APPENDANT BODIES
For Master Masons who want to expand their Masonic knowledge, appendant organizations are available to join. These bodies are open to Master Masons in good standing, and each has its similarities and differences.
While there are many appendant bodies in Freemasonry, some of which are invitational only, a few popular ones are highlighted here...
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Pictured: Chart Portraying the Structure of Freemasonry | Blue Lodge; York Rite; Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite
The Scottish Rite is an appendant body; its degrees are often mislabeled by non-Masons as the highest degrees of Freemasonry, as can be seen below...
This body delves into Masonic esotericism, making comparisons of various philosophies.
The Scottish Rite is governed under the Southern Jurisdiction located in Washington DC.
Pictured: Scottish Rite Temple in Downtown Miami, Florida
Lodge of Perfection
4° – Secret Master
5° – Perfect Master
6° – Intimate Secretary
7° – Provost & Judge
8° – Intendant of the Building
9° – Elu of the Nine (Elected Knight of the Nine)
10° – Elu of the Fifteen (Illustrious Elect of the Fifteen)
11° – Elu of the Twelve (Sublime Knight Elect of the Twelve)
12° – Master Architect
13° – Royal Arch of Solomon (Knight of the Ninth Arch)
14° – Perfect Elu (Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason)
Chapter of Rose Croix
15° – Knight of the East, of the Sword, or of the Eagle
16° – Prince of Jerusalem
17° – Knight of the East & West
18° – Knight Rose Croix
Council of Kadosh
19° – Grand Pontiff
20° – Master of the Symbolic Lodge
21° – Noachite or Prussian Knight
22° – Knight Royal Axe, Prince of Libanus
23° – Chief of the Tabernacle
24° – Prince of the Tabernacle
25° – Knight of the Brazen Serpent
26° – Prince of Mercy or Scottish Trinitarian
27° – Knight of the Sun or Prince Adept
28° – Knight Commander of the Temple
29° – Scottish Knight of Saint Andrew
30° – Knight of Kadosh or Knight of the White & Black Eagle
Consistory
31° – Inspector Inquisitor
32° – Master of the Royal Secret
Court of Honour
The Scottish Rite confers a number of honors upon members who have contributed extraordinary service to the Rite, Masonry in general, and the world at large.
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Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
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33° – Inspector General Honorary
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Grand Cross of the Court of Honour
The Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction has the following charities:
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RiteCare: a program that helps children overcome speech impediments.
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National scholarships for Scottish Rite members, their siblings, spouses, children, and grandchildren; it also has scholarships for youth who are in DeMolay International, International Order of Rainbow for Girls, and Job’s Daughters International.
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It also has a program of recognition for outstanding JROTC and ROTC students.
Pictured: Scottish Rite Southern Jourisdiction Headquarters aka the House of the Temple in Washington DC
York Rite
The York Rite is actually a grouping of three separate bodies in the United States and Canada; in the rest of the world, they are not so grouped.
None of the degrees or orders are numerated like in Freemasonry or Scottish Rite.
Pictured: The Collective Bodies Which Comprise of York Rite
Royal Arch Masonry:
This is a continuation of the allegories presented in the three degrees of Freemasonry. It is broken down into four degrees:
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Mark Master Mason
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(Virtual) Past Master
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Most Excellent Master
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Royal Arch Mason
Its charity is Royal Arch Research Assistance, which focuses on helping to work against CAPD.
This is governed worldwide by the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International.
Cryptic Masonry:
This is also a continuation of the three degrees of Masonry. It is broken down into three degrees:
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Royal Master
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Select Master
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Super Excellent Master
Its charity is the Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation, which currently funds research to help prevent atherosclerosis.
This is governed worldwide by the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International.
Chivalric Masonry:
Formally named The United Religious, Military, and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, and Malta and generally referred to as the Knights Templar, this body is for Masons who profess a belief in Christianity.
