Aboyne Degree System

The Aboyne Encampment was originally part of the Lodge of the 6th North British Militia, which was chartered in 1799 and dissolved in 1839. This Lodge was sometimes (confusingly) known as the Aboyne Lodge as Lord Aboyne was the Commander in Chief of the Regiment and had been Grand Master Mason of Scotland 1802 -1804. The Regiment was later known as the 55th Aberdeenshire Regiment of the North British Militia, and subsequently the 3rd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders which was eventually dissolved in 1885.

As a regular Militia unit, it was stationed in varying parts of the country, including Liverpool, Dover and the Tower of London. [Editors note: After this Booklet was published, it was confirmed that the Templar Grades were actually worked in the Tower of London by the early St. George Aboyne Preceptory -a unique event]. In 1812 they were stationed at Dalkeith which was then a separate town on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Under the sponsorship of Lord Aboyne, application was made to be admitted to the Royal Grand Conclave of Scotland. This was accepted and "The Aboyne Encampment" as it was then styled, was formally admitted as Number 21 on the roll on the 6th July 1812. A much reduced, computer enhanced copy of the Charter is included in the centre pages. The roll of Grand Conclave contains another entry, at No 7 for the Aberdeen Military Encampment. This was also designated as being the 55th British Militia. Unlike the Aboyne Encampment this was a local Militia and could not be moved around the country, as its principle purpose was the protection of the City of Aberdeen. The register of Grand Conclave gives the founding date for this Encampment as 1807 when it carried the name St. James. It must be stated that the two Encampments designated as arising from the 55th British Militia were never in any way connected. Both Encampments had the same designation 55th as this was the naming convention of the time and denoted the home of both to be Aberdeen.

Eventually the Aboyne Encampment returned to Aberdeen. The first meeting there was held on the 27th of January 1815 in the house of a Mrs Ingram, location unknown, where there are no further details given. By October the Encampment was better organised and at a meeting on 23rd October 1815, the degrees were as follows:

I Master Past the Chair, Excellent & Super Excellent, Royal Arch

II Ark, Black Mark, Link & Chain

III Knight Templar, Knight of St John Of Jerusalem, Mediterranean Pass, Knight of Malta

IV Jordan Pass, Babylonian Pass

V Knight of the Red Cross

VI High Priest

VII Prussian Blue

Group I was conferred in a chapter, the rest in the encampment. Group II was only a preliminary to the templar degrees and then became optional. Group III became the main degrees over time while the rest became optional or forgotten about. Group VI and VII were only conferred on a few, were never minuted and were free so in all likelihood were honorary. The degree of Prussian Blue has been associated with the old Rite of Perfection and Scottish Rites 32nd degree. Overall, this was a system of seven grades with a non random structure.