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Side (Fun) Degrees
- Thread starter bupton52
- Start date
jjjjjggggg
Premium Member
We have the Order of the White Buffalo here in Oklahoma, but it's not a "fun" degree.
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cemab4y
Premium Member
I don't know if it qualifies as a side degree, but the "Rusty Nail" degree, is somewhat fun. Some lodges invite members who have not participated in meetings for some time, and are "rusty", are invited to the lodge. A ceremony is performed to help rusty Masons brush up on their knowledge.
I believe that the Order of the Bath & Cork is considered an appendant order, as opposed to a side degree.
Companion Joe
Premium Member
I consider side degrees as degrees set up entirely for fun. Two of the four "degrees" you take when you join our past masters association come to mind. Most are designed to foster good natured "you got me" moments. They usually have a very minimal lifetime membership fee which goes to one of the Masonic charities. We have a Red Republican degree and an Order of the Cord (I think it was called) which come to mind. Both are designed to teach a sitting WM to laugh at himself and not be too full of himself. The Confidence Degree isn't a funny degree but is designed to teach sitting WMs to trust those who have gone before him.
As I understand it, unauthorized degrees or rituals in the blue Lodge would be "side degrees". Those done under the auspices of the Scottish or York Rites, the Shrine, or any other organization not officially connected to a Grand Lodge would be considered "concordant" or "appendant".
dfreybur
Premium Member
So the Order of Bunker Hill that gets put on occasionally at blue lodges in Illinois (maybe elsewhere) would be out, but the Royal Order of Scotland that gets put on occasionally at Scottish Rite in California (maybe elsewhere) would be okay.
I take it side degrees can potentially grow in popularity until they become an appendent body so the policy in Texas is they should go through the process to get appendent body status. Makes sense to me. I've seen a few orders get voted on in the years I've attended my various GLs.
Some years back, during a "side degree" in a GLoNY Lodge, the candidate was accidentally shot & killed. The widow sued the Lodge and GL over it. Sorry, but IMHO, there is no place for grabass in a Masonic Lodge. We have other venues for that, for those who like it.
Ah Bro. Bill, I heard of it before but I don't realize that is a side degree.
Thanks for the info.
phulseapple
Premium Member
Shootings and other issues aside, I'm curious as to what am edict against side or "fun"'degrees really means. If it means not doing them in the lodge room while the lodge is at labor, it seems reasonable to me. As long as there is a clear separation between what is sanctioned ritual and what is not, I can't see the harm (as long as it is safe). I suppose a GL may want to make it even clearer by requiring that the word "degree" not be used to avoid any confusion.
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Tony Uzzell
Registered User
My understanding of the GL Law in Texas is that "side degrees" are not allowed to be conferred in Texas by regular Masons, but it is not illegal for a Texas Mason to receive such a degree from a source in another State, so long as the "side degree" does not attempt to disabuse him of the regularity of his Masonic membership.
So, if a group within the Grand Lodge of Colorado (for example) offered the "Order of the Orange Parka", allowing a Mason to become a "Brother Kenny", and said Degree was conferred outside of Texas, a Texas Mason could participate and receive the Degree, but he could not further confer it within Texas without approval by the Grand Lodge of Texas of the Order.
TU
So, if a group within the Grand Lodge of Colorado (for example) offered the "Order of the Orange Parka", allowing a Mason to become a "Brother Kenny", and said Degree was conferred outside of Texas, a Texas Mason could participate and receive the Degree, but he could not further confer it within Texas without approval by the Grand Lodge of Texas of the Order.
TU
marty15chris
Premium Member
I'm sorry but I just don't understand the need for "side" degrees. There are enough degrees separate from the " blue lodge" as it is. I am still working on learning and giving all I can to the first 3.
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Companion Joe
Premium Member
Most of the "fun" degrees don't take anything away from the Blue Lodge. They don't hold regular meetings (most are conferred maybe once a year usually in connection with a gathering), have too much prescribed ritual, or are even considered real bodies. They usually have about a $5-10 lifetime membership, money which goes to charity or covers the cost of the meal to go along with the night.
Now if you want to talk about appendant bodies taking time and resources away from the Blue Lodge, yes, there are dozens. The fun degrees don't fall into that category. They are just a chance for a night of fellowship and have a laugh.
Now if you want to talk about appendant bodies taking time and resources away from the Blue Lodge, yes, there are dozens. The fun degrees don't fall into that category. They are just a chance for a night of fellowship and have a laugh.
dfreybur
Premium Member
They are not about a need. They are about a desire for variety.
When blue lodge in the US dropped regular table lodges with festive board that made blue lodge meetings solemn with insufficient festivity mixed in. As a result fun groups started appearing such as one-time fun "degree" presentations and the Shrine.
marty15chris
Premium Member
I understand why side degrees have come about. But it sounds more to me that blue lodges have gotten, for lack of a better phrase, lazy. If they were to put on the festive boards and such then maybe brothers wouldn't feel the need for side degrees.
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