In the early part of the nineteenth century, many "additional" degrees were worked in England. The Warrants for such degrees were originally granted by the Ancients who held the view that any degrees could be worked under Craft Warrants which they granted. After the formation of the United Grand Lodge in 1813, groups of degrees were gradually organised into separate Orders, each with their own governing bodies.

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However, well into the second half of the century, several degrees without any allegiance to these centralised authorities were still being worked in many parts of the country.

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In the 1870's there were a number of degrees in which no existing Grand Body had any interest that were being worked in various parts of the country. In order to prevent the wasting away of these historical degrees and to ensure the use of standardised rituals it was decided by the Grand Secretaries of the Craft, the Mark and the Grand Secretary General of the Ancient and Accepted Rite to form a 'Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees in England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown' based at Mark Masons Hall, London.
The Grand Council began to issue warrants in 1880, firstly as warrants of confirmation to existing lodges, these being lettered rather than numbered.

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The first warrant was issued to Portal Council on the 1st January 1880 which still meets to this day in Liverpool.

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The real charm of the Order is its variety. There are five degrees which can be worked. No meeting is therefore just the same as the one before. There are different officers and lectures for each degree, so every member has the opportunity to participate in the ceremonies if he so wishes and that participation can be large or small.

 

The ceremonies are dramatic with much role-playing and enormous fun to perform. But underneath the fun and drama are serious Masonic lessons which cannot fail to enlighten and impress the candidate.