Masonic Calendar      About Freemasonry   How to Join   Presiding Officers   Lodge Committees   Past Masters   Masonic Groups      Englewood School      Libraries   Student Dictionaries   School Supplies      Officer Reports   Masons Square   Englewood School      Book Open   Taper Club   Email Newsletters      Contact Numbers   Member Emails   Forums   Chat Room   Links       Updated: 01-29-08		Masonic Organizations The masonic family is a loosely defined grouping of those bodies with practices and beliefs complementary to Freemasonry that also either restrict their membership to regular freemasons in good standing or to relatives of regular freemasons in good standing. Those restricted to freemasons are generally termed concordant while those restricted to relatives are generally termed appendant. There is little agreement on the use of these terms; in the narrowest sense only the Scottish and York Rites are styled concordant while the Shrine and Grotto, not conferring degrees, would be defined as masonic clubs. Adding to the confusion, some Craft Grand Lodge jurisdictions will recognize those bodies by constitutionally recording that they are simply "in amity" with them. Prince Hall Free & Accepted Masons Prince Hall (1735-1807) was the organizer and founder of Masonry among men of African-American descent. Thought to have been born in Barbados around 1735, he first worked as a leather-dresser, later as a laborer by day and studying at night. He educated himself and became a leader in the efforts to eliminate slavery and bring about a stronger unified people. He was instrumental in freeing many slaves. He was an abolitionist and a patriot, as he volunteered to fight in the American Revolution and was later accepted in the Continental Army led by George Washington. After the war, Prince Hall continued the struggle for equal rights. He established a school in his own home. Hall was initiated as a Mason in 1775 by John Batt of Irish Lodge No. 441. John Rowe, Provisional Grand Master, authorized Hall to form African Lodge No. 1. Later on after the war, they were granted a Charter from the Grand Lodge of England as African Lodge No. 459 and Hall was the Worshipful Master. Thus was the beginning of Prince Hall Masonry. Learn more here: www.bessel.org Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction The Scottish Rite is one of two largest concordant 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 is 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. 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 - Lodge of Perfection, Rose Croix, and Consistory. Learn more here: www.scottishrite.org York Rite The York Rite is the other major concordant body of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed to supplement or amplify the Craft degrees, affording historical background on the work and meaning of Freemasonry. 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 York Rite takes its name from the old English city of York. It is said that Athelstan, a British king, 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. The York Rite is not a religion. Like the Craft lodge, the Chapter and the Council are based upon the building of King Solomon's Temple. The Commandary has a theme of Christian chivalry. Learn more here: www.knightstemplar.org Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Founded by Dr. Walter M. Fleming in 1870 in New York, since 1920 the Shrine has been actively supporting what has become known as the "World's Greatest Philanthropy," Shriners Hospitals for Children. Strictly speaking, the Shrine is not an appendent body but is a club for Freemasons. 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. 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. Learn more here: www.shrinershq.org 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 within 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. Learn more here: www.donhq.org 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. 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 practice charity. Learn more here: www.easternstar.org International 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 medieval 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; 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. Learn more here: www.demolay.org International Order of the Rainbow for Girls Rainbow for Girls is an organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20. At the age of 20, or upon marriage, which ever occurs first, girls who are members in good standing are eligible for Majority Membership. To join, a girl must be sponsored by two other girls who are either active members in good standing or a majority member, and at least one adult whom must be a member in good standing of either the Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star, Order of the Amaranth or the White Shrine. The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls helps promote self-esteem and leadership in its members. As a member, a girl will learn valuable public speaking skills and will attend meetings presided over by girls her own age. While there are always adult advisors to provide direction, all meetings are conducted by the girls. Learn more here: www.iorg.org The International Order of Job's Daughters 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. Learn more here: www.iojd.org National Sojourners, Inc. National Sojourners, Inc., is a national fraternal organization meeting the needs of military Masons and advancing programs that promote love of country. Membership in National Sojourners is open to citizens of the United States who are Master Masons in good standing in a duly constituted Lodge of Master Masons recognized by and maintaining fraternal relations with a majority of the Regular Grand Lodges in the United States and who are serving or have served honorably as: 1)A Commissioned Officer or Warrant Officer of the uniformed services of the United States, or 2)a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the uniformed services of the United States, (E5, 6 & 7 prior to 1958 - E7, 8 & 9 as of 1958),or 3)have served in time of war as a Commissioned Officer or Warrant Officer or the equivalent in an armed service of a nation allied with the United States,or 4)are regularly elected to Honorary Membership. Learn more here: www.nationalsojourners.org Tall Cedars of Lebenon Tall Cedars of Lebanon is an appendant Masonic organization devoted to fostering friendship and fellowship among Freemasons and to all mankind. We are over 17,000 members with an unyielding commitment to provide a "place in the sun" for those many thousands of victims of neuromuscular diseases who, through their own means, may not be able to share and enjoy the experiences of life that we so often are able to take for granted. Learn more here: www.tallcedars.org/ The Order of 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. Learn more here: www.amaranth.org The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm 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. Learn more here: www.scgrotto.com
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