Appendant Body Opportunities of Master Masons
YorK Rite
The York Rite: The Expanded Universe of Freemasonry
“What’s the York Rite?” One way to think about the York Rite is that it is the Expanded Universe of the Masonic Fraternity.
Think of the big cinematic sagas of our day, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Avengers, The Justice League, among other films. Each of these sagas have the core movies that gives the universe its basic shape and substance to the Universe. Then there are the other films that do a deep dive on an event, a person, or a place. Sure, we know the Rebel Alliance had the plans for the Death Star, but it was thrilling to see how it happened and lessons learned from Rogue One. The Morality Play of the Mandalorian provides a better understanding of what life was like for others in the post-Empire World. Or Captain America the Winter Solider helps us better appreciate the leadership of Steve Rogers. The extra films add and enhance our understanding of the original. The same is true with the York Rite.
Formally, the York Rite consists of three additional bodies of Freemasonry.
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons
Council of Royal and Select Masters
Commandery of Knights Templar
They each have their own unique customs, traditions, and stories which we outline below. Each of these provide an opportunity to meet other Masons and hone your leadership and ritual skills. It is generally recommended that you take time to enjoy the Blue Lodge and not to rush into joining the appendant bodies. It becomes really easy to take on too much and feel overwhelmed. Remember it is never meant that Masonry should interfere with the obligations you owe to your family and your usual vocations.
We are honored to count among our lodge brothers numerous prominent York Rite Masons including MWB Kenneth D Fuller, WB Marcus Trelaine, WB W. Frederick Gore, WB M. Knight Warner, WB Craig Lasher and others.
Royal Arch Masonry:
Royal Arch Masonry is grouped together in a Chapter. Historically, many of these degrees were conferred in the Blue Lodge, until it was spun off in the 1800s. This is the first part of your journey in Royal Arch Masonry.
The Royal Arch confers four degrees:
The Mark Master: This story illuminates a lot of the events between the second and third degree and gives us a better understanding of the history of building King Solomon’s Temple. This is like the Rogue One of the Masonic Degrees.
The Virtual Past Master: Tradition and custom was that in order to receive the Most Excellent Master or the Royal Arch Degree one had to be Past Master of the Lodge. If you start to do the math, one master per lodge per year, this naturally limited the growth of these degrees. It was decided to confer a degree and make aspirants for the Royal Arch degrees “virtual past Masters.” Taking this degree does not entitle one to be called “Worshipful” unless you are or have been a real presiding Master.
The Most Excellent Master: This is the day! The Temple is complete, let us rejoice and be glad. There is triumph, there is joy and we see that all in this degree.
The Royal Arch Degree: We know that King Solomon’s Temple was destroyed, but we also know that the Jewish people returned and began their life anew. This degree teaches powerful lessons for all of us. It is a journey and no longer are we just brothers, but we are companions on a journey. Historically, we have arrived at the start of the second temple period.
Masons of Singleton Lodge generally join Mt. Vernon-William R. Singleton Chapter #3. Historically, our lodge would be meet on 1st Thursday and the Royal Arch Chapter would meet on the 3rd Thursday providing the brothers with two fraternal events per month. Currently, the Chapter meets on 2nd Mondays of select months. If those dates do not work for you there are other chapters that meet on other nights.
The Council of Royal and Select Masters
The Council of Royal and Select Masters, or the Cryptic Degrees, are a historical interlude between the Second and Third Degree of the Blue Lodge. In this body you receive both the Royal and the Select Degrees. The story revolves around a secret compartment located underneath King Solomon’s Temple. It also ties together events better between the Blue Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter. In order to join this body you must have the Royal Arch Degrees.
Historically, Masons of Singleton Lodge joined Washington Council. However, Washington Council now meets on 1st Thursdays so Singleton Masons have looked at joining Triangle Council or AZ council on the fourth Mondays.
Commandery of Knights Templar
The Knights Templar doesn’t have degrees rather they confer “Orders.”
Four are given:
The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
The Degree of Knight of St Paul (or Mediterranean Pass)
The Order of Malta
Order of the Temple
These orders echo the best from the time of the chivalry and have a very clear Christian element and theme to them and as part of the Orders an aspirant is asked to declare that they will defend the Christian religion. Some of this may be off putting to people not of the Christian faith. The Knights Templar wear distinctive uniforms including chapeaus with prominent feathers. One must be a Royal Arch Masons to receive the Orders, and generally must also have the Cryptic Degrees.
Singleton Masons join Washington Commandery #1.
But there’s more!
There are a number of other Masonic orders predicated on membership in the York Rite, including Allied Masonic Degrees which seeks to preserve the historical degrees of various bodies, the York Rite College, and The Knight York Cross of Honor among others.
