The York Rite of Freemasonry

The word rite is from Latin ritus meaning custom, usage, which perhaps is from an ancient word root meaning to observe carefully.  In the case of Freemasonry a Rite is composed of rituals a Latin word derived from the same word as rite indicating ceremony, custom, usage.  So a Rite is a collection of degrees (from a word indicating steps or stages).  In Freemasonry they begin with the first three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason.

The York Rite is a system of Masonic degrees that is spread out between four organizations: the Symbolic or Blue Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter, the Cryptic Council, and the Commandery of Knights Templar. Each organization’s degrees focus on a different setting and taken together they create a larger story that teaches Freemasons valuable lessons of character through initiation.

One may participate in any or all of the various organizations found within the York Rite of Freemasonry.  The foundational level of exploration is, of course, the three degrees of the Blue Lodge.

The first step in exploring the York Rite then is the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons.  These degrees are set during the building and dedication of Solomon's Temple, and during the return of the Workmen from their exile in Babylon; and one sets the stage for effective leadership in the Blue Lodge.

Next in due course is the three degrees Council of Royal and Select Masons.  Two of these degrees set the stage for the preservation of the secrets utilized by Freemasonry, the third portrays a story from the Bible concerning the captivity and exile of the Jewish nation to Babylon.

The final common step in character development through the York Rite is the three Orders of the Commandery system. The Commandery represents a shift from the portrayal of degrees based upon the Temple of Solomon, its destruction, and the return and reconstruction of a new Temple.  

The Orders of the Commandery focuses upon the story of Zerubbabel and his efforts to rebuild Solomon's Temple in the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross.  The Order of Malta then focuses on the New Testament teachings regarding the apostle Paul in Malta and represents a knight preparing for a trip to the Holy Land.  Finally, the Order of the Temple portrays that journey and the lessons learned on the way.  It culminates in being recognized as a Knight of the Order of the Temple, or Knight Templar.

But this is not all that there is to the York Rite.  Associated with the York Rite are a number of fraternal orders, honors bodies, research organizations and more.  Some of which include, in no particular order:

Additional Orders Open to Craft Masons

• Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill.  The Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill is a Historical and Patriotic Order; founded to perpetuate the principles of American liberty, and to indelibly impress upon the minds of each generation the sacrifices made by our Masonic forefathers in forming and establishing the United States of America.  If you are a Master Mason in good standing you are eligible for membership into this Order.   

• Masonic Order of the Bath. This is a "fun" degree open to all Master Masons in Good Standing.  This group has nothing to do with the Chivalric Order of England.  

Invitational Bodies for York Rite Masons

• Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor.  An organization for Past and Present Commanders of Constituent and Subordinate Commanderies of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, USA

• The Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers and Bricklayers (The Operatives).  This body is an invitational body dedicated to the preservation of the history and workings of operative guild masonry.  It exists to perpetuate a memorial of the practices of operative Free Masons existing prior to modern speculative Freemasonry. Membership of the Society is restricted to those who are Master Masons, Mark Master Masons and Holy Royal Arch Companions in good standing and who are invited to participate in learning more about this historical workings of ancient operative guilds. The Operatives website in England even has a few videos allowing you to observe part of their ritual.

• York Rite Sovereign College.  This body exists primarily to be of service to the York Rite of Freemasonry. The pre-requisite for membership, which is by invitation only, is good standing in all four York Rite bodies.  This body focuses upon The Legend of York referenced in the Regis Manuscript, c. 1390.

• Knight Masons. The Order of Knights Templar is a chivalric Masonic order open to all Master Masons who are also members of a Royal Arch Chapter, but is by invitation only.  They perpetuate the ancient rituals of the Irish Masonic Canon (the Green Degrees) and foster the exploration and study of the Masonic traditions and heritage through scholarly inquiry and fraternal festivities.

