The structure of freemasonry

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The Structure of Freemasonry By: N.N. Boozier Research Society

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Structure [struhk-cher] noun 1. mode of building, construction, or organization; arrangement of parts, elements, or constituents: “a pyramidal structure.�

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2. something built or constructed, as a building, bridge, or dam.

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3. anything composed of parts arranged together in some way; an organization.

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Freemasonry noun 1. a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.

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2. the system and institutions of the Freemasons.

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It is based on the tenets of our profession, which are : Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.

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Ancient Craft Masonry

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The degree of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason are so called, as these were the only degrees anciently conferred by the craft.

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The Blue Lodge can be used synonymously with the Craft Lodge or Ancient Craft Masonry.

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Freemasonry is composed of different “Rites”, such as: The York Rite, the American Rite, The Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite, and The Rite of Memphis to name a few. There are and have been over 100 different “rites” of Freemasonry throughout time.

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A “Rite” as it applies to Freemasonry is: a collection of grades or degrees, always founded on the First three, the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason.

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Grand Lodge - A Grand Lodge (or Grand Orient or other similar title) is the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country.

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It is the usual governing body of "Craft", "Blue Lodge", or "Symbolic“ Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Grand Lodge of London and Westminster, soon to call itself the Grand Lodge of England. Now called the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). The head of a Grand Lodge is called the Grand Master.

A Grand Lodge is formed when 3 or more Lodges unite and constitute themselves as one body within a territory.

GL’s are sovereign, and the Grand Master has supreme power in regards to the GL he heads.

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Grand Lodges reserve the right to subscribe to whichever “Rite” of their choice. The York Rite and the Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite degrees are referred to as “Appendant Bodies” of Freemasonry. Also, there is an additional body called the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS). Before you can join either of these “Bodies”, you have to become a Master Mason of a regular Lodge and be in good standing.

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Appendant Bodies of Freemasonry York Rite

Scottish Rite

• Lodge of Perfection 4˚- 14˚

• Chapter of Rose Croix 15˚- 18˚

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• Council of Royal and Select Masters

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• Holy Royal Arch

• Council of Kadosh 19˚- 30˚

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• Knights Templar

• Consistory 31˚- 32˚

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Royal Arch Masonry

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Royal Arch Masonry is the first order a Master Mason joins in the York Rite. The Chapter works the following degrees: The Mark Master Mason degree is in some respects an extension of the Fellow Crafts' second degree.

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The Past Master (Virtual) degree is conferred because of the traditional requirement that only Past Masters of a Blue Lodge may be admitted to Holy Royal Arch. Because there are so many applicants for this degree, Virtual Past Master is required to qualify them for it. Much of the work is the same given to install the Worshipful Master of a Blue Lodge.

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In the Most Excellent Master degree the building of King Solomon's Temple, which figures so prominently in Blue Lodge, has been completed.

The Royal Arch Mason (or Holy Royal Arch) degree is said by many to be the most beautiful degree in all of Freemasonry.

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Council of Royal and Select Masters

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Royal Master Select Master Super Excellent Master

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Membership in the Council of Royal & Select Masters or the Council of Cryptic Masons is not required for membership in the Knights Templar in some jurisdictions, so it can be skipped. In others it is required. It is called Cryptic Masonry or the Cryptic Rite because a crypt or underground room figures prominently in the degrees.

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Knights Templar

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The Knights Templar is the final order joined in the York Rite. It is open to members who have completed their Royal Arch and in some jurisdictions their Cryptic Degrees. This body is modeled on the historical Knights Templar to carry on the spirit of their organization. Throughout history it has been claimed that Freemasonry itself was founded by the Knights Templar or that the Knights Templar took refuge in Freemasonry after their persecution.