“What’s the York Rite?” One way to think about the York Rite is that it is the Expanded Universe of the Masonic Fraternity.
Think of the big cinematic sagas of our day, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Avengers, The Justice League, among other films. Each of these sagas have the core movies that gives the universe its basic shape and substance to the Universe. Then there are the other films that do a deep dive on an event, a person, or a place. Sure, we know the Rebel Alliance had the plans for the Death Star, but it was thrilling to see how it happened and lessons learned from Rogue One. The Morality Play of the Mandalorian provides a better understanding of what life was like for others in the post-Empire World. Or Captain America the Winter Solider helps us better appreciate the leadership of Steve Rogers. The extra films add and enhance our understanding of the original. The same is true with the York Rite.
Formally, the York Rite consists of three additional bodies of Freemasonry.
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons
Council of Royal and Select Masters
Commandery of Knights Templar
They each have their own unique customs, traditions, and stories which we outline below. Each of these provide an opportunity to meet other Masons and hone your leadership and ritual skills. It is generally recommended that you take time to enjoy the Blue Lodge and not to rush into joining the appendant bodies. It becomes really easy to take on too much and feel overwhelmed. Remember it is never meant that Masonry should interfere with the obligations you owe to your family and your usual vocations.
We are honored to count among our lodge brothers numerous prominent York Rite Masons including MWB Kenneth D Fuller, WB Marcus Trelaine, WB W. Frederick Gore, WB M. Knight Warner, WB Craig Lasher and others.
Royal Arch Masonry:
Royal Arch Masonry is grouped together in a Chapter. Historically, many of these degrees were conferred in the Blue Lodge, until it was spun off in the 1800s. This is the first part of your journey in Royal Arch Masonry.
The Royal Arch confers four degrees:
The Mark Master: This story illuminates a lot of the events between the second and third degree and gives us a better understanding of the history of building King Solomon’s Temple. This is like the Rogue One of the Masonic Degrees.
The Virtual Past Master: Tradition and custom was that in order to receive the Most Excellent Master or the Royal Arch Degree one had to be Past Master of the Lodge. If you start to do the math, one master per lodge per year, this naturally limited the growth of these degrees. It was decided to confer a degree and make aspirants for the Royal Arch degrees “virtual past Masters.” Taking this degree does not entitle one to be called “Worshipful” unless you are or have been a real presiding Master.
The Most Excellent Master: This is the day! The Temple is complete, let us rejoice and be glad. There is triumph, there is joy and we see that all in this degree.
The Royal Arch Degree: We know that King Solomon’s Temple was destroyed, but we also know that the Jewish people returned and began their life anew. This degree teaches powerful lessons for all of us. It is a journey and no longer are we just brothers, but we are companions on a journey. Historically, we have arrived at the start of the second temple period.
Masons of Singleton Lodge generally join Mt. Vernon-William R. Singleton Chapter #3. Historically, our lodge would be meet on 1st Thursday and the Royal Arch Chapter would meet on the 3rd Thursday providing the brothers with two fraternal events per month. Currently, the Chapter meets on 2nd Mondays of select months. If those dates do not work for you there are other chapters that meet on other nights.
The Council of Royal and Select Masters
The Council of Royal and Select Masters, or the Cryptic Degrees, are a historical interlude between the Second and Third Degree of the Blue Lodge. In this body you receive both the Royal and the Select Degrees. The story revolves around a secret compartment located underneath King Solomon’s Temple. It also ties together events better between the Blue Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter. In order to join this body you must have the Royal Arch Degrees.
Historically, Masons of Singleton Lodge joined Washington Council. However, Washington Council now meets on 1st Thursdays so Singleton Masons have looked at joining Triangle Council or AZ council on the fourth Mondays.
Commandery of Knights Templar
The Knights Templar doesn’t have degrees rather they confer “Orders.”
Four are given:
The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
The Degree of Knight of St Paul (or Mediterranean Pass)
The Order of Malta
Order of the Temple
These orders echo the best from the time of the chivalry and have a very clear Christian element and theme to them and as part of the Orders an aspirant is asked to declare that they will defend the Christian religion. Some of this may be off putting to people not of the Christian faith. The Knights Templar wear distinctive uniforms including chapeaus with prominent feathers. One must be a Royal Arch Masons to receive the Orders, and generally must also have the Cryptic Degrees.
Singleton Masons join Washington Commandery #1.
But there’s more!
There are a number of other Masonic orders predicated on membership in the York Rite, including Allied Masonic Degrees which seeks to preserve the historical degrees of various bodies, the York Rite College, and The Knight York Cross of Honor among others.
Scottish Rite
Almas Shrine
Order of the Eastern Star