Masonic bodies

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Diagram of two major masonic bodies in the United States Freemasons structure.jpg
Diagram of two major masonic bodies in the United States

There are many organisations and orders which form part of the widespread fraternity of Freemasonry, each having its own structure and terminology. Collectively these may be referred to as Masonic bodies, Masonic orders, Concordant bodies or appendant bodies of Freemasonry. [1]

Contents

Differences between Rites or concordant bodies and appendant bodies

The terms “Appendant body” and “Rite or Concordant body” in Freemasonry can sometimes be confusing, even for those familiar with Masonic traditions.

A “Rite” or "concordant body" in Freemasonry is a system that includes various degrees for initiating a newcomer. Although not all Rites practice the conferral of all these blue Lodge degrees, they are included within its structure. Essentially, a Rite is at the heart of the Masonic journey.

In contrast, an “Appendant body” is an organization that is affiliated with Freemasonry and recognized by the Grand Lodge. However, it does not include a system of Blue Lodge degrees or upper/side degrees.

Understanding these distinctions helps to deepen the comprehension of the complex world of Freemasonry. It’s also worth noting that a Rite is sometimes referred to as a “Concordant Body”, which means that its ritual is in harmony with the Grand Lodge. [2]

Overview of relationships between masonic organizations

The basic unit of Freemasonry is the Masonic Lodge, [3] which alone can "make" (initiate) a Freemason. Such lodges are controlled by a Grand Lodge with national or regional authority for all lodges within its territory. A masonic lodge confers the three masonic degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft (or Fellow Craft), and Master Mason. [4] [5]

Whilst there is no degree in Freemasonry higher than that of Master Mason, there are additional degrees [6] that are offered only to those who are Master Masons. Most of these are supervised by their own "Grand" bodies (independent from the Grand Lodge).

The United Grand Lodge of England (which has no direct authority over other Grand Lodges, but as the world's oldest Grand Lodge, [7] has a historical influence in terms of regularity and practice) defines "pure, ancient Freemasonry" as consisting of the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason, including the supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch. [8]

The degree of the Holy Royal Arch is of great antiquity, and has a special importance in many masonic systems, including those of all three of the oldest 'Constitutions' (masonic authorities), namely the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in all of which it is considered (by varying constitutional definitions) to be the completion of the mainstream masonic structure. [9] [10]

A number of other organisations, most of which are known as 'masonic' or have a title identifying themselves as masonic, require candidates for membership to be a Master Mason in "good standing" (subscriptions paid, and not under any form of discipline). In some countries, notably the United States of America, the Scottish Rite and the York Rite are the two principal routes available. In other countries, notably England, Scotland, Ireland, and many of the countries of the Commonwealth, a large number of 'stand-alone' Orders and Degrees exist, without the umbrella organisation of a "rite". [11] Some of these masonic bodies use numbers as an informal way of referring to or identifying the degrees they confer, but the most important and therefore "highest" degree is always the third, or Degree of Master Mason. [7] These other masonic bodies (sometimes known as 'additional degrees' or 'side degrees') are optional pursuits for those who wish to take their masonic membership and activity beyond the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason.

History

Sometime before 1730, a trigradal system (that is, a system of three grades or degrees) started to emerge in Freemasonry, which quickly became the standard system in the lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland. This seems to have been accomplished by the rearrangement and expansion of the original bigradal system, particularly by the elaboration of the Hiramic legend, and its full exposition in the third degree, that of a Master Mason. [12] The emergence, in the 1740s, of "chivalric" degrees on the continent may be linked to the deliberate "gentrification" of Freemasonry in Chevalier Ramsay's Oration of 1737. [13] [14]

The formation of the Royal Arch occurred in the same period, developing the Hiramic theme with the rediscovery of the secrets lost with the death of the master builder. The Premier Grand Lodge of England (the "Moderns") remained ambivalent about the new rite, perhaps because a secret password was taken from their own third degree. [12] [15] The Moderns' supporters of the new rite formed their own Grand Chapter, probably in 1765. There is evidence that the official date of 1767 is the result of the alteration of the foundation document, to save Lord Blayney the embarrassment of founding a controversial organisation while he was still the Moderns' Grand Master. [16] The prime mover in the formation of the Grand Chapter was Caledonian Lodge, a lodge of Scottish Masons which had just joined the Moderns from the Ancients, and whose members included William Preston. [17]

