Masonic Fraternal Order Chart
Blue Lodges, Craft Lodges or Ancient Craft Lodges refer to the lodges that work the first three Masonic degrees, rather than the appendant Masonic orders Masonic orders such as York Rite and Scottish Rite.
The term York Rite is a term most often used in the United States of America to refer to a collection of Masonic degrees that, in most other countries, are conferred separately. As such, it constitutes one of the two main branches of Masonic Appendant Bodies in United States Freemasonry, which a Master Mason may join to further his knowledge of Freemasonry. Its name is derived from the city of York, where, according to a Masonic legend, the first meetings of Masons in England took place, although only the lectures of the York Rite College make reference to that legend.
Knights Templar (The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta) is an international philanthropic Masonic order affiliated with Freemasonry. In some countries it forms part of the York Rite, while in others it is a separate order on its own. Membership in the Order is open to Master Masons of Christian faith (in some jurisdictions, the order is also open to those of other faiths who are willing to swear to defend the Christian faith) and who have been exalted into a Holy Royal Arch Chapter. Some jurisdications also require membership in a Cryptic Masons Council, although this is optional in others.
Membership in the Council of Cryptic Masons (or the Council of Royal and Select Masters in Great Britain and several states in the USA). Ancient Cryptic Masonry centers around the story of the preservation, loss and recovery of the Word. The Word represents man's search for life's purpose and the nature of GOD. Symbolic Freemasonry, as in the Lodge, teaches of the loss of the Word and hope for its recovery.
Royal Arch Masonry is the first order a Master Mason joins in the York Rite. The Royal Arch Degree is the complement of the Master's Degree, the unfolding into a second volume of the history of that which was lost to its final recovery.
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in the United States often omits the and), commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. A Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority. In the Scottish Rite the central authority is called a Supreme Council.
The name of the Supreme Council reveals history, tradition, and accomplishment. The official, full name of this Supreme Council is: "The Supreme Council (Mother Council of the World) of the Inspectors General Knights Commander of the House of the Temple of Solomon of the Thirty-third degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America."
Valleys in the Scottish Rite represent the jurisdiction of the local Mason lodges which abide under the governance of the Grand Lodge of each state.
DeMolay International (also known as the Order of DeMolay), founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1919, is an international youth fraternity for young men. DeMolay derives its name from Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. It is a Masonic-sponsored youth organization for boys ages 12-21, and no relation to a Mason is required in order to join.
Job's Daughters International is a Masonic sponsored youth organization for girls aged 10 to 20. The organization is commonly referred to as simply Job's Daughters, and is sometimes abbreviated and referred to as JDI (or IOJD, the original initialism). Job's daughters is focused on the Holy Bible but celebrates and welcomes many religions and cultures.
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG) is a Masonic youth service organization which teaches leadership training through community service. Girls (ages 11-20/21) learn about the value of charity and service through their work and involvement with their annual local and Grand (state or country) service projects.
The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all monotheistic faiths.
The White Shrine of Jerusalem refers to the purity of the life of Jesus Christ. The purpose of the White Shrine is threefold: Spiritual, Charitable, and Fraternal. Its aim is to bring together men and women of high moral and social character to share their desire to spread the Gospel, aid and assist those less fortunate, and create enjoyable experiences for themselves. Like the members of the Masonic Lodge and other appendant bodies, members of the White Shrine must profess a belief in a Supreme Being. However, the White Shrine goes one step further, requiring members to profess a belief in Jesus Christ as the Saviour and Redeemer of the World. Our Order does not attempt to replace the Church. Rather, it enriches the teachings of the Church. It is a very effective means of spreading the Simple Gospel of the Prince of Peace.
Order of the Amaranth is a Masonic-affiliated women's organization founded in 1873. As in the Order of the Eastern Star, members of the Order must be age 18 and older; men must be Master Masons; and women must be related to Masons as wives, mothers, daughters, widows, sisters, nieces, aunts, et cetera, or have been active members of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls or Job's Daughters International for more than three years and be recommended by a Master Mason.
High Twelve International is over 75 years old. It was founded in Sioux City, Iowa, on May 17, 1921 by E.C. "Wallie" Wolcott. It is an organization of Master Masons who support Masonic causes with special emphasis on youth and patriotic events. There are approximately 21,000 members in 350 clubs nationwide and in foreign countries.
Square and Compass Club (Fraternity) was organized at Washington and Lee University in 1915 and received its Charter from the Commonwealth of Virginia on May 12, 1917. The nation-wide organization is similar to the Grand Lodge system that it has one Square in each state and is a loose federation. n 1951 at the national convention of Sigma Alpha Chi, a discussion between representatives from Sigma Mu Sigma and Sigma Alpha Chi regarding the possibility of a merger of the two fraternities took place. At that time, it was found that the ideals and objectives of Sigma Mu Sigma and Sigma Alpha Chi were almost identical. After a year of discussion and planning, a meeting was held at Angola, Indiana on August 3, 1952 for the purpose of merging the two organizations. It was decided that the merged group should be called Sigma Mu Sigma - Square and Compass.
The Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots is a little-known fraternity comprised entirely of Master Masons in good standing may meet and have friendship, fellowship, clean, bright, wholesome entertainment. Boosting one's spirit is stressed at all times.
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870 is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States. The organization is best-known for the Shriners Hospitals for Children they administer and the red fezzes that members wear.
The Grotto leads it votaries through an Enchanted Realm where the spirit of mirth touches the hearts and evolves cheerful companionship, in joy of which they are brought near together in helpful sympathy, which is none the less true because the eye beams with delight and laughter goes with a Prophet’s greeting when hand clasps hand in its mystic fellowship.
The Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America is one of the various appendant bodies of Freemasonry, open only to Master Masons in good standing in a regular Masonic Lodge. Unlike the York Rite or Scottish Rite, which confer Masonic degrees which extend or expound upon basic craft Masonry, Tall Cedarism is more a social body, like the Shriners. Its motto, "Fun, Frolic, & Fellowship," is indicative of this social bent. Its members are distinguished by the pyramid-shaped hats they wear at their functions.