defunct)
L’Union Provinciale 10, Groningen
Vicit Vim Virtus 11, Haarlem
Gooi- en Eemland 12, Hilversum
Noord-Holland 13, Zaandam
(now defunct)
De Delta 14, Den Haag
Silentium 15, Delft
(now defunct)
De Eendracht 16, Rotterdam
Concordia 17, Breda
De Rode Roos 18, Den Haag
Silentio et Fide 19, Den Haag
De Phoenix 20, Utrecht
Agapè 21, Bussum
La Charité 22, Amsterdam
De Pelikaan 23, Apeldoorn
Erasmus 24, Rotterdam
Fides Frisia 25, Leeuwarden
De Markerroos 26, Enschede
Rosa Rubra 27, Bilthoven
D’Eglantier 28, Roermond
Via Lucis 29, Rotterdam
Het Lichtend Kruis 30, Alkmaar
Kennemerroos 31, Haarlem
(now defunct
Het Zuiderkruis 32, Terneuzen
De Eenhoorn 33, Eindhoven
De Gelderse Roos 35, Wageningen
Het Rozekruis 36, Kampen
De Vergenoeging Curacao
El Sol Naciente, Oranjestad - Aruba
Concordia Creat Feliciam, Surinam
Fajalobi, Paramaribo - Surinam
Usually, the chapters meet 8 times a year.
Dutch Co-Masonry has
also its own Rosy Cross Degree (in
Dutch).
The ritual 1803 (in Dutch)
The ritual 1853
(in Dutch)
The ritual 1885
(in Dutch)
The ritual 1917 (in Dutch)
Rules and regulations (in Dutch)
Convocation annual meeting Grand Chapter,
1999 (in
Dutch)
Convocation annual meeting Grand Chapter, 2004 (in Dutch)
Information brochure, 1974 (in
Dutch)