The Scottish Rite, or more officially Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (AASR), is an appendant body of Masonry, meaning that it is not part of the Blue Lodge per se, but closely associated with Masonry. It requires that a man be a Master Mason in good standing before joining the Scottish Rite. The Scottish Rite confers the 4th through 32nd degrees. The degree work may be, but is not necessarily, completed at one time.

Any Master Mason in good standing is eligible to join the Scottish Rite. The degrees of the Scottish Rite continue the symbolism of the first three Masonic degrees.

For more information on this appendant body and locations within Alabama please visit Scottish Rite or Orient of Alabama.

The York Rite, like the Scottish Rite, is an appendant body of Masonry, and confers degrees beyond the Blue Lodge’s three degrees. It consists of ten additional degrees: The Chapter Degrees–Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason; the Cryptic Degrees–Royal Master, Select Master, and Super Excellent Master; and the Chivalric Orders–Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, Order of the Knights of Malta and the Order of Knights Templar.

The Chivalric Orders, which comprise the third section of the York Rite are specifically Christian. It can be stated that the oath is, in Grand Lodges in the US and some abroad, one need not be a Christian, but rather only be willing to take a Christian OATH. The difference here is that there are some who would willingly swear to defend the Christian faith on the grounds that they would defend any man’s faith. The Chapter (or Royal Arch) and Council Of Royal And Select Masters (Cryptic Rite), which comprise the first two sections of the York Rite, are not specifically Christian.

For more additional information and determine the closest York Rite body in your area please visit Grand York Rite of Alabama.

Additionally, the York Rite has various Invitational/Honorary Bodies for those who have distinguished themselves. Those within Alabama can be found at Invitational Bodies of York Rite.

The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry, though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Shrine in New York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red fez that Shriners wear at official functions.

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the Mystic Shrine for North America (AASONM is an anagram for “A MASON”) originally were members of the Scottish Rite with the 32nd degree conferred, and/or a Knight Templar in the Commandery of the York Rite but now one must be a Master Mason. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life. It has been called “the playground of Masonry”. This is expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness.”

For more information on the Shrine, please continue to Shriners International.

The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry, though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Shrine in New York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red fez that Shriners wear at official functions.

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the Mystic Shrine for North America (AASONM is an anagram for “A MASON”) originally were members of the Scottish Rite with the 32nd degree conferred, and/or a Knight Templar in the Commandery of the York Rite but now one must be a Master Mason. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life. It has been called “the playground of Masonry”. This is expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness.”

For more information on the Shrine, please continue to Shriners International.

The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry, though the distinction would escape many. The Shrine confers no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the Mecca Shrine in New York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive red fez that Shriners wear at official functions.

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the Mystic Shrine for North America (AASONM is an anagram for “A MASON”) originally were members of the Scottish Rite with the 32nd degree conferred, and/or a Knight Templar in the Commandery of the York Rite but now one must be a Master Mason. The Shrine is most noted for its emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life. It has been called “the playground of Masonry”. This is expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness.”

For more information on the Shrine, please continue to Shriners International.

There are a variety of Masonic Riders Associations (MRAs); these are organizations of Master Masons who share a passion for motorcycle riding and charitable work, with members supporting local lodges and riding to raise funds for various causes. They are open to Master Masons in good standing, with many chapters welcoming family members on rides. They are a riding association, not an “MC” (motorcycle club), and they do not claim territory, though members wear a specific 1-piece patch, rather promote fellowship, support local Masonic lodges, assist widows and orphans of deceased Masons, and raise money for charities.

For more information on MRAs, please continue to Widows Sons and/or the Low Twelve Riders.

The Order of the Eastern Star (OES) is an adoptive rite of Freemasonry with teachings based on the Bible and objectives that are charitable and benevolent. The founder of OES was Dr. Robert Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who was a Master Mason and Past Grand Master of Kentucky. Dr. Morris intended his creation to become a female branch of Freemasonry, but he failed to overcome the great opposition this idea engendered. After his first published ritual in 1849-50, he became associated with Robert Macoy who wrote and published a ritual based on Morris’ in 1867. The first Grand Chapter was organized in Michigan in the same year. (There is evidence for an organization of the same name founded variously in 1788 or 1793, but this group was defunct by 1867.) Subordinate (local) Chapters operate under charter from state level Grand Chapters which are responsible to the General Grand Chapter at the International Eastern Star Shrine in Washington, D.C.

Members must be eighteen years or older and either Master Masons in good standing or properly related to a Master Mason in good standing. The latter category includes wives, widows, sisters, daughters, mothers, granddaughters, step-mothers, step daughters, step-sisters, and half-sisters. In 1994 this was expanded to include nieces, daughters-in- law, and grandmothers.

Each Chapter has eighteen officers, some elected and others appointed. Two offices are specifically male (Worthy Patron and Associate Patron) while nine offices are specifically female (including Worthy Matron and Associate Matron). While the Worthy Matron is considered to be the presiding officer of the Chapter, the degrees cannot be conferred without a presiding Brother in good standing.

Each Chapter retains the right to decide who shall be a member of the organization. Election to the degrees must be unanimous, without debate, and secret. The successful candidate must profess a belief in a Supreme Being and is initiated in five degrees, which are conferred in one ceremony. (When Eastern Star was created, it was intended to be the first of a three degree series. The second and third degrees were Queen of the South and the Order of the Amaranth, respectively.)

Interestingly enough, OES requires only the belief in a Supreme Being even though the degrees are based in both the Old and New Testaments. While non-Christians are not specifically barred from membership, it would seem to be difficult to be other than Christian and belong to the Order.

For more information on the OES and its Chapters, please continue to Alabama Grand Chapter.

The Order of the Amaranth is a fraternal organization composed of Master Masons and their properly qualified female relatives. In its teachings, the members are emphatically reminded of their duties to God, to their country and to their fellow beings. They are urged to portray, by precept and example, their belief in the “Golden Rule” and by conforming to the virtues inherent in TRUTH, FAITH, WISDOM and CHARITY they can prove to others the goodness promulgated by the Order.

The extent of its Charitable Work and overall Benevolence is limited only by the opportunities that exist, and the ability to secure adequate funding. Its Philanthropic project is the Amaranth Diabetes Foundation. The flag of the appropriate country is prominently displayed at all meetings creating a strong sentiment of patriotism and devotion to the respective land that we love.

For more information on Amaranth, please continue to Supreme Council Order of Amaranth.

The International Order of DeMolay is the world’s largest fraternal organization for young men between the ages of 13 and 21. DeMolays are taught the seven cardinal virtues of the Order– filial love, reverence for sacred things, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness, and patriotism– and the importance of practicing them in their daily lives.

International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is the complement to DeMolay, enrolling girls between the age of 11 and 20 if they are related to members of a Masonic Lodge or the Eastern Star. It confers two degrees, the Initiatory and the Grand Cross of Color.