Masonic

Bodies
T
here 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 or appendant bodies (or orders) of
Freemasonry.[1]

Overview of relationships between masonic

organizations
The basic unit of Freemasonry is the Masonic
Lodge,[2] 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.[3][4]
Whilst there is no degree in Freemasonry higher
than that of Master Mason, there are additional
degrees[5] 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,[6] 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.[7]
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.[8][9]
 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".[10] 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.[6] 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.
In some countries, notably the United States of
America, there are also organizations affiliated with
Freemasonry which 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 (Job's Daughters International) 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.
These associated organisations for non-masons are only
rarely encountered in European Freemasonry.

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.[11] 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.[12][13]
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.[11][14] 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.[15] 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.[16]
In 1751, as the Moderns increasingly alienated unaffiliated
lodges, a few (mainly Irish) lodges in London formed
the Antient Grand Lodge of England (the "Antients"),
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.[17] 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".[18] Grand Chapter remained, but
other degrees from this time has 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.[12]

Recognition
Different Masonic jurisdictions vary in their
relationships with appendant bodies, if any. Some offer
formal recognition, while others consider them wholly
outside of Freemasonry. This leads to some such bodies not
being universally considered as appendant bodies, but
rather separate organizations that happen to require
Masonic affiliation for membership.

Membership
Each Masonic body sets its own Membership
requirements, which vary greatly. Many of these, especially
those that actually confer additional Masonic degrees and
orders, limit membership to Master Masons only. Others
require the candidate to either be a Master Mason or have a
familial relationship to one. Some require the candidate to
be a Trinitarian Christian. Others require prior membership
of other groups, or having held specific office in a group.
Membership is sometimes open, and sometimes
invitational. In the United States, the York and Scottish
Rites make petitions available to all Master Masons but
reserve the right to reject petitioners, while other groups,
such as the Knight Masons, require that one be asked to
join by a current member.
 Rites, orders, and degrees
England & 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:
The Holy Royal Arch in England and Wales is
practiced as a stand-alone degree, separate from Craft
Freemasonry. Members meet in Royal Arch Chapters,
which are each attached to a Craft Lodge and also bear the
same number. The Order is administrated by the Supreme
Grand Chapter, which is based at the headquarters of the
United Grand Lodge of England in Freemasons' Hall,
London, and also has many officers in common with it.
Craft lodges in England and Wales normally have a Royal
Arch Representative, and newly raised Master Masons are
actively encouraged to seek exaltation into the Holy Royal
Arch before considering membership of any further
Masonic organisation.
The Order of Mark Master Masons. Under the
English Constitution this degree is only conferred in Mark
Masons' Lodges, which are independent from the United
Grand Lodge of England and administrated from Mark
Masons' Hall, London. Within the Order, members may
also join the Royal Ark Mariners.
The Order of the Secret Monitor. Under the English
Constitution, the Order meets in Conclaves, each with a
Supreme Ruler at its head. The Order is administrated from
Mark Masons' Hall, London. Within the Order, members
may also join the Order of the Scarlet Cord.
The Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and
Wales, colloquially known as "Rose Croix". Under the
English Constitution, the Rite meets in Rose Croix Chapters
and is open only to Master Masons who believe in the
Christian Holy Trinity. Candidates are 'perfected' in the
18th degree, with the preceding degrees awarded in name
only. Continuing to the 30th degree and beyond is
restricted to those who have served in the chair of the
Chapter. The Order is administrated by the 'Supreme
Council 33° for England and Wales' in London.
The Knights Templar. Membership is by invitation
only. Candidates are required to be Master Masons, Royal
Arch Masons, and to believe in the Christian Holy Trinity.
Knights Templar meet in Preceptories. The Order is
