From the Worshipful Master

The basic Masonic body is the “Masonic Lodge”, which alone can make a Mason, and confers the first three degrees in Masonry, being that of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason.

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, such as the Scottish Rite and the York Rite.

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, International Order of Job’s Daughters 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.

All the appendant bodies are good and should be supported by the members to insure the continuance of our great fraternity.

In service to the craft
Ken Olsen WM

From the Senior Warden

On Appendant Bodies

We all know that there are 3 degrees in Masonry. The highest degree in masonry you can attain is the 3rd degree. But what if you want to go further? What if there’s more you want to learn? We’ll look to our appendant bodies to gain more Light and move forward.

There are three major appendant organizations to join if you feel like moving forward, the Scottish Rite, York Rite and the Shrine. Each of the organizations teach you different things, and all are worthy to look into if you choose to learn more and help more people.

The York Rite is a continuation of the lessons learned in the first 3 degrees. Once you pass through the Royal Arch degrees and the Cryptic degrees, you can move into the Chivalric Orders, in which you become a Knight Templar. The Chivalric Orders would be the only appendant body in which Christianity is a requirement.

In the Scottish Rite, you’ll build upon many of the lessons learned in the Blue Lodge, although it may not necessarily be a continuation of the same story. It’s styled more like an educational lodge, per se, instead, and is geared more towards self-learning.

The Shriners are more of a “fun” appendant body. While it builds upon the principle tenants of Freemasonry of brotherly love, relief and truth, its principle purpose is charity and helping children through its Shriner Hospitals.

While it is good to join and be active in any of the appendant bodies, it is also very important to be active and help grow your Blue Lodge. You wouldn’t be able to join any of those groups without the Blue Lodge, and the appendant bodies can not grow without the Blue Lodge. The bodies are there to help enhance your experience as a Mason, but not to replace it.

Stephen Liguori
Senior Warden

From the Junior Warden

Your work in Freemasonry can go as far as you desire it. Many brothers engage with their Blue Lodge and remain content to serve and do good work of raising all good men. Others have interest that go beyond the good work of your blue lodge, and there are several opportunities. There are several appendant bodies of Free Masonry which you can join and continue your Masonic journey. The most prevalent are the York Rite, Scottish Rite and Shriners. All of these dependent bodies require that you remain in good standing with your Blue Lodge, and take you beyond the initial 3 degrees of a Master Mason to become a 32 degree Mason. Each of these organization focus on charitable activities that may be of interest to you and come with their own level of commitment, dues and learning requirements.

If one desires to work with our Masonic youth, Masons can participate volunteering to be adult leaders in the DeMolay (young men organization), Job’s Daughters or Rainbow Girls. Each of these organization give you the opportunity to be a positive role model to young people and enrich your life by exemplifying what it means to be a Mason.

The Order of Easter Star and The Order of the Amaranth are two women led organizations that Mason can join and participate. If you are married, these are good opportunities to share a form of Masonry with your wife, and if your single, these are still good organizations that provide opportunities to support Masonry and meet new friends.

The bottom line is Free Masonry has many opportunities for you to participate beyond your Blue Lodge. Each brings its own level of satisfaction and enjoyment, and you can decide to participate or not. I recommend your consider joining each of them depending on your ability to participate.

Fraternally,

Doug Steele/JW