The Masonic Order of Athelstan
The Masonic Order of Athelstan was constituted in the USA on February 8th, 2011 during AMD Week with two Courts established, one in North Carolina and the other in Pennsylvania. The order is relative new in its founding country of England in that it has only been in existence for a little over five years. A slow and deliberate rate of growth has been chosen as the best method to ensure positive results. As you will learn from the attached background information, the Masonic Order of Athelstan instructs its members on many symbols and their meaning that has in some jurisdictions been removed from the Craft Lodge. Where these symbols have been retained you will find that they are presented in a more esoteric manner than they are in the Craft Lodge which leads the serious Masonic student down a totally different path of learning and perception. The Masonic Order of Athelstan not only complements the Craft Lodge experience, it stimulates the mind to various new areas of research while renewing the one’s interest in the Craft and Chapter Degrees.
The body is referred to as a “Court”. It is an invitation only organization.
The Masonic Order of Athelstan portrays the story of a Master Mason called to York in 926 to receive the Ancient Charges. It goes on through a series of delightful rituals to explain a lot of the Symbolism we still see in some Lodges today and culminates with an Historical oration taking us through the development of the various Grand Lodges and ends at 1813 with the formation of the UGLE.
The Order of the Scarlet Mantle is appendant to the Masonic Order of Athelstan and has its own Statutes. It was created from the outset as the separate reward-based Order for meritorious service by members within the Order of Athelstan.
Knights are installed or promoted in a ceremony commemorative of the Knighting of Athelstan by King Alfred the Great in and around the year 898 (the first recorded making of a Knight in England). It is stated that Athelstan, upon being knighted was given a ‘Scarlet Mantle and a Sword with a golden hilt and a scarlet mantle bedecked with jewels’. Members bear the initials of Knight of the Scarlet Mantle (KSM), Knight Commander of the Scarlet Mantle (KCSM) or Grand Cross of the Scarlet Mantle (GCSM) after their name and naturally can only use this in the context of the Masonic Order of Athelstan.