Table of Contents
- What is Freemasonry?
- What is the Scottish Rite?
- What is the York Rite?
- What is the Shriner?
- What is the Eastern Star?
- What is DeMolay?
- What is Rainbow?
- What are some other Masonic Organizations?
Freemasonry (or simply, Masonry) is a fraternal
order whose basic tenets are brotherly love, relief (philanthropy), and
truth. We strive to enjoy
the company of our brother Masons, assist them in times of personal
trouble, and reinforce essential moral
values. There is an old adage
that Masonry "takes good men and makes them better", which is our goal.
It has often been observed that men are the products
of everything they come into contact with during their lifetime. Masonry
offers a man an
opportunity to come into regular, enjoyable contact with men of good
character, thus reinforcing his own personal moral development. Of
course, Masonry is also meant to be enjoyed by its membership, so the order
should not be viewed simply as a philosophical club, but rather a
vibrant fellowship of men who seek to enjoy each other's company, a
fraternity.
To maintain this fraternity, discussion of religion
and politics within the Lodge is forbidden, as these subjects are those that
have often
divided men in the past. Masons cover the spectrum of both religious
and political beliefs and encourages a man to be religious without
advocating a particular religion, and to be active in his community
without advocating a particular medium of
political expression.
While there probably are some actual stone-workers
who are Masons, Masonry does not teach is membership the literal
techniques of stonework. Rather, it takes the actual "operative" work
of Medieval Masons and uses
it as an allegory for moral development. Thus, the symbols of Masonry
are the common tools that were used by medieval stonemasons: the gavel,
the rule, the compass, the square, the level, etc. Each of these has a symbolic
meaning in Masonry. For example, Masons are
said to meet
"on the level", meaning that all Masons are brothers, regardless of social
status, personal wealth, or office within the Lodge or in the
world at large. Similar symbolism exists for other tools.
Masonry is distinguished from other fraternal orders
by its emphasis on moral character, its ornate rituals, and its long tradition
and history,
which dates back to at least the 17th century in modern form, the 14th century
(c. 1350-1390) in the written evidence of its precursors, and back
to the mists of antiquity in its origin. Masonry has a continuously documented
paper history (i.e., Lodge to Lodge) since 1717,
though
historical analysis shows Masonry to be much older.
There are also a great many things that Masonry is
NOT: a religion, a
secret society, etc., and these will be covered later in this FAQ.
There are three degrees in Masonry. Other appendant
bodies confer additional degrees, up to the 32nd (or the honorary 33rd)
of the Scottish
Rite, but in symbolic Masonry (or Blue Lodge Masonry) proper, there are
only three. At the Blue Lodge, Masons receive the degrees of Entered
Apprentice (first degree), Fellowcraft (second degree), and Master Mason
(third degree). Promotion generally requires
the mastery of a small body
of memorized material, the contents of which varies from jurisdiction
to jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions, only the
signs, tokens, and grips of
each degree must be learned; in others, a longer
amount of material.
Of course, no Mason would ever look down upon a
Brother simply because he was of a lower degree-- the degrees do not
exist to create a pecking
order or to confer rank. Rather, they are a system of initiation that
allows men to become familiar with the august and ancient history and
principles of Masonry at a comfortable pace. Proceeding from Entered
Apprentice to Master Mason in the US can take as little as three months,
while in England, the degrees are spaced apart by a year's interval.
Most Lodges have regular communications (meetings)
once a month, that are also referred to as "business meetings". In the
US, these are typically
only open to Master Masons. (In Massachusetts & England, these meetings
can be opened
in the first degree, and EAs may attend).
Conferring of degrees is
usually done at other meetings during the month.
While conferral of degrees and mundane business do
take up a lot of a Lodge's time, there are a host of other activities that
Masons engage
in within the fraternity. Charitable work is often done, in the form of
fundraisers, community volunteer work, etc.
And there are also a
great many things done for the simple pleasure of company: monthly breakfasts or
dinners, picnics, card/chess matches,
lecturers on Masonic
history, you name it. Masonry is a fraternity, and its membership seeks
to have fun.
Local Masonic Lodges are organized under Grand
Lodges. In the United States, each state has its own Grand Lodge, which
is a peer with every
other Grand Lodge. There is not "Grandest Lodge"-- each Grand Lodge is supreme
in its jurisdiction (e.g., in the US, in its
state) but has no
authority elsewhere. Of course, this does not mean that Masonry in New York is
radically different than Masonry in Scotland or New
Mexico.
Masons are very traditional and the differences between Grand
Lodges are usually minor.
The head of a Lodge is given the title Worshipful
Master. This, of
course, does not imply that Masons worship him; it is
merely a stylish
title. Masonic Lodges can be found in many cities, of all sizes, around the
world. There are presently approximately 5 million Masons, half of
which are in the United States.