It is required to have already gone through the Royal Arch degrees; in many grand jurisdictions, it is also required to have already gone through the Cryptic degrees.
It is broken down into three orders (instead of degrees):
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The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
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The Order of Malta
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The Order of the Temple
There is no global entity that presides over all the jurisdictions; however, there are nationwide entities. In the United States of America and some other foreign countries, it is the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, USA; in England, it is the Grand Priory of Knights Templar.
There are various nationwide jurisdictions like these all over the world.
In the USA, the Grand Encampment has the following charities:
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The Knights Templar Eye Foundation: This foundation funds research into ocular diseases to cure and prevent blindness in children.
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The Knights Templar Holy Land Pilgrimage: This is a foundation by which local Knight Templar jurisdictions will send full-time, credentialed ministers or pastors from their community to Jerusalem so that the pastors/ministers may learn more about the Holy Land. Nominees for this program do not have to be Knights Templar or Masons.
Shriner's International
Formerly named The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, this affiliate body started off as a fun social club for Masons.
However, with the polio outbreaks at the beginning of the 20th century, the Shriners started saving up to fund medical research and pay for children’s treatment.
Pictured: Shriner's Children's Hospital in Tampa, Florida
Today, Shriner’s Intl. has hospitals all over the United States of America and a few in other countries (like Mexico, Germany, and the Philippines).
Most of these hospitals specialize in treating children who are burn victims, who were born with cleft palates, who have cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular issues, etc.
Many of the vaccines, cures and procedural techniques that we have today for various diseases and/or injuries came about in part by the Shriners.
One does not need to be a doctor to be a Shriner. Shriners raise funds so that these hospitals can treat children without the children’s families being charged.
Though it was originally required to be a 32° in the Scottish Rite or a Knight Templar of the York Rite, today, it is only required that one be a Master Mason in good standing to join.
Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (M.O.V.P.E.R.)
aka The Grotto
The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, whose subordinate bodies are the Grottoes, is an organization by and for Master Masons. While not connected with Masonry proper, its membership is restricted absolutely and exclusively to Master Masons in good standing. Although it is primarily an organization for good wholesome fun and frolic, it also has its serious side. Its slogan is GOOD FELLOWSHIP, and in contact with our fellowman, this principle is exemplified to a marked degree.
For some years prior to 1889, several members of Hamilton Lodge N0. 120, F.&A.M., at Hamilton, New York, sought relaxation from the sterner duties of life by holding occasional informal meetings for fun and good fellowship. The chief spirit in the fun was LeRoy Fairchild, and in the summer of 1889, he and a devoted band of followers discovered the Enchanted Realm in which, upon entering with song and laughter, they and their successors found a rich heritage. The first meeting of this organization was held on the 10th day of September, 1889. It was decided at this meeting that the membership of the organization should be confined to Master Masons in good standing.
A ritual was written and they began to take in new members. Many distinguished Masons entered the Enchanted Realm and returned pleased and charmed by its brilliancy. The Order could no longer be confined to one locality and in response to imperative requests that were not to be denied, on the 13th of June, 1890, the “F.D.C.” duly founded and established the Supreme Council of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm. The seven Founders were pillars of their communities; The Chief Founder was LeRoy Fairchild, a store owner. Adon N. Smith, a store owner and Bank President, his brother Sidney D. Smith, a local politician was Grand Secretary for over 25 years. William Eaton was the last US Navy Commodore. General William M. West served as Aide to NY Governor and was a local Bank President. George Beal held many positions in the village and was Post Master under President Grover Cleveland. Dr. John McGregory was a Madison University Professor for 46 years and served as Grand Monarch in 1908.
Through the years many Grottoes were chartered in the United States and Canada. Membership has included Masons from all walks of life and luminaries, including Presidents: Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Gerald R. Ford. The Founders created a highly engaging, successful environment for all Prophets and a Fraternal Organization that has moved from one century to another, yet another, with the strongest feelings of Good Fellowship among its members.