FM_Other Orders_Layout 1 19/08/13 12:29 Page 16
AMARANTH
The Order of the Amaranth
U
nder the direction of the Supreme Council Order of the Amaranth Inc., based in the United States of America, the Order in Australia has been established in the states of New South Wales (7 Courts), Victoria (2 Courts), Tasmania (1 Court) all under the control of the Grand Court of New South Wales, Inc and in Queensland (3 Courts) under the control of the Grand Court of Queensland. Each Court has a Royal Matron and a Royal Patron to govern the affairs of each Court, each having their own particular set of Rules and Regulations with meetings held on a monthly basis. The Grand Court is governed by a Grand Royal Matron and Grand Royal Patron and having their own particular set of By-Laws with the Supreme Council governed by a Supreme Royal Matron and Supreme Royal Patron and covered by the Supreme Constitution which also contains rules for the Grand and Subordinate Courts. All officers are elected into office annually in each of the three bodies. Other countries that the Order currently exists in are: United States of America, Canada, England, Scotland and the Philippines. No Regalia is required. The joining fee is $10 and annual from $15 to $25.
more nearly a Masonic ‘Family’ meeting ground of Masons and their families than is found in the Order of the Amaranth. That is why one finds in the Amaranth Courts so many husbands and wives serving, attending and enjoying a fuller and richer Masonic heritage together than is possible anywhere else in the world.
What is our structure?
Supreme Council Order of The Amaranth Inc In USA Supreme Royal Matron Supreme Royal Patron
Grand Court Grand Royal Matron Grand Royal Patron
Subordinate Royal Matron Royal Patron
Who do we admit? The Order welcomes all Master Masons (which also includes Royal Arch Masons) and their respective female relations i.e. wives, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, stepdaughters, legally adopted daughters, widows, half sisters, aunts, nieces, great-granddaughters and grandmothers to be members of the Order to enjoy fulfilling fraternal gatherings together as part of the Masonic family. Also, any member of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls and/or Job’s Daughters who have had active service within their Orders. There exists no
16
ASSOCIATED MASONIC ORDERS SEPTEMBER 2013
What is our history? The Order is based on the Court of Queen Christina of Sweden, where it was supported by Royal pomp, dignity and the magnificence of the Ladies and Knights of her Royal Court. She created the Order of the Amaranth for Ladies and Knights building it around the character of Lady Amarantha, who was portrayed as being a beautiful, virtuous and talented Lady of the Court. The Order was perpetuated and today the Order of the Amaranth is one of Sweden’s oldest chivalric orders. It had no Masonic connections when first established. In 1860 James B Taylor a prominent mason in New Jersey, using the Order of the Amaranth as existing in Sweden, adopted and altered its ceremonies and language so as to make it appropriate to Masonic purposes, which with some revisions are in universal use today.
In 1873 the Supreme Council was formally organised in New York City by Robert MaCoy 33˚ Vicar General of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Southern Jurisdiction. Robert MaCoy’s intention was to make three degrees, ‘Eastern Star’, ‘Queen of the South’ and ‘Amaranth’ as pictured in the Amaranth ritual. His plan was to have three degrees given separately but under the control of one body. In 1921 the Order voted that we remove the ‘Eastern Star’ as a basis for membership of our Order and now our membership is taken from Master Masons and their female relations.