The Scottish Rite is an appendant body of Masonry,
meaning that it is
not part of the Blue Lodge per se, but closely associated
with Masonry. It requires that a man be a
Master Mason before joining the Scottish Rite. The Scottish Rite confers
the 4th through 32nd degrees. The degree work may be, but is not
necessarily, completed at one time. Any Master Mason is eligible to join
the Scottish Rite. The degrees of the Scottish Rite continue the
symbolism of the first three Masonic degrees.
For a discussion of the 33rd degree, see question 9
of this section.
The above refers to the Ancient Accepted Scottish
Rite (AASR), not the Rectified Scottish Rite, which exists both in
UGLE-recognized and non-recognized Masonic bodies in
Europe.
http://www.supremecouncil.org/
The York Rite, like the Scottish Rite, is an
appendant body of Masonry, and confers degrees beyond the Blue Lodge's
three degrees. It consists of nine degrees additional degrees: Mark Master, Past
Master, Most
Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason; the Cryptic Degrees of the Royal Master,
Select Master, and Super Excellent Master; and the Chivalric Orders of the Order
of the Red Cross, Order of the Knights of Malta and the Order of Knights
Templar.
The Temple degrees, which comprise the top degrees
of the York Rite are specifically Christian. Or at least, it can be stated that
the oath is: in some Grand Lodges in the US and abroad, one need not be a
Christian, but rather only be willing to take a Christian Oath. The difference
here is that there are some who would willingly swear to defend the Christian
faith on the grounds that they would defend any man's faith. The Chapter (or
Royal Arch) and Council Of Royal And Select Masters (Cryptic Rite), which
comprise the first two sections of the
York Rite, are not specifically Christian.
As with most things Masonic, discuss any concerns
with your local York Rite, who can advise you regarding
your eligibility.
http://www.knightstemplar.org/ktef/index.htm
The Shrine of North America is known for its colorful parades,
circuses and clowns. But there is also a serious side to this international
fraternity of approximately 500,000 men belonging to 191 Shrine Temples, or
chapters, throughout North America. For 75 years, the Shrine has operated a
network of specialized hospitals that treat children with orthopedic problems,
burns and spinal cord injuries, up to their 18th birthday, free of charge.
The Shrine was founded in 1872 by a group of 13 men belonging to
the Masonic Order. It was originally established to provide fun and fellowship
for its members. But as the organization grew, its members decided to dedicate
their efforts to helping others by establishing an official Shrine philanthropy
— a network of specialized hospitals that have provided expert medical care to
more than 700,000 children, free of charge.
Since the first Shriners Hospital opened in 1922, the Shrine has
supported what has come to be known as the "World's Greatest Philanthropy." The
Shrine and its 22 hospitals, while maintaining separate legal and financial
identities, are linked through the Shrine's continuing support of Shriners
Hospitals.
The best known symbol of Shrinedom is the distinctive red fez
that Shriners wear at official functions. Because Shriners are men who enjoy
life, fun is a large part of the Shrine and the activities that help support the
Shrine's philanthropy. Most Shrine Temples sponsor Shrine Clubs and special
units, such as the motor corps, band or clown units and many other units of
interest. They share in the camaraderie, deep friendships and good fellowship
that are all part of being a Shriner.
http://www.shrinershq.org/
The Order of the Eastern Star is an adoptive rite of Freemasonry with
teachings based on the Bible and objectives that are charitable and benevolent.
The founder of OES was Dr. Robert Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston,
Massachusetts, who was a Master Mason and Past Grand Master of Kentucky. Dr.
Morris intended his creation to become a female branch of Freemasonry, but he
failed to overcome the great opposition this idea engendered. After his first
published ritual in 1849-50, he became associated with Robert Macoy who wrote
and published a ritual based on Morris' in 1867. The first Grand Chapter was
organized in Michigan in the same year. (There is evidence for an organization
of the same name founded variously in 1788 or 1793, but this group was defunct
by 1867.) Subordinate (local) chapters operate under charter from state level
grand chapters which are responsible to the General Grand Chapter at the
International Eastern Star temple in Washington, D.C.
Members must be eighteen years or older and either Master Masons in good
standing or properly related to a Master Mason in good standing. The latter
category includes wives; widows; sisters; daughters; mothers; granddaughters;
step-mothers; step daughters; step-sisters; and half-sisters. In 1994 this was
expanded to include nieces, daughters-in- law, and grandmothers.
Each chapter has eighteen officers, some elected and others appointed. Two
offices are specifically male (Patron and Associate Patron) while nine offices
are specifically female (including Matron and Associate Matron). While the
Worthy Matron is considered to be the presiding officer of the chapter, the
degrees cannot be conferred without a presiding brother in good standing (hence
the Patron and Associate Patron).
