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The letters SRIA are short for Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (that's Latin), also once commonly referred to as Soc.'. Ros.'. but now less often shortened in this way. It is a society of Masonic Rosicrucians - so what, on God's green earth, are they?
About 1614 two strange documents were published in Germany, the Confessio and the Fama Fraternitatis. They told the story of a society Ð not actually secret but not openly public either - founded by Christian Rosenkreuz, (a German, educated in a monastery but not a monk, who died about 1490). Both the Fama and the Confessio were anonymous and academics are uncertain and divided as to whether the story is entirely true, allegorical and only loosely based on truth or entirely fictitious (and, if made up, why?). We will go into more detail about these, so called, 'Rosicrucian Manifestos in a later 'step'.
The story of the society since 1614 is patchy, with occasional clear references to it during the 18th century, a number of obscure remarks which might refer to it and the emergence of the SRIA and SRIS (the same thing in Scotland) in the 19th century, as described in some detail in the History given to all newly initiated Zelators. There are several other Rosicrucian societies: AMORC (the Ancient and Meritorious Order of the Rosy Cross); BOTA (Builders of the Adytum); SRICF (Societas Rosicruciana in Citibus Federalis); SRIAm (Societas Rosicruciana in America) amongst several others. The SRIA is in amity (has friendly relations) with the SRIS only, not the others.
The Masonic connection goes right back to the first recorded speculative Freemason, Elias Ashmole. A copy of the Fama in Ashmole's own hand and a copy of a letter seeking to join the Rosicucians were found amongst his effects after he died in the 17th century. The SRIA at present accepts only Master Masons as members, but it is not, in itself, a Masonic organisation and the Society could change that rule (if enough members agreed!)
The SRIS is also Masonic, as is the SRICF, found only in the USA and not connected to us. The other main Rosicrucian groups all have women members as well as men.