administrated from Mark Masons' Hall, London; members
may also join the Knights of Malta and/or the Knight
Templar Priests.
 The Order of Royal and Select Masters is
administrated from Mark Masons' Hall, London. It works
the degrees of Select Master, Royal Master, Most Excellent
Master and Super-Excellent Master which show the link
between the degrees of Master Mason, Mark Master
Mason and the Holy Royal Arch.
The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine, the Holy
Sepulchre and of St John the Evangelist, colloquially known
as the "Red Cross of Constantine". Candidates are required
to be Master Masons, Royal Arch Masons, and to believe in
the Christian Holy Trinity. Members meet as a Conclave.
The Order works three degrees, and also administrates two
distinct appendant orders which are both Christian in
character. The Order is administrated from Mark Masons'
Hall, London.
The Allied Masonic Degrees, a group of five
formerly independent degrees, are conferred by invitation
only. Candidates are required to be Master Masons, Royal
Arch Masons and Mark Masons. Members may also be
invited to join the Order of Knight Masons. The Order
meets in Councils and is administrated from Mark Masons'
Hall, London.
Scotland
In Freemasonry in Scotland, after the three degrees
of craft freemasonry most Master Masons are advanced
as Mark Master Masons.[citation needed]
In the Scottish Masonic jurisdiction, the degree of
Mark Master can be received in two ways,[citation needed] either
within a Royal Arch Chapter or within a Craft Lodge. No
freemason under the Scottish jurisdictions can be exalted as
a Royal Arch Mason without previously having been
advanced as a Mark Master Mason and then having taken
the degree of Excellent Master. The governing bodies are
the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Supreme Grand Royal
Arch Chapter of Scotland.
 A number of other orders are open to craft
freemasons, of which the following are notable in Scotland:
The Royal Order of Scotland
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
The Masonic Knights Templar
The Red Cross of Constantine, which works five
degrees.
United States
In the United States there are two main Masonic appendant
bodies:
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry.
The York Rite (sometimes called the American Rite),
which, together with the craft lodge, comprises three
separate and distinct bodies: the Royal Arch Chapter
(Capitular Masonry), the Council of Royal & Select
Masters (Cryptic Masonry) and the Commandery of
the Knights Templar.
Other Appendant bodies:
The York Rite Sovereign College of North
America – www.yrscna.org – 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.
Canada
In Canada there are two main Masonic appendant
bodies:
The York Rite, being the older of the two, which,
aside from the craft lodge, comprises four separate and
distinct bodies: the Royal Arch Chapter (Capitular
Masonry), the Council of Royal & Select Masters (Cryptic
Masonry), the Commandery of the Knights Templar, and
the York Rite College. The York Rite also includes Priories
of Knights of the York Cross of Honor, Tabernacles of the
Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests and Order of Holy
Wisdom, and Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees of
Canada.
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry.
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.
The Royal Arch in Ireland is unique, and regarded
widely as being the oldest Royal Arch working in the world.
Members of Royal Arch in England, Scotland or America
would notice a great many differences in the theme of the
degree from what they are used to. Royal Arch Chapters in
Ireland can meet as Lodges of Mark Master Masons to
confer the Mark Degree on a candidate. This must be done
before a candidate is given the Royal Arch Degree. Irish
Royal Arch chapters operate under the Supreme Grand
Royal Arch Chapter of Ireland and both the Mark Master
Masons and Royal Arch degrees are recognised by Grand
Lodge as being part of "pure, ancient Freemasonry."
The Knight Mason degrees make up the last part of
"Universal" Irish Freemasonry. They are open to any
member of the Craft and Royal Arch. They are frequently
known in other constitutions as the Red Cross Degrees,
namely, Knight of the Sword (formally Red Cross of
Babylon or Red Cross of Daniel), Knight of the East
(formally Jordan Pass), and Knight of the East and West
(formally Royal Order). These degrees had previously been
administered by Knights Templar Preceptories and some
Royal Arch Chapters. In 1923 the Grand Council of Knight
Masons was established to support and preserve the
Degrees and the Councils that confer them. Irish Knight
Masonry is now a worldwide masonic body and is
continuing to grow. The Degrees practiced under
the Grand Council of Knight Masons are conferred in the
correct chronological order and are given in far greater
detail than any similar body anywhere else in the world. In
other jurisdictions, it is invitational.

