York Rite Freemasonry

Introduction 

The York Rite is a branch of the Freemasons. It composed of 3 bodies: a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a Council of Cryptics Masons, and a Commandery of Knights Templar (Chivalric Orders). Royal Arch Masonry consists of the following degrees: Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch. Cryptic Masonry consists of Royal Master and Select Master; some jurisdictions also confer the Super Excellent Master degree, but not all. The Chivalric Orders consist of: The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, The Order of Malta, and the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple (Knights Templar). 

A proficient Master Mason in good standing can join the York Rite. You must be of Christian faith to go through the Chivalric Orders, but don't have to be to go through the Royal Arch and Cryptic Masons. 

The York Rite answers many questions from the Blue Lodge (Craft Masonry). The Royal Arch degrees take place before and after the 3rd degree. The Cryptic degrees take place before the Royal Arch degree and after the 3rd degree. The Order of the Red Cross is the first order conferred and dramatizes the freeing of the Jewish captives from Babylon. The Order of Malta is where the first requirement of the member to be Christian is observed, this order traces the history of the Knights Hospitaller.

 And finally, the crowning glory of the York Rite is the Order of the Temple. Said to be "a very impressive and solemn experience in Masonry". It truly is a beautiful ceremony and from my experience, I agree wholeheartedly with the saying that "every Christian Mason should be a Knight Templar". 

After you have been initiated through all the degrees and orders of the York Rite, there are also many invitational and honorary appendant bodies. They are strictly invitation-only, have specific prerequisites that must be met before you can even be considered, and some have membership limits. These appendant bodies are Order of the High Priesthood, Order of the Silver Trowel, Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor, Allied Masonic Degrees, Council of Knight Masons, Sovereign York Rite College of North America, Knights of the York Cross of Honor, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis (Rosicrucian Society), the Royal Order of Scotland, Red Cross of Constantine, Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests, and the Grand College of Rite, USA. 

Structure 

True to all 3-bodies of the York Rite, there is a local body, Grand body, and International body. For the Royal Arch, there is the Chapter, Grand Chapter, and General Grand Chapter. The leaders of each of these levels respectively are High Priest, Grand High Priest, and General Grand High Priest. For the Cryptic Masons, there is the Council, Grand Council, and General Grand Council. The leaders for each of these levels respectively are Illustrious Master, Illustrious Grand Master, and the Most Puissant General Grand Master. For the Knights Templar, there is the Commandery, Grand Commandery, and the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar, USA. The leaders for each of these levels respectively are Eminent Commander, Right Eminent Grand Commander, and the Most Eminent Grand Master. 

Charities 

There are 3 main charities that are supported by the York Rite: Royal Arch Research Assistance (RARA), Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation (CMMRF), and Knights Templar Eye Foundation (KTEF). 

The RARA helps support the research into Central Auditory Processing Disorders. The primary recipient is the Able Kids Foundation which leads the way into CAPD research. Research is showing that children with CAPD often develop ADD.

The CMMRF helps advance the research into Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology. The primary recipient of the donations is the Indiana Center Vascular Biology and Medicine (ICVBM) located at the University of Indiana. One of the most notable patents that have come from this research is the "Closer". The vascular Closer is a device that is used over 500,000 times a year. 

The KTEF aids those who need help in the preservation of sight. It both assists those who need help paying for their eye surgeries as well as donating to optical research. Since its inception, it has spent more than $89,000,000 benefiting more than 75,000 people. It has also donated over $8,000,000 for research purposes.

Whew! Quite the read. I'll leave it at that.

The Beginning

I am starting this blog to both follow my travels throughout this world and to discuss the Masonic as well as the Crusading Knights Templar.

 A little bit about me: I'm 25-years-old and I have been in the Freemasons for almost 4-years. In 2006, I was Initiated on May 19th, Passed on June 16th, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on June 23rd. On November 1st and 22nd, 2008, I was conducted throughout all the degrees and orders of the York Rite, thus becoming a Sir Knight in the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple. 

During the November 2008 Stated meeting, I was elected by the Brethren to sit in the Oriental chair and was installed into my office the following month, making me the youngest Worshipful Master in my Lodge's history. I had a lot of planning to do in my year as the following year was our Centennial Year. I also started up a working Child Identification Program (CHIP) for my Lodge and helped establish the Grand Lodge committee.  

I was also pleased to see so many people join in my year. Almost every available meeting night we had a candidate to confer the degrees on, sometimes multiple candidates each night. 

During the later part of my year, I was asked by the acting Eminent Commander to sit as the Senior Warden of our Commandery. Being a Worshipful Master, I hadn't taken an active role in any of the York Rite bodies. At the November elections, I was elected to serve the Companions of the Royal Arch as their Excellent High Priest, Principal Conductor of the Work for the Council, and Senior Warden for the Commandery. 

At my Lodge's election night, the Brethren elected the Senior Warden to serve as Worshipful Master for this year. I finished my year, received my implements of a Junior Past Master (apron, jewel, and being appointed Tyler of the Lodge). I have since the time taken a more involved role in the York Rite and enjoyed it immensely. 

I helped with this year's Grand Session of the Idaho York Rite bodies as the Registration Chairman. It was my first Grand Session and I had a fun time. I received the Order of the High Priesthood, now almost a week ago. My Commandery opened up the Grand Conclave and then turned it over to the Grand Officers. Among many distinguished visitors and guests, we had the distinct honor in welcoming the Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar USA, William Howard Koon II. We haven't had a Grand Master visit us in living memory. 

I lead the Teller Committee for the Grand Conclave and was pleased to announce that my good friend was elected to become the Grand Commander of Idaho. He was the one who signed my petition to join the York Rite, who knighted me, and who preceded me as Worshipful Master of my Lodge. The rest of the time went by quickly and I met many new acquaintances and friends. 

I will be traveling much this year as I am deploying to Iraq. I hope that I get Leave because I plan on visiting the European Masons. 

I will try to keep this up to date and start some intriguing discussions.