The society is organised in three orders with nine grades, each having its own appropriate ritual and lectures.
These are loosely based on the allegorical Fama Fraternitatis published in 1614 and the grades of the Orden das Gold- und Rosenkreutz.
Based at its headquarters in Harlthorpe Hall, North Yorkshire, the SRIA is spread through seven countries in twenty three provinces, eighty eight colleges and has very good relations with its daughter constitution the SRIS in Scotland and their own daughter constitution the SRICF in America.
SRIA Colleges can be found in England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Wales, France and Holland.
The Rosicrucian Society of England or Brethren of the Rosy Cross as they were originally named, held their first meeting on the 1st June 1867 at the George Hotel, Aldermanbury in the very centre of the City of London. The real legacy of the society is their precious collection of 400 year old Rosicrucian books and manuscripts, which are now housed, on loan to the Library and Museum of United Grand Lodge of England, Great Queen Street, London, for easy reference and access to all 9:00 to 17:00 hours.
There have been many non-masonic Rosicrucian organisations over the years. The SRIA was the first exclusively for Freemasons, who some may say have the advantage of an appreciation of allegory and the benefit of fraternity, charity and love, which characterises the members of the Craft and Holy Royal Arch, who we believe in part are an echo of the ancient lesser and greater mysteries.
Structure of the Society
The Society is governed internationally by The Supreme Magus and his High Council. It is divided into Provinces, each governed by a Chief Adept.
The Chief Adepts are responsible for the Colleges within their respective Provinces. Each College is presided over by a Celebrant and his officers elected or appointed annually.
A member of the Society (called a frater, Latin for ‘brother’, pl. fratres) aspires to progress through a series of nine grades, each having its own colourful and impressive ritual ceremony, in three distinct Orders.
A candidate is required to be proposed and seconded by members of the Society and is elected by ballot.
Through regular and graduated steps, the members of the Society are guided from the initial effort to the final goal. Each student ought to possess those aspirations that can be developed during the training in the Fraternity.