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[edit]
In Scandinavia and the Nordic states, including
Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland,
Freemasonry exists mostly in the form of the Swedish Rite.
France[edit]
The French Rite is strong in France, Luxembourg,
Greece, Brazil, and formerly Louisiana.[19][20]
Other orders and degrees[edit]
The following affiliated and/or 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: Allied Masonic Degrees. In the U.S., councils
of the A.M.D. exemplify twelve Masonic degrees. In
Canada, councils exemplify nine degrees in addition to the
installation ceremony. In England, councils confer only five
degrees.
 Ye Antient Order of Noble Corks. A humorous side
degree. In Scotland it is associated with Royal Arch
Masonry. In England and Europe it is a stand-alone order.
In the USA it is part of the Allied Masonic Degrees.
The Knight Masons. Councils of Knight Masons
across most of the globe operate under the Grand Council
of Knight Masons, based in Ireland. In Scotland the degrees
are worked in the combined order (along with the Royal
Ark Mariner degree) titled the Lodge and Council, and are
controlled by the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of
Scotland. In the U.S.A., the degrees are, with some
exceptions, governed by the Grand Council of Knight
Masons of the U.S.A. which broke away from the first
Grand Council during the 1950s.
Royal Order of Scotland. The Grand Lodge of the
Royal Order at Edinburgh, Scotland, controls
approximately 85 Provincial Grand Lodges around the
world, and confers two degrees.
The Rectified Scottish Rite, known as CBCS from its
highest exoteric rank, Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cite
Sainte, or Knights Beneficent of the Holy City.
Societas Rosicruciana. Colleges confer nine degrees,
or "grades."
Order of St. Thomas of Acon. A commemorative
chivalric order. Organized in "chapels."
Other affiliated bodies
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.
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 "centres" or
"temples," and are well known for their maroon fezzes,
lavish parades, and sponsorship of children's hospitals.
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.[21]
Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted
Realm. Colloquially known as "The Grotto;" members wear
black fezzes.
Order of Quetzalcoatl. Colloquially known as "The
Q", a group mostly in the West and Southwest United
States.
Tall Cedars of Lebanon or Tall Cedar, are organized
into "Forests" and meet at Masonic Temples or banquets
halls. Some refer to themselves as the "poor man's Shriners",
their motto is "Fun, Frolic & Fellowship", and members
wear a pyramid shaped hat.
The following affiliated organizations admit both
Masons and female relatives of Masons:
Order of the Eastern Star. Membership is limited to
Master Masons and their close female relatives. The
Chapter is run by the women; the Master Mason is just
there to help open the Chapter. The female relatives are
wife, sister, daughter, mother, and various grands, step
relatives and in-laws.
Order of the Amaranth. An American fraternal order
for male Master Masons and their female relatives.
Governed by a Supreme Council, with Grand Courts in
each US state, plus a small number outside the USA in
Canada, Australia, and the Philippines.[22]

Youth organizations
A number of Masonic-affiliated youth organizations
exist, mainly in North America, which are collectively
referred to as Masonic youth organizations.
 Order of the Knights of Pythagoras, for boys aged 8
to 18; sponsored by the Prince Hall Freemasons.
DeMolay International is the most common. Young
men from 12 to 21 are eligible. There are DeMolay chapters
located in Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil,
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, the Philippines, Romania, Serbia, the United States,
and Uruguay.
A.J.E.F., Asociacion de Jovenes Esperanza de la
Fraternidad, for boys aged 14 to 21, active in México, the
United States, and Latin America.
Job's Daughters. Young ladies from 10 to 20, who are
daughters of Master Masons or daughters of a majority
Job's Daughter, or sponsored by a Master Mason or
Majority Member, are eligible. The "Jobies" have Bethels in
Australia (Queensland), Brazil (most Brazilian states have
at least one bethel), Canada (Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, Ontario & Saskatchewan), the Philippines, and
many states within the United States (notable exceptions
include all of the New England states and most of the
South). Mostly due to American military presence there
have also been bethels in Germany and Japan.
International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. Young
ladies from 11 to 20 are eligible. The "Rainbow Girls" have
Assemblies in Aruba, Australia (in Queensland, New South
Wales and South Australia), Bolivia, Brazil (in Distrito
Federal, Espirito Santo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais, Para, Parana, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina,
São Paulo and Tocantins), Canada (in Ontario and New
Brunswick), Italy, Paraguay, the Philippines, Puerto Rico
and Romania. There are currently Rainbow Assemblies in
every state within the United States except Delaware, Utah
and Wyoming. Rainbow has had assemblies, mostly due to
American military presence, in the following countries:
Cuba, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Panama, the
Republic of China, and Vietnam.
 Organization of Triangles Inc. was founded in 1925
by Rose E. Scherer. Triangle is located only in New York.
This organization is for young ladies between the ages of 10
and 21.[23]
Constellation of Junior Stars, State of New York, is a
nonprofit organization affiliated with freemasonry for
young women between the ages of 10 and 21.
 References
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16. Camberley Lodge A.D. Matthews, An Historical
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18. Pietre-Stones Facsimile of Articles of Union, retrieved
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19. Dafoe, Stephen. "Masonic Dictionary - Rites of
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www.masonicdictionary.com.
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21. "誰も語らなかった風俗の本音". iroj.org.
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Amaranth. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
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2019