De Facto Hierarchy

[NY.Light]

As someone who hopes to be a mason. I was wondering. It's always said the highest degree is the third, and that the heart of masonry is on the blue lodge. Concordant bodies are other organizations that are masonic inasmuch they have a system of degrees and strive towards similar principles. Would you say that it is characteristic of your lodge that, for example, those in the Scottish or York Rites are held in higher esteem, or conversely that those who have not gone beyond the third degree are looked down on or left out? Or is it all just great and nice?

 

[crono782]

I would say no, they aren't held in higher esteem or somehow hold power over the core Blue Lodge. Think of the Lodge like going to school and the other bodies are extra curricular activities, sports, clubs, etc. You will likely get pestered to join appendant bodies by brethren who would like to see you join, but nobody will think less of you if you decide against it.

The appendant orgs *are* masonic outgrowths from the core Masonic Rite, not just other organizations with loose ties. But they are only branches, not the ancient root. It all begins there.

 

[Warrior1256]

I would say no, they aren't held in higher esteem or somehow hold power over the core Blue Lodge. Think of the Lodge like going to school and the other bodies are extra curricular activities, sports, clubs, etc. You will likely get pestered to join appendant bodies by brethren who would like to see you join, but nobody will think less of you if you decide against it.

The appendant orgs *are* masonic outgrowths from the core Masonic Rite, not just other organizations with loose ties. But they are only branches, not the ancient root. It all begins there.

I agree. It does not seem that anyone is looked at as a lesser Mason because they did not join an appendant body in my lodge or any that I have visited. Some brothers never go beyond the MM degree and they are respected for the quality of their character and the things that they have done for the lodge and their community.

 

[Companion Joe]

I will agree with the sentiments that no one is thought of as lesser for not joining YR or SR. As for my lodge where we have Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery all under one roof, those of us who are in the YR are the most active. That is neither positive or negative. It's just a matter of fact. Because we are active enough to do things in the YR, we are also the Past Masters of the lodge, guys on committees, etc. It's not as though there is some sort of cabal keeping others out.

 

[MarkR]

To be honest, while I do know who in my Blue Lodge is in Scottish Rite with me, I have only a vague idea who is in York Rite. I know that quite a few are, but I don't know who they all are. It doesn't matter at all in Blue Lodge.

 

[Morris]

To be honest, while I do know who in my Blue Lodge is in Scottish Rite with me, I have only a vague idea who is in York Rite. I know that quite a few are, but I don't know who they all are. It doesn't matter at all in Blue Lodge.

Same same for me

 

[Illuminatio]

I can add that as a fairly new Master Mason myself, all the brothers in my lodge (I am aware of a few being Scottish Rite and a couple being York Rite) treat me and any other member with nothing but equal respect and brotherhood.

For myself, at this juncture in my life, I am going to be quite happy to call the Blue Lodge my home for several years to come. My wife and I just had our first baby at the end of August so spare time is few and far between at the moment. I personally don't feel any pressure or rush at all to need to push myself into any appendant bodies. One thing that has been stressed to me and that you will learn when you join - family always comes first. For now, I'm going to be quite happy to just take my time and enjoy Blue Lodge, give my family all the attention they need, and later down the road if I'm finding time on my hands and want to expand my involvement, then I'll start looking into appendant bodies. But I can tell you that my feelings thus far are that the Blue Lodge is truly the heart of everything.

 

[Pscyclepath]

As someone who hopes to be a mason. I was wondering. It's always said the highest degree is the third, and that the heart of masonry is on the blue lodge. Concordant bodies are other organizations that are masonic inasmuch they have a system of degrees and strive towards similar principles. Would you say that it is characteristic of your lodge that, for example, those in the Scottish or York Rites are held in higher esteem, or conversely that those who have not gone beyond the third degree are looked down on or left out? Or is it all just great and nice?

Nope... in simple terms, "what happens in the house, stays in the house." What I do in my Scottish Rite valley or my Royal Arch chapter doesn't have anything to do with what I do back home in the blue lodge.

Remember that as Masons, we meet on the level. The fellow who is next year's grand master in the blue lodge and last year's Grand High Priest in the chapter is the same fellow who is running the grill, peeling potatoes, and washing dishes over at the Grotto.

 

[Glen Cook]

Membership in the Rite by itself? No. Achievement in the Rites is often noted and known.

 

[dfreybur]

There are a fair number of brothers who become active in one of the appendent bodies and all we see of them at blue lodge is their dues check or the interest on the endowment they funded. Some are okay with this others are bothered by it. To me if a brother is going through his degrees in order to get to a specific appendent body I am only bothered if he talks about going through the line while progressing through his degrees then he disappears.

I don't recall giving extra prestige to brothers who are members of one or several bodies, but the current master of a body does tend to get extra prestige. To me this is a direct parallel of a brother who is current master of another lodge so it makes sense. It does breach the "What happens in a house stays in a house" policy that works in many ways mentioned by brother Tom E.

 

[chrmc]

The cases I can recall where there's been prestige associated with a certain degree, honor or title would be the people one meets that have become KYCH in the York Rite or 33rd degree in the Scottish. However these honors are given out due to the work someone has performed, so it's more a recogniztion of a brothers hard work than it's the actual title that's held in high esteem.

The only invitational body that I've heard people be slightly in awe about is the SRICF, the Rosecrutians. That is apparently fairly exclusive to get invited into.

 

[Glen Cook]

The only invitational body that I've heard people be slightly in awe about is the SRICF, the Rosecrutians. That is apparently fairly exclusive to get invited into.

Actually, my experience is to the contrary. Red Cross of Constantine and CBCS would appear to be more exclusive.

 

[chrmc]

Actually, my experience is to the contrary. Red Cross of Constantine and CBCS would appear to be more exclusive.

You're probably right. I'm not that familiar with Red Cross of Constantine, and don't think I've ever heard about the CBCS, so good points.

 

[MarkR]

The cases I can recall where there's been prestige associated with a certain degree, honor or title would be the people one meets that have become KYCH in the York Rite or 33rd degree in the Scottish. However these honors are given out due to the work someone has performed, so it's more a recogniztion of a brothers hard work than it's the actual title that's held in high esteem.

The only invitational body that I've heard people be slightly in awe about is the SRICF, the Rosecrutians. That is apparently fairly exclusive to get invited into.

The deal with SRICF is that the colleges have a specifically limited number of members, so if they have no openings, they give no invitations.

 

[chrmc]

The deal with SRICF is that the colleges have a specifically limited number of members, so if they have no openings, they give no invitations.

That is a good point. I've never understood the whole deal with the limited membership. I'm sure it's a way of making it more exclusive, but that just seems like it limits yourself. If 10 of your original members become inactive it must be a real hassle to get anything done.