The Masonic Family

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite

The Scottish Rite is one of two appendant bodies of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed after he has completed the three degrees of Craft Lodge Masonry. The Scottish Rite work expands and elaborates on the lessons of the three Craft Lodge degrees. As with Freemasonry, The Scottish Rite is not a religion, and it is nondenominational, although it does require a belief in a Supreme Being.

The Scottish Rite, sometimes called the “College of Freemasonry”, uses extensive dramatic plays and allegory to emphasize the messages of its degrees. A Freemason, after viewing these dramas, will eventually attain the 32nd Degree in Scottish Rite masonry. To a non-mason this may sound like the member is a high ranking mason, however, this would be a misconception. The highest degree in Freemasonry in the 3rd or Master Mason degree. Degrees as they relate to the Scottish Rite indicate the level of knowledge that a Master Mason has attained. It would be rather awkward to allude to a member as an Act 32 Mason. In the Scottish Rite, the 33rd degree, an honourary degree, is bestowed on members of the Scottish Rite who have given outstanding service to Freemasonry or to their communities.

In the Scottish Rite a Master Mason may become a member of three bodies – The Lodge of Perfection, The Rose Croix, and the Consistory.

The Royal Order of Scotland

The Royal Order of Scotland is an appendant body of the Scottish Rite. Membership in this body is by invitation only. The order was established in London around 1741.

York Rite Masonry

The York Rite is the other appendant body of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed to supplement or amplify the Craft Lodge degrees, affording historical background on the work and meaning of Freemasonry.

The York Rite takes its name from the old English city of York. It is said that the Athelstan, a British kind, was converted to Christianity in York and that he granted the original charter to the Masonic guilds in that city nearly a thousand years ago. Although the York Rite is not a religion in itself, it does develop themes based on the Christian Crusades.

In the York Rite, a Master Mason may become a member of three bodies – a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a Council of Royal and Select Masters, and a Commandery of Knights Templar.

The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine

The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine is a concordant body of York Rite masonry. Membership in this body is by invitation only. The order was established in England in 1865.

The Shriners

The Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
There is no higher degree in Freemasonry than that of a Master Mason. However, for those men who would like to receive additional instruction and explanation regarding the allegory and symbolism learned in a masonic lodge, the Scottish Rite or York Rite bodies elaborate on the basic tenets of Freemasonry. Only after a Master mason has achieved the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite or the Knights Templar degree in the York Rite, can he then petition to become a Shriner.

Shriners are distinguished by an enjoyment of life in the interest of philanthropy. The approximately 660,000 member organization has a buoyant philosophy which has been expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness and jollity without coarseness.” The most noticeable symbol of the Shrine is the distinctive red fez that all Shriners wear at official functions.

Shriners are men who enjoy life. They enjoy parades, trips, circuses, dances, dinners, sporting events and other social occasions together. Every effort is made to be sure a Shriner has a variety of activities from which he may choose. Furthermore, Shriners support what has become known as the “World’s Greatest Philanthropy”, Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Men from all walks of life and all levels of income find fun, fellowship and relaxation in their individual Shrine Clubs and Units.

There are 191 Shrine Temples located in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Republic of Panama.

The Grotto

The Grotto, a Masonically affiliated fraternal organization, is a social group for Master Masons which was founded in 1889 at Hamilton, New York. It sprang from a series of informal meetings, where Master Masons gathered for relaxation and laughs.

There are Grottoes throughout the United States and Canada whose principle charity is the aiding of the cerebral palsy child.

Women’s Organizations

The Order of the Eastern Star

The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization, for men and women, in the world. Started in the mid 1800s, today there are over two million members worldwide, with approximately 7,500 members in British Columbia and Yukon.

Membership in the Eastern Star is open to women who are related to Master Masons. The members of the Eastern Star are dedicated men and women who sincerely reflect the spirit of fraternal love and the desire to work together for good. The moral and social purposes of the order are designed to build character, to promote friendship and harmony among members, and to practise charity.

The Order of the Amaranth

The Order of the Amaranth was officially organized June 14th, 1873, in New York City. The Amaranth takes its theme from Queen Christina of Sweden. In 1653 Queen Christina had combined a group of “Sir Knights” and “Ladies” together to have “gala” parties. She called this group the “Order of the Amaranth”. The order was perpetuated and exists in the royal court of Sweden today.

Under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council, the Amaranth have 43 Grand Courts, located in Canada, the United States, Australia, England, the Philippines and Scotland; also, Subordinate Courts in Hawaii, New Zealand and Ireland.

The White Shrine of Jerusalem

An invitational order, the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem was incorporated in 1894.

The Daughters of the Nile

Formed in 1913, The Daughters of the Nile is an international, non-profit organization, comprised of women who are wives, widows, mothers, sisters or daughters of men who are Shriners.

The purpose of the order is to assist the Shriners with their charitable work; to promote social, friendly fellowship with the order and to advance and elevate the standard of Womanhood.

The order has grown to 148 Temples within Canada and the United States, with approximately 75,000 members.

Ladies of the Oriental Shrine

The Ladies of the Oriental Shrine of North America was organized in Wheeling, West Virginia, on February 14, 1903. The order now has 97 Courts in North America, two of which are located in Canada, and extends to Hawaii and Okinawa.

This Court was formed for the purpose of extending good fellowship among families of Shriners. However each Court assumes an obligation to extend financial support and assistance to the Shriners Hospitals for Children with the emphasis on the hospital fund, hospital sewing and special projects. Membership in this Order is limited to 47 active members within each Court.

Youth Organizations

The Order of Demolay

Founded in 1919 by Frank S. Land in Kansas City, Missouri, the Order of Demolay is a fraternity for young men between the ages of 13 and 21. The name Demolay is taken from Jacques Demolay, a Grand Master of the mediaeval Knights Templar.

Demolay teaches leadership and values which make these young men better citizens and better prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. Some Demolay alumni include, Walt Disney, John Wayne, U.S. President Bill Clinton, Newsmen Dan Rather, Walter Cronkite, John Cameron Swayze, Willard Scott and Chet Huntley, Entertainers Dick and Tommy Smothers, Buddy Ebsen, Burl Ives, and Authors John Steinbeck and William Shirer.

The International Order of Job’s Daughters

The International Order of Job’s Daughters is one of today’s outstanding character building organizations for young girls 11 to 20 years of age. Character building, developing self-confidence, and learning leadership qualities as well as social skills are but a few of the qualities that I.O.J.D. teaches.