Concordant Bodies
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.
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.
Royal Arch Masons
The Royal Arch Chapter is the second of the four York Rite Bodies of Masonry (the first is the Symbolic Lodge, where the first three Degrees of Masonry are conferred.)
Chapters confer four degrees …
Royal Arch Masons
The Mark Master
The Mark Master Degree is believed to have originated as a ceremony of registering a craftsman’s mark in those years distinguished by operative craft masons and their temple building. It was later developed into a full fledged degree by the Masonic fraternity as we know it today, Some scholars say it was the earliest degree and may predate all others by many years.
It is highly regarded by students in all Masonry, teaching lessons that have proven of value in all walks of life. Some Grand Lodges place so high an eminence on the Mark Master Degree, that they confine it to the jurisdiction of a separate grand body, the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters. The Degree of Mark Master is a continuation of the lessons taught in the 2nd (Fellowcraft) Degree. The Degree teaches that although we are often misunderstood, underrated and traduced, there is ONE who will make the rejected stone the Head of the corner.
Virtual Past Master
A Degree that emphasizes the lesson of harmony. This Degree is conferred because ancient custom required that a Mason must be a Past Master in order to be exalted to the Royal Arch.
In some Grand Jurisdictions this Degree is conferred upon all sitting Masters of the Blue Lodge. The Degree confers no actual rank upon the recipient, but is exemplified to maintain the ancient custom.
Most Excellent Master
The Degree of Most Excellent Master is a very beautiful and dramatic Degree. The Most Excellent Master Degree is a product of American innovation. It was conferred in a Royal Arch Chapter as early as 1783 in Middletown, Conn. It is by far the most spectacular degree in all Freemasonry.
It is the only degree that brings our attention to the completion and dedication of King Solomon’s Temple. The very idea upon which all Masonic symbolism has been based. Here the Temple, on which work was halted so dramatically in the 3rd (Master Mason) Degree is completed.
The Royal Arch Degree
The Royal Arch Degree is the climax of Ancient Craft Masonry and Masonic Symbolism. It is described as “the root and marrow of Freemasonry.” The Degree of Royal Arch is the capstone of the Craft Degrees. It is concerned with the discovery of a crypt and the value of the resulting discoveries to the Craft. In this Degree, that which was lost in the 3rd (Master Mason) Degree is again found. It reveals the full light of Ancient Craft Masonry, presents it as a complete system in accordance with the original plan and justly entitles you to claim the noble name of Master Mason. These Degrees continue the education which the Master Mason received in the Symbolic Lodge. Any Master Mason who wishes “Further Light in Masonry” should receive them.
The Cryptic Rite is one of the smallest but one of the most important and certainly one of the most curious of all the rites.
The Cryptic degrees are centered on stories involving a vault or crypt where certain treasures were hidden beneath King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem for very specific purposes.
The Council confers three degrees and Grand Councils have the right to confer other degrees such as the Royal Ark Mariner Degree in Canada.
Royal & Select Masters
Royal Master Degree
A Degree emphasizing the lessons of patience and fortitude. The Degree centers around the Fellowcraft Masons who were artificers fabricating the fittings and furniture of the Temple.
It is unusual in that the first part of the Degree depicts events taking place before the death of the Grand Master Hiram Abif, and the last part depicts events occurring after his death.
Select Master Degree
A Degree emphasizing the lessons of devotion and zeal. The Degree centers on the construction and furnishing of a Secret Vault beneath the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple, and the deposition of those secrets pertaining to the Craft by the three ancient Grand Masters of the Craft.
This Degree bridges the events surrounding the concealment and loss of the Ineffable Word and the events leading to the recover of the Word in the Royal Arch Degree. The presiding body is a Council, and the presiding officer is a Master (titled Illustrious).
Super Excellent Master Degree
A Degree emphasizing the lessons of loyalty and faithfulness. The Degree centers around the events leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple at the hands of the Chaldeans.
The Degree is narrated by small interludes of biblical prophecy that highlight the end of the first Temple and the construction of the second Temple.
It is noteworthy for its scenes of the Jewish court of Zedekiah and the Chaldean court of Nebuchadnezzar. This degree is an honorary one, and a member of the Council not needing to have it in order to hold membership or office.
Royal Ark Mariner Degree
The story of this degree contains events before, during and after the Biblical Flood. The apron and emblems of this degree are easily recognizable by the ark and rainbow motif, although the degree itself claims the original apron to have been made of unfinished lambskin.
The historic prerequisite to be made a Royal Ark Mason is to be a Mark Master Mason, however, the degree has no connection symbolically or otherwise to the Mark degree.
A brother is said to be “Elevated” to the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner.
Philae Shriners
Shriners is a fraternity based on philanthropy, fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. It started in Manhattan in 1870 when a few Masons were sharing a drink together. They felt that Masonry was a bit too focused on ritual. Instead, they wanted a fraternity that stressed fun and fellowship – not to replace Masonry, but to add to it. They came up with the idea for their look and language (Fez, Scimitar etc.) after attending a party thrown by an Arabian diplomat.
