Pure, Ancient Freemasonry and Royal Freemasonry
The Book of Constitutions of The United Grand Lodge Of England includes the following paragraph:-
"..... pure Ancient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more, viz., those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch".
The meetings and ceremonies of the three craft degrees of Entered Apprentice (EA), Fellow Craft (FC) and Master Mason (MM) take place within the lodge-room of a freemason's lodge. Royal Arch meetings however, are held in a Royal Arch Chapter. Before joining a Chapter a freemason must have completed the three craft degrees. While it is expected that every EA will progress to Master Mason, whether to join a chapter, or not, is each MM's choice.
For details of the Holy Royal Arch Freemasonry, contact the Abbey Lodge R.A. representative.
Side or appendant degrees and orders
There is a plethora of other degrees available for those wishing to expand their masonic horizons, too many to describe here! Probably the most popular after the Craft and RA being the Order of Mark Master Masons, The Rose Croix, The Knights Templar and the Royal Ark Mariners (some of the full names are much longer).
The Abbey Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners is moored to Abbey Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 225 and also meets in Abingdon. For more details click the button below.
The Beaumont Preceptory No. 323 meets in Bicester at the Waylands Masonic Hall