Queen Christina was just six years old when she became ruler
of Sweden some three hundred years ago. During her reign as Queen, she created
the Order of the Amarantha for the ladies and knights of her royal court.
Queen Christina herself played the character, Lady Amarantha, who was
portrayed as being a beautiful, virtuous and talented Lady of the Court. The
name of the Order was possibly chosen from the beautiful never-fading red
Amaranthus flowers growing in profusion in Spain and Portugal. The Order was
perpetuated and presently exists in the Royal Court of Sweden. Originally, the
Royal and Social Order of the Amarantha had no connection with Masonry as it
does today.
In the middle of the 19th century, a number of societies were
introduced, in which females could become active members. The "Order of
the Eastern Star" and the "Order of the Amaranth" are just two
such organizations.
In 1860, Brother James B. Taylor from Newark, NJ, attempted to
compose the material to start a New "Society". He learned that in
1653, Queen Christina of Sweden had combined a group of "Sir
Knights" and "Ladies" together to have "gala"
parties. She called this group the "Order of the Amaranta".
The story goes like this...
"The person kneeling down before the Queen held up his
hands between the Queen's hands: she declared his duty in that Order, was to
maintain and defend virtue and the honor of virtuous ladies, to endeavor to
correct vice, to perform honorable actions, to keep his faith inviolable, in
all matters relating to honor and virtuous performances; which the Court
promised to observe. The Queen put upon his left shoulder and tied under his
right arm a scarf of crimson taffeta, with a broad silver fringe; and the
jewel of the order hung in the scarf, it was about the compass of half a
crown; it was made of gold, a round wreath wrought and enameled like a
laurel, and in the midst thereof two great AA reversed, set thick with
diamonds, the two AA for the first and last letters of Amaranta, and about
the wreath was written 'dolce nella memoria', 'Sweet is the memory', that is
of a certain noble and famous great lady named Amaranta, who was an eminent
pattern and example of the highest honor and virtue, in memory of whom this
Court was instituted."
Brother Taylor was so impressed with what he had read that he
copied many of the symbols and much of the phraseology used therein. He even
copied the name, the "Order of the Amaranth".
Brother Robert Macoy, who was in control of the "Order of
the Eastern Star" around 1870, decided that it might be advisable to add
two or more degrees to it. Then, in 1873, he formed the "Rite of
Adoption", with the "Order of the Eastern Star" as the first,
or initiatory degree, and "The Queen of the South" as the second
degree and the "Order of the Amaranth" as the third, or highest
degree. His plan was to have these degrees given separately but under the
control of one body.
Both Eastern Star "Chapters" and Amaranth
"Courts" were included in the Adoptive Rite Ritual. The Order of the
Amaranth was officially organized June 14, 1873 in New York City as part of
the Rite of Adoption. In the Rite of Adoption Ritual it was said: "This
Organization shall be known as the 'Rite of Adoption of the World' and shall
consist of the degrees of the Eastern Star, the Queen of the South and the
Amaranth."
Brother Robert Macoy obtained the material that Brother Taylor
had written about the Amaranth, and revised and perfected it into
"ritualistic" form so that it could be used as the ritual for the
third degree. From 1873 until 1921, all members of the Amaranth were required
to join the "Order of the Eastern Star" first, and to maintain this
membership to be able to stay members of the Amaranth.
In 1921, by mutual agreement, this requirement ceased. They
are now completely separate organizations, though many are members of both
organizations.
Under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council we have forty-three Grand Courts
(each is Statewide), located in the United States, Canada, Australia, England,
Philippines and Scotland. Also, Subordinate Courts (local) in Hawaii, New
Zealand and Ireland (there are a few individual states in the U.S. that do not
have Grand Courts).
The "Order of the Amaranth" means many things to
many people. To its early members it meant the opportunity to build upon the
strong foundation of TRUTH, FAITH, WISDOM and CHARITY. A fraternal Order
having for its purpose, service to humanity, set to the music of fraternal
love.
To its present members, the "Order of the Amaranth"
means a challenge to build higher and stronger upon these foundations of
fraternal love and service. It means the hand of fraternal friendship to those
in distress. It means thinking and remembering about its members in their
hours of sorrow and sickness. Most of all, it means the opportunity to serve
our fellow human beings, to enjoy the close fraternal ties of mutual respect
and understanding to enrich our lives with friendship worth far more
than gold or silver.