The "Chair" Degrees of York Rite Freemasonry

I recently joined a new Masonic Forum and did a thread on the entire York Rite. While I've done an article on the York Rite, I haven't talked much about the invitational, honorary bodies that branch from the York Rite.

---

The "Chair Degrees" of York Rite masonry, so-called as the candidate must be the installed or a past presiding officer of the respective York Rite body. They may also differ somewhat in name or character from one jurisdiction to another

Order of High Priesthood

A chair degree conferred upon installed or past High Priests. Sometimes referred to as the Anointed Order of High Priesthood. In antiquity, this degree was known as the Order of Melchizadek.

Illustrious Master

A chair degree conferred upon installed or past Illustrious Masters. It is also known as the Order of the Silver Trowel from the jewel of the degree.

Knight Crusader of the Cross

A chair degree conferred upon installed or past Eminent Commanders.

Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor

All present and Past Commanders of the Constituent and Subordinate Commanderies of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America in a jurisdiction where there is not any Chapter of the Order may petition for membership in the Order of Knights Preceptor. The Grand Chapter of the Order of Knights Preceptor meets annually at the time and place of the Annual Meeting of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America.

Past Commanders Association (in some jurisdictions)

An association for all present and Past Commanders of Constituent and Subordinate Commanderies of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America.

Now I am going to include the KYCH as it has much to do with the Chair degrees.

Knight of the York Cross of Honor

Requirements for membership are that each proposed candidate for membership must have presided over a Lodge as a Master, over a Chapter as High Priest, over a Council as Illustrious Master, and over a Commandry as Commander. Knights of the York Cross of Honour is an Honor Group of York Rite Masons who are dedicated to serving the Masonic Fraternity as a Labor of Love.No individual should aspire to membership in KYCH, when he has done the required work, and done it well, he will be invited to membership. Those who labor will be rewarded by being invited.

After a Mason has fulfilled the requirements of membership, his name may be proposed for membership by a member of the K.Y.C.H. The prospective member should not know that he has been proposed. When a Priory receives a proposal, such proposal must be held over until the next stated meeting of the Priory before it is Balloted on. Some of the Ballot rules vary in different Jurisdictions, to comply with Grand Lodge Rules and Regulations. In this Jurisdiction, the prospect must receive a unanimous vote by secret Ballot. The prospective proposal should not know that his name was proposed until he is official notified that he is elected to be invited to petition to membership. If this rule is followed, no one that is proposed and rejected should ever know that he was proposed and rejected, thereby saving much embarrassment. to everyone. SEE MORE