The fraternity of Freemasonry, also known as “Free and Accepted Masons,” is organized by private groups of members variously known in English as lodges, chapters, councils, commanderies, consistories, etc., which can be collectively referred to as “Masonic bodies”. The basic Masonic body is the “Masonic Lodge”, which alone can make a Mason via conferring the first three degrees in Masonry. The Masonic Lodge is also referred to as Blue Lodge” and “Symbolic Lodge”. Such lodges are controlled by a Grand Lodge with national or regional authority for all lodges within its territory.
While there is no degree in Freemasonry higher than that of Master Mason, there are a number of related organizations which have as a prerequisite to joining that one be a Master Mason, such as the Scottish Rite and the York Rite. Additionally, there are also organizations affiliated with Freemasonry that admit both Master Masons and non-Masons who have some relation to a Master Mason, such as the Order of the Eastern Star, International Order of Job’s Daughters and the Order of the Amaranth. Still other affiliated organizations like the Order of DeMolay and the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls admit non-Masons and have no requirement that an applicant be related to a Master Mason.
District 6 is proud that a large number of our members have continued their Masonic education through active participation in one of several Masonic appendant and concordant bodies. Listed below is an overview of some of those organizations and links to their websites to help you expand your masonic education.
York Rite
The term York Rite is a term most often used in the United States of America to refer to a collection of Masonic degrees that, in most other countries, are conferred separately. As such, it constitutes one of the two main branches of Masonic Appendant Bodies in United States Freemasonry, which a Master Mason may join to further his knowledge of Freemasonry. Its name is derived from the city of York, where, according to a Masonic legend, the first meetings of Masons in England took place, although only the lectures of the York Rite College make reference to that legend.
The other principal branch of Freemasonry in the United States is the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
The divisions within the York Rite and the requirements for membership differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but the essentials are the same. In all the workings, the one requirement is that all applicants be in possession of the degree of Master Mason (the third degree of Freemasonry).
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. A Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority. In the Scottish Rite the central authority is called a Supreme Council. The twenty nine degrees of the Scottish Rite are conferred by several controlling bodies.
The Scottish Rite is one of the appendant bodies of Freemasonry that a Master Mason may join for further exposure to the principles of Freemasonry. In England and some other countries, while the Scottish Rite is not accorded official recognition by the Grand Lodge, there is no prohibition against a Freemason electing to join it. In the United States, however, the Scottish Rite is officially recognized by Grand Lodges as an extension of the degrees of Freemasonry. The Scottish Rite builds upon the ethical teachings and philosophy offered in the craft lodge, or Blue Lodge, through presentation of the individual degrees.
Order of the Eastern Star
The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all monotheistic faiths. It has approximately 10,000 chapters in twenty countries and approximately one million members under its General Grand Chapter. Members of the Order are aged 18 and older; men must be Master Masons and women must have specific relationships with Masons. Originally, a woman would have to be the daughter, widow, wife, sister or mother of a master Mason, but the Order now allows other relatives as well as allowing Rainbow Girls, Triangle Girls and Job’s Daughters to become members when they become of age.
Amaranth
Order of the Amaranth is a Masonic-affiliated women’s organization founded in 1873. As in the Order of the Eastern Star, members of the Order must be age 18 and older; men must be Master Masons; and women must be related to Masons as wives, mothers, daughters, widows, sisters, nieces, aunts, et cetera, or have been active members of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls or Job’s Daughters International for more than three years and be recommended by a Master Mason.
Amaranth was based on Queen Christina of Sweden’s court. Christina had created the “Order of the Amarantha” for the ladies and knights of her court. In 1860, James B. Taylor of Newark, New Jersey drew upon this order to create a new fraternal society.
In the Order’s 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 example, 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 promulgated by the Order.
Amaranth is organized into Courts, under Grand Courts at the State level. The primary body is called the Supreme Council. Women members of the Order are addressed as “Honored Lady”, while men are referred to as “Sir Knight”.
Tall Cedars
The Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America is one of the various appendant bodies of Freemasonry, open only to Master Masons in good standing in a regular Masonic Lodge. Unlike the York Rite or Scottish Rite, which confer Masonic degrees which extend or expound upon basic craft Masonry, Tall Cedarism is more a social body, like the Shriners. Its motto, “Fun, Frolic, & Fellowship,” is indicative of this social bent. Its members are distinguished by the pyramid-shaped hats they wear at their functions.
Shriners
Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine or Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. There are approximately 375,000 members from 191 temples (chapters) in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama
Shriners International support Shriners Hospitals for Children, a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Since 1922, Shriners Hospitals for Children have significantly improved the lives of more than 865,000 children.
If you hold the title of Master Mason in Freemasonry, you qualify and are invited to join the Shriners.
Grotto
The Grotto was founded in the summer of 1889 to organize and hold informal meetings for fun and good fellowship. At the meeting of September 10, 1889, the group called the “Fairchild Deviltry Committee” restrict membership to Master Masons in good standing.
The idea of the Order proved to be attractive, and many Masons joined. In response to requests, other groups were formed in other areas, and on June 13, 1890 the former “Fairchild Deviltry Committee” duly established and formed the Supreme Council, Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm. Its purpose was to add in greater measure to the Masonic fraternal spirit the charm of radiant cheerfulness and to maintain within the fraternity an impetus of royal good fellowship.
It is a social organization for Master Masons, and as such, all Master Masons are welcome to join. It encourages renewed interest in the Blue Lodges, though it makes no claim to be a part of Symbolic Craft Masonry.
Members are distinguished by a black fez with a red tassel and a Mokanna head in the middle.
High Twelve
High Twelve International is over 75 years old. It was founded in Sioux City, Iowa, on May 17, 1921 by E.C. “Wallie” Wolcott. It is an organization of Master Masons who support Masonic causes with special emphasis on youth and patriotic events. There are approximately 21,000 members in 350 clubs nationwide and in foreign countries.
High Twelve is non-political and non-sectarian and is composed of Master Masons who have a keen interest in the welfare of humankind and take an interest in civic affairs.
High Twelve members, as Master Masons, seek to serve civic, patriotic and humanitarian causes and institutions through fellowship, interesting programs and projects.
Upcoming Events
Apr
19
Tue
7:00 pm
Scottish Rite – 20th Degree
Scottish Rite – 20th Degree
Edit
Apr 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Scottish Rite of Lancaster 20th Degree Dress Code: coat and tie