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A local Knights Templar division is called a Commandery and operates under a state level Grand Commandery as well as The Grand Encampment of the United States. The Knights Templar confer three orders, and one passing order as opposed to the standard degree system found elsewhere in Freemasonry: The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross The Order of the Knights of Malta (or simply Order of Malta) The Order of the Temple (Knights Templar)

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Lodge of Perfection

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The Ineffable Degrees

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The first portion of the Scottish Rite system of degrees is called The Lodge of Perfection. This series of degrees includes the 4th° through to the 14th° and are referred to as the ineffable degrees. Ineffable comes from the Latin ineffibilis which means something that should not be spoken.

They are called the Ineffable Degrees because their principal purpose is the investigation and contemplation of the ineffable name of the Deity.

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The degrees amplify the legend of the Master Mason degree, and stories of the biblical era, leading up to the building of King Solomon’s Temple. These degrees are designed to impress more forcefully the teachings of the first three degrees. Each of our degrees takes it theme from one of the many names of God, “God is Love”, “God is Merciful”, “God is Just”. Scottish Rite Masons know that they are not perfect, but that there is a path to Perfection.

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Chapter of Rose Croix

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The second portion of the degrees of the Scottish Rite is called the Chapter of Rose Croix. This series of degrees ranges from the 15째 through the 18째. They are both Historical and Religious. They also, embody the period in which they were written, and apply in equal force today.

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They teach WAR AGAINST IGNORANCE, INTOLERANCE AND ERROR, THAT EVERY NOBLE HEART IS GOD'S TEMPLE, and WE SHOULD LABOR TO ESTABLISH THE REIGN OF LOVE AND PEACE, THUS BUILDING A LASTING TEMPLE OF GOD.

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John the Baptist taught a creed belonging to the sect of the Essenes and very similar to Christianity. They believed that TRUTH was scattered in different sects. Light was the symbol of Good; Darkness was Evil.

The Cross has been a sacred emblem of earliest antiquity; the Rose a symbol of dawn. Together the Rose and the Cross represent the dawn of Eternal Life.

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Council of Kadosh

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The third portion of the Scottish Rite System of degrees is called The Council of Kadosh. This series of degrees includes the 19th째 through to the 30th째. The term "Kadosh" means Holy or Consecrated. These degrees are both are Philosophical and Chivalric.

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They teach LIBERTY, FRATERNITY, and EQUALITY applied to our everyday life. The world will judge us by our acts and Masonry will be judged by the character of its members. Be modest and humble, speaking only of the good in mankind and forgetting the evil. Respect labor itself and have sympathy for the laboring classes. Practice Charity and scorn the base and selfish. Truth and Honor are more to be cultivated than the gathering of wealth and power. Combat arbitrary and unscrupulous power and all influence which would keep people in ignorance. In ancient times our brethren met to redress wrong and defend the helpless. Masonry today has that same great mission.

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Consistory

The final portion of the Scottish Rite System of degrees is called The Consistory. The term Consistory means a meeting place. This series of degrees includes the 31st째 through to the 32nd째.

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The Thirty-first and Thirty-second degrees are the last of the Four Bodies and are Official and Ceremonial Degrees.

They are the culmination, summing up as it were, of all the previous degrees. The Royal Secret, like the occult science of the ancients, is concealed even here, but remember, "Faith begins where reason sinks exhausted."

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The Star of Hope shines for us as it did for the Wise Men of the East, two thousand years ago. Today, as in the first days of creation, good and evil, right and wrong, justice and mercy, balance each other to teach us to remember ourselves as immortal souls, retaining for each other respect and charity while slowly climbing to that state of perfection, the final goal for all.

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Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS)

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The Shrine as it is commonly referred to is also deemed the “Play House� of Freemasonry due to its pageantry and Arabic theme. John G. Jones, the founder, is said to have been introduced to the ritualistic mysteries of the Order by one Ali Rofelt Pasha, Deputy and representative from the Grand Council of Arabia, during the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893.

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Shrinedom is thought of as a Fraternal, Social, and Charitable Organization: FRATERNAL in the sense of using passwords and symbols to remind the members to ever strive for inner self-improvement; SOCIAL from the standpoint of the enjoyment of good times within its own ranks; and CHARITABLE for its unselfish giving of goods and services on both the local and national level.