There is nearly 200 Temples (Chapters) – 12 in Canada – in several countries (and thousands of Clubs around the world. Philae’s Temple is in Halifax; jurisdiction is NS and PEI. More than a dozen clubs/units in Philae whose activities consist of transportation of patients and their families, fundraising, administration, maintaining our building, membership relations, etc.
Philae Shriners
Knights Templar
Templars believe in practice; their charities may not be proclaimed from the house tops, but the records of the smallest preceptor of Knights Templar should prove that Charity and Hospitality are yet the grand characteristics of this great Christian Order. Templary realizes that it is hypocritical to profess and teach great platitudes without making an honest effort to practice what is professed.
Our governing body (Sovereign Great Priory) administers a substantial fund known as The Knights Templar Charitable Foundation, contributed to by all members and administered without ostentation. This fund originally designed for orphans of deceased Knights Templar is also used for many deserving welfare cases and education of deserving students, including those for the ministry.
Knights Templar
Order Of The Red Cross
The Red Cross Order is not, strictly speaking, a Christian Order. Its value in the Templar system is its bridging of the gap between the Royal Arch degree and the Order of the Temple. It is a story founded upon an important period in Hebrew history and stresses Faith in God, the importance of Truth, and the value of Liberty and Justice.
Orders Of Malta (Mediterranean Pass)
The Order of Malta brings to the novitiate the story of another of the great Chivalric Orders, whose deeds of heroism fill the pages of history, and whose Christian character forms a bright page in religious history.
Orders Of The Temple
York Rite College
Membership in a College is by invitation, and is restricted to those who hold membership in all of the other York Rite bodies. The pre-requisite for membership, which is by invitation only, is good standing in all four York Rite bodies: Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery or Preceptory (Canada.)
The first York Rite College was constituted on June 15, 1957 in the City of Jackson, Michigan. The organization spread rapidly from coast to coast and from north to south and by 1970 Colleges had been established in fourteen States and one Province of Canada.
Since the primary object of every College is to foster a spirit of service and to promote and support the York Rite in every way possible, it is no surprise to find many of the leaders of the Craft numbered among its ranks.
The Order Of The Secret Monitor
The Order of the Secret Monitor, or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan embodies a series of three ceremonies, constitutes one of the most significant international fraternities to be found within Freemasonry.
Its teachings are embraced by Brethren from all the major religions of the world. It is generally acknowledged by scholars that the fraternity of David and Jonathan, or the Order of Brotherly Love.
The Order comprises of the following 3 degrees:
Secret Monitor
The legend narrated during the Induction ceremony is the story of the remarkable friendship which existed between David and Jonathan.
During the ceremony the candidate is instructed in a certain course of action to be adopted when a brother is about to do anything which might prove injurious to himself and it teaches a beautiful lesson in friendship and fidelity.
Prince
The admission ceremony to an assembly of Princes is also derived from the Book of Samuel and narrates how Saul sought the life of David. It further relates an interesting legend of the methods contrived to thwart the efforts of the jealous King.
Supreme Ruler
This last named degree is unusual in that the ceremony of Installation constitutes the third degree of the Order pertaining to the Kingship of David and is fundamentally concerned with the headship of a Conclave.
Embodied in the ritual of this degree, however, is the ceremony of commissioning, which gives rank and status within the Order as a whole, a certificate being issued to that effect.
Demolay
DeMolay was started in 1919, and since that time over four million young men just like us have joined. Today there are about 1,500 chapters, located in the United States, Canada and several other countries. DeMolay is the largest fraternal (fraternity) organization for young men in the world.
To join DeMolay, you must be between the ages of twelve and twenty-one; believe in a supreme being; be a person of good character and good reputation; and petition a DeMolay chapter. There is only a one time membership fee as we do have to pay for some of the activities we do, but that’s to be expected. Most of the Chapters meet in Masonic Lodge Halls.
The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both women and men may belong. Worldwide, there are approximately 1 million members.
The organization was founded in 1857. Membership is limited to Masons, their spouses, and female relatives. Meetings require the presence of a Mason in order to open and transact business. The presiding body is a Chapter, and the presiding female and male officers are a Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron. The Eastern Star is a social order comprised of persons with spiritual values, but it is not a religion.
The character-building lessons taught in the Order are stories inspired by Biblical figures: There is 5 Degrees conferred in The Order Of The Eastern Star and comprises of the following:
ADAH
Adah (Jephthah’s daughter, from the Book of Judges). In Eastern Star, Adah is represented by the color blue and a sword and veil. Adah represents the virtue of obedience to duty.
RUTH
Ruth, the widow from the Book of Ruth. In Eastern Star, Ruth is represented by the color yellow and a sheaf of barley. Ruth represents the virtue of religious principles.
ESTHER
Esther, the wife from the Book of Esther. In Eastern Star, Esther is represented by the color white and a crown & scepter. Esther represents the virtue of loyalty.
MARTHA
Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus, from the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of John. In Eastern Star, Martha is represented by the color green and a broken column. Martha represents the virtue of endurance in trial.
ELECTA
Electa (the “elect lady” from II John), the mother. In Eastern Star, Electa is represented by the color red and a chalice. Electa represents the virtue of endurance of persecution.