On a cold wet morning in January, five eager brethren of the Societas Rosicruciana In Anglia set off on a weekend 'pilgrimage' to Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian, to explore the hidden meanings of the symbolism recently so well documented.

We arrived at our Fife hotel shortly before tea, ate and changed, and set off to visit a Scottish craft lodge in Edinburgh. The brethren there were performing an initiation which was made all the more enjoyable by the subtle differences, not least in the form of the 1st degree sign. The festive board was neats & tatties, washed down with an ever-flowing decanter of whisky. The evening ended well into the morning having been made extremely welcome. Thank you brethren of Dunedin Caritas lodge No 1316.

(Note to brethren, when arranging to visit a Scottish lodge, please do so through your lodge secretary in accordance with procedure for contacting lodges overseas.)

Saturday morning began blearily as we forced down an all day breakfast before setting off for the Chapel to arrive as it opened. We had heard that there was a Masonic tour guide available although this proved to be a local gentleman not employed by the Chapel who was not expected to be on site that morning. We joined the official tour which took the teenage guide about 20 minutes to complete before we phoned the Masonic guide who agreed to meet us and arrived 30 minutes later. WBro Joe Laing had been born in the village of Rosslyn and, being a stonemason by trade, had undertaken much restoration work on the building himself. He was also a very experienced Freemason and was able to guide us proficiently and informatively around the Chapel highlighting all aspects peculiar to freemasonry. Four hours later we had to ask that the tour be cut short as we had to endure a long drive home.

Entrance costs were £7 (£6 concessions) plus a donation to WBro Laing for his time which proved to be the best part of an already excellent weekend.

Pictured WBro Tony Perry, Bro Brian Stopford (pointing at a carving peculiar to Knights Templar), WBro Terry Ward & Bro Adrian Crampton. Not pictured, Bro Colin Frankland.

The S.R.I.A. is open to Master Masons of a philosophic outlook in order that they may afford aid and encouragement to each other in the pursuit of their own studies in the field of philosophy and scholarship. For more information, contact this site or see details in the Nottinghamshire year book.