In 1751, as the Moderns increasingly alienated unaffiliated lodges, a few (mainly Irish) lodges in London formed the Ancient Grand Lodge of England (the "Ancients"), which rapidly became an umbrella organisation for unaffiliated lodges in England. Their second secretary, Laurence Dermott, believed the Royal Arch to be the fourth degree. [18] When the two Grand Lodges merged in 1813, Article Two of the Articles of Union agreed that "pure Antient Masonry consists of three Degrees and no more, viz., those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch". [19] The Grand Chapter remained, but other degrees from this time had to be administered by separate Masonic Bodies.

The period from 1740 to 1813 saw a host of Masonic rites, orders and degrees emerge. These new rituals enlarged the scope of Masonry and encompassed many elaborations, some of which included elements which had previously been practiced within the craft. Many rites proved to be transient and died out (some being no more than a written record without evidence of having been practiced), but some proved more resilient and survived. [13]

Rites, orders, and degrees

England & Wales

Organisation of Masonic appendant bodies in England and Wales Structure of Masonic appendant bodies in England and Wales.jpg
Organisation of Masonic appendant bodies in England and Wales

In England and Wales, after the degrees of craft freemasonry, there are a large number of separately administered degrees and orders open only to craft freemasons. Under the English Constitution, the Holy Royal Arch is the only degree formally recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) beyond the three degrees of craft freemasonry. Other orders and degrees are however referred to and acknowledged by the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, and all their members are necessarily masons subject to the English Constitution. Of Masonic appendant bodies, the following are among the most popular:

Scotland

The governing bodies are the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland.

Under the Scottish Masonic Constitution, the Mark master's degree can be taken either within a Craft Lodge after having attained the degree of Master Mason, or within a Royal Arch Chapter, before taking the degree of Excellent Master. No one under the Scottish Masonic Constitution can be exalted as a Royal Arch Mason without previously having been advanced as a Mark Master Mason.

A number of other orders are open to craft freemasons, of which the following are notable in Scotland:

United States

In the United States there are two main sets of side degrees:

Other Appendant bodies

  • The York Rite Sovereign College of North America – An invitational body dedicated to the assistance and promotion of York Rite Bodies and degree work. The presiding body is a college, and the presiding officer is a Governor, titled Preeminent. The body works one main degree, that of Order of Knight of York, and one honorary degree, that of Order of the Purple Cross of York. [20]

Canada

In Canada there are two main Masonic appendant bodies:

Ireland

In Ireland, after the Craft degrees conferred under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Ireland there are a number of degrees and orders that are administered separately and are open to Master Masons either by petition or by invitation.

Invitational Degrees

  • The Military Order of the Temple, often known as the Masonic Knights Templar, confers Knight Templar and Knight of Malta degrees. Membership of the Order of the Temple is strictly invitational.
  • The Ancient and Accepted Rite of Ireland has strict requirements for membership. It is by invitation only and membership of Knight Templar is required. The degree structure is extremely close to the more famous Scottish Rite in America; however, as in the Ancient and Accepted Rite in England, progression through each individual degree is by invitation only.

Nordic Europe

In Scandinavia and the Nordic states, including Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland, Freemasonry exists mostly in the form of the Swedish Rite.

France

The French Rite is strong in France, Luxembourg, Greece, Brazil, and formerly Louisiana. [21] [22]

Other orders and degrees

The following affiliated and appendant bodies confer Masonic degrees. Those who petition or are invited to membership must be at least Master Masons, although each body may have additional qualifications for membership:

Appendant bodies

In Freemasonry, an Appendant body is any organization that does not contain a system of initiatory degrees (Rite or concordant body), these organizations are appendant to freemasonry, every Grand Lodge has its own list of approved Appendant bodies thus this list may vary depending on the Grand Lodge jurisdiction.

