The Order of The Allied Masonic Degrees was established in
the Channel Islands on Saturday 20th May 2000 with the
Consecration of both Councils by the M.W.Grand Master,
Michael Edward Herbert and a team of Assisting Grand
Officers, which included the Deputy Grand Master,
R.W.Bro.Major James Stuart Peters and the Past Grand
Master, M.W.Bro.Timothy J.Lewis. There were also 10 other
active Grand Officers present.
The Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees was created in the
late 1870's to give some cohesion to the various degrees
that had originally been granted by the "Antients". The
object of the original Constitutions as contained in Rule 1
was stated in the following terms: "In view of the rapid
increase in Lodges of various Orders recognising no central
authority and acknowledging no common form of government, a
ruling body has been formed to take under its direction all
Lodges of such various Orders in England and Wales and in
the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown"
Between 1870 and 1931 there was much discussion as to which
Orders fell under this new body, in particular Grand
Council obtained control of a large group of Knight Templar
Priest Degrees and also the Secret Monitor Degree from
America. In 1923, following the formation of the Grand
College of England of Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar
Priests, Grand Council disclaimed all interest in such
degrees; and after protracted discussions with the Grand
Council of the Order of the Secret Monitor a treaty was
signed in 1931 agreeing to cease the practice of the Secret
Monitor degree under Grand Council jurisdiction.
By 1924 the following degrees were being worked under Grand
Council. St Lawrence the Martyr; Knight of Constantinople;
Grand Tilers of Solomon; The Red Cross of Babylon; The Holy
Order of the Grand High Priest and The Secret Monitor. It
is the first five degrees on that list which are still
being worked in Allied councils today.
Every Candidate must be a Mark Master Mason and a Companion
of The Holy Royal Arch (Constitutions 1958) as the degrees
worked today encompass and complete some of the
explanations relating to those Degrees. A Candidate must
first be admitted to the Degree of St Lawrence the Martyr,
but the other four degrees may be conferred in any order
and in any Council. Regalia today consists only of a Breast
Jewel apertaining to the relevant degree.