I became a full-fledged Master Mason in 2010 and shortly
thereafter it became apparent to me that I had only just begun my Masonic
journey. In addition to the first three degrees of Masonry, Freemasons can also
attain higher Masonic degrees through two well-known appendant bodies, the
Scottish Rite and the York Rite. I attained the 32nd degree through
the Scottish Rite in 2012 and was soon struck with the bug to go through the
York Rite degrees.
The York Rite is made up three bodies of degrees – the Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons, the Council of Royal & Select Masters and the
Commandery of Knights Templar. The rite gets its York Rite name from the city
of York, where supposedly the first Masonic meetings in England took place. You
can only apply for membership in the York Rite if you’re a full-fledged Master
Mason in good standing through what’s known as a Blue Lodge.
The first four degrees of York Rite Masonry are called the
Chapter Degrees and they include the degrees of Mark
Master, Past Master (Virtual), Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch. The next
three degrees are the Council Degrees and they include the degrees of Royal Master,
Select Master and Super Excellent Master. The last three degrees what’s known
as the Commandery Degrees and they include the degrees of the Illustrious Order
of the Red Cross, the Order of Knight of Malta and the Order of the Temple.
I applied for membership in the York Rite months ago and
learned of my acceptance a short time later. Thus began the process of
proceeding through the degrees. I received the first five degrees at the York
Rite Lodge in Huxford, Ala. The name of that lodge is Monroeville Chapter No.
170 Royal Arch Masons.
Last Saturday, Dec. 3, I got up early and traveled to the
York Rite building in Mobile, Ala. There, beginning at 8 a.m., I went the final
York Rite Degrees, including the impressive final three degrees. In my class,
there were nine candidates in all, including Joe Dailey of Uriah.
I had a lot of fun going through the York Rite degrees, and
now feel even more a part of the time honored tradition of Freemasonry. I met a
lot of good men down in Mobile and appreciate them taking their time to put on
the degrees for me and the other brothers in my class. The degrees were very
impressive, and they were so well done that I’m sure that I will never forget
them.
At the end of the day, patents were issued to all of the
candidates who successfully completed the degrees. My patents reflected that I
was now an official member of Monroeville Chapter, No. 170, Royal Arch Masons
of Alabama, Monroeville Council No. 95 of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons
of the State of Alabama and Monroeville Commandery No. 47 of the Grand
Commandery of the State of Alabama.
In the end, how many of you are familiar with the York Rite?
Do you have any friends or relatives who are members? What other Masonic
degrees would you recommend pursing? Let us know in the comments section below.
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