This resume has been prepared for those who are
interested in becoming a member of the Order of the
Amaranth, andfor a new member whose interest has been
aroused by the beauty of the Degree.

PREFACE

The Order of the Amaranth is a Fratemal Organiza-
tion composed of Master Masons and their properly
qualified female relatives.

In its teachings, the members are emphatically
reminded of their duties to God, to their Country, and to
their fellow beings.

They are urged to portray, by precept and exam-
ple, their belief in the "Golden Rule", and by conforming
to the virtues inherent in TRUTH, FAITH, WISDOM, and
CHARITY, they can prove to others the goodness pro-
mulgated by the Order.

The extent of its Charitable Work and overall
Benevolence is limited only by the opportunities that ex-
ist, and the ability to secure adequate funding. Its Philan-
thropic Project is the Amaranth Diabetes Foundation.

The Flag of the appropriate Country is prominent-
ly displayed at all meetings creating a strong sentiment of
patriotism and devotion to the respective land that we love.

Conspicuously upon the Altar is placed the Holy
Bible, the inspired word of God. Its Divine truths send forth
its sacred luster to all parts of the Globe, and is used among
us as the symbol of the will of God, and reminds us of
the omnipresence of the "Almighty" overshadowing us with
His Divine love, and disperlsing His blessings among us.

The leaves of the Amaranth plant (like the "Laurel")
is indicative of distinction and honor, and when formed
into the "Amaranthine Wreath" with its never ending cir-
cle, is typical of the bond of fraternal friendship which en-
circles our beloved Order, and which has a central place
upon our Standard, surrounding the "Crown and Sword".

BRIEF HISTORY

About three hundred years ago in Sweden a little
girl just six years old named Christina became the ruler
of that Country. As she grew to womanhood, she was very
fond of things beautiful, cultured and of social importance.
During her reign as Queen she created the Order of the
Amarantha for the Ladies and Knights of her Royal Court,
building it around the character of Lady Amarantha, who
was portrayed as being a beautiful, virtuous and talented
Lady of the Court. Queen Christina herseU acted the part
of Lady Amarantha; and the name of the Order was pro-
bably chosen because of the beautiful never-fading red
Amaranthus flowers growing in profusion in Spain and Por-
tugal. The Order was perpetuated and exists in the Royal
Court of Sweden now.

As originally created by Queen Christina the Royal
and Social Order of the Amarantha had no more connec-
tion with Masonry than did the beautiful Catholic cathedrals
constructed by Masons and by builders of old, before the
structure of Masonry was developed and embodied in our
present day Fraternity. So let's leave the Swedish Order
of the Amarantha and turn to the more modern days.

In the middle of the 19th century, a number of
Societies were started in America, in which females could
become members. The two that we are most concerned
with are the "Order of the Eastern Star" and the "Order
of the Amaranth".

From the report of H. L. Grace Scheninger, a
member of the present Order who visited Sweden in re-
cent years, we find the following interesting information:
"One account was given by an Englishman, himself a
member of the Order and a long time guest of Christina's
Court, seems the most plausible and in keeping with the
lessons handed down to us in our present Order. He says:
The person kneeling down before the Queen held up his
hands between the Queen's hands: she declared his duty
in that order, 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 mat-
ters 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 crim-
son 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 ex-
ample of the highest honor and virtue, in memory of whom
this Court was instituted.

It again appears in France when the Lodges of
Adoption were organized about 1730, each of which was
under the control of a Masonic Lodge until June 10,1974,
when the Grand Orient of France by an Edict assumed
control of all Lodges of Adoption.

In 1860, Brother James B. Taylor, from Newark,
New Jersey, 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".

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 the Eastern Star "Chapters" and the 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 a part of the Rite of Adoption.
Robert Macoy was the first Supreme Royal Patron and Rob
Morris was the first Supreme Recorder of the Order under
Robert Macoy. In the Rite of Adoption Ritual it was said:
"This Organization shall be known as the 'Rite of Adop-
tion 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 revis-
ed 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.

In 1895, Robert Macoy died. New officers arrang-
ed for the Supreme Council of the "Order of The
Amaranth" to hold its first meeting of its officers and
members in 1897. Since then, an "Annual Meeting" has
been held each year. Under the jurisdiction of the Supreme
Council we have Forty-three Grand Courts, located in the
United States, Canada, Australia, England, Philippines and
Scotland. Also Subordinate Courts in Hawaii, New Zealand
and Ireland.

The "Order of The Amaranth" means many things
to many people. To its early members it meant the op-
portunity to build upon the strong foundation of TRUTH,
FAITH, WISDOM and CHARITY. A fraternal order hav-
ing 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 its
Fellowmen, to enjoy the close fraternal ties of mutual
respect and understanding to enrich our lives with friend-
ship worth far more than gold or silver.

S. K. Roland E. Randall, P.G.R.P.    Maryland