• The Masonic Order of Athelstan.  Order in the USA.  Membership in this order is strictly invitational for members who are current members in good standing of Craft and Royal Arch Masonry bodies. Members are expected to take a wide and committed interest in all aspects of Freemasonry.  The Order encourages and prompts members to further study and research.  Athelstan was the first king of all of the English and grandson of Alfred the Great. He reigned between 925 and 939 and was a distinguished and courageous soldier who pushed the boundaries of the kingdom further than anyone had done before.  Legend relates that in the year 926 a Grand Assembly of masons at York was convened by King Athelstan's half brother Prince Edwin, at the king's behest, whereat the great traditions of symbolic and operative masonry were constituted, revived, or organized, and a new code of laws for the governing of the Craft instituted. 

• The Allied Masonic Degrees.  The Allied Masonic Degrees (commonly abbreviated AMD) is an invitational, appendent body of Freemasonry that superintends several degrees that are not found within other orders in the United States and shares research into Masonic degrees within its Councils. The organization focuses on Masonic philosophy, scholarship, and research. Membership is limited to 27 members per Council.

• The Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon. This order is an actual historically documented order of English Templar Knights that was revived as a Masonic Order in 1974.  It commemorates the memory of St. Thomas `a Becket and provides a festive occasion to commemorate the memory of St. Thomas and of the actual crusader knights who served, in Christian fidelity, to tend to the dead on the battlefield of Acre. The Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon in the United States of America is strictly invitational. One may not petition or otherwise apply for membership, while one may express one's interest in the Order, one should not request membership.

• Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests.  The Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests is an honorary and invitational organization with membership limitations and cannot be applied for. Members are selected and extended invitations on the basis of outstanding performance as a Commander of a Commandery of Knights Templar. The order has historic roots in England that trace back to 1786, with references back to 1686, the traditional year of revival. The limit of Regular Members in a Tabernacle is 33. The number of Tabernacles in a state is dependent on the number of active Commanderies in each state.

• Masonic Order of Pilgrim Preceptors. This body is an Invitational Masonic Body Honouring those who have Presided over both a Craft Lodge and a Royal Arch Chapter. The Order is based on the story of how Freemasonry came from Jerusalem to England. Candidates are admitted to the degree of Pilgrim, which describes the journey of Freemasonry from Jerusalem to Rome.  The second degree is that of Preceptor, and explains the journey from Rome to England.

Specialty Groups for those Interested in History, Research and Writing

• The Philalethes Society. Originally the Philalethes Society consisted only of recognized Masonic authors, limited to forty Fellows at any given time.  The Greek word pronounced "fill-a-LAY-thayss" means "a lover of truth." Philalethes was designed to serve the needs of those in search of deeper insight into the history, rituals and symbolism of Freemasonry.

• The Society of Blue Friars (SBF) is a Masonic organization established in 1932 with the explicit purpose of recognizing Masonic authors. It is widely regarded as one of the smallest and most distinctive appendant bodies within Freemasonry. The Society of Blue Friars has a unique membership policy. According to its regulations, "One new Friar shall be appointed each year," but "additional Friars may be appointed to fill vacancies caused by demise or resignation when the total membership is not over twenty." As a result, the society maintains a small and selective membership.

• The Grand College of Rites. This group exists for the purpose of controlling and preventing the resurrection of abandoned and unauthorized rituals in the United States.  The college conducts searches around the world for obscure and defunct rituals of extinct Masonic organizations and prints them in a limited volume titled Collectanea, available only to members of the college, so as to establish copyright over them and prevent their resurrection. Its work has been credited with helping stamp out the spread of clandestine and irregular Masonic bodies in the United States.  Among the rituals over which the Grand College claims jurisdiction are those of the Egyptian Masonic Rite of Memphis, Ancient, Free, and Accepted Architects, Ancient and Primitive Rite, and others.

It seems that New York Rite groups are being established each year.  Keep an eye out for them by checking the Masonic Week website periodically.