Royal Order of Eri

ROYAL ORDER OF ERI Brief History and Origin The Royal Order of Eri is supposedly derived for an ancient Order in Ireland, consisting of freemasons, and it is said to have been erected and patronised by the Kings of Ireland, for it is claimed that in early times Erin (Ireland) possessed a literature and history equal to that of the most highly developed of ancient nations. (K.B. Jackson 1994) Brother John Yarker was at one stage the head of the “English Revived Order of the Red Branch of Eri”.

In American the “Red Branch of Eri” degree is one of those controlled under USA Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees.

Organisation and Structure Chapters/lodges are known as a Faslairt and under England there are three, 2 working in England (in the Midlands and London) and 1 in Melbourne, Australia. A Faslairt, which is headed by its Enlightened Knight Commander, only meets twice per year, and usually only take one candidate per meeting.

The Order is governed by a Most Enlightened Grand Master who is supported by eight Knights Grand Cross of Eri and a number of Ard (Grand) Officers who constitute the MurOllamham or Grand Lodge. Degrees The degrees of the order are:

Man-at-Arms

Esquire

Knight All are worked on the candidate on the meeting he joins the order.

Legend relates that the Order, comprising freemasons, was founded in 1697 BC by the then King of Ireland, Brian Boru. An ancient book entitled The Annals of the Four Masters of Ireland tells of the Knights of the Collar of Eri as instituted by King Eamhium and his eight princes over the armies of the four provinces, ie. Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught. The ancient Knightly Order was comprised of Ollamhs who were the teachers and hospitallers, the Brehons who as judges ensured that the laws were correctly administered, the Crimthears being priests who attended to the religious and moral education of the people, the Bards as historians who preserved the memory of the noble deeds of their ancestors and the later Heralds who assisted in developing the Arts and Sciences. Much of the modern ceremonies are couched in Bardic Verse and include much ancient Irish lore. (K.B. Jackson 1994)

Membership Requirements Membership is strictly by invitation, and to be invited to join one must hold a minimum of the Fifth Grade in the SRIA, though in Melbourne the requirement is that the invitee must hold the VII Grade and be a Past Celebrant. Regalia The regalia consists of a gilt metal Celtic cross the jewel of the Order worn on the left breast. A sash of four bands of colour is worn around the waist. The Enlightened Knight Commander wears a green cloak and a sash of five colours worn around the waist along with the jewel of the order suspended from a collarette worn around the neck.