These affiliated bodies and youth organisations are commonly found in North and Central America, and to a lesser degree in South America. They are not generally present in Europe, except in localised areas of American influence, particularly areas of long term American military presence.

The Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots

The Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots is a fraternal organization that was founded in the United States in 1911. The order is dedicated to spreading fun and good cheer among its members, which it refers to as "Pyramids". The organization is known for its distinctive Egyptian-themed rituals and symbolism. It's structured into local units, also known as "Pyramids", and members work together to organize social and charitable activities. The order's motto is "Boost One Another". [23]

The Society of Blue Friars

The Society of Blue Friars, also known as S.B.F., is a unique Masonic organization established in 1932 with the explicit purpose of recognizing Masonic authors. It is widely regarded as one of the smallest and most distinctive appendant bodies within Freemasonry.

Shriners

Shriners International, historically known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.). Shriners meet in Shrine "centers" or "temples," and are well known for their maroon fezzes, lavish parades, and sponsorship of children's hospitals.

Attached to Shriners

  • Royal Order of Jesters (R.O.J.) Colloquially known as "Jesters," local "courts" are limited to thirteen initiates yearly. Initiation, by invitation and unanimous ballot, is limited to members in good standing of the Shrine. [24]
  • Order of Quetzalcoatl. The “Q”, or the Order of Quetzalcoatl, is an invitational only body within the Masonic fraternity. This organization, which was established by Arthur J. in Mexico City on March 14, 1945, is renowned for its philanthropic endeavors. Its primary charitable contribution is providing transportation funds for Shriners hospitals.

Shriner Clubs

The Shriner contains many clubs within its structure such as the Hillbillies, Gorilla, Veterans, Cigar Club etc..

High Twelve

High Twelve is a masonic appendant body primarily focused on youth support and patriotic events.

Tall Cedars of Lebanon

The Widow's Sons

Grotto

Order of the Eastern Star

Order of the Amaranth

Youth organizations

A number of Masonic-affiliated youth organizations exist, mainly in North America, which are collectively referred to as Masonic youth organizations.

Related Research Articles

In Anglo-American Freemasonry, York Rite, sometimes referred to as the American Rite, is one of several Rites of Freemasonry. It is named after York, in Yorkshire, England; where the legend of the Rite, was first practiced.

The history of Freemasonry encompasses the origins, evolution and defining events of the fraternal organisation known as Freemasonry. It covers three phases. Firstly, the emergence of organised lodges of operative masons during the Middle Ages, then the admission of lay members as "accepted" or "speculative" masons, and finally the evolution of purely speculative lodges, and the emergence of Grand Lodges to govern them. The watershed in this process is generally taken to be the formation of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717. The two difficulties facing historians are the paucity of written material, even down to the 19th century, and the misinformation generated by masons and non-masons alike from the earliest years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swedish Rite</span> Variation of Freemasonry common in Scandinavian countries

The Swedish Rite is a variation or Rite of Freemasonry that is common in Scandinavian countries and to a limited extent in Germany. It is different from other branches of Freemasonry in that, rather than having the three self-contained foundation degrees and seemingly-endless side degrees and appendant bodies, it has an integrated system with ten degrees. It is also different in that, rather than moving through the offices or 'chairs', progress in the Swedish Rite is based on moving through the ten degrees. A fundamental difference is the Swedish Rite's position on religious affiliation: Anglo/American 'Regular' Masonry requires a belief in any theistic religion and Continental 'Liberal' Masonry does not require belief in any religion, whereas Swedish Masonry is specifically Christian, and requires a Christian trinitarian belief in all its members. Nonetheless, the main Swedish Rite constitutions are all recognised as regular by the United Grand Lodge of England, and stand in full amity.