Each chapter retains the right to decide who shall be a member of the
organization. Election to the degrees must be unanimous, without debate, and
secret. The successful candidate must profess a belief in a Supreme Being and is
initiated in five degrees, which are conferred in one ceremony. (When Eastern
Star was created, it was intended to be the first of a three degree series. The
second and third degrees were Queen of the South and the Order of the Amaranth,
respectively.)
Interestingly enough, OES requires only the belief in a Supreme Being even
though the degrees are based in both the Old and New Testaments. While
non-Christians are not specifically barred from membership, it would seem to be
difficult to be other than Christian and belong to the Order.
http://www.easternstar.org/
The International Order of DeMolay is the world's largest fraternal
organization for young men between the ages of 13 and 21. The Order was founded
in Kansas City, Missouri on March 24, 1919 by Frank Sherman Land. DeMolay
Chapters are sponsored by Masonic Lodges, and some members of the sponsoring
body also serve as Advisors on the Chapter's Advisory Council. Structurally, it
is similar to Masonry. The officers of a Chapter are the Master Councilor,
Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior
Steward, Junior Steward, Orator, Scribe, Marshal, Chaplain, Standard Bearer,
Sentinel, Almoner, and seven Preceptors.
DeMolay Chapters hold monthly or bi-weekly meetings with Masonic-like Ritual.
Other activities include athletic tournaments and events, social functions
(joint activities with Rainbow are encouraged), fund-raising activities, Masonic
service activities, and civic and philanthropic activities.
DeMolays are taught the seven cardinal virtues of the Order-- filial love,
reverence for sacred things, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness, and
patriotism-- and the importance of practicing them in their daily lives.
The Order's namesake is Jacques DeMolay, who was the last Grand Master of the
Knights Templar and who was executed by the Inquisition on March 18, 1314. Louis
Lower, the first DeMolay, and his group of friends, when asked by Dad Land to
choose a name for their group, believed that his heroic fidelity and loyalty to
his fellow Templars were qualities with which they wanted their group to be
identified. Mind you, Dad Land explained this to them before they chose their
name.
A fascinating book about the history of the Order and the life of Frank S.
Land (1890-1959), titled "Hi! Dad," is available from the DeMolay and More Store
or practically any member of the Order. The phone number of the DeMolay and More
Store is 1-800-DEMOLAY.
http://www.massdemolay.org/
Rainbow is the complement to DeMolay, enrolling girls between the age of 13
and 20 if they are related to members of a Masonic Lodge or the Eastern Star. It
confers two degrees, the Initiatory and the Grand Cross of Color.
Acacia: A college fraternity for Master Masons, the sons of Masons,
and young men recommended by two Masons one of whom is an Acacian himself. The
national governing board is composed exclusively of 32nd and 33rd degree Masons.
Order of Amaranth: Open to Masons and their wives, mothers, daughters,
widows, and sisters. At least one Master Mason must be present at every
initiation. It confers only one degree.
Daughters of Mokanna: An auxiliary organization of the Grotto
comprised of the wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters of the Master
Masons in the Grotto.
Daughters of the Nile: An auxiliary organization for the wives,
mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters of members of the Shrine.
Desoms: An organization for deaf Masons.
Grotto: A fun organization open to Master Masons. It imitates the
Shrine to a large degree, but requires only that a member be a Master Mason
rather than a 32nd degree Mason or Knight Templar. Officially known as The
Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (MOVPER).
High Twelve International: An organization of Master Masons that
usually meet for lunch, enjoy fellowship, and support Masonic causes, with
special emphasis on youth and patriotic endeavors.
Job's Daughters: Enrolls girls between the ages of 13 and 20 that have
some Masonic relative. They must profess a belief in God, the Ten Commandments,
and the Lord's prayer.
L.O.S. of N.A.: The Ladies' Oriental Shrine of North America. Another
auxiliary for the wives, mothers, daughters, widows, and sisters of Shrine
members.
National Sojourners, Inc.: Open to Master Masons which are U.S.
citizens and who have served or are serving as a commissioned or warrant officer
in the United States military or in any armed service of a nation allied with
the US in time of war.
Philalethes: A group for Masons interested in Masonic philosophy and
history.
Royal Order of Scotland: An organization for Christian Masons who have
been 32nd degree Masons or Knights Templar for five or more years.
Tall Cedars of Lebanon: A fun organization for Master Masons similar
to the Grotto. It confers the two degrees of the Royal Court and the Sidonian.
White Shrine of Jerusalem: For Master Masons and their wives, mothers,
daughters, widows, and sisters. Members must profess a belief in the defense of
the Christian religion.
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