The 18th Degree Collar
Criteria for Membership
We welcome applications from freemasons who will have been a Master Mason for at least six months at the point of Perfection and are in good standing with the Craft units of which they are currently, or have previously been, a member.
The Journey
Members join the Order in the 18° through the Ceremony of Perfection, having received the intermediate degrees from the 4° to the 17° in abbreviated form. At the end of the ceremony, they are created a Knight of the Pelican and Eagle and are invested as a Prince of the Order of the Rose Croix of Heredom. Whilst the titles of the various offices differ from those in a Craft lodge, the journey to the Chair of the Chapter (known as Most Wise Sovereign) is similar. Virtually all parts of the ritual can be performed by any member of the Chapter, so those who enjoy performing ritual will be able to get ‘stuck in’ straight away. No one is individually responsible for the ceremonies.
On completing the journey through the 18° by undertaking all the ritual elements of the Ceremony of Perfection and having Enthroned their successor as Most Wise Sovereign, members are eligible for election to the 30°. After receiving the intermediate degrees from the 19° to the 29° in abbreviated form, they immediately go on to receive the 30° in a ceremony conferred in full and in person by members of the Supreme Council.