Jahbulon or Jabulon or Jahbuhlun is a word which is allegedly used in some rituals of Royal Arch Masonry and derivations thereof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Mark Master Masons</span> Appendant order of Freemasonry

The Order of Mark Master Masons is an appendant order of Freemasonry that exists in some Masonic jurisdictions, and confers the degrees of Mark Mason and Mark Master.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Order of Scotland</span>

The Royal Order of Scotland is an appendant order within the structures of Freemasonry. Membership is an honour extended to Freemasons by invitation. The Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland is headquartered in Edinburgh, with a total of 88 subordinate Provincial Grand Lodges; of these, the greatest concentration is in the British Isles, with the rest located in countries around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knights Templar (Freemasonry)</span> Fraternal order affiliated with Freemasonry

The Knights Templar, full name The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Israel, Rhodes and Malta, is a fraternal order affiliated with Freemasonry. Unlike the initial degrees conferred in a regular Masonic Lodge, which only require a belief in a Supreme Being regardless of religious affiliation, the Knights Templar is one of several additional Masonic Orders in which membership is open only to Freemasons who profess a belief in Christianity. One of the obligations entrants to the order are required to declare is to protect and defend the Christian faith. The word "United" in its full title indicates that more than one historical tradition and more than one actual order are jointly controlled within this system. The individual orders 'united' within this system are principally the Knights of the Temple, the Knights of Malta, the Knights of St Paul, and only within the York Rite, the Knights of the Red Cross.

Freemasonry in Denmark was first established in 1743 and is today represented by a number of Grand Lodges. The oldest and biggest Masonic Grand Lodge in Denmark is the Danish Order of Freemasons, in English also known as the Grand Lodge of Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Royal Arch</span> Degree of Freemasonry

The Royal Arch is a degree of Freemasonry. The Royal Arch is present in all main masonic systems, though in some it is worked as part of Craft ('mainstream') Freemasonry, and in others in an appendant ('additional') order. Royal Arch Masons meet as a Chapter; in the Supreme Order of the Royal Arch as practised in the British Isles, much of Europe and the Commonwealth, Chapters confer the single degree of Royal Arch Mason.

The Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) are a series of Masonic degrees conferred by Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees. The Allied Masonic Degrees form an appendant order of Freemasonry that exists in some Masonic jurisdictions; its degrees are conferred only by invitation. Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees exist in Great Britain, the United States, Canada, France, Australia, India, Benin and Congo, and their members also educate one another by presenting research papers on Freemasonry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Arch Masonry</span> Part of the rites of Masonry

Royal Arch Masonry is the first part of the American York Rite system of Masonic degrees. Royal Arch Masons meet as a Chapter, and the Royal Arch Chapter confers four degrees: Mark Master Mason, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Smith Webb</span>

Thomas Smith Webb was the author of Freemason’s Monitor or Illustrations of Masonry, a book which had a significant impact on the development of Masonic Ritual in America, and especially that of the York Rite. Webb has been called the "Founding Father of the York or American Rite" for his efforts to promote those Masonic bodies.

The history of Freemasonry in Mexico can be traced to at least 1806 when the first Masonic lodge was formally established in the nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Dunckerley</span>

Thomas Dunckerley was a prominent freemason, being appointed Provincial Grand Master of several provinces, promoting Royal Arch masonry, introducing Mark Masonry to England, and instituting a national body for Templar masonry. This was made possible by an annuity of £100, rising to £800, which he obtained from King George III by claiming to be his father's illegitimate half brother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Cross of Constantine</span> Christian fraternal order of Freemasonry

The Red Cross of Constantine, or more formally the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Appendant Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St John the Evangelist, is a Christian fraternal order of Freemasonry. Candidates for the order must already be members of Craft Freemasonry (lodge) and Royal Arch Freemasonry (chapter); they must also be members of the Christian religion, and proclaim their belief in the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Knight Masons</span>

The Order of Knight Masons is a chivalric Masonic order, open to all Master Masons who are also members of a Mark Lodge and a Royal Arch Chapter. Members of the order meet in Councils of Knight Masons which are governed by the Grand Council of Knight Masons based in Dublin, Ireland. A member of the group is a Knight Mason.

Freemasonry in Scotland in lodges chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland comprises the Scottish Masonic Constitution as regular Masonic jurisdiction for the majority of freemasons in Scotland. There are also lodges operating under the Scottish Masonic Constitution in countries outside of Scotland. Many of these are countries linked to Scotland and the United Kingdom through the Commonwealth of Nations and prior colonies and other settlements of the British Empire although there are several lodges in countries such as Lebanon, Belgium, Chile and Peru, which do not have such connections.

The Rite of Baldwyn or Rite of Seven Degrees is one of several Rites of Freemasonry. It exists and is only practised in the Masonic Province of Bristol, England in Freemason's Hall. 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. The Rite of Baldwyn specifically is a collection of separate Masonic Bodies and associated Degrees that would otherwise operate independently. The three primary bodies in the York Rite are the degrees of Craft Freemasonry, the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch, and the Camp of Baldwyn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Masons' Hall, London</span> Freemasonry headquarters

Mark Masons' Hall in Westminster, Greater London, is the headquarters of The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales, which is also responsible for the Royal Ark Mariner degree. It is located in 86 St James's Street in the district of St James's, opposite St James's Palace. While Freemasons' Hall is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England and the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England, Mark Masons' Hall is the home of several other important appendant orders of Freemasonry in England and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Masonic degrees</span>

In Freemasonry, the first three Masonic degrees constitute the fundamental degrees in all Rites they are called Blue Lodge of Craft degree.

References

  1. ↑ "Bodies of Masonry". www.masonicinfo.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "Resources - Robert Burns Lodge No. 59". www.robertburns59.org. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "What is Freemasonry". www.chevalierramsay.be. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Coil, Henry Wilson; "Degrees," pp. 165–168; Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia; 1961, 1996, Macoy Publ. Co., Richmond, Va. ISBN   0-88053-054-5
  5. ↑ "The Three Degrees of Freemasonry". www.jjcrowder743.com. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Beyond the Craft | PGLEL". www.pglel.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  7. 1 2 "United Grand Lodge of England – Welcome to UGLE". ugle.org.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  8. ↑ Declaration prefaced to the Book of Constitutions of the United Grand Lodge of England.
  9. ↑ "United Grand Lodge of England – Welcome to UGLE" (PDF). www.grandlodge-england.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2006. Retrieved 28 March 2006.
  10. ↑ "Articles of Union between the Grand Lodges of England". www.freemasons-freemasonry.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Jackson, Keith B. Beyond the Craft: The Indispensable Guide to Masonic Orders Practised in England and Wales, 2005. ISBN   0-85318-248-5
  12. 1 2 Douglas Knoop, "The Genesis of Freemasonry", chapters 9–13, Manchester University Press, 1947
  13. 1 2 Robert L.D. Cooper, Cracking the Freemason's Code, pp 128–132, Rider 2006
  14. ↑ Ruggeri, Amanda. "The lost history of the Freemasons" . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "encyclopediaoffreemasonry.com". encyclopediaoffreemasonry.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  16. ↑ John Hamill, The Lord Blayney Mystery, Freemasonry Today, No 17, Spring 2012, p.26
  17. ↑ "Camberley Lodge No 5591". www.camberleylodge5591.org.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  18. ↑ Pietre-Stones The Fourth Degree in the Craft, Yasha Beringer, retrieved 19 July 2012
  19. ↑ "Articles of Union between the Grand Lodges of England". www.freemasons-freemasonry.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  20. ↑ "York Rite Sovereign College of North America" . Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  21. ↑ Dafoe, Stephen. "Masonic Dictionary - Rites of Freemasonry - www.masonicdictionary.com". www.masonicdictionary.com.
  22. ↑ "Rituals – Seven Doors to Freemasonry". www.themasonictrowel.com.
  23. ↑ https://www.sciots.org/ [ bare URL ]
  24. ↑ "誰も語らなかった風俗の本音". iroj.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  25. ↑ "Grand Courts". Supreme Council, Order of the Amaranth. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  26. ↑ "Organization of Triangles, Inc". Organization of Triangles, Inc. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
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