The ritual of the Royal Order refers to the three degrees of Craft Masonry, and the third degree was first worked in 1725.

Historically, the revival could not have been before 1725. We mention the Master's degree to explain the reason for the revival, in the 1700's, of the Royal Order of Scotland. It is probable that the Master's degree, in the first half of the 1700's, was a side degree. The first Master's degree in Scotland is mentioned in the minutes of Canongate Kilwinning Lodge on March 31, 1735. The degree was unconstitutional until it was recognized by the Constitutions of 1738. The first record of the conferral of the Master's degree is in the minutes for 1732 of Lodge No. There were no minutes kept for at least the first six years. The administration of the premier Grand Lodge of England, founded in 1717 left much to be desired. Wherever and whenever the order was established, there seems to be no doubt that changes were made before it was joined with the Rosy Cross Degree to form our present order. The claim is that the word 'Heredom' is derived from the Hebrew word 'Harodim' meaning 'The Rulers', and that the name 'Kilwinning' refers to the re-establishment of the order at Kilwinning by Bruce. One tradition is that the Order of Heredom was first established in Judea, in Palestine. The pearls of truth can sometimes be brought to view only through intensive investigation, and unfortunately many records that would be invaluable to us are no longer available, if indeed they ever existed.' But this is not history - the record of authentic, indisputable events. Interesting and beautiful theories of origin prevail. So it is also with the Royal Order of Scotland. Back of the period of authentic recorded history stretch misty avenues of speculation. Right Worshipful Brother Marvin Fowler, Provincial Grand Master of the Royal Order of Scotland in the United States of America from 1953 to 1997, wrote this as a part of the foreword to a book by Harold Voorhis, 'The most profound mystery in Masonry is its origin. Tradition is that it was flourishing in France about 1735 to 1740 under Scottish refugees. Surviving records do not trace the order from its supposed revival in 1314 to the 1700's. In the archives of Grand Lodge in Edinburgh, early records mention Royal Order Lodges in London in 1740 of time immemorial origin and that the ceremonials were worked in or near Newcastle in 1736. Historical records do not support either tradition, but the lack of evidence is not proof that the traditions are not based on fact. It may be that he restored the Order of Heredom and instituted the Knight of the Rosy Cross. Tradition has varying statements one that the order was restored by the Bruce and the other that it was founded by him. The order consists of two degrees, Heredom of Kilwinning and Knight of the Rosy Cross, commonly known by the abbreviations H.R.D.M.

From tradition, we learn that Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, having received assistance from a body of Freemasons at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, instituted the Rosy Cross degree and conferred on them the civil rank of knighthood. In the Royal Order of Scotland, we accept the legendary Robert the Bruce as founder of the Order and the King of Scots as our hereditary Grand Master. In Craft Masonry, we accept the Hiramic Legend. Just as the historical beginnings of Freemasonry fade back into time immemorial, the history of the Royal Order of Scotland fades back into tradition and legend.

